Double socks in climbing boots is almost manditory. Cotton against your skin, then heavy wool. Wool stays warm even when it is wet, and the cotton absorbs sweat.

I wonder if gaiters would help against the leeches? They'd have to fit around the boot snugly enough to keep anything from crawling under. Gaiters in mountaineering are essential. They keep the snow out of the tops of your boots and the bottom of your pants.

I didn't have my gaiters with me on one trip, up Monte Cristo in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. We climbed the peak, and that afternoon enjoyed a nice long glissade (sit down and slide) off of the peak. I stood up once to find that the back of my pants legs and seat were completely packed with snow, and had to do considerable stomping to get it out. The next time I stood up I was surprised to find there was no snow packed in my pants, until I realized the seat had ripped and snow going up my legs was traveling out again at the top of the legs! I had to wrap my windbreaker around my waist for the rest of the hike out. ;-D

SRS