PART 2: THE CRAMPONS

As soon as temperatures dip and snow falls, local conditions take effect, and it rapidly changes from soft, fluffy stuff that you can just about tramp through without extra kit, to hard, slippery stuff that requires specialist gear. To navigate hard, compacted snow (known as névé) and ice you need something to boost traction.

Winter boots with stiff edges and toes will work to a degree on some softer forms of névé, where you can get grip by kicking in to the surface (hence why you need the boots to be stiff), but on really solid snow and ice you’ll need the penetrative grip provided by crampons – metal spikes you strap to your stiff winter boots.

A general-purpose mountaineering or walking ice axe (see previous pages) will assist with balance on moderate slopes, provide a positive hold on steep slopes and be useful for cutting steps – and as a last resort can be used to arrest a fall – but it’s your crampons that will keep your feet from slipping in the first place on harder, compacted ice and snow.

WHEN TO STRAP ’EM ON

Put crampons on as soon as you can no longer kick steps in a slope, or when the ground is sufficiently icy enough for you to lose traction, or when the ground either side of you is sufficiently exposed that the consequences of a slip become great.

Don’t, though, put crampons on unnecessarily, as they’ll be a trip hazard on rocky terrain or ground obscured by snow. Gut instinct and experience play a part here, but always put them on before you find yourself on the ground you think you’ll need them for; you’re most at risk when you’re sat down with your ice axe to one side and your hands occupied.