Stabilicers vs crampons for current conditions

[Sky King]

I am considering hiking Marshall from Upper Works next weekend. If conditions remain the same; ie, light snow on top of ice, would Stabilicers be adequate? I have crampons but strongly prefer Stabilicers but yet I'm inexperienced with Adirondack ice conditions. It seems that crampons are more commonly used and I wonder why or if Stabilicers haven't caught on. I don't want to carry both.

 

[Tim Seaver]

If the depth and moisture content of the snow over water ice is such that the snow compresses under your boot into a wad with each step, stabilicers ( or screwboots) may not have adequate depth to still contact the icy surface below.

 

[Mad Townie]

And if it's bare rock under most of the snow, as it was for me on Cannon today, all you do is dull up your crampons.

Don't know if the Stabilicers would have helped at all--I barebooted back down with pretty good results. Now I have to get out the file . . . .