Cool. In the interest of understanding your experience, which is obviously much different than mine:
Is that all/most winter use? How much loose rock?
Its not that I don't believe you, but 9 years on a set of gaiters is just hard to comprehend.
Actually a valid point.
Annually, use them for 2-3 mixed snow, ice, rock climbs in the North Cascades, usually couple of Cascades volcano climbs, a few deep snow snowshoe trips, several chrony shooting trips in the mountain environment and one or two non-summit "assists" of those that are not prepared or shouldn't be where they are.
Wear them when needed on approaches with scree, talus and boulders, wet brush, etc. Couple of times in desert environments when other equipment was delayed.
They're a little frayed, but very serviceable. I always clean and maintain all equipment, gear and firearms on returning from any kind of sojourn.
