Rob Johnson mic

A qualified International Mountain Leader, Rob’s led groups all over the world via his company www.expeditionguide.com

If you are out in the mountains and ask yourself 'I wonder if I should put my crampons on now?', the answer is invariably 'Yes'. It is hard to be wrong in choosing to put them on. Experienced practitioners will often delay the moment as long as possible simply in the name of efficiency – once they are on, more effort is required – but, if you are unsure, just put them on. While you are learning, the more mileage you can get wearing them the better. The only slight caveat to this is that on some types of ground, like boulder fields or really tussocky grass, they can be a hindrance and are unlikely to be useful. Crampons come into their own on hard-packed snow or ice where traction would simply not be possible without them. Often the harder question to answer is, 'When should I take my crampons off?' We tend to need them for longer in descent, so will often wear them past the point that we put them on. If you are not sure then keep them on until you are off the snow.

At what point should I put my crampons on? Fiona McAllister, Tewkesbury