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#1
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recommend: Skis for our mountains
I would like skis for climbing the local mountains, west of Las Vegas
Nevada. E.g.: http://users.viawest.net/~hwstock/ski/ski.htm Typically there are "trails" that rise through 2500-5000' elevation gain, and the mountains tops are around 11000', with alpine conditions for the last 300 to 1000'. The north-facing slopes have powder for an amazingly long time each year, even when the temps seem to be hovering at the melting point for weeks. The south-facing slopes have rapidly-changing conditions. In 2000 and 2001, I took 10-year-old metal-edged XC skis up south-facing slopes, about 1600' elevation gain; the route up was tedious in deep snow, as conditions went from ice to powder depending on the shade. At the end of the day, when the sun slipped behind the steep mountains, the snow turned to very bumpy crust. In 2002 I suffered a brain injury, and I was partly paralyzed on my right side. Nevertheless, in 2004 I was still able to telemark some on the north-facing slopes, in powder. But I recognize I have to temper my memories of old skills, with the reality of the new me. My boots are 21-year-old 3-pin 75 mm asolos, leather, with vibram soles for mountaineering when you have to take the skiis off. They seem heavy. My skis are 10-year-old tua's with metal edges, mainly an X-C design. My bindings are 3-pin 75 mm, not particularly sturdy. In my younger days, I used these boots for skiing up a 13000' mountain in Colorado, with even flimsier skis. I look at the equipment available now, and I am bewildered by the choices. I've snow-shoed up three mountains near Las Vegas, and had the nagging feeling that skis would have been a lot more stable on the steep side-hills. But I want good control on downhills, which may be quite steep and long. I'd probably like to get skins. I would almost never get a chance for a sustained diamond glide -- we don't have much ground without steep slopes. As you might guess, it is hard to find a lot of backcountry ski knowledge in outdoor stores of Las Vegas. Help. My skiing knowledge is about 20 years out of date, and was mainly developed in areas where people did diamond glide across snowy golf courses. I think I would like teletouring skis with some up-and-down camber, a fair side-cut, and good loft. My bias is that I want fairly short skis (180 cm or less ) to deal with the steep downhills (not wanting another brain injury); yet I want some loft in powder. I weigh about 150 lbs. A recent consideration: Atmoic Rainier Waxless Tele Touring Skis. |
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#2
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In article . net, H.W. Stockman wrote: I would like skis for climbing the local mountains, west of Las Vegas Nevada. E.g.: http://users.viawest.net/~hwstock/ski/ski.htm Typically there are "trails" that rise through 2500-5000' elevation gain, and the mountains tops are around 11000', with alpine conditions for the last 300 to 1000'. The north-facing slopes have powder for an amazingly long time each year, even when the temps seem to be hovering at the melting point for weeks. The south-facing slopes have rapidly-changing conditions. As you might guess, it is hard to find a lot of backcountry ski knowledge in outdoor stores of Las Vegas. Help. My skiing knowledge is about 20 years out of date, and was mainly developed in areas where people did diamond glide across snowy golf courses. I think I would like teletouring skis with some up-and-down camber, a fair side-cut, and good loft. My bias is that I want fairly short skis (180 cm or less ) to deal with the steep downhills (not wanting another brain injury); yet I want some loft in powder. I weigh about 150 lbs. A recent consideration: Atmoic Rainier Waxless Tele Touring Skis. _ Here's what I'd suggest Fischer Boundless Crown (180 or 170 ) The Rainiers are nice skis, but wider skis will give you more control and you will LOVE these skis in the powder. You could stick with your boots as they are impossible to find anymore and everything is pretty much heavier and more supportive or lighter and less supportive. If you do decide to get new boots then I would look at the Karhu Sirius or one of the light plastic boots like the Scarpa T4. There is a fairly good review of the lightweight end of the gear available in one of this season's Backcountry magazines. If you're comfortable making turns with a 3 pin binding I don't see a reason to switch to cables. _ Booker C. Bense -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBQaOlzmTWTAjn5N/lAQEW1AP7By21elG2b1ACN9EZS6zJglndKlcgWfq5 5Q+PcqRrQqj/GmpXr7UZJJLoegC8FgaUmSNPRbVhuhaIlqvrEGtcao0434GNr5 3I VQH3Sv9sC5hHQtRP2EdalS1RjtSSGtPApV90vEnLy2gj5I/NmOuVXbf1sYrMthLp J7XK3JzB2Oc= =cVO6 -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- |
#3
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"Booker C. Bense" bbense+rec.skiing.backcountry.Nov.23.04@telemark. slac.stanford.edu wrote in message ... A recent consideration: Atmoic Rainier Waxless Tele Touring Skis. _ Here's what I'd suggest Fischer Boundless Crown (180 or 170 ) The Rainiers are nice skis, but wider skis will give you more control and you will LOVE these skis in the powder. Thanks very much! |
#4
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Comments in line...
"H.W. Stockman" wrote: I would like skis for climbing the local mountains, west of Las Vegas Nevada. E.g. I hate pointing folks away from usenet to web forums, but realistically, you might get better localized advice from folks hanging out on the forums he http://www.telemarktips.com/index.htm In 2002 I suffered a brain injury, and I was partly paralyzed on my right side. Nevertheless, in 2004 I was still able to telemark some on the north-facing slopes, in powder. But I recognize I have to temper my memories of old skills, with the reality of the new me. Good on ya'. If it's any cosolation, this is an issue that those of us who are aging are dealing with!! Still, good for you for getting out. But I want good control on downhills, which may be quite steep and long. I'd probably like to get skins. I would almost never get a chance for a sustained diamond glide -- we don't have much ground without steep slopes. I'm wondering if nordic backcountry gear is the right choice for you or if you should step up to burlier telemark (nordic) or Alpine Touring gear. Given where you ski and given that you don't need the striding efficiency gained by double camber and given that you already plan on using skins, I'm thinking that wider skis and more supportive boots might be in order. I look at the equipment available now, and I am bewildered by the choices. Here is my take on what is available for nordic backcountry skis: http://home.comcast.net/~pinnah/Dirt...r/bc-skis.html But again, my page focuses on lighter gear and is definitely biased towards New England. I don't cover tele or AT gear at all. Recent issues of Backcountry Magazine or Couloir have reviews of telemark and AT gear. Might be worth finding a copy. Hope this helps |
#5
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One of you recommended Fisher Boundless Crowns, which have indeed gotten
very good reviews; in the same note, it was recommended that I keep my old Asolo leather 75 mm (3-pin) boots. What I need now are bindings. Are there good sturdy 3-pin bindings made for such skis? My Asolo boots seemed quite stiff and heavy when I bought them 21 years ago or so; but I now look at the boots recommended for the Boundless Crown -- e.g. Scarpa T3 -- and they all look like something from a mars mission. Twenty-one years doesn't seem that long ago; but back then, you got sturdy 3-pin bindings that supposedly worked for doing "light" telemarks. |
#6
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In article et, H.W. Stockman wrote: One of you recommended Fisher Boundless Crowns, which have indeed gotten very good reviews; in the same note, it was recommended that I keep my old Asolo leather 75 mm (3-pin) boots. What I need now are bindings. Are there good sturdy 3-pin bindings made for such skis? _ http://www.voile-usa.com/bindings/tele3pin.html 3 Pin bindings have not really changed at all in 20 years, you could use your old ones if they are in decent shape. Although, it's probably worth the money to get new ones as aluminum doesn't always age well. My Asolo boots seemed quite stiff and heavy when I bought them 21 years ago or so; but I now look at the boots recommended for the Boundless Crown -- e.g. Scarpa T3 -- and they all look like something from a mars mission. Twenty-one years doesn't seem that long ago; but back then, you got sturdy 3-pin bindings that supposedly worked for doing "light" telemarks. _ If you didn't already have a good telemark turn, that's what I'd recommend. However, if you have the skills to make turns on skinny old skis and floppy leather boots, I think it would be a waste to give up the sweet flex of leather with these skis in the powder. If you decide to switch to plastic to gain more control, you can always do that later, but even the lightest plastic boots are a relatively heavy. _ Plastic boots and big heavy skiis have their place, but I always remember most the days I can make my Boundless Crown's and leather boots carve effortless turns in light powder. _ Booker C. Bense -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBQazJS2TWTAjn5N/lAQHHHwP8D7BE6HaNkWqbEFMzOuXws27NoFcbOu7V E4OzrS9ABtjr4pfNYVT3KLjLP31CNQMzFY9rQoYE35cp6LK+7n CSOygwSYLoymhn tH3B3EZ2GdkhDeatqFZIehXy4lLHBKcF1fawMPYKb1jEns6IQr pPHdbij7lALckQ hfPELBfh5mE= =mjfC -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- |
#7
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In article , pinnah wrote: Comments in line... "H.W. Stockman" wrote: I would like skis for climbing the local mountains, west of Las Vegas Nevada. E.g. I hate pointing folks away from usenet to web forums, but realistically, you might get better localized advice from folks hanging out on the forums he http://www.telemarktips.com/index.htm _ That's cruel, he'll end up with T-Races, HammerHeads and a pair of Jaks. _ Booker C. Bense -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBQazJxGTWTAjn5N/lAQH1XAP/aJc0fTOWeirN83ktE+mQq5WJ3V1fhZiU E9uE44vIhQqiKZWBdsUdKUmoNwedzRGs3FYOxZrxqhCJDeAv9y eROgO3Utn7LwHm Fl4gQNx1XzqFC7uxdWJRERj6UQEVwpPsdM/YspEyQjZABxrs8wKLMiPDVB6tVa+J KYa7qGDQjhw= =+7GL -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- |
#8
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Booker C. Bense
bbense+rec.skiing.backcountry.Nov.30.04@telemark. slac.stanford.edu wrote: _ That's cruel, he'll end up with T-Races, HammerHeads and a pair of Jaks. I think the fashion mavens there are leaning more towards 7TM-Tours mounted on Karhu Kodiaks (the new phatties, not the old partial-edge trad skis which I *do* still miss pretty badly -- man I loved those skis to death) this year. These things change with every new issue of Vogu^H^H^H^HCouloir. ;^) That said, I know *my* personal bias is towards lighter gear. Spend most of my time on skis very close to the Boundless with 2 buckle leathers. But I *don't* know what will work best in NV. Given that HW won't be striding, will climbing up and then down and will be on skins, perhaps T2s, Voile 3-Pin/Hardwires and some phat skis would be the ticket. That or some AT style Lasers and SLs. Anyway, I just wanted to be sure not to let my personal bias and localized ignorance color my advice too badly. |
#9
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"pinnah" wrote in message ... Booker C. Bense bbense+rec.skiing.backcountry.Nov.30.04@telemark. slac.stanford.edu wrote: _ That's cruel, he'll end up with T-Races, HammerHeads and a pair of Jaks. I think the fashion mavens there are leaning more towards 7TM-Tours mounted on Karhu Kodiaks (the new phatties, not the old partial-edge trad skis which I *do* still miss pretty badly -- man I loved those skis to death) this year. These things change with every new issue of Vogu^H^H^H^HCouloir. ;^) Again, I really appreciate all your comments. |
#10
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"H.W. Stockman" wrote:
My Asolo boots seemed quite stiff and heavy when I bought them 21 years ago or so; but I now look at the boots recommended for the Boundless Crown -- e.g. Scarpa T3 -- and they all look like something from a mars mission. Twenty-one years doesn't seem that long ago; but back then, you got sturdy 3-pin bindings that supposedly worked for doing "light" telemarks. If your old Asolos have 2 buckles (Extreme Pro perhaps), then the lightest and softest of the newer plastic boots will be roughly comparable to your current boots. In particular, the Garmont Excursion is widely touted as being very tour friendly. Most folks find that plastic boots stay drier, last longer and offer more control on hard snow. In some cases, the plastics with the thermo-moldable liners are even lighter than their leather counter parts. Mars mission or not, they are worth looking into. The Scarpa T3 and T4 and the Crispi CX-T will be a tick heavier and stiffer than the Excursions. This said, I still ski on leather boots with 2 buckles most of the time. I've put up my thoughts on boots here but note that this page is under construction: http://home.comcast.net/~pinnah/Dirt.../bc-boots.html In terms of bindings, cable bindings have co-evolved with the rise of heavy plastic telemark boots. You would be shocked at the contraptions they've been building. For Excurion (or 2 buckle Extreme Pro) type boots and less, I really prefer pins in most conditions. My thoughts on the different types of pins are here but you could just save time and visit the Voile web site! http://home.comcast.net/~pinnah/Dirt...-bindings.html Hope this stuff is helpful. Comments (from anybody) is always welcome. |
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