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Ski Mountaineering

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KSdesign
Posts: 687 - Karma: 175
I just got a pair of solid snowshoes and i want to get into snowshoe ascent and then skiing down from the summit. For those that do this often whats the best way to go about it from your experience?

Also I'm looking for a good backpack that holds ski boots and skis if anybodys got suggestions...
Dec 29 2008 11:18AM
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powderhound100
Posts: 2510 - Karma: 144
Go with someone who knows what they are doing, or take an avalanche course. carry a beacon and all the right equipment.
Dec 29 2008 11:23AM
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KSdesign
Posts: 687 - Karma: 175
well, idk... i'll explain, i got to school in keene, NH and we have various mountains that are great for hiking and snowshoeing, i'd like to hit up some of these mountains with skis. These mountains are not avalanche prone at all so i think id be ok with a pretty limited supply of gear. I'm not gonna be skinning, just snowshoeing, and the first hike im planning on (Mt. Monadnock) trying is no more than a 3 hour ascent...
Dec 29 2008 11:44AM
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ilikeplants
Posts: 1868 - Karma: 17

I would suggest first getting atleast a pack, shovel and probe.

The backpack that I suggest is the Black Diamond Covert 33L with the Avalung. It's a good sized pack and it holds everything you could ever want. Holds shovel, probe, water bladder and a bunch of other useful items. Spend the extra cash and get the one with the avalung built in. It's possibly one of the better inventions and will do you good if caught in an avy or treewell. The only problem is that the pack doesn't hold snowshoes. You could try to rig up some straps to the back to hold them and that might work.

Get a buddy to go with you too, it's better to have a friend with you than to be alone even though the mountains may not be avalanche prone. Have fun out there and be safe.

Dec 29 2008 12:19PM
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smuggs
Posts: 6561 - Karma: 1,375
hiking in the east aside from alpine zones like tuckermans and katadyn? bring water, a granola bar, some weed, and get the summit. you could bring a friend too.

once you go out west it starts to get tricky.


Dec 29 2008 12:43PM
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KSdesign
Posts: 687 - Karma: 175
thanks man, that backpack is expensive but perfect for wut im looking to do...
Dec 29 2008 8:04PM
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ilikeplants
Posts: 1868 - Karma: 17
No worries, all that stuff is expensive but it's worth it when you need it. I just dropped $300 on the pack, shovel and probe.
Dec 29 2008 9:13PM
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yoyoho
Posts: 166 - Karma: 38
using snowshoes for accents isn't ski mountaineering/ski touring.
Dec 29 2008 9:30PM
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coolhandluke
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 153
you know what would be even more awesome?  spending $200 on snowshoes and then walking up and down.  lame.

if you're going to spend money on something that goes uphill, id choose a snowmobile or skins over snowshoes. 
Dec 29 2008 10:15PM
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benk
Posts: 1342 - Karma: 988
what he said ^

in most cases skis are going to keep you on top of the snow better than snowshoes. plus your sliding your skis while using skins not picking your feet up like snowshoeing. skins are way more efficient which equal more fun.
Dec 29 2008 10:34PM
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KSdesign
Posts: 687 - Karma: 175
aren't skins used for telemark bindings or im just being ignorant? and I already got the snowshoes so... i figured it would just be a change than the everyday resort skiing i do
Dec 30 2008 11:22AM
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Treestman
Posts: 3049 - Karma: 300
you can skin on alpine touring bindings, which you would mount to your skis, which allow your heel to lift when going uphill and then you can lock it down to go downhill. or get some alpine trekkers, which click into regular alpine bindings and let you skin up, and then you just pop em out and ski down in your regular bindings.
Dec 30 2008 11:51AM
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jriley
Posts: 197 - Karma: 16
really?  wow.
Dec 30 2008 11:52AM
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SnowJumperAK
Posts: 76 - Karma: 12

I.E. Marker Dukes/barons. Its a blast but by no means an "easy task" I got my wife into AT this year and it takes some skill. Its not just all rainbows and puppy dogs. Skinning is tough. Three things you need.

1. Light skis ( Black diamonds, coomba's or Volkl are good choices (aura's or Mantra's)

2. AT Bindings (Fritchi Freerides, Naxo, Marker Duke)

3. AT Boots (Just as bad ass as Downhill boots, but six times the comfort, Usually has a really good walk mode switch)

Those are id say your only three major requirements, other than finding someone with a lil expierence. Where your at, i dont think  you will ever see a massive slide so fuck all that expensive avy gear.

All that being said, shit yeah, buy a cheap ass Dakine pack for like 80 bucks, strap your skis to it, throw your snowshoes on and walk straight up. Its about 100 times easier to do than skin up, it is something you can just do, theres no real training to it, just walk. Before you know it you'll be taking face shot (well maybe not on the ice coast LOL) after face shot and saying fuck resort skiing.

I dont agree with the whole you need a shit ton of equipment to ski mountaineer. Ski mountaineering to me means navigating the mountains. However you take that is on you. Whether you walk to untouched snow and camp out or whatever it is, its nothing more than navigating a mountain. You dont "have" to have crampons and ropes and an expensive ass Avalung (they didnt have avalungs 50 years ago, shit or 20 years ago)  to ski mountaineer, yes if you want more of a challenge or to get to the very peak of a 60 degree pitch then yes you might want to consider that and some training.

Just my 2 pennies

Steve

Dec 30 2008 12:06PM
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pfutz
Posts: 174 - Karma: 10
It will be challenging to find a good bag to carry both skis and boots, they are uncommon if not non existent.

While I do imagine it's very fun to do what you propose, it tends to be that the only people who use snowshoes are snowboarders, because their boots work with snowshoes, and they dont have alpine touring options unless they use splitboards.

Alpine touring is the established and best way to do ski mountaineering/alpine touring, but I hope you're able to find a way to do something, as it's a great experience to climb up and ski down a mountain.

Dec 30 2008 12:28PM
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KSdesign
Posts: 687 - Karma: 175
thanks man, that was some good insight. As you said me being on the EC leaves me to believe there is no reason for all this expensive, heavy duty equipment, just a good backpack to carry my shit. Maybe eventually i can venture my way into more serious alpine touring, ski mountaineering or whatever u'd like to call it... but till then im gonna just explore the mountains with my skis and snowshoes and see how i like it.
Dec 30 2008 1:17PM
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LMPJibbin
Posts: 1607 - Karma: 17
actually i just bought a dakine heli pro 20L off backcountry. and found out that there is a strap (supposed to be used to hold a snowboard vertically) that can hold my boots one on each side. and ive been usin it to carry my boots for the past 2 weeks and it works great!. plus there is still space to put my skis in the diagonal carry mode.

So i recommend that pack cause its 10% off on backcountry so like 76 bucks. way better than dishing out mad bank for an avalung when your on the east. im over here too and really theres no point....haha
Dec 30 2008 2:01PM
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smuggs
Posts: 6561 - Karma: 1,375
maybe some day you can go from the hills of nh and end up somewhere like this.

Click for larger image
Dec 30 2008 2:05PM
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titsLOL
Posts: 7485 - Karma: 396
well to be technical those are trekkers, not touring bindings. And either way he has snowshoes already and snowshoes will work perfectly well so it doesn't matter. Any dakine pack with their diagonal carrying system will work well, just pick the one that holds as much shit as you desire. Carry plenty of water, some snacks, as smuggs mentioned some recreational drugs if that's your thing, and go with friends! It's much safer and more fun. Solo is legit too if that's your thing though just tell someone where you're going.
Dec 30 2008 2:26PM
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nathanielstyza
Posts: 1638 - Karma: 38
anyone have a link to where i can look at some of those bindings that click into your regular bindings. i may be a newb(im from wisconsin), but ive never heard of anything like that
Dec 30 2008 2:29PM
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smuggs
Posts: 6561 - Karma: 1,375
http://www.backcountry.com/store/BCA0001/Backcountry-Access-Alpine-Trekker-Adaptors.html?CMP_ID=SH_FRO001&CMP_SKU=BCA0001&mv_pc=r126

Dec 30 2008 2:35PM
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smuggs
Posts: 6561 - Karma: 1,375
http://http://www.backcountry.com/store/BCA0001/Backcountry-Access-Alpine-Trekker-Adaptors.html?CMP_ID=SH_FRO001&CMP_SKU=BCA0001&mv_pc=r126
Dec 30 2008 2:35PM
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t_walker
Posts: 934 - Karma: 37
I would find some sort of way to use your ski boots with your snowshoes, putting frozen ski boots on at the top of an accent sounds like HELL. Skins and an AT setup are definitely the way to go but I'm sure theres people out there that snow shoe it too.

Whatever you do, DON'T NEGLECT the possibility of avalanche just because you are on the east coast. You don't necessarily need all the gear but at least be smart about where your climbing, especially in NH. Theres plenty of avalanche dangers in the White Mountains so check the bulletins and don't be an idiot.
Dec 30 2008 2:42PM
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KSdesign
Posts: 687 - Karma: 175
Yea thats the first thing I thought about when I thought of this whole thing, putting frozen ski boots on at the summit would suck balls, so idk if I can rig my ski boots to my snowshoes, but i will certainly try...
Dec 30 2008 6:17PM
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CFD
Posts: 1009 - Karma: 197
That terrain park has a lot of rock jibs in it. Where are the rails?
Dec 30 2008 7:00PM
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Slinger1x1
Posts: 8853 - Karma: 66
yeah, i would say at least get yourself a beacon, if your going alone, shovel and probe wont do too much if your cought in an avalanche, but if you have a beacon, a rescue team could locate you much easier.

and i dont think snow shoeing in ski boots would be to comfortable anyway. I've really wanted to try AT but its expensive to just try. i donno if there is an easy way to do this, i would say get some stuff, go for it, and figure out what else you may need (i would suggest you start small if yo do this)

good luck man
Dec 30 2008 7:24PM
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canadianskier
Posts: 601 - Karma: 184
get some alpine trekkers and skins, they're way cheaper then touring bindings and they're easy to pack away. It would probably be more efficient then snowshoeing.
Dec 30 2008 8:39PM
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titsLOL
Posts: 7485 - Karma: 396
you would obviously be snowshoeing in your ski boots. Not only do you not have to carry/change other boots but ski boots are actually much easier to snowshoe in because they are more stable than snow boots or something like that.
Dec 30 2008 9:58PM
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KSdesign
Posts: 687 - Karma: 175
really?!? I did not know this... well thats superb, i cant wait to get out there now
Dec 30 2008 10:39PM
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