Replying to Getting up steep terrain

so here's the issue. I'm aware that for the most part AT bindings/boots and skinning is the go to setup for skiers with snowshoeing being frowned upon... however i've had an issue last Feb while in Solden - Austria. I will say that i wasnt using an AT setup at the time but i also don't imagine it would have helped me much. To reach particularly interesting pockets of pow i had to hike at 2700m+ altitudes on particularly steep terrain which had me in essence going up the mountain in ski boots, in knee deep snow with my skis on my back. I'm wondering if anyone has a workaround for that... is carrying snowshoes and (regular) boots in/on my pack an option anyone has attempted or is the weight and hassle of changing boots while on the mountain too much? any other options? thanks...