Snow Travel for Thru-Hikers: Essential Gear, Skills, Tips, and More

The ability to self-arrest on steep, icy slopes is crucial for any thru-hiker. Self-arrest can prevent a slip from turning into a serious or fatal fall and potentially save your life.

Even on terrain with a moderate slope of 30 to 35 degrees, hikers can quickly gather speed and slide downhill, reaching velocities similar to free fall. To prevent these accidents, it’s crucial to train and perfect self-arrest techniques on short, obstacle-free snowfields. Consistent practice can help with muscle memory to make the process automatic and ensure that your reactions are immediate and effective.

How To Self-Arrest

The key to self-arresting is to stop the slide as quickly as possible. Depending on which way you fall, the process of self-arresting may vary slightly from start to finish. However, the end goal is always the same: the pick of your ice axe should be buried deep into the snow’s surface with your body’s weight planted over the axe until you are no longer sliding.

1. Orient Yourself: To properly and safely self-arrest, your chest should be oriented towards the snow with your backside toward the sky. Your head should be facing upwards, and your feet downslope. Whether you fall feet or head first, orienting yourself is the first step to a safe self-arrest.

2. Drive in the Pick: Once on your stomach, if wearing spikes or crampons, spread your legs and bend your knees while digging your ice axe’s pick deep into the snow’s surface with both hands. Do not swing the axe to achieve this; rather, utilize your body weight to push it in as deep as it will go.

3. Plant Feet: Then, kick your feet sturdily to plant them in the snow, and push your whole body over the axe. Position yourself so that your weight is over the axe to create a braking force.

This will help slow down your momentum and stop the slide. Your ice axe should lie diagonal to your body, with your hand covering the head of the axe near your shoulder and another on the shaft near your hip. The axe will experience drag and want to fly from your grasp—keep a firm hold of it.

Self-Arrest Is a Last Resort

It’s important to note that self-arresting is not a substitute for proper mountaineering equipment and training. Good judgment and proper use of your equipment (including your ice axe) can prevent many falls from happening in the first place.

If you’re planning to hike in icy or steep terrain, you should have an ice axe, traction, and proper training in how to use them. Additionally, it’s important to assess the slope and the conditions before attempting a potentially dangerous traverse. If the slope is too steep or icy, or if the snow is too hard, self-arresting may not be effective.

Timing Is Key

Another key factor in self-arresting is timing. You need to be able to recognize when you’re starting to slide and act quickly to stop the slide. The more momentum you gain while sliding, the more difficult a self-arrest will become. This requires practice in a safe, controlled environment, so it’s important to dial this in as muscle memory to ensure your body kicks into gear upon an emergency.

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Traveling Across Snowy Terrain

Walking Techniques

Depending on the terrain, thru-hikers may utilize different walking techniques, both for safety and efficiency, when ascending or descending snowy passes.

In moderately steep terrain, the optimal approach is to traverse the slope in a zigzag pattern. Kick steps into the snow with the side of your foot to create footholds, which you can then step into. It’s important to note that this works best when the boot pack is slightly inclined towards the slope to reduce the risk of slipping.

Another pro tip: Kicking steps can be exhausting! To conserve energy, take smaller, shorter steps upward, ensuring the footholds are as deep as possible.

Always be sure to carry your ice axe in your uphill hand, switching sides when you or the topography changes direction, and use it as a “walking stick.” On particularly steep slopes where a fall could be dangerous or potentially fatal, having your ice axe in hand is best practice in case of self-arrest. Unfortunately, it won’t do you much good when strapped to the back of your pack.

When descending, it’s recommended to face the valley to maintain a clear view of the terrain. On level sections, descend with a wide stance and lean forward slightly, while keeping your knees and hips slightly bent and ready to respond to any changes in the terrain.

Once again, footholds are your friend in making an easy descent. Use your heels to kick steps into the snow, with the footholds pointed inwards to the slope while using your axe for support.

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Timing

Another important consideration when traveling across snowy terrain is timing—generally speaking, hiking earlier in the day is preferable. But we’ll get into the nitty-gritty of the risks to assume when traveling on snow in the early morning versus late day.

Mornings

As the opposite of a morning person, there are few things that get me stoked for an early morning start—with mountain activities being one of the few. I prefer starting early in snowy terrain due to some key safety aspects.

The benefits of traveling across a snowy pass in the morning means a harder snowpack from a lack of sun, which in turn equates to less post-holing. Post-holing is the killer of energy, and it’s frustrating for any thru-hiker to constantly be knee (or waist) deep in snow with a heavy pack. So to avoid it altogether, I prefer an early start, where I can travel atop a snowfield in confidence.

Fords are also safer early in the day: streams will be at their lowest flow due to the lack of snowmelt in the cold morning hours.

However, starting early has tradeoffs. Depending on weather and overnight temperatures, an early start may mean more icy or hard-packed terrain, which can be intimidating for people who are not comfortable on snow. This is where your traction and ice axe will come in handy.

If you’re one of the first to travel through an area, you may also be responsible for creating the boot pack, an arduous task, especially with hard-packed snow that does not create footholds easily.

With proper gear, hiking earlier in the day is still likely the safest and easiest option. It’s best to be over high passes and heading down toward lower terrain (and, hopefully, dry trail) by early afternoon. Some thru-hikers start as early as 2 or 3 a.m. to make that happen.

READ NEXT – I Hate Mornings, But I’m Always On-Trail by 5 A.M.—Here’s Why

Afternoons

For late risers, crossing a snowy path may come at the heat of the day, when the snow is melting and softing from the sun’s rays. Softer, mushier snow may feel less daunting for those worried about icy terrain; you can often go without microspikes, and there is a less chance of slipping.

But mushy snow means hellacious postholing, so any amount of mileage can suddenly become a day-long slog when caught in this constant cycle. Furthermore, this can become quite dangerous in certain areas, such as river crossings that are iced over, where thru-hikers have the potential to poke through a snow bridge.

A snow bridge is an arc formed by a snow drift across terrain, such as over running water, which can be risky to cross over due to its delicate nature and melting snow. If formed over a rushing body of water, hikers can fall in and get sucked under the snow, creating a dangerous situation.

When streams are not bridged over, they will flow faster and deeper in the afternoon, swelled by snowmelt, making fords more dangerous.

While snow bridges can collapse without warning, they are more likely to do so when the snow begins to warm and the bridge becomes brittle and melted.

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Glissading is a fun and efficient way to descend steep snow slopes and the perfect way to celebrate topping out on a high pass. When done safely and correctly, a glissade can save time and energy, but there are some key factors to consider before sliding down a chute of snow.

It’s crucial to first assess the slope and snow conditions before attempting to glissade. The slope should be consistent and free of rocks, boulders, and drops. Glissading should be done in soft snow. Terrain that’s too icy can quickly turn into a self-arrest situation.

If the conditions are not suitable or if you’re unsure, play it safe and descend by foot. Additionally, glissading is not recommended for novice hikers or those without proper gear and experience with self-arrest techniques.

For a safe and epic glissade, sit with your feet down the slope and ice axe in the snow. One hand should hold the head of the axe comfortably, while the other on the shaft to control your speed. Keep your feet and knees together, and aim to slide in a straight line. Avoid twisting or turning, which can increase your speed and cause loss of control.

As you near the bottom of the slope, press your feet or ice axe into the snow to slow down and come to a stop. Avoid jerking the axe or abruptly stopping, as this can cause injury or damage to your gear.

And voila! With practice and proper gear, glissading can be a fun and efficient way to descend steep snow slopes.

Final Thoughts

While snow travel can feel daunting, it’s an epic and rewarding aspect of thru-hikes like the PCT—and an unavoidable part of the journey with this year’s insane snowpack.

Always be sure to assess for hazards regarding snow quality and the steepness of terrain. Consider the safety of yourself and fellow thru-hikers when assessing for things like avalanche risk, wet slides, and travel across steep terrain.

Even with proper gear and training, some hikers may not feel comfortable on steep or icy slopes. It’s important to recognize and respect these feelings and make decisions that prioritize your safety and well-being.

There’s no shame in turning back if conditions become too dangerous. Thru-hiking on snowy terrain requires a combination of physical and mental strength, and it’s important to listen to your instincts and prioritize safety.

Overall, this year’s PCT thru-hikers are in for a heroic journey across blanketed snowy terrain. While snow certainly comes with its own challenges, the pristine nature and intense accomplishment of completing a thru-hike in this challenging environment are worth the additional precautions.

With the proper gear, knowledge, and preparedness, thru-hikers can enjoy the serenity and beauty of the snowy trail in safety

Featured image: Photo by Javier Contreras Sales. Graphic design by Zack Goldmann.