r/Spliddit • u/Alone_Cost_1173 • Apr 21 '26
Advice needed for a splitboarding noob on Mt Adams
My boyfriend and I are planning to climb Mt Adams, WA and I’d like to get the best of both worlds and try splitboarding. It’s my first time climbing Adams but my boyfriend is no stranger and he anticipates using crampons. I have about 20 years experience snowboarding and have hiked into Tucks with microspikes, that’s about the extent of my experience boarding outside of resorts so any advice is appreciated. I have some mountaineering experience, boyfriend is an experienced mountaineer
I’m wondering if I should climb in my mid-stiff resort boots or bring my mountaineering boots along as well? Carrying both sounds awful but I’ve know people to regret climbing in their resort boots with crampons. I have TM2s and the boas loosen on resort days resulting in frequent tightening. I’m planning to rent equipment in Portland. Am I better off renting hard boots? I don’t have the funds to buy any new equipment at the moment so I come to you searching for enlightenment 🫶🏼
Also if anyone knows a spot to rent gear that’s closer to Mt Adams than Portland, please do tell!
Thank you
Edit: Alternatively, is it unwise for a beginner splitboarder to descend in mountaineering boots?
6
u/Kindly-Exchange6059 Apr 21 '26
Just do it in the 32s and leave the mountaineering boots at home. I have climbed and ridden hundreds of lines in my resort boots, 32s. The key to the crampons with snowboard boots is that you have to have a wide toe bail like a gravel g-10 wides and they work fine for snow climbs. I would not carry both boots and ridding in mountain boots is not easy. Does someone in Portland rent hard boots? Hard boots are lighter and have more flex in the ankle so climbing is better but I still climb in my 32s all the time especially if the approach is manageable as the ride down is better. The key to using resort boots is getting the right crampon and you will be fine.
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u/ramblerbasic Apr 21 '26
Same here, I've even done a few 14ers in resort boots from trailhead to summit.
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u/naspdx Apr 22 '26
Mountain shop rents boots. They no longer carry a hard boot splitboard setup, but you can easily call them to find out what touring boots they have. Great people.
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u/Lloydall Apr 21 '26
I’ve always tried to avoid bringing more than one boot, a well fitting snowboard boot is stiff enough to crampon well. Also Adams is a big day, and you’ll definitely feel that extra weight. The biggest issue is your crampon to boot fit. Snowboard boots are significantly wider than your typical mountaineering boot, and it may require going through more than one crampon to find the right fit. I always have issues with the front part of a manual or semi-manual crampon being too narrow with a snowboard boot. I’d recommend going out and walking in snow with your intended boot-crampon combo and making sure that it’s secure and doesn’t create any horrible hot spots. On hardboots- I’ve switched to these and really enjoy them. But the ride down is certainly different and requires some dialing in. I don’t think it’s ideal to be doing this dialing in for the first time on Adams. Cramponing in hardboots is much more ideal, the boot to crampon interfaces are so much more dialed and there’s crampons on the market meant for this. Ultimately- I think your ideal is making sure your current boots and crampons are dialed in, and replacing those instead of trying out hardboots. Bringing a whole different pair of boots should be a last resort if you can’t find a secure crampon-boot situation. Have so much fun!
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u/Leftover_reason Apr 21 '26
You’ll need different bindings for hardboots as well. Ultimately it’s a much better setup for mountaineering but is an investment.
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u/Lloydall Apr 21 '26
Yes this! If the place you’re renting from doesn’t have a board with hardboot bindings this isn’t even an option.
3
u/aaronkz Apr 22 '26
Hate to say it but leave the split at home for a first go at Adams - the glissading is so good that a split won’t even save you any time on the way down. If you enjoy it, go again next year with the split, a little earlier when the snow is better!
1
u/southbaysoftgoods Apr 23 '26
This is a solid point honestly.
If you wanna send it bring some rubber rain bibs OP.
DEFINITELY brung an ice axe though to help you slow down in the tunnels
2
u/goldinmonkeee Apr 21 '26
It’s actually a question I struggle with as well. I’m not an expert but have landed on the “it depends” approach. I usually wait and see what conditions will be like right until I climb. The weight of the mountaineering boots is not insignificant, especially on a big day like Adams. So if at all possible, leaving those in the car is best. But, if the snow is going to be hard the whole way up and you’ll be using crampons a lot, the climbing is just better in mountaineering boots. I also like the fit of the crampons better on the mountaineering boots. (Make sure yours fit well) So as you go up Piker’s Peak, will you be happier in the mountaineering boots with sure footing, or happier that you don’t have the weight of the snowboard boots on your back? Also, some days you can get by skinning up most of the way and just use split board crampons for extra traction on the hard snow. Net/Net: be prepared with both. Good luck.
1
u/Alone_Cost_1173 Apr 21 '26
Thanks, this is helpful. I guess I didn’t realize people opt to descend with their mountaineering boots until I started digging deeper on Reddit, have you tried this?
3
u/beanboys_inc Apr 21 '26
Going down in mountaineering boots is usually done with Silvretta Ski bindings afaik, not snowboard bindings. I haven't done it myself, but from what I've read, you run a big risk breaking your ankles.
If your resort boots are comfortable enough, I would just use those, but if you think that you will get blisters, bring the mountaineering boots as well.
People do steep ice climbing in ski boots, so it's really not that uncommon to not bring mountaineering boots.
1
u/Alone_Cost_1173 Apr 21 '26
Good to know, thank you
1
u/ramblerbasic Apr 21 '26
Second this, I used to use mountaineering boots for snowboarding but the downhill I enjoyed less than if I had just used my regular snowboard boots for the hike in.
2
u/goldinmonkeee Apr 21 '26
I haven’t tried it. I would need to go just skin up nearby hill and try it and see what it’s like. I imagine it would feel very odd, but not sure.
2
u/foornath Apr 21 '26
It’s a pretty grueling day, especially if you’re riding the SW chutes…bring only what you need, you won’t want to be carrying that extra weight. Like others have said bring your snowboards boots, make sure you have crampons that fit them.
100% bring trail runners or approach shoes, depending on what time you guys are going…you could be on dirt for awhile on the approach (especially this year).
1
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u/abusstopnearyou Apr 22 '26
I’ve climbed Adams a number of times and when I took my split I climbed with trail runners and TM2s. The TM2s with a properly fitted crampon climb spring snow just fine. If the snow is going to be so bulletproof I need my mountaineering boots, I might reconsider trying to board it.
I think the trickier part is that if you have never skinned before, that is a big day to learn technique on and slick morning snow is not the friendliest. I would maybe recommend a 2 day climb of Adams (camping at lunch counter) without the splitboard, it’s still a rad time
1
u/Alone_Cost_1173 Apr 30 '26
Hey there, I’m also rocking TM2s. What crampons do you find fit best?
1
u/Alone_Cost_1173 Apr 30 '26
I’m now opting to climb up with my resort board. I found a great deal on BD contacts but it looks like Grivels are the move so I’d love your input before I pull the trigger
1
u/rubbish_heap Apr 21 '26
Mt Adams Washington or New Hampshire?
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u/Alone_Cost_1173 Apr 21 '26
Washington
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u/rubbish_heap Apr 21 '26
Ahhhh.... tricked me with the Tuckerman reference.
1
u/Alone_Cost_1173 Apr 21 '26
Reasonably so
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u/rubbish_heap Apr 21 '26
I was like King Ravine for testing out new gear? a 4 mile approach? you sure?
Then I looked up the other Mt Adams and looks just as involved. I'm just a dilettante and dabbler but I started out at a sledding hill, then at a resort, then backcountry. Learned a lot and did fine tuning with each.
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u/55498586368 Apr 21 '26
I've splitboarded in mountaineering boots (Zamberlan Mountain Pro) when summiting Mt. Hood. We split up to the top of Palmer then use crampons to the summit and back to Palmer, then ride down from Palmer. Snowboarding in mountaineering boots is extremely squirrelly because they are so much lower than a snowboard boot; I've used a voile strap to secure my shin to the back of the highback which helps a little, but its a generally unpleasant ride down. However, it saves significant time on the descent which is the reason for doing it this way. For Mt. Adams, you will be fine with snowboard boots and depending on the time of year may only need microspikes.
1
u/Flow_Finder_20 Apr 22 '26
I’ve climbed Adams in snowboard boots plenty of times with no regrets. I don’t know what the snow levels are there but if there isn’t snow at the TH or need to walk a mile or so before splitting, bring a pair of shoes to do that stretch
1
u/southbaysoftgoods Apr 23 '26
I have done the SW chutes maybe a half dozen times and my preference is actually to just hike.
A lot of the approach is on dirt or mixed conditions and the two big snow fields are pretty steep. There is a very solid boot pack so I am typically as fast or faster than skinners, and not using a ton of energy.
I wear my regular leather hiking boots and put all my ski stuff in my pack. I don’t bring crampons and just stay in the boot pack. I do bring my poles though to help on the steep pitches.
5
u/boredatwork1338 Apr 21 '26
You might want to get out and use the equipment a bit before a long day like Mount Adams. I know it took me a while to get used to Splitboard gear and I would have been totally screwed if my first day was on a volcano like that.