Thanks ribka, I think I will give them a try, Black Diamond has worked for me since the '60s. I can even crash descending on snowshoes. 2 years ago in Montana I crossed a ridge from windpack to deeeeep powder and took a header into a tree bowl. I worked up a pretty good sweat getting out of that, one of those times you question the wisdom of going solo.
mike r
Go with the Hoks, 145 cm. The shorter version won't be enough to carry you, your gear and a rifle. I have the 145's and in deep light snow they are just enough and I'm not a heavy wt.
...and stay out of the tree wells, people die in those things.
