Unusual query...
I like to ride abroad in June but there is often still snow above 2000m in North-facing enclaves. Last year I just walked my bike across some snow/ice fields on fairly steep gradients but this was really quite unsafe, particularly on untracked fields where other walkers had not carved out a path. I got the feeling it could've ended badly.
Next year if there's late snow I'm planning to take an ice axe, but that's very much a last resort to use as a brake if I begin sliding. But I would prefer not to begin sliding at all, not least because getting an ice axe in while sliding at speed holding a bike could be difficult. Are there any studs, maybe even crampons, or something that I can keep in my bag to fix to my SIDIs for trekking across snow? Do you reckon a pair of telescopic walking poles would do the trick instead of an ice axe? Would it help to take a little shovel for carving out a path?
Or is the answer simply to abort a trail if it's blocked by a snowfield, and ride somewhere else?
