Now that I think about it a bit more, it really depends on how soft the snow is. If the basket is really going to sink in, I'd keep them a bit longer, which is where adjustable poles come in.

I have fallen over a couple of times with a big pack in soft snow and longer poles help you get back up. The last time I was in Yosemite, the snow was so deep off trail that when I stuck my skis in it to stand them up by my tent, they easily sank all the way to the bindings,