Footwear challenge: scree-covered ledges
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 10:12 pmOk, so looking at boot reviews, I see lots of recommendations for various conditions: stiff-soled mountaineering boots that can climb mid-fifth class rock, approach shoes that can take crampons, etc. I can easily find a shoe for ice, rock, steep snow, long trails, and combinations of those. "This double plastic boot edges really well." stuff like that.
But I don't see any recommendations for the scariest of all scenarios: outsloping scree-covered ledges. Lots of modern shoes will get me to the peak, across the snow field, up the slab and traverse the crack. But what shoe will get me down the choss-covered ramp back to the bottom of the mountain safely? Heavy boots? Light boots with big lugs? Nimble trail shoes? Sticky climbing rubber? Bare feet? What do I wear to avoid falling to my death on the descent? I figure anything that will get me down can get me up.
But I don't see any recommendations for the scariest of all scenarios: outsloping scree-covered ledges. Lots of modern shoes will get me to the peak, across the snow field, up the slab and traverse the crack. But what shoe will get me down the choss-covered ramp back to the bottom of the mountain safely? Heavy boots? Light boots with big lugs? Nimble trail shoes? Sticky climbing rubber? Bare feet? What do I wear to avoid falling to my death on the descent? I figure anything that will get me down can get me up.