Snow Skills

For hiking in snow, snowshoes are usually the tool of choice. Climbing in deep snow or ice? Crampons will do the job. But what do you wear for traction when there’s icy conditions without underlying snow? A company called 32 NORTH INC. just down the road from the Snowskills.net headquarters produces several awesome products for increasing grip in freezing conditions. One of their products that any winter hiker should own and carry is called Stabilicers.

Stabilicers allow you to replace your boot’s tread with an additional outer sole lined with metal cleats. By the use of velcro straps, you can securely attach these soles (made by Vibram, an experienced boot sole manufacturer) to the underside of your shoes or boots, without any play between the two. The metal cleats will give you a grip on ice and hardpack snow, allowing you to maintain efficiency and pace that you otherwise would have lost.

On a recent hike in the western mountains of Maine, freezing rain and sleet conditions with little snow ground cover forced us to use a car spot miles from the far end of the trail loop. Stabilicers were exactly the tool for these conditions as there wasn’t enough snow for snowshoes and too much bare rock for crampons. The day ended with a 6 mile road march on a sheet of grey ice with a coating of light rain: a hard finish to a hard day was doable, thank to these traction devices.
Stabilicers are available at many on-line retailers, including Eastern Mountain Sports.