So I was in the bathroom taking care of business, and I was reading last months Backpacker magazine. One of the survival skills that was written was how to cross a snow or iced over trail. The article stated that one way to gain traction was to insert screws into you shoes....Really????? How many of us carry screws in our kit???? That has to be one of the dumbest things I have ever read in that magazine. In fact, sometimes I question why I read it at all.

Might seem like a dumb idea. But it isn't new.

No no no Greg, the idea is sound. But I just can't imagine someone carry screws to insert them on the trail to use. The article was on survival skills.

I have done a lot of snow travel while backpacking, and between my poles, and kick stepping I manage fine. Also, if things are icy then I would wait for the sun to soften the ice or snow. Just thought that carrying screws in you pack and ruining your shoes was a tad overkill

Ahhhh.

Yes, a quite foolish suggestion in that scenario.

Talk about packing stuff "just in case"...
Screws, awl, nut driver, ....
Med kit for when you stab yourself in the leg...

The survival skill for that writer would be "stay home".

Except for if it was based on old school waffle stompers this method was considered normal back then. The tread was much different than modern shoes.

It does work. Is this tip in the newest issue that is all stuff from past issues? Think about it....20-30 years ago we didn't have Kathoola Microspikes to slap on. Nope, you had screws.

Which ironically do weigh less to carry than crampons do.

http://www.skyrunner.com/screwshoe.htm

Yes, the article is pretty out of touch. In a "survival" situation, the last thing you're going to have is 2 or 3 dozen self tapping screws to drive into your trail runners for traction. I suppose the article also assumes you have a heavy Leatherman to drive in those screws too correct? :) Lot's of trailrunners do the shoe screw thing for winter running and icy races, La Sportiva sells some fancy ones called Hobnails, but 1/4 self tappers suffice. I forgot Backpacker Magazine existed, thanks for reminding me what I've been missing.

Assumption is that you salvage the screws from the aircraft wreckage

Or maybe what they really are saying about the situation is "you're screwed"

Who knows? But they sell a lot of magazines.

LOL!