Snow Travel : Climbing, Hiking and Crossing Over Snow

A comprehensive how-to guide covering all the essential techniques for safe and efficient movement across snow fields. Whether you're a hiker, scrambler, backcountry skier, climber, or general winter traveller, this expert resource will equip you with the fundamental skills you need.

Author Mike Zawaski, a longtime instructor with Outward Bound and the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), shares decades of snow hiking and snow-travel experience. You'll discover everything from picking the right gear and pre-trip planning—ice axe, crampons, clothing, and snow safety essentials—to choosing routes by evaluating snowpack and identifying the fall line. Learn the basics of kicking steps, including walking flat-footed, front pointing, duck stepping, and stepping efficiently with crampons or ski and snowboard boots.

Master ice axe techniques for traversing, chopping steps, glissading, and self-arresting, while understanding critical snow hazards such as elephant traps, cornices, snow bridges, and post-holes. The book even includes lesson plans to help you share your knowledge with others. With this guide, you can learn to safely hike in the snow, avoid hazards, navigate dangerous snowpack, and enjoy the backcountry, high country, or even your own backyard.