Random Ski Touring Thoughts Thread

J.D.

J.D.

Active member
Staff member
Thought we could use a thread for just random crap that doesn't necessarily deserve its own thread, but also doesn't really fit anywhere else. Weather stoke, random gear thoughts, anecdotes, or just whatever's on your mind.

I guess it doesn't have to be touring or skiing related.
 
And to start, the random thought that inspired this thread: I think I might abandon resort skiing entirely.

Basically my knee is feeling like it's permanently fucked. I've had 2 ACL reconstructions since 2012, including re-stitching my meniscus together and putting a separate lateral strap on the side of my knee which have cost me most of the last two seasons before this one. And now it's fucked AGAIN. I've barely even skiied this year and done super easy mellow shit like groomers and bumps, and by the end of the day I can barely put weight on my heel to click into a binding.

Going to see my surgeon on the 8th and once he gives me the inevitable "yeah you're screwed buddy" news, I figure I should give up, throw on a compression sleeve and some duct tape and a brace and go for a hike. The goddamn thing seems basically fine climbing uphill, and it has to be good for at least one or two relatively mellow runs down per day in soft snow.

Fuck my life, in other words. Take care of your knees if you haven't already destroyed them.
 
I can so relate to this! I was recently diagnosed with arthritis behind both knee caps, and the idea of being harder on my lungs and muscles and nicer to my knees seems not too bad.

More days in dynafits and fewer in STHs in the future for me as well. I think it is the way to go, as you get to see so much more of the mountain world, always ski fresh snow, and constructively work on your body and mind instead of just doing the classic get baked and huck yourself through resort chunder hahah
 
Another random uptrack thought.

There has been a few times in my life, where I will be breaking a trail and there will be no sign of humans in sight, wind blowing through your hair, staying warm through the walking, and just feel so at home and alive.

It is the only place I have ever said to myself "This is perfection, I could not be any happier any other place in the world right now." That is magic.

Any one else ever had a breakthrough moment or moment of clarity on the uptrack before?
 
Whats the go to skin for durability/reliability? Weight isn't a huge issue.

Also, who makes k2's Pre cut skins? Are they just rebranded ?
 
13283375:Lucas said:
Whats the go to skin for durability/reliability? Weight isn't a huge issue.

Also, who makes k2's Pre cut skins? Are they just rebranded ?
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I think the basic nylon skins last the longers. G3 or BD make a good product. I personally prefer the G3 alpinist. 100 days or so, touring over rocks , twigs and other heinous shit. Still on the same glue.
 
13281020:Jaymon said:
Another random uptrack thought.

There has been a few times in my life, where I will be breaking a trail and there will be no sign of humans in sight, wind blowing through your hair, staying warm through the walking, and just feel so at home and alive.

It is the only place I have ever said to myself "This is perfection, I could not be any happier any other place in the world right now." That is magic.

Any one else ever had a breakthrough moment or moment of clarity on the uptrack before?
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I can relate 100%. It's comforting being out there in the elements with no one else (touring buddy excluded). You are at the mercy of the mountains. Not a single care about anything else. It's so cliché, but so true. It's a unique and amazing feeling.
 
13283375:Lucas said:
Whats the go to skin for durability/reliability? Weight isn't a huge issue.

Also, who makes k2's Pre cut skins? Are they just rebranded ?
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K2s pre-cut skins are made by the Swiss brand Pomoca I am pretty sure.

Around Revelstoke pretty much everyone that isn't on the full mohair train uses BDs or Pomoca's. Lot's of people use G3s due to their market prevalence and bombproofness, but most of the local's and experienced mountaineers hate on you pretty hard if you still run G3s due to weight and lack of grip.

Source: Used to have G3s. Pomocas now and love em
 
13284299:Jaymon said:
K2s pre-cut skins are made by the Swiss brand Pomoca I am pretty sure.

Around Revelstoke pretty much everyone that isn't on the full mohair train uses BDs or Pomoca's. Lot's of people use G3s due to their market prevalence and bombproofness, but most of the local's and experienced mountaineers hate on you pretty hard if you still run G3s due to weight and lack of grip.

Source: Used to have G3s. Pomocas now and love em
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no one has ever given me shit about my G3 skins, you're crazy. If people are giving you shit for the weight that you are personally carrying, sounds like you're hanging with a pretty douchy crowd. A part of Revelstoke I don't miss!

G3 is awesome. Made in Canada, grips plenty fine, and they're designed beautifully to fit pretty much every shape of ski (and they make some damn good split specific skins too!).
 
13283976:malonius_funk said:
tanks, Hoji...you da bomb.
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Hoji didnt design the Beast.. Dynafit was already working on it when they got Hoji onboard.. He just helped..
 
If I find some used skins that are cut for lets say a 105mm ski can I use them for my line sfb (142-115-139) or will I get way to little grip even for small walks?
 
13284416:Camembert said:
Hoji didnt design the Beast.. Dynafit was already working on it when they got Hoji onboard.. He just helped..
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"...He just helped..." well there ya go. and i'm not even specifically talking about the beast. he showed that technical, gnarly lines can be accessed and aggressively skied on tech bindings. kinda a game changer if you ask me.
 
13284475:Mar-O said:
If I find some used skins that are cut for lets say a 105mm ski can I use them for my line sfb (142-115-139) or will I get way to little grip even for small walks?
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Really as long as you have 100mm+ underfoot of skin you will have plenty to grip with. Plus you get a solid edge that way too which can be nice when you have brief downhills that you don't wish to de-skin for between ups.

It can be a pain side-hilling with narrow skins on hard snow as sometimes your edge will be in the snow but you wont have much skin contact. You kind of just learn to work with this and flatten your stride out when possible.
 
Back on the topic of the OP:

I'm in a similar situation, although a bit more advanced. I blew out my knee when I was 19, and again when I was 20 (I'm 26 now). I tried resort skiing a couple years after that, but haven't bought a pass in three seasons now. If I can realistically only ski powder days, why pay for a season pass and wait in lines if I can literally ski anywhere else?

I am definitely well beyond the mindset where making a lot of laps carries any significance to me, so touring is the only way to go, in my eyes. Sure, a big powder day at the resort is fun, but what beats climbing a mountain with a couple friends (or nobody), drinking tea on top for an hour or so, and then cruising back to the tent or car? Nothing I can think of. It sure is annoying to have a permanently damaged body, but the things it condemns me to, at the moment, are not so bad.
 
Today a big crew of us were mobbing inbounds at WH20 and it was pretty funny stuff. My back is kind of fucked up, got a friend with a bad knee, another with a bad leg, etc... Out of the crew, I'd say half of us are all over skiing inbounds. With high avalanche conditions in the hills and a foot overnight, it's a no brainer to do some chairlift laps - but as soon as things got remotely tracked we were out of there.

Last year I tried to go a season without a seasons pass and while it was nice, I did miss the vertical you can get hot lapping the hill. I'm not a fan of skiing inbounds, but I learned that it is a necessary evil to own a pass for those days of the year where it's either ride lifts or take the day off. And when everyone and their moms are at the hill, you don't want to be that guy loitering around town with your thumb up your ass being all "I don't ski at the resort". The only people I know that are dedicated to the shred that can properly pull off a season without utilizing chairlifts work at/with cat/heli operations.
 
13284535:Jaymon said:
Really as long as you have 100mm+ underfoot of skin you will have plenty to grip with. Plus you get a solid edge that way too which can be nice when you have brief downhills that you don't wish to de-skin for between ups.

It can be a pain side-hilling with narrow skins on hard snow as sometimes your edge will be in the snow but you wont have much skin contact. You kind of just learn to work with this and flatten your stride out when possible.
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Thanks man! That really makes finding some cheaper skins so much easier.

Also new question: I posted on a ski buy/sell group on facebook that I was looking at buying a bca tracker dts beacon or similar. I then got a pm from a guy that said I must never use that beacon since its apparently really dangerous. I have only read good things about that beacon as a cheap easy to use alternative so I was pretty surprised when I got the pm. Do you guys agree that the bca tracker dts is something I should stay away from?
 
13284518:malonius_funk said:
"...He just helped..." well there ya go. and i'm not even specifically talking about the beast. he showed that technical, gnarly lines can be accessed and aggressively skied on tech bindings. kinda a game changer if you ask me.
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ya do realize Billy B skied the grand T, midde ,south, owen and moran

12 years fore hoji escaped his dads nutsacK right?
 
13288477:Mar-O said:
Also new question: I posted on a ski buy/sell group on facebook that I was looking at buying a bca tracker dts beacon or similar. I then got a pm from a guy that said I must never use that beacon since its apparently really dangerous. I have only read good things about that beacon as a cheap easy to use alternative so I was pretty surprised when I got the pm. Do you guys agree that the bca tracker dts is something I should stay away from?
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It's not "dangerous", it's just obsolete at this point - you shouldn't buy anything other than a 3 antenna beacon. So yeah you should probably at least step up to a BCA Tracker 2. Ideally just buy a new beacon.
http://beaconreviews.com/transceivers/Specs_BCATrackerDTS.asp
 
13280454:J.D. said:
Going to see my surgeon on the 8th and once he gives me the inevitable "yeah you're screwed buddy" news, I figure I should give up, throw on a compression sleeve and some duct tape and a brace and go for a hike. The goddamn thing seems basically fine climbing uphill, and it has to be good for at least one or two relatively mellow runs down per day in soft snow.

Fuck my life, in other words. Take care of your knees if you haven't already destroyed them.
Click to expand...

Didn't get the "you're screwed" news, but I did get shut down for the season, which still sucks a whole lot.
 
8a98a451-cc40-4dd5-91e0-209ca85c63ce.jpg


d_speedradical.jpg


Just bought this setup (used, but perfect condition) stoked as hell
 
13286218:Drail said:
Today a big crew of us were mobbing inbounds at WH20 and it was pretty funny stuff. My back is kind of fucked up, got a friend with a bad knee, another with a bad leg, etc... Out of the crew, I'd say half of us are all over skiing inbounds. With high avalanche conditions in the hills and a foot overnight, it's a no brainer to do some chairlift laps - but as soon as things got remotely tracked we were out of there.

Last year I tried to go a season without a seasons pass and while it was nice, I did miss the vertical you can get hot lapping the hill. I'm not a fan of skiing inbounds, but I learned that it is a necessary evil to own a pass for those days of the year where it's either ride lifts or take the day off. And when everyone and their moms are at the hill, you don't want to be that guy loitering around town with your thumb up your ass being all "I don't ski at the resort". The only people I know that are dedicated to the shred that can properly pull off a season without utilizing chairlifts work at/with cat/heli operations.
Click to expand...

yup learning that the hard way this year. I had other plans but they aren't really falling through. At least I'm not missing out on much inbounds this year. Ive found it actually makes me go hike because theres no other option; last year I wanted to tour a lot but sitting on a chair was too easy
 
13310056:Loco-Deer-Slayer said:
Broke my guardians four miles away from my car in the Uintas today. It was a long day.
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last year mine snapped where the frame meets the plastic near the toe. one binding flew off when i was hiking then clicked it into ski mode and tried to terry fox it but 5 steps later the other one did the same. good thing for warranty!
 
haha yes the metal rails snapped near the toe piece. Must be a pretty common problem eh? Ski tech knew immediately as soon as I said, "My guardians broke..."
 
Will narrow skins be a big problem?

i have a whitedoctor ft10pro ski with adrenalins but my rep had no chance to get the right size skins in time...

i found a pair of skins in the shop i work at and the length will be ok i think but they're a bit too narrow, i have about 1cm (0.4 inch) of exposed base on each side of the ski.

will this be really problematic?

can i ski em centered or is it beneficial to move the skins towards the inside or outside edge ?
 
13313195:I_Am_Mod said:
Will narrow skins be a big problem?

i have a whitedoctor ft10pro ski with adrenalins but my rep had no chance to get the right size skins in time...

i found a pair of skins in the shop i work at and the length will be ok i think but they're a bit too narrow, i have about 1cm (0.4 inch) of exposed base on each side of the ski.

will this be really problematic?

can i ski em centered or is it beneficial to move the skins towards the inside or outside edge ?
Click to expand...

you should be totally fine skiing them centered.
 
1cm where? At the waist? Because that's kind of a lot of your base showing at that point, that'd be an 85mm skin on a 141-106-130 ski?
 
13313494:J.D. said:
1cm where? At the waist? Because that's kind of a lot of your base showing at that point, that'd be an 85mm skin on a 141-106-130 ski?
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middle of the skins, narrowest point, is 90mm so its about 8mm of exposed base left and right over the entire length of the ski because the dimensions of the skins are kind of proportional to that of the ski...
 
While not ideal, you'll be completely fine with that setup. I'd certainly use that over buying new skins any day; you'll just need to be slightly more conscious of tilting your skis on sidehills.
 
^^thanks, we're also expecting a lot of freshies this week so don't plan on skinning a lot of packed snow either :)
 
13314524:I_Am_Mod said:
middle of the skins, narrowest point, is 90mm so its about 8mm of exposed base left and right over the entire length of the ski because the dimensions of the skins are kind of proportional to that of the ski...
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Oh okay, yeah that's totally fine. I have skins I cut like that intentionally so that they'll fit two pairs.

I thought you were talking about uncut skins that were 2cm too narrow at the waist, which would be considerably too narrow elsewhere on the wider parts of the ski.
 
13325162:superpowerman said:
If a skier falls in the backcountry and no one is there to hear him, does he make a sound?
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1. fall while skiing the pow pow

2. no one saw the bail?

3. roll up to friends bragging about face shots and the white room to explain why you are covered in snow head to toe.

4. ????????

5. profit.
 
in regard to my previous skinning question, it worked perfectly, only 1 day we went up a ridge that was icy and windblown for the last 200m and i had trouble gripping in the steeper skintracks

so thanks for the reply guys, i had an awesome time !
 
13281020:Jaymon said:
Another random uptrack thought.

There has been a few times in my life, where I will be breaking a trail and there will be no sign of humans in sight, wind blowing through your hair, staying warm through the walking, and just feel so at home and alive.

It is the only place I have ever said to myself "This is perfection, I could not be any happier any other place in the world right now." That is magic.

Any one else ever had a breakthrough moment or moment of clarity on the uptrack before?
Click to expand...

Quoting for emphasis.
 
This is not only not thread worthy but probably not post worthy because of how specific it is. Has anyone skied the connecting trail from Pico to Killington? Going up this weekend and they are getting mad pow. Looks like you could get up over it coming from the top of Ramshead at Killington, and then ski down to it and take it back into the resort. Not sure if it will be worth it but I could at least document it so other people will know if it sucks or not, thats what makes touring so great right, the exploration.
 
I don't know anything about that area but have you tried Google Earth or Google maps? You can also go to a local touring store and ask around (if that's an option where you live).
 
I didn't get a seasons pass this year for the first time in 23 years, to focus on touring. Whenever I go to the resort and sit on a chair lift I get this anxious feeling that I'm not doing anything. Then everyone is raving about snow conditions and I'm like... mmm okay, it's pretty crowded and I just paid 80 bucks for this, and everything's already tracked out. It is pretty nice to get 35,000 vertical in a day though, and hot lap cliff / jump runs. Every now and then.

I agree with ppl ^ , touring is so peaceful, serene, and brings so much clarity to life. It's nice to get out there on that skin track and take a big step away from everything else.
 
13333473:PoLaRpEaK said:
I didn't get a seasons pass this year for the first time in 23 years, to focus on touring. Whenever I go to the resort and sit on a chair lift I get this anxious feeling that I'm not doing anything. Then everyone is raving about snow conditions and I'm like... mmm okay, it's pretty crowded and I just paid 80 bucks for this, and everything's already tracked out. It is pretty nice to get 35,000 vertical in a day though, and hot lap cliff / jump runs. Every now and then.

I agree with ppl ^ , touring is so peaceful, serene, and brings so much clarity to life. It's nice to get out there on that skin track and take a big step away from everything else.
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My roommate did a smart thing this year. He took the money that would have gone to spass and put it aside for lift tickets. When it's a proper pow day he buys a day ticket and he's not stuck riding only one hill. Great idea if you have the ability to put $1000 aside and not spend it on random shit.
 
13333483:Drail said:
My roommate did a smart thing this year. He took the money that would have gone to spass and put it aside for lift tickets. When it's a proper pow day he buys a day ticket and he's not stuck riding only one hill. Great idea if you have the ability to put $1000 aside and not spend it on random shit.
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Yeah it's great not being tied down to one hill. Glad I don't have a pass at Fernie this year! I just liftopia or buy online for RMR, works out to like $55 a day, fits my 9-5 lifestyle pretty well but have to plan a bit ahead so snow is hit or miss. Still have a weekend at the end of March in Fernie to use if they make it till then!
 
What's up y'all?

Have any of you used a sled to carry your gear for long term camping missions? What's it like, any tips? My trek to the anticipated campsite will be about 4-5 miles with roughly 1500-2000 ft vert (depending on road closure).
 
13345809:Loco-Deer-Slayer said:
What's up y'all?

Have any of you used a sled to carry your gear for long term camping missions? What's it like, any tips? My trek to the anticipated campsite will be about 4-5 miles with roughly 1500-2000 ft vert (depending on road closure).
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never had in the mountains but ive gone long ways to go ice fishing. I you can carry most things in your pack and a bit on the tunnel you should be okay. Watch out no to over load the tunnel. You arn't going very far so a sleigh if you needed it wouldn't be the end of the world. Waqlmart special with some pvc pipe around both side of the tow rope to make it solid and go straight and you can make do. ( if that makes sense)
 
13345809:Loco-Deer-Slayer said:
What's up y'all?

Have any of you used a sled to carry your gear for long term camping missions? What's it like, any tips? My trek to the anticipated campsite will be about 4-5 miles with roughly 1500-2000 ft vert (depending on road closure).
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I used something similar to this, but with higher rails, longer rope and a tarp to cover all the shit for a 2 mile skin (can't remember the elevation).

396731798_2ac5354c35.jpg


It was alright on the way up - we had too much food for the 5 day trip, so we ran the cable to two people to pull it. It just really sucked pulling. The only time it gets shitty is on the downhills. The sled will run up on you and do its best to take you out. Best thing to do there is to get a second rope and have a tail skier.

Make sure to bring a tarp so you don't lose your shit. And don't bring that much, because a heavy sled will suck a ton, especially if you have to break trail.
 
Depending on terrain and snow conditions, towing a sled behind you can become a full on nightmare when you need to do some side hilling.
 
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