Tram shoeing on Sunday?

[Biletchick]

Thanks for the input Kathy. I ended up returning the Mtn Experts and the G12's. I think I'll try to stick it out with my Lowa Banffs. I have 2 pair and they work well for the snowshoes so far. I'm going to give the BD stainless contacts or the Grivel G10 classics a shot on the Banffs.
I guess we just don't have a large enough winter boot selection in SoCal.

A16 and REI don't seem to have enough variety in brands...or maybe I'm too picky! lol

Stacy
Ps I have the MSR Denali Evo Ascents and they are da bomb!!!

[tomcat_rc]

"KathyW" - Talking about gear, I do like the MSR Lightning Ascents I picked up last year, but I don't see where that heel lift thing would ever come in handy. I've given it a try on steep slopes a few times and having it up hurts more than it helps - my toes end up pointed down even on steep slopes when I use it - it's like going downhill on the uphill and kills muscles that shouldn't even be working. I'm much better off leaving it down and rest stepping slowly but steadily up the hill with my feet positioned as they should be for a steep uphill climb.

Kathy - I think the reason the heel lift does not work as well for you would be shorter legs. There is not much of an option on the height the lift is set(mine have 3 click options). With me I use the highest setting and it is perfect for steeper uphill, making so my heels do not have to drop all the way down with each step. This keeps my toes at a more level position as I dig the front cleat in.

More new snow on the way

[KathyW]

"KathyW" - Talking about gear, I do like the MSR Lightning Ascents I picked up last year, but I don't see where that heel lift thing would ever come in handy. I've given it a try on steep slopes a few times and having it up hurts more than it helps - my toes end up pointed down even on steep slopes when I use it - it's like going downhill on the uphill and kills muscles that shouldn't even be working. I'm much better off leaving it down and rest stepping slowly but steadily up the hill with my feet positioned as they should be for a steep uphill climb.

Kathy - I think the reason the heel lift does not work as well for you would be shorter legs. There is not much of an option on the height the lift is set(mine have 3 click options). With me I use the highest setting and it is perfect for steeper uphill, making so my heels do not have to drop all the way down with each step. This keeps my toes at a more level position as I dig the front cleat in.

More new snow on the way

Tom, I think you're correct about it now working because I'm short. My heel lift does not seem to be adjustable - it only clicks into position when it's all the way up. Maybe that's a difference between the Men's and the Women's models. If the lift wasn't as high, it might work for me. I guess the only option would be to get it modified, but I doubt I'll do that. You would think they would have thought about this on the women's model as a lot of women are short like me.

[KathyW]

Stacy: REI will order just about any boots you want and have them delivered to the store. You can then go in and try them on to see if they work for you. With REI you can also return boots after you use them and find they don't work - even when you've been using them for a while.

If your existing boots have stiff soles, they should work fine in the local mountains in the winter or in the spring/summer in the Sierra.

I also have a pair of older Black Diamond Contact Strap Crampons (I have 4 pairs of crampons and I only use two of them anymore). I keep the Contact Strap crampon so I have a pair to lend out . Generally, the Contact Strap's are good, but they aren't as sharp as most 12 point crampons (at least the old models were not), so they just don't feel as secure on that hard ice we often see in the local mountains as the 12 point crampons I have and have had.