Why do I suck at winter climbing?
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 5:10 am
I realized something just now; I've never actually summited a mountain in the winter with considerable snow on it. Granted, I dont try very often and usually stick to the snowless lower elevation stuff in the winter months, but I never reach my destination when I slap on the snowshoes if I do try.
For example: Two weeks ago I planned on a short loop (<6 miles, 2k EVG) that included 3 small peaks below 10000 feet. I didn't expect too much snow, but brought along snowshoes just in case. When I got to the trailhead, there was on average of a foot of snow difted across the trail. About a quarter mile in, I lost the trail and all desire to continue, then walked down the road a few miles with my tail between my legs.
Anyone else just get in that 'F it' mindset when dealing with snow? I'm certainly not like that in the summer, I'll walk 5 miles through rain to get to some distant lake or ranked point, but give up really easily in the winter.
Should I find easier destinations to start out with, then work my way up? Before I was thinking I could just blow off the learning curve with winter climbing and attack mountains like I normally would, but now I'm not so sure.
Any thoughts?
For example: Two weeks ago I planned on a short loop (<6 miles, 2k EVG) that included 3 small peaks below 10000 feet. I didn't expect too much snow, but brought along snowshoes just in case. When I got to the trailhead, there was on average of a foot of snow difted across the trail. About a quarter mile in, I lost the trail and all desire to continue, then walked down the road a few miles with my tail between my legs.
Anyone else just get in that 'F it' mindset when dealing with snow? I'm certainly not like that in the summer, I'll walk 5 miles through rain to get to some distant lake or ranked point, but give up really easily in the winter.
Should I find easier destinations to start out with, then work my way up? Before I was thinking I could just blow off the learning curve with winter climbing and attack mountains like I normally would, but now I'm not so sure.
Any thoughts?