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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Dec 26, 2008 - 04:10pm PT
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I had a pair of Asolo Snowfields, purchased in 1980 (matched to a 210mm Karhu XCD).
It really wasn't enough boot for me, a bit too low cut, I can see that boot working great with a lighter ski for pure touring.
Asolo also made a nice double boot for a number of years.
Not quite as high as the Extreme, but it had a wool fleece style liner and much better ankle support than the snowfield.
Boots like this do wear out; they get sort of flaccid and even for forward tracking, never mind turning, lose their support.
The leather boot I now use probably has some kind of plastic/stiffener smartly layered in the ankle area; hard to say for sure, but the instep buckle is key to limiting heel lift and likewise providing stability.
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Clu
Social climber
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Dec 26, 2008 - 04:56pm PT
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Hehehe, remember the "sweet feel of leather"? No, I remember duct taping my upper heels prior to any tour. Upper heel blisters always were sooo much more painful the next day. And the next. Thank god for plastic.
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cleo
Social climber
Berkeley, CA
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Dec 26, 2008 - 08:55pm PT
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good advice from all, depends on the terrain.
the cc package looks good if you want to tool around on closed forest roads, golf courses and sometimes groomed areas, not so good for steeper, rockier, or more variable (crusty, icy) snow conditions.
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cleo
Social climber
Berkeley, CA
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Dec 26, 2008 - 09:03pm PT
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more...
here's what i use in vermont (those, and my MOM's old wooden skis from the 70s!) on backcounty trails, and at the resort. i love them... from the days when your skis are as tall as your outstretched arm (gym class in Vermont!)
I was using those, with wax (what I thought was just fine wax), and old bc ski boots, when I encountered a serious looking guy in the lodge at Badger Pass waxing his skis from a LARGE toolbox full of fancy wax. Turns out that was Maysho, and when he (and many, many others) blew by me both uphill AND downhill (wha?!? i'm in a tuck, how are you going so fast?), I finally understood the importance of "well-waxed skis". So Maysho, when are you going to tell us the secret of waxing?
Oh, and this is what I looked like... NOT serious:
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cleo
Social climber
Berkeley, CA
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Dec 26, 2008 - 09:10pm PT
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and for the Yosemite Trans-Sierra (via little Yosemite Valley/Vogelsang) and other bc hut trips, I've used the Fischer Outtabounds (with scales) and soft 3-pin boots (on sale at Berkeley REI, bigtime). I had skins, I didn't use them, but I'm kinda stupid. I need to try kicker skins. That, and it was about 20 miles of hiking (out of 30) to Tuolumne in April.
I also have the Garmont Excursions, I LOVE them, for more tele e.g. up/down/turning touring. And I have a pair of lightweight Atomic skis, for short day (tele) trips, or tele at the resort. I don't have beefier boots than those, or beefier skis for the resort tele, but hey, I have a snowboard instead. Also on the wish list: some skate skis!
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Dec 27, 2008 - 06:13pm PT
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Today's Colorado Front Range touring report:
2 1/2 hours knocking around on the trails in the snow...
If you use pocket skins (shorties), you can go straight up this stuff, then kick and glide away from it:
(not that there's anything wrong with it.....)
Lots of wind out there today, but nice and cozy in the trees as always:
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Dec 27, 2008 - 06:30pm PT
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I never mess with my short skins; they don't come off ever.
But I do assiduously wax my tips and tails, typically with a hard green wax for the cold conditions up high.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Dec 27, 2008 - 06:34pm PT
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When I first moved to Colorado in 1990,
I started out ski touring with a pair of slightly fat racing skis that had a stepped, waxless, fish scale kicker zone.
For boots I used one of the earlier skating shoes, which was like a modern "combi" boot.
This worked great for most of what I do now. (Light is Right, until you break something)
I just started adding a little more beef here and there to the boot, to the ski, until I topped out at what I think works best for the terrain.
("adding" meaning upgrading to beefier gear)
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cleo
Social climber
Berkeley, CA
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Dec 27, 2008 - 06:46pm PT
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I'm jealous, Tarbuster. It's raining here.
Agreed that light is right. And, why Tele? Here are my reasons:
1 - I feel "trapped" in those stiff Alpine boots (even at the resort).
2 - I like the physical challenge (even at the resort).
3 - I'm not dropping into steep couloirs (if I were, I'd AT. And someday, I might, but I don't have AT gear, because... see below...)
4 - Tele is cheap. Snowboarding is cheaper. AT is expensive, and until I'm doing #3 and get a job, it ain't happening.
Edit: at least the way I do it... light gear, good sales... harder to find that stuff in AT.
5 - Tele skills -> XC skills on long touring trips (e.g. I take soft 3-pin boots w/ scaled Fischer Outtabounds, and I can eek out some turns in the rare occasion I'd like to... more comfy than AT boots (so my AT friends tell me, after 15-20 miles of flatish skiing).
Not that you shouldn't AT... in many cases, AT gear is superior... light, fast, more control. But it is not the best for all types of backcountry skiing.
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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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Dec 27, 2008 - 06:58pm PT
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I'm in the market for replacing my old Merrel soft boots.
75mm. I'm not replacing bindings!
Skis will be Epoke 900's and Karhu XCD's
Choices seem to be Alpina 1550 or 2075 or Rossignol X11's
Mostly road / trail with occasional survival mode downhill when I get somehere I probably shouldn't be.
Any ideas?
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Dec 27, 2008 - 07:03pm PT
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Rossi BCX11.
When I have to replace what I have which is long time from now.
Not that I'd know; gotta go.
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mike
climber
I have no clue
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Dec 27, 2008 - 07:17pm PT
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Fisher makes a short,fat,scaled,metal edged ski that has a ton of camber. Fun for cruising around the meadow acting like a kneedippingforestfairy. The camber is great because once it gets boring you can haul ass back to the car for a beer.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Dec 28, 2008 - 01:50am PT
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What he said.
Hey, this thread needs more pictures.
This is the sky above my house today, post ski tour, plus 3 beers:
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cleo
Social climber
Berkeley, CA
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Dec 28, 2008 - 12:18pm PT
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yes more pics. name that rock (easy!)
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Dec 28, 2008 - 01:00pm PT
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I feel like I should know this one...
But can't quite tag it.
Such a fair view of it too.
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 28, 2008 - 06:48pm PT
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I pick up my slicks in 2 days, matey's!!!!!
Now I just need to find a destination....Truckee?
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CF
climber
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Dec 28, 2008 - 07:06pm PT
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Check out these home made bad boys
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 28, 2008 - 07:47pm PT
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That's alright, Chris, very sweet.
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10b4me
Ice climber
the sads
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Dec 28, 2008 - 08:03pm PT
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I need to replace my AT/Randonee skis, what do you recommend for a 220 pounder. I want an agile ski that turns on command and will handle various conditions.
Karhu Storm
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tom woods
Gym climber
Bishop, CA
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Dec 28, 2008 - 08:20pm PT
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Home made skis? Badass- how do I do it? I'm okay at buildind things out of wood and my dad just bought a sawmill so were lookin for projects.
Any tips? steer me towards a website?
Tom
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