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PSA:THE SKIN TRACK

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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,681
It does not have to be a motherfucking stair master. level that shit out bro, If you're not sure, your skin track is too damn steep. Your route plan could also likely be re-evaluated.

thanks.

steep skin tracks are the suck.
10 years ago
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SFBv420.0
Posts: 2539 - Karma: 3,125
the mark of a good skin track would be the ability for it to be used for several days and iced over ye still servicable
that being said sometimes i put em in steep to keep whiney cant break trail
newbee gomers from following.
10 years ago
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Bagels
Posts: 1022 - Karma: 1,306
10 years ago
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GANDALF
Posts: 6312 - Karma: 6,706
What's worse? An annoyingly steep skin track, or people bootpacking through the skin track?
10 years ago
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Drail
Posts: 14044 - Karma: 10,321
GANDALFWhat's worse? An annoyingly steep skin track, or people bootpacking through the skin track?


damn boot packers. I guess in the end though, if the skin track sucks - just start up a new one.

My pet peeve is when the skin track is put in by someone who doesn't know the area that well. Start following a skin track that should lead you to where you're going only to have it randomly shoot off in all sorts of directions heading to who the fuck knows where. All instincts tell you to get off the damn track and start your own heading the right direction, yet there's the big of you that wants to stay on it just to see where these folks ended up.
10 years ago
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ChasingFlakes
Posts: 822 - Karma: 1,544
Draildamn boot packers. I guess in the end though, if the skin track sucks - just start up a new one.

My pet peeve is when the skin track is put in by someone who doesn't know the area that well. Start following a skin track that should lead you to where you're going only to have it randomly shoot off in all sorts of directions heading to who the fuck knows where. All instincts tell you to get off the damn track and start your own heading the right direction, yet there's the big of you that wants to stay on it just to see where these folks ended up.


This happens to be about 50% of the time. Fucking skin track in Grizzly shoulder a while back was , lets say, gained vertical of a very short distance.

I personally really like a nice mellow track so i can tour in flat mode as much as possible. There will always be shit in the way or a tricky corner but for the most part, slow and steady wins the race. I heard 6.5 7 % is the grade you want.
10 years ago
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Drail
Posts: 14044 - Karma: 10,321
ChasingFlakesThis happens to be about 50% of the time. Fucking skin track in Grizzly shoulder a while back was , lets say, gained vertical of a very short distance.

I personally really like a nice mellow track so i can tour in flat mode as much as possible. There will always be shit in the way or a tricky corner but for the most part, slow and steady wins the race. I heard 6.5 7 % is the grade you want.


Grizzly Shoulder... uggg, I hate that skin track - too much traffic, and it's the go to spot for people who don't know the area so ya know. Glacier Crest is another skin track that sucks. Early season last year we broke trail up Glacier Crest and we actually managed to stay on the summer trail the whole way up - it was fantastic. Of course, by the time we went back a week or so later the summer trail was gone and the track put in was the usual steep, switch back nightmare.
10 years ago
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ChasingFlakes
Posts: 822 - Karma: 1,544
DrailGrizzly Shoulder... uggg, I hate that skin track - too much traffic, and it's the go to spot for people who don't know the area so ya know. Glacier Crest is another skin track that sucks. Early season last year we broke trail up Glacier Crest and we actually managed to stay on the summer trail the whole way up - it was fantastic. Of course, by the time we went back a week or so later the summer trail was gone and the track put in was the usual steep, switch back nightmare.


Im not sure what the obsession with with putting corners in the steepest part ( look for a fucking flat ish spot ) is in this area. Everywhere i have been this season has been a nightmare or kick turns and holding on to branches for dear life. The last 3 outings i just made my own.
10 years ago
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,467
in the baker slackcountry we have a hard core group of locals "aka vancouverites" who think it's a brilliant idea to make a skin track right back up where they just skied down. mind you its a 35 to 45 degree slope the whole way and people constantly come down it as it's one of the most popular spots to tour. iv almost resorted to letting my dog take a chunk out of them to teach em a lesson
10 years ago
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ChasingFlakes
Posts: 822 - Karma: 1,544
Bakerpowin the baker slackcountry we have a hard core group of locals "aka vancouverites" who think it's a brilliant idea to make a skin track right back up where they just skied down. mind you its a 35 to 45 degree slope the whole way and people constantly come down it as it's one of the most popular spots to tour. iv almost resorted to letting my dog take a chunk out of them to teach em a lesson


I sense a little local hostility.
10 years ago
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GANDALF
Posts: 6312 - Karma: 6,706
ChasingFlakesI sense a little local hostility.


It's more that the "vancouverites" are setting idioic skintracks right underneath lines people are skiing above them.
10 years ago
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,681
ChasingFlakesI sense a little local hostility.


Its more that you have morons setting their ascent right up a commonly skied zone, that can slide.
10 years ago
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Drail
Posts: 14044 - Karma: 10,321
It'd be real funny if said Vancouverites bitched at you while you were skiing down because you were dropping in above them.


So glad I don't live somewhere (Wasatch comes to mind) where it's super busy and you always gotta keep track of who and what's around you for fear of someone dropping in above you or vice versa. Rogers Pass is pretty busy and I guess it's kind of an issue there but I don't really have to deal with it too often - I also rarely go too far up Connaught Creek because of this reason.
10 years ago
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,467
ChasingFlakesI sense a little local hostility.


hahah maybe. i have actually gotten yelled at for skiing a very common line right above where these guys were skinning. no way i could see them from the top. luckily it was a solid day.

i feel like the snowpack around here can let people get away with things pretty easily. things can settle quickly and lines can get sent right away after/during a storm.
10 years ago
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hemlockjibber8
Posts: 6000 - Karma: 3,690
ChasingFlakesI personally really like a nice mellow track so i can tour in flat mode as much as possible. There will always be shit in the way or a tricky corner but for the most part, slow and steady wins the race. I heard 6.5 7 % is the grade you want.


The ideal skin track is said to be 17 degrees / 30%. A 7% grade is 4 degrees. You wouldn't get anywhere.
10 years ago
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,467
I always live by the mentality that you should be able to set the track without using heel risers.
10 years ago
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iLLbiLLy
Posts: 2865 - Karma: 2,631
I guess that depends on where and what your skiing... You won't find a "mellow" skin up to the top of ferry peak...



In fact, I can't remember the last summit that was worth doing that didn't have some scary steep skinning involved.

10 years ago
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Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1401 - Karma: 701
Yeah those skin tracks with the switchbacks that you know if you start sliding back you will be fucked are really scary sometimes.

I personally enjoy a steep skin track...just take it slow and easy.
10 years ago
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,467
yah there are always situations where things can get steep, but that looks like a well set track for going up such a steep pitch. i just always keep in mind the no heal riser thing. it helps me keep my route pretty mellow and makes me think more about my route finding.
10 years ago
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ChasingFlakes
Posts: 822 - Karma: 1,544
Biggest thing for me is a nice corner. something flat ish goes a long way on the steepest of ski tracks.
10 years ago
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Aenigma
Posts: 11256 - Karma: 428
It cracked me up this summer when we were skiing Mt Adams and everyone was trying to skin in as straight of a line as possible up to the false summit. We would fly by people who were imperceptibly inching straight up the thing, sweating their asses off, while we were able to talk, drink, and eat at our leisure.

I talked to one lady bro-trackin' it and asked, out of curiosity, why she preferred such a steep skin track, and she said it just made her feel like she was getting there faster. I suppose any mountain of evidence and "feeling" to the contrary won't convince people that they can use their brains, rather than their legs, to get places faster and with less effort.
10 years ago
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,467
i know sometimes i just get out there in the spring and go straight up for some exercise. other than that i find it ridiculous
10 years ago
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Literature
Posts: 13673 - Karma: 3,087
It's strange how a skin track becomes community property.

But I'll echo Drail--it's nice to ski someplace where there aren't many folks using the same skin tracks. When some snowboarders on snowshoes popped out of the trees on our track last year, my reaction was about the same as if a flying saucer was coming into land.
10 years ago
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,681
LiteratureIt's strange how a skin track becomes community property.

But I'll echo Drail--it's nice to ski someplace where there aren't many folks using the same skin tracks. When some snowboarders on snowshoes popped out of the trees on our track last year, my reaction was about the same as if a flying saucer was coming into land.


you abducted them and took them to your leader?
10 years ago
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Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1401 - Karma: 701
If you don't like the skin track break your own trail...simple as that.
10 years ago
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,467
Loco-Deer-SlayerIf you don't like the skin track break your own trail...simple as that.


But I'd rather bitch and moan!
10 years ago
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