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New Orleans, Louisiana
USA
301 Posts |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2010 : 2:51 PM
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| The spikes on my camp Stalkers are about 2.5" at the toes, and I think a bit less at the instep. |
Edited by - peter1955 on 07/14/2010 3:03 PM |
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New Orleans, Louisiana
USA
301 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2010 : 08:28 AM
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Thanks, Peter.
Hmm. May have to re-think this scenario, as what the character in question has handy aren't that long....
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2010 : 08:44 AM
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The old ones were 10 point, with no toe spikes; the modern models have 12 which includes 2 toe spikes sticking out in front. See my TR for Maligne Canyon Ice Walk.
Depends what the character wants to do. If the plan is to walk up a wall he'd need something he could kick in, but if he just wants to get traction while walking on ice, all he'd need would be something that would be situated under his feet and would dig in from there. |
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Smurf Village, BC
Canada
1497 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2010 : 10:44 AM
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| I would say that anything in the range of 1.5-2 inches would sound reasonable. If you google crampon images, some of the spikes are longer than others, depending on which part of the foot you're looking at. But if you're writing a story, you could just skip the numeric size part, and just use some flowery language to get the "point" across. |
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New Orleans, Louisiana
USA
301 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2010 : 10:49 AM
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I did see the old style and new style crampons with ten vs 12 points.
Actually, the character doesn't actually have crampons -- he's the one from my Death Trap scenario who has to make it through same without so much as a hiking stick, because his original plan wasn't to go cross-country. (On the run from the authorities -- he will find help at Lake Louise.)
I was just trying to figure out what length of spikes would be needed to keep from going over an edge.
I'll take a look at the trail report a bit later. (Starting to thunder here; the typical N'Awlins summer afternoon storm and I don't like having the computer on during same.) Thanks -- I always love a trail report, but even more so when it applies to what I'm working on, 'cause it helps me visualize things.
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287 Posts |
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2421 Posts |
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New Orleans, Louisiana
USA
301 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2010 : 9:37 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by guntis
I would say that anything in the range of 1.5-2 inches would sound reasonable. If you google crampon images, some of the spikes are longer than others, depending on which part of the foot you're looking at. But if you're writing a story, you could just skip the numeric size part, and just use some flowery language to get the "point" across.
LOL! I have relatively few qualms about "writing around" something... I mean, I'm not writing a trail report, and the probability is that the majority of people who read this will NOT be skilled in mountain activities, and so wouldn't know the difference.
However, because I'm a researcher, I like to know what is physically possible and what isn't. I still remember being jolted out of a perfectly good modern day story which had a character driving east across the Mississippi River on the Crescent City Connection to reach the East Bank. (East Bank = same side of Mississippi that NYC is on; West Bank = same side of River that Los Angeles is on.)
Except, there's one small hitch: the Mississippi does a bunch of loops down here by the Gulf, and at the Crescent City Connection, it flows due NORTH, and you travel west to get to the East Bank of the river.
I'd prefer not to do a "drive east" maneuver here!  |
Edited by - Marilynx on 07/15/2010 10:24 PM |
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New Orleans, Louisiana
USA
301 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2010 : 9:38 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by PackRat
try this link for some ideas:
http://www.grivel.com/Storia/Storia_Det.asp?Cat=R
Oh, I'm gonna book mark that for the historical stuff! I don't need it for what I'm currently working on, but it will be useful! Thanks so much! |
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New Orleans, Louisiana
USA
301 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2010 : 9:57 PM
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Peter,
Looked at the Maligne Canyon ice walk. Lovely. <deep sigh> I'd probably have been one of the tourists slipping and sliding.... |
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660 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2010 : 06:32 AM
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So you need to jury-rig some crampons?
Barbed wire, as long as the surface is hard enough to not need much penetration.
Screws through the soles.
A studded neck collar from the Doberman the character had defeated earlier. Or maybe the character is into BDSM and just happens to have some equipment. (Hey, this is fiction, right?)
The jaw bone from an animal. A wolf or other carnivore has some nice big front points. That just might be your choice right there. A fairly fresh one would be very effective, not too inconceivable too be found at the right time, very colourful.
Maybe the character found only one and has to do a very awkward shuffle where the un-cramponed foot slides back almost as much as the cramponed foot gains him/her?
Makeshift crampons, imaginative, feasible, doesn't have to be all that practical, this is fiction after all. Has to sound good.
More suggestions?
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2010 : 09:05 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Marilynx
Peter,
Looked at the Maligne Canyon ice walk. Lovely. <deep sigh> I'd probably have been one of the tourists slipping and sliding....
I'll do it again next year. Let me know when you can come up and I'll book the trip.. |
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New Orleans, Louisiana
USA
301 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2010 : 11:48 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by alexcanuck
So you need to jury-rig some crampons? <snip> Makeshift crampons, imaginative, feasible, doesn't have to be all that practical, this is fiction after all. Has to sound good.
More suggestions?
Oh, the character is definitely using something your average ice walker wouldn't use. <grin> I just wanted to make sure it was within the realm of probability, unlike New Orleans, where you drive due east to get to the West Bank of the Mississippi River.
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New Orleans, Louisiana
USA
301 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2010 : 11:52 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by peter1955
I'll do it again next year. Let me know when you can come up and I'll book the trip..
Not sure when that will be -- definitely in 2013, 'cause that's when I get to celebrate officially being cancer-free.
I'll just have to see what my idiot knees and etc. choose to do by that point, and then figure out what's within my physical abilities. I do know that my mind is much more capable than the rest of me! (Although some people would question whether my brain works all that well....)
There's so much I want to see and do!
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660 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2010 : 12:19 PM
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For hard ice, you need very little length at all. See http://tinyurl.com/2bcrng7
Most crampons of course are longer for snow.
As far as how long is needed to keep from going over the edge, it all depends on the snow/ice conditions and the strength and skill of the character.
Have fun with it! |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2010 : 1:36 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by alexcanuck
For hard ice, you need very little length at all. See http://tinyurl.com/2bcrng7
Or google MEC and look for Kahtoola Microspikes.
Of course cleats that small aren't crampons, just antislip devices. |
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1448 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2010 : 5:20 PM
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So marilynx..
What exactly would you be doing with them..
Solid ice ? hard snow, slushy snow ? then what type of walking flat, steep, average ?
As you have a number of options to which type of crampons fit what type of boot your using. Then how many points, solid bar, flexible bar, climbing points, light weight...
If your only walking on solid ice even a trail crampon will work.
Which I have and work great for non technical hikes, walks
http://hillsound.com/02product/trampon.php
http://www.backcountrygear.com/catalog/familydetail.cfm/crampons
I have 2 types a light weight then then a stronger set
Stubai ultra light
http://www.backcountrygear.com/catalog/climbdetail.cfm/STU100
quote:
Originally posted by Marilynx
Peter,
Looked at the Maligne Canyon ice walk. Lovely. <deep sigh> I'd probably have been one of the tourists slipping and sliding....
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New Orleans, Louisiana
USA
301 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2010 : 08:08 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by alexcanuck
For hard ice, you need very little length at all. See http://tinyurl.com/2bcrng7
Most crampons of course are longer for snow. As far as how long is needed to keep from going over the edge, it all depends on the snow/ice conditions and the strength and skill of the character. Have fun with it!
The original discussion of the character, and where and why he's doing what he's doing can be found here:
http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=30924
My co-author's computer crashed last week, so while I'm waiting on it being fixed so we can continue working (only nine more chapters to finish editing, smoothing, organizing, etc. !!), I was going back and doing some additional fact-checking.
And I do have fun with it -- for me, it's climbing the mountains of my imagination! |
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New Orleans, Louisiana
USA
301 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2010 : 08:10 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by peter1955
[quote]Or google MEC and look for Kahtoola Microspikes. Of course cleats that small aren't crampons, just antislip devices.
Snow chains for walking shoes? |
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New Orleans, Louisiana
USA
301 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2010 : 08:20 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by camshaft
So marilynx... What exactly would you be doing with them..
Solid ice ? hard snow, slushy snow ? then what type of walking flat, steep, average ?
Original discussion of what and why the character is doing what he's doing is (as posted earlier), here.
http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=30924
I think the answer is likely, "Yes."
Thanks for those links to different types of this equipment. Gives me additional data to crunch in the subconscious.
That's one thing I love about posting a question here. I can Google all day and look at articles and advertisements on equipment, but without context, without someone who's actually used a given kind of equipment, it's difficult to get things organized in my head. |
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Crampon Question
