Winter hike on Skyline, wear the stiff boot the entire time?

[hawkbill666]

Hey again,

I am in PS every Nov and Feb and this Feb I want to do skyline. (have done it in previous Oct/Nov).
I am will be doing all the appropriate training on iceaxe, self arrest, crampons, etc, but my question is about footwear.
Do I just wear my big, clunky, stiff leather boots for the entire thing? Or do some people wear a light shoe until they hit snow, then shift to their stiffer boots and then finally add crampons.

So wear the stiff boot the entire time? Or pack it until needed?

Obviously I am a winter hiking noob.
Thanks

Scott

[Hikin_Jim]

If you're new to the whole ice axe and crampons thing, I wonder if Skyline is a good route. There have been a lot of ice related accidents on the chutes in the upper section of the route. There was a mountain guide who went out a few years ago (2004?). His body was found at the bottom of a chute.

An ice axe gives you a fighting chance, but that's it; there's no guarantee. If you're experienced, athletic, and quick, then you may be able to self arrest before you pick up so much speed that self arrest becomes impossible, but again there's no guarantee.

HJ

[hawkbill666]

Thanks Hikin_Jim,

I am guessing you are recommending the two shoe option so I have more padding in my pack when I hit bottom .

I have read all the reports and dont take it lightly. I enjoy planning and learning just as much as I enjoy doing, so if it doesnt happen I am still good.

Scott

[Perry]

Hey Scott, I think it depends on how warm it is below and if you can loosen the laces and get a little ventilation going.

The technicalness (real word?) of upper Skyline depends on whether the snow has consolidated, whether it has turned to ice, and whether enough people have broken trail to create a ledge on the traverse and switchbacks up the final climb to Long Valley. The worse case scenarios are deep powder snow or solid ice and very little recent foot traffic. Anything can happen in Feb.

[hawkbill666]

Thanks Perry,

You sum up my thoughts (and concerns) well.
I can learn the iceace and crampons. I am a newbie endurance hiker but I run with a pack of NW hikers and I have access to some great places to get lots of practice here in the Puget Sound.
But at this point I have no interest in dealing with deep powder. That is an additional set of learnings, snow shoes, etc.
So you are right, if I find through reports (and you guys) that the day I go is more ideal to just hike and use crampons on the upper section, than I may go. I lose nothing if I dont go as I will be there for my regular vacation anyways. Well other than the price of the gear but it will be well used in Seattle anyways.

Thanks again all
Scott

[Nick-SJM]

Your are in Washington State. The first thing you should do is sign up for a class on winter hiking on Mount Ranier with one of the excellant mountain guide organizations there. Then, as you suggested, check in with this web site about a week before you come out. If people on this board are not doing it, you should not either. Finally, don't even think about doing it alone. Good luck and be safe.

[hawkbill666]

Thanks Nick, that is exactly my plan. I will go through a formal class, but I also have some hardcore hiking friends and plan to spend lots of time on the snowfield.

Oh believe me I know, I will be watching this board. I learned my lesson in Hawaii once when I thought I could boogle board on waves that even the locals surfers were afraid of