Thanks! In theory, the HS Trail or microspikes should work for what I want. That said, the fire folks at my old job had the microspikes and nearly everyone had a failure. The eyelet holding the chain to the binding tore. The new models look better...
I definitely don't want front points! I borrowed a pair of crampons to help a buddy with Nov mountain goat hunt in ID. They worked splendidly on top! Coming down, where there started to be some brush sticking above the snow, not so good. I face planted with a pack full of goat meat more times than I care to remember. That said, I wouldn't have gotten around on top without them...
