I’m newish to backcountry skiing and mountaineering but have lots of experience with hiking, snowshoeing and downhill skiing.

I used to race so I have a great and very stiff resort focused setup. I’m looking for a good boot for the uphill and starting to get into more mountaineering terrain where I would need crampons.

What are y’all’s thoughts on the technica’s zero g peak vs the zero g tour pro.

Thanks

I put some old skins on my split board and now I’ve got gunky glue on my base and can’t get it off. Any tips?

Does anybody wax or grease the moving parts of AT boots? Mine seem to be showing wear at the walk/hinge spots. What is safe for the plastics?

I have 4 spaces to sell via the Facebook page for Friday January 10, 2025. DM me. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14T76dwJ6v/?mibextid=K35XfP

Hey so I have last years arcteryx beta lt and i love it, it fits quite baggy so i do not want totally skinny pants, i have also been looking at peak peformance, please tell me some good pants or full complete recommendations.

Hi everyone, sorry this is just specific to the SLC area (couldn’t find a better group to post this in). I have horrendous foot problems when it comes to boots due to a super flat and wide foot. I’m looking for a ski shop in SLC with a super wide selection of boots and a quality fitting service with molding etc. Any recommendations would be appreciated!

Considering purchasing one of these two models, looking for some advice. Mostly doing day tours now, but would be nice to have a little more volume for 2-3 day tours. Is there much between these two? The Tour 30 is heavier (500g or so), but does provide optionality in being able to attach a larger/smaller bag. The Zero looks very nice too, and is super light. Has anyone used either/both?

Hi! I’m not a fantastic downhill skier but decent at cross country skiing, but my skis are too long and difficult to go downhill with for most of the snowy woods near me (Massachusetts). Snowshoeing is fine but takes a really long time and I get more tired. Are the hybrid skis like the altai hok or black diamond something that would work for me?

I know there’s another post about this from last year, but the people in the comments focused on how not great they were for steeper downhill skiing, which isn’t something I was planning to try to do with them. I’d like to be able to go winter backpacking but snowshoes keep my daily distance a bit too short (I get really tired in wetter snow) and xc skiing doesn’t work out super well for me with a backpack and I’m hoping for an alternative. I know not to try to go steeply downhill in the whites or anything, and it would be more woodsy with minor hills, such as trails around lakes or whatever. It seems like I’m looking for something exactly like hybrid ski shoes, but I wondered if anyone else had used them for casual jaunts like this before I pull a several hundred dollar trigger myself!

Also if this is the wrong subreddit for me with this question, feel free to tell me where else to look! Thanks!

I've heard about professional guides using run lists as a way to give yourself options in the backcountry and I really like the idea for personal use. Currently, I have a number of runs marked on Caltopo and I can click each run and get an idea of the aspect, elevation, and slope angle when I'm trying to determine what to ski for given avy conditions. This has all the information I need to analyze my runs, but it's a bit tedious to click through each one. A spreadsheet with some basic numbers like average aspect, elevation, max slope angle would be helpful for filtering out no-go-zones. But the holy grail for me would be to determine a no-go-zone, say avoid N through E aspects near and above treeline above 35 degree slope angles and get a list of runs that avoid those criteria.

Do any tools already exist for doing something like this? How do you like to manage your run list?

I've been touring for several years, but rarely doing extended trips below 0 with wind chills in the negatives. I'm in the PNW, and on really cold days I've usually just picked short, conservative tours. On those tours my legs have gotten cold on the uptrack with my usual combo of merino 3/4 base layer and shell pants, but have been manageable for the 4-6 hours I've been out.

I'm headed up to Canada for a week long hut trip in January, and planning some more committing day tours (10-12 hour days) with the likelihood of below zero temps well into the negatives. I have a warmer jacket for those conditions, but nothing for my legs. I'm trying to find a lightweight option for some more warmth, and am curious what y'all would recommend. Some options I've thought of:

• Double up on merino 3/4 length leggings
• An insulated full zip layer like this which I could wear under my shell pants, although it's heavy at 300g and has a DWR layer which I don't really understand/need

Any suggestions?

There was another thread asking about getting started without an Avy 1 course. I figured we could do a zoom talk about some avalanche essentials to help out folks in that situation, or as a refresher for those who have taken courses and have experience.

Some topics we'll discuss:

Terrain selection

How to read an avalanche forecast

Traps (terrain and otherwise)

ATES

Mapping/Planning

Snow science/snowpack tests and decision making

Questions are welcomed/encouraged. I hope this is interactive and more of a discussion than a lecture.

My background is a mountain guide and avalanche instructor in Jackson, Wyoming with Jackson Hole Mountain Guides.

This talk isn't a replacement for experience or avalanche training/practice. But my hope is it helps people go into those courses with a head start, and helps them continue to make informed decisions throughout their ski touring career.

Topic: Avalanche Fundamentals with Ryan Kindervater Time: Dec 6, 2024 06:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83016120872?pwd=cy41uH6HA0lCEFYyJqgHc0zGTDa2Ur.1

Meeting ID: 830 1612 0872 Passcode: skiskiski

Cheers!

-Ryan

I’ve been looking to buy a new boot and was trying on the XT at my local shop and really liked it. However I’ve been wondering if it’s worth getting the upgrade 4-Quattro Pro instead. Unfortunately none of my local ski shops have the new Pro version in store to try on.

Is the fit any different between those two versions? Are there any significant upgrades in the Pro that are worth spending some more money on?

Referring to this.

I’m finally dropping enough dough on my first new set up to have a choice in equipment and I’m overwhelmed by options. I’ve been touring for almost 10 years exclusively on Fritschi Diamirs over a range of different skis and I’m finally in a position where I can afford modern technology.

EDIT These will be strictly backcountry, I have another set up for resort days.

I’m locked in on skis (Bent 110) I love my boots (Maestrale)

BUT,

There are way too many options for bindings and I’m totally lost. I love how the frames ski down hill and have no experience with pins. I’d consider myself in the advanced to expert range. I jump some cliffs but would shy away from 8+ feet in the backcountry, not stomping any tricks out there either.

With my needs I don’t think I require shifts or kingpins or CAST but pins still make me nervous over busting my knees with no release or pre release.

I think I’m between the Dynafit Radical ST or FT 2.0 or the Fritschi Vipec Evo 12.

I like the dynafit because it seems like the gold standard of pins and I like that the EVO is DIN certified.

Can someone tell me what to buy? Open to any and all suggestions!

One aggressive tread tire track. No evidence of more than one wheel. 10" wide. All over Red Mountain Pass area, San Juan Mountains, Colorado. Is there a new huge, electric one wheel made for snow that I don't know about?

Hi there! I'm planning a ski trip to Hokkaido, and I wonder if there is any place at Asahikawa, Sapporo or Furano where we can rent backcountry skis, splitboards, skins, and avy gear.

Also, any guiding recommendation in the Asahikawa area is very much appreciated.

I've been rocking a inreach explorer+ for some time now. It's big and bulky but I never felt the need to upgrade to the smaller inreach systems. Mainly because they need a phone to navigate and I wanted the redundancy in case I lose it or the screen busted.

Now though I just picked up an early Christmas present for myself, a Fenix 7x which can act as a second screen/navigation if my phone is busted. The messenger plus is much smaller and half the weight than the explorer. I've been rocking the explorer+ on my backpack strap for accessibility. Hasn't been a problem on the downhill after I got a third party connector.

Still I worry about the thing getting ripped off in an avalanche or even a bad fall. The messenger plus is small enough to stash a pocket so it's still accessible in an emergency but less likely to go bye bye.

Three independent navigation tools is probably overkill but the messenger is expensive and I'm just not sure it's worth it over the explorer+.

This may be something bothering only me, but I’ve used my shifts for about half dozen days this season and regularly wish the heel risers had a second hight. Has anyone made something to fix this issue or is there a product someone sells?

Best NNNBC skis at a good price?

Best NNNBC skis at a good price

I need to do some cross country skiing, I'm pretty new. Mostly VT and CA and OR. What do yall recommend?

Off-trail often

Not really doing XCD as far as I can tell.

I was asked by a friend if I wanted to do the Grand Tour this year and I am strongly considering it. However, with the research that I have done, it seems like everyone is wearing skimo gear head to toe and I am not sure I want to (or can afford to for that matter) go out and by a new set of skis/boots/bindings. For those that have done it, are there people who do the race on non-skimo gear? Would I be crazy to do the race with this setup:

Boots: tecnica cochise 130 Skis: Faction La Machine 2 Bindings: Dynafit Ridge

Since I switched to barefoot shoes a couple years ago I’m finally developing some real ankle stability and generally better leg and core strength, but my feet have expanded and changed in shape and I can’t cram them into my too-small Maestrales anymore.

I need a new pair, needs to be something with a low-volume heel cup and a wide forefoot so I can get full toe-splay. I’m also hoping to get a boot that’s a little softer than what I have, considering my movement mechanics have changed and I want a more forgiving setup for the next few seasons.

I have about an 80/20 split at the resort vs touring so I’m not really concerned about the weight.

I’m certainly going to go to a boot fitter to try on, but I don’t have time to spend days and days on the process, so any model or brand recommendations to help narrow my focus are welcome. Thanks!

Built to order Linq board racks for snowmobiles with Skidoo Linq or any sled with Linq adapters. One rack works for 1 or 2 snowboards, 1 pair of skis or one pow surf. Custom options and colors are available upon request. Message me with any questions.

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https://preview.redd.it/5rvimw9u4p4e1.jpg?width=5712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e3b9207dd894d1cc842ba7ef4a05b1c9ced06d4b

https://preview.redd.it/y7tp1vau4p4e1.jpg?width=5712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=70ec943c1100ac45a41a0fafdaacef9b099e0266

Anyone been out in RMNP Bear Lake zones? How is the coverage?

Side note: I'm new in the area, looking for backcountry buddies. I'm experienced and certified. DM me!

I am looking at getting my first ski touring setup and am struggling to decide between two potential setups. The first setup is the ARV 106 with the atk raider 11 and the zero g tour pro. This combo comes to 3812g per foot. The reason I’m considering this is because I already have the arv and am looking to upgrade to the katana 108 for my resort ski. The next would be the echo 106 with the same boots and bindings which comes out to 3410g per foot. I’m young and pretty fit and like to ski aggressively so want something that is going to perform on the downhill and I know both of these will, I’m more so curious about how significant this weight difference is really going to be. I’ll be skiing mainly in the eastern sierra and potentially wasatch if I end up moving there in a few years but who knows if I’ll still have these skis then. Going to be skiing anywhere from 3k - 6k vert i guess. Not entirely sure what the range is going to be actually but I assume that is a fair guess for the area I’m going to be in.

Edit: raider 11’s work for me as i have a small foot and don’t weigh much.

Edit 2: I really would like to use the ARVs just want to know if it is a mistake essentially. How much will I regret using these instead of the echos

Howdy! I'm putting together my first touring setup and would love y'alls advice on what skis/bindings to get.

About me:

• Advanced in-bounds skier (confident skiing pretty much anything but not hucking it off cliffs)
• 6'4, 215lbs
• Boots: Tecnica Cochise 130
• In-bounds setup: Nordica Enforcer 100 in 191cm
• Only ~20 days touring experience, including an AIARE I
• Home mountain: Palisades Tahoe

My BC hopes and dreams:

• Nothing gnarly: probably maxing out at 2-3 mile /2000-3000ft ascents. I like to tour so I can ski fun but safe terrain with my dog.

What I'm looking for

• Happy to schlep a heavy rig uphill to have full confidence on the downhill—I did my AIARE I on rented BD Helios and thought they skied like wet noodles, so looking for something more damp/stable.
• The safest bindings possible—again, don't care if they're heavy, just want them to release predictably/safely.
• Would be sweet if I can ski this setup in bounds too (so leaning toward hybrid bindings).

What I've been recommended:

• Skis: QST Echo 106, QST 106, Rustler 10s, Rustler 11s (which seem wide to me at 116?), Black Crow Atris
• Bindings: Shifts, Duke PTs, Casts (I know they're prob overkill but I like that they're Pivots)