Boots and crampons for a beginner?
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 1:45 am
I've already posted this question here but I need a quick answer so apologies for the double post.
Essentially I may be heading to Snowdonia next weekend for my first taste of winter mountaineering. My complete ignorance of gear and technique came through when I was discussing this with people at my climbing club- they asked what type of crampons I was going to take. Obviously I answered that I don't know and they explained that there are two grades of crampon, C1's and C2's which are more heavy duty, and that while C1's should attach to any boot, C2's are designed to go with proper mountaineering boots.
I have a pair of Scarpa Infinity GTX's which have been great for long distance trekking, hill-walking and scrambling so far, but which aren't designed for snow and ice. To do routes such as the Snowdon Horseshoe (which I've already done in damp conditions), what type of crampons would I need, and might there be problems with compatability with my boots? I can't afford the expense of buying mountaineering boots right now so if this is problematic I'll probably have to pull out for now. If anyone could explain the crampon classes and how they're matched with boots it would be much appreciated!
Essentially I may be heading to Snowdonia next weekend for my first taste of winter mountaineering. My complete ignorance of gear and technique came through when I was discussing this with people at my climbing club- they asked what type of crampons I was going to take. Obviously I answered that I don't know and they explained that there are two grades of crampon, C1's and C2's which are more heavy duty, and that while C1's should attach to any boot, C2's are designed to go with proper mountaineering boots.
I have a pair of Scarpa Infinity GTX's which have been great for long distance trekking, hill-walking and scrambling so far, but which aren't designed for snow and ice. To do routes such as the Snowdon Horseshoe (which I've already done in damp conditions), what type of crampons would I need, and might there be problems with compatability with my boots? I can't afford the expense of buying mountaineering boots right now so if this is problematic I'll probably have to pull out for now. If anyone could explain the crampon classes and how they're matched with boots it would be much appreciated!