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Touring/AT NSers...

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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627

I've been noticing lately that there are a few people on here who are into touring and earning their turns.  Where are you from, where are you touring and whatchagot for touring setups? 

I'm from mass but tour all over the EC and also when I go west for vaca (usually UT/BCC/LCC).  Mostly in VT along the green spine though while I'm home.  Right now I'm on Whitedot Redeemers quiverkilled for Plum Guides, but my 12/13 ON3P Billy Goat Tours should be on my doorstep by tomorrow- and will be my go-to touring skis for the majority of the season.  My boots are Dalbello Virus Tours with cochise top straps grafted on as well because I hated the stock top bail. 

So what's up with you, oh rando beasts of NS?   

Nov 13 2012 11:28AM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
I've really not toured much this year (because the lift-served powder has been so good) and not feeling too fit right now, so hitting something big today really took it out of me, but a pretty nice day anyway.

This is what I mean about the differences in Euro vs N American touring, and why I like light gear!

More at http://www.lornecameron.com/2013/ne-face-of-the-courtes/

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Apr 23 2013 2:30PM
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ShredMasterPlus
Posts: 1159 - Karma: 807

Nice!, looks like fun and great weather. We have long runs in Canada to lots of 2000m plus descents in Rogers pass. and several 1500m in the rockies.

Apr 23 2013 4:08PM
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jca
Posts: 4172 - Karma: 6,310
damn that looks fun.

im doing a 1500 meter walk tomorrow with dukes and caylors... gonna be a riot.
Apr 23 2013 8:10PM
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*Nefarious*
Posts: 1072 - Karma: 4,208
Dukes on HellBents, every damn day in the b.c. I also rock Coombacks with marker F12's for real early and real late season touring when there's no soft snow.

K2 SKIS............
Apr 23 2013 8:21PM
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zackbukovich
Posts: 70 - Karma: 114
have you had any problems with breaking or blowin out dukes when hitting BC booters? Ive got some hellbents and i am definatly considering puttin some dukes on em, I just dont want to spend money on some dukes if they are gonna blow out hitting cliffs/BC booters halfway through the season.  I just cant decide if im better off saving up for a touring setup with smaller skis (obsethed's or something similar) or just putting some dukes on my hellbents.
Apr 23 2013 9:29PM
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,467
going to this tomorrow


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Apr 24 2013 1:49AM
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Ryanvdonk
Posts: 12811 - Karma: 1,971
you could always go with guardians/trackers
Apr 24 2013 2:18AM
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ChasingFlakes
Posts: 822 - Karma: 1,544
i have been really pleased with mine this season. No problems yet . skied probably 60 70 days on them. Shit they even look great cosmetically.


Here is a lil coulie we skied .

Shred master plus, mini_heff make tag along for the coulie and mini-heff throws his first backflip in 8 years. Hint . 8 years ago he was still in his 20's . old as fuck.



Apr 24 2013 1:18PM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
Other old people?!?? Cheers mates!!
Apr 25 2013 3:01PM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
28+ is "old as fuck"? Thanks, asshole. ;)
Apr 25 2013 4:21PM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
It's all relative. We would be average on TGR and fkn whippersnappers on Epic.

I heard they're making a hoveround track to the top of the shuksan arm tho, so we're good :)
Apr 25 2013 5:24PM
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Tikayt
Posts: 1031 - Karma: 1,543
Best moment to tour is two, three weeks before resorts open. You have all the snow you want, nobody's around, you just feel like a king owning the mountain !
Apr 25 2013 5:29PM
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GANDALF
Posts: 6304 - Karma: 6,595
wat
Apr 25 2013 5:37PM
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minihef
Posts: 813 - Karma: 781
Haha, thanks. Someone had to show you how it's done.
Apr 25 2013 11:51PM
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ChasingFlakes
Posts: 822 - Karma: 1,544
Indeed. i all ready feel like an elder around here and im not where near my thirties.
Apr 26 2013 11:30AM
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Drail
Posts: 14012 - Karma: 10,011
yeah, but if you're touring it doesn't matter what time of winter it is. The best time for touring is when there is snow in the mountains.


Apr 26 2013 10:45PM
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GANDALF
Posts: 6304 - Karma: 6,595
If this were Facebook I would like this post.

Stoked for spring touring season. Probably gonna get down on some long walks and hopefully some overnighters too!
Apr 27 2013 1:24AM
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Drail
Posts: 14012 - Karma: 10,011
yeah. It's been really, really warm here lately and I've stared work so I can only go out on weekends. I think my ski season is over sadly. The snowline itself is still pretty low with a shit ton of snow still in the mountains so I'm going to head out at least once a weekend for the next month or so and do some recon missions to find new zones for next year around Naksup area (south of Revelstoke). Logging roads down in valley bottom are snow free so I can get into certain areas without a sled right.

I got some friends who were just on a serious mission over March and April though. A 6 day traverse (Gold Range - Monashee's) followed by ten days of touring at a backcountry lodge followed by a 8 day traverse (Bugaboo to Rogers Pass). I'll try to get some of their pictures from their adventures and put them up here for some stoke... That is - if they made it out of the Bugaboo - Rogers traverse. They were supposed to get out on Tuesday but I've been off the grid for the week so I haven't talked to them yet.
Apr 27 2013 1:36AM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
I'd probably argue late season as being the best actually haha... Everything is filled in, the Mad Pow Disease has died down a bit for most, and those who are out are mostly at resorts, which are all open. Early season you always seem to see a shitload of people out there, foaming at the mouth for a fresh turn.

It's the same reason Abasin has 400 person liftlines for their season opener but half the mountains out there close with a shitload of snow still on them.
Apr 29 2013 12:39PM
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jca
Posts: 4172 - Karma: 6,310
Had a big day in the Rossland Range last week

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hoping to ski the purple line next year.

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Apr 29 2013 1:59PM
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Dirty.Harry.
Posts: 1779 - Karma: 351
Officially ended my touring season with the hot wax and tune of my Dynafit setup and the attachment of my skins to the mesh backing. It's a sad day, but I have no regrets about the season. It's amazing how much you learn over just 6 months!
Apr 29 2013 2:45PM
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,467
well it snowed 11 inches last night at 24 degrees, yep still going strong in april
Apr 29 2013 3:10PM
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hemlockjibber8
Posts: 5983 - Karma: 3,603
If anyone is interested in making their own touring boots, check out this blog I just wrote.

http://www.doglotion.com/essays/diy-touring-boots
Apr 29 2013 4:15PM
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zahava
Posts: 7791 - Karma: 12,039
Whistler barely got anything from this storm cycle. Dust on crust if any.
Apr 29 2013 8:12PM
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ShredMasterPlus
Posts: 1159 - Karma: 807
Anyone on here know anything on Mt Shasta conditions currently/want to go for a summit bid next day or 2. Trying to find people on Tgr but no luck and figured there may be someone on here. If not probably just going to solo it if theres a solid melt freeze happening. Beauty mountain saw it for the first time in the distance today.
Apr 30 2013 12:36AM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
You and me are gonna fight haha
Apr 30 2013 11:51AM
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,467
i aint scurrrreed.
Apr 30 2013 1:53PM
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Dirty.Harry.
Posts: 1779 - Karma: 351
I will cut you with my post-touring season tuned edges if you mention snow again.

On a side note...it's been 60-70 and sunny all week here, so the bike trails are dry!
May 1 2013 8:53AM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
*my titties
May 1 2013 2:12PM
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Ryanvdonk
Posts: 12811 - Karma: 1,971
it's 6AM, sun is just peaking on the horizon...can you say bluebird pow day?
May 2 2013 8:00AM
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byubound
Posts: 1636 - Karma: 9,870
Buying an avalanche beacon for next year. Would you all recommend an arva evolution 3+ or a BCA tracker? The tracker is $10 more. I was thinking the arva as it has 3 antennae versus 2, but I have used a tracker before and liked how simple it was. Opinions?
May 2 2013 10:34PM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
Orto 3+

Simple,
clear readout
user friendly
effective and dependable
not very expensive
basically the iPhone of beacons

I am not a fan of dealing with flux lines. If there's technology to remove that extra step of consideration for me with no reduction in effectiveness then I am probably going to go for it.
May 3 2013 9:33AM
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Ryanvdonk
Posts: 12811 - Karma: 1,971
yep, i've been very happy with my 3+, super reliable, long battery life, easy to use, multi burial, 3 antennae, relatively inexpensive. and if you get it at REI or backcountry you can always return it if any issues turn up and get a new one.
May 3 2013 9:42AM
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m-ruta
Posts: 160 - Karma: 168
I like my tracker 2. If your buddy gets buried you're going to be alone, cold, terrified and they could be counting on you to put that aside and save their life. Simpler is better.
May 4 2013 1:35PM
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MothaHucker
Posts: 4678 - Karma: 2,591
anyone ever do any touring around hurricane ridge?
May 6 2013 1:45AM
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ShredMasterPlus
Posts: 1159 - Karma: 807
As much as I love spring touring, this getting up at 2:45am is going to kill me.
May 6 2013 5:24AM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
Oh how things change.

Whitedots are long gone
Just sold the Billy Goats
Been in the Sherpas for the vast majority of the season
Backed for a set of Si&I plates


Who else made moves this year and changed their gear up?
May 6 2013 8:59AM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Good call.
May 6 2013 1:12PM
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zahava
Posts: 7791 - Karma: 12,039
I feel like BG's are a lot of ski for the east coast... Not exactly sure what I'm going to use my bibby/barons for for the next four years in ONterrible.
May 6 2013 3:20PM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
Hey they were amazing pow skis I am
Just head over heels in love with these Magics. There's plenty of pow in the BC to enjoy them here though, trust me. They turn very quickly too.
May 6 2013 8:21PM
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No.Quarter
Posts: 5257 - Karma: 16,965
This seemed like a pretty appropriate thread to ask this in...

To the guys with quiverkillers/binding freedom inserts: What do you do about brakes? I'm planning on quiverkilling 2 (or more) pairs of skis one being 94mm waist and the other being 110mm. I was originally planning on STH Drivers and would just have a pair of brakes for each ski, but I found a better deal on Pivots with 95mm brakes and purchased without thinking about brakes. I was wondering how to get around this.
May 6 2013 8:27PM
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snomaster
Posts: 3346 - Karma: 5,771
Might as well try to get another set of brakes cause you have to take them off any time you swap as it is. If you can't get them large enough just bend appropriately.
May 6 2013 8:54PM
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jca
Posts: 4172 - Karma: 6,310
just bend em a little to 110 and they'll be fine for the narrower skis too.
May 7 2013 12:03AM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
.

That's not very much to bend them. Should be fine.
May 7 2013 9:54AM
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MacMahoooon
Posts: 9009 - Karma: 3,305
I just rocked my Bibby's for 25degs and sun lift accessed slush this past weekend to end my season outside Ottawa. That being said they have moved to the role of "rock pow" skis for early and late season dumps with no base, they are still fun as hell cruising around.

There is a fair bit of touring on the east if you can travel a bit.
May 7 2013 11:08AM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
If one of your skis will only ever be used with Pivots then just get hold of a second set of baseplates from Look/Rossi (about €50 over here) and mount those on those skis without inserts. Then swap the dildo onto that ski instead of the whole binding. The other ski will have inserts for Pivots & Dynafit I guess.

If both skis will have inserts for Pivots & Dynafit then I'd still do the same. It just means when you want to put your Pivots on either ski you'll need to attach the baseplate first then transplant the dildos; about 2 minutes of extra work.
May 7 2013 11:50AM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
That's a gross understatement! :)

It always blows my mind how prevalent the notion of "no pow anywhere ever on the EC" really is. If you tour, you can ski damn good pow every day on the EC. The champ-effect snow on Manny is pretty damn dependable, and the green spine elevation areas all the way to Jay get pounded very regularly. It's just not usually visible from the road, not easy to get to usually and it's most likely got trees everywhere. It's nothing like the "Oh hey look at that over there, let's go hit it" lines out West, but man something about it makes it even more special. There's so many hidden gems out here and it's just fine with me that nobody thinks of it that way and save their pow dreams for out west. My BGs were right at home here, I just liked my Magics better for my style of skiing.

I love the EC touring scene, personally. Quiet, hidden and special, gnar out the ass, options for literally every day of the season and not much competition. It's a touring man's dream but the people that need the snow to fall at their feet to get amped will be disappointed, as you have to pay attention and be ready to work for it if you want it like that.


May 8 2013 10:35AM
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zahava
Posts: 7791 - Karma: 12,039
I'll be in Toronto though, so Jmo's are even big..... Idk I'll still make it out west 1 or 2 times a year so it's not worth selling. And I skied them on tremblant pow days in january and they were just as awesome, just not as much room to get going fast.

As for EC backcountry, I know of people touring off Tremblant/Johansen peak to cars they dropped on the side of the highway......
May 8 2013 12:37PM
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ShredMasterPlus
Posts: 1159 - Karma: 807
Well, heading on a mission to the Dogtooth range behind Kicking Horse on Tuesday.  3 days 2 nights, should be pretty fun. Just bought a go pro to so should have some footage and where supposed to get a little bit of snow! Should be a super fun few days. Going for the highest peak in the Dogtooth range!
May 12 2013 2:31AM
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VD.
Posts: 4054 - Karma: 4,565
Sounds fun ... Make sure to drop some of the footage here
May 12 2013 3:13AM
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