I'm just getting into mountaineering and would like to try some less extreme ice climbing as well, as well as short stretches of vertical ice. I have kolflach degre boots and grivel g12 crampons, which are semi-rigid. they are designed for general mountainering and less extreme ice climbing. i got ones with the "new classic" binding system, so the are strap on with strong plastic heel and toe cups, instead of step-in. if i try some less extreme ice climbing or short stretches of vertical or near vertical ice, will i end up killing myself? p.s. i'm not going without an experienced companion, just so you know.

thanks a ton!!

Brian

-- brian irwin (battenkill1@juno.com), October 25, 2000

Answers

You won't end up killing yourself on vertical ice with any decent crampons, which yours are. They all work OK. Rigid crampons vibrate less, and can reduce calve fatigue, but this is not critical.

-- Q.-Tuan Luong (luong@ai.sri.com), October 25, 2000.

A couple things about mountaineering crampons. Their front points are horizontal, not vertical; and they're flexible. What that mean for technical climbing, is that with each step up you take, your gonna have to kick harder, and your going to be breaking off more ice. If your on softer ice, the points shouldn't be too hard to kick in, but it'll be harder than with technical crampons. Because they're flexible, your gonna pump your calves out a lot faster because you wont have that solid "platform" to stand on like you would with technical crampons. You can get by with the g-12's, it'll just be a little harder, and you'll have to watch where you put your feet.

-- jim davis (jmdavis384@aol.com), March 10, 2003.