Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Lost Crampon on Mt Baldy...xmas eve

Even pro guides have lost crampons, but probably not a second time.

You probably know all this by now, but here's some crampon advice:

Your Petzl bindings are (were) hybrids, which require a rigid sole boot. Non-rigid sole boots will cause the bindings to loosen more easily.

A proper fit - tight. Have a knowledgeable store clerk check the fit on your boots before you buy the crampons.

Consider using strap-on crampons for average (Mt. Baldy) mountain conditions. While not as tight a fit as hybrids or step-in crampons, there is one advantage: Strap-ons usually have one strap that goes around the ankle which will help keep the crampon on your boot (if the crampon comes off it will flop around, alerting you to a problem...ha ha.)

The truly paranoid might also rig a safety strap around the ankle; something like a ski binding safety strap.

Check your bindings before descending the mountain, especially in deep snow.