Situation: You are on a day hiker taking an early-season hike. You start low but climb to higher elevations.

Your trail is clear for miles. Yet just shy of the viewpoint where you want to stand, you find a patch of trail—maybe 20 to 40 paces long—is covered by the last of winter’s snow, right where the route crosses an exposed, moderately steep slope.

You, having foreseen nothing but blue skies and songbirds, brought no ice ax. What do you do?

It depends, says Mike Zawaski, author of the Snow Travel: Skills for Climbing, Hiking and Moving Across Snow, released in December by The Mountaineers Books.

Zawaski has taught mountaineering courses for Outward Bound for 15+ years and once worked with Yosemite Search and Rescue. His book addresses all manner of wilderness travel on snow, from serious mountaineering challenges for climbers to simpler tasks such as hikers sidestepping across snowfields.

Timing matters. “For hikers who aren’t carrying crampons, it’s better to get yourself to a mountain pass in the afternoon or when things are sunny so the snow  is softer and  kicking steps is easier,” he said. “So it should be easier if you get to an east-facing pass in the morning or a west-facing pass later the later afternoon so the snow has had time to heat up and soften.

Understand gravity (think ahead, part 2). “If you go up the snow, are you also going to have to climb down? Realize that it’s better to climb up snow than down.

“People can use traction devices you slip on the bottoms of your shoes," he said. "They can be helpful, but if you are mountaineering, you need mountaineering equipment.”

Use poles. “If you have ski or trekking poles, you should have those out,” he said. “If I have something to jab into the snow to assist me with my balance or help me stop if I fall, that’s going to be better than nothing or just using my hands.”

Or use whatever is handy. “If you see a pass coming up and you’re down in the trees, grab yourself a big, sturdy walking stick ahead of time or a dagger-like rock. Not that you have to create some prehistoric ax out of rocks and sticks. But find a big, burly stick that’s going to work for balancing and jabbing into the snow.

Or, just back away. “But if you’re not that comfortable, you’re better off turning around,” he said. “If you need an ice ax and you’re improvising with a stick you’re putting yourself in a more challenging situation.

“Making the decision to keep going means considering the likelihood of falling and also the consequences of falling.  If the consequences of falling are low, go for it. If the consequences of falling are high, even if the likelihood of falling as low, think twice about continuing on or turn around.”

Mike Zawaski will appear in person April 4 at the REI Denver store at 6:30pm to discuss proper ice ax use, step-kicking tactics and other techniques for safe travel on snow. Zawaski’s free presentation is open to the public.