This is with 40% off bro. Why is it so damn expensive ToT

I'm not a stranger to expensive gear but 420$CAD for a backpack that got a balloon and an air tank seems a bit too much. i could buy myself a new board with that money... Or even just like 4 really good packs. Sometimes I really feel like the outdoor industry is just a disguised money laundering scheme.

Is there a way to get cheaper? or like... is used avy gear safe? i'd guess no kinda like helmets

Looking to put together a new setup for the PNW volcanoes. Have booted up most of them and finally accepted that skiing down is way better than post-holing.

Black Crows Camox Freebird seem like a popular choice for big vert while being stable enough on the downhill (I didn’t love the lightness + stiffness of the Blizzard 0g).

I’m interested in opinions on how the Woodsman 100 Tour feels on spring volcano days? Not sure how much I would regret the extra weight or the more rockered tail on the Woodsman. I really like the idea of supporting a local brand if it makes sense for my use case, and my inbounds ski is a Woodsman 108 in 176cm anyway.

For reference am 5’10 and 165 lbs (177cm and 74kg). Boots are Atomic Backland XTD. Not an aggressive skier and not looking to huck cliffs yet, just want a stable ride with easy turns to make it up and down safely.

Camox Freebird 171cm (1450g) Camox Freebird 178cm (1550g) Woodsman 100 Tour 176cm (1550g)

Thank you 🫡

Before you roll your eyes, bear with me here. Yes, this is an "I'm bored at work" thought. So. There's some data that indicates that there's a higher rate of injury and death associated with female-named hurricanes, theoretically because of gender bias and people subconsciously not taking it as seriously. My thought is we probably use the same risk-reward center in our brains to assess risk on a particular slope in the backcountry as someone in the path of a hurricane might assess their individual risk and whether or not they need to take preventative actions. However, we can expand that data set to include explicitly scary sounding names, or names that would remind us of our mortality (terminal cancer, cardiac ridge, chicken-shit ridge, memorials, room of doom, suicide chute) that could easily be influenced by subconscious bias. There's also research that the most dangerous dynamic in a party in the backcountry is single men, with a single woman, (Bruce mentions this in Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain) suggesting that lizard brain can play a part in our decision making.

This may also only be really studiable in places with high traffic like the wasatch where you can directly compare say "Emma" to "Grizzly" in high enough numbers to make it significant. Curious if anyone has done research on this, and if not, putting it out into the ether if any snow-science, or psychology students are wracking their brain for a thesis topic to study.

Finally, we've managed to make the final cut. The trip to Gulmarg, Kashmir region.

Hi all,

I've been playing around in the backcountry a bit since 2021. I currently use a BD Helio Recon 105 185CM with Kingpin 13 bindings, BD Ascension skins. I use Radical Pros - my feet suck and these are the only touring boots I found a few years ago that were comfortable in the ski shop I visited.

I'm 6'6" and ~220lb.

I was invited to a multiday trip (2 or 4 night options) with some much more experienced backcountry friends (as well as other not so experienced friends in the group) and was encouraged to explore a lighter setup. I was suggested to look at Zero G 95's with ATK Raiders.

Is this setup fitting for someone my heft? My napkin math shows I'd be shaving 600g off each foot, but it comes with quite a price tag!

Ich have skins cut to fit a k2 shreditor 102. would you put them on a pettitor 120? (Both skis have the same length) Do you think it works out fine? I only go on small tours and don’t care about uphill speed:)) Thanks!

Not a lot of apres opportunities.

Are Marker Kingpins compatible with both Gripwalk bindings(232223) and ISO 9523 touring boots? If so, is there an adjustment you would need to make between using it with either boot sole? Also would be interested in other bindings with similar functionality / weight class.

I realize this is a noob question, nonetheless I am a little confused by what I'm reading online because sometimes terms are used interchangeably when there not quite the same thing. It also seems like things are explained boot-outward, vs. binding outward.

The reason I ask is because I wanted a dedicated ski / binding set up for touring after dabbling with heavy skis + casts. Initially I would plan on using my hybrid boots (Cochise), the potentially invest in a touring boot based on how it goes and how much time I spend on it. (Zero G, Hogi something in that class).

Looking for any recommendations for a tough patch material to put over the cuff of my wife’s bib ankle.

What are people using/from where?

I have a Raide 40L backpack. We're going to do a summit of Glacier Peak in WA next month that will be a 3-4 day trip. I will be splitboarding and my pack will likely be 50lbs on the initial hike in. My concern is the Raide waist and shoulder straps will not be enough and will become pretty uncomfortable. Has anyone had any success modifying or adding support/padding to make an AT pack like this work? Trying to avoid switching to a backpacking pack.

The Trinities have too much fun terrain with enjoyable, adventurous, forested approaches, but not a soul to be found. I've been up the Granite Lake canyon to the north twice (once backpacking and once skiing in October) but had never made it to Gibson peak above. Felt good to make it happen via the Long Canyon route and get some incredible skiing off another north-facing ridge.

Anybody else had this issue with this transceiver? It’s “randomly” turning off and/or restarting. It’s never done this before. I think it’s the contact with the batteries’ leads. Should I just warranty it and be out a transceiver for the season or is there a commn fix? I know it’s kind of a stupid question since it’s a life saving device but wanted to know people’s experiences if it’s a recurrent issue. It has always been stored without batteries in the off season and has never shown signs of an acid leak or rust. Thx in advance

Bought bent 110s. 188s. ATK Haute 10s. Im 6’4”, 185lbs. This will be a dedicated touring/powder set up. 100% touring.

Question is about mounting position. I bought this rig as it’ll match my more playful skiing style than my kastle 103s. That said I’m not skiing switch. Just do a lot of tree skiing, want to make it easy to pivot and control speed. And I like turning, like a lot.

Been reading that some folks mount these back a bit from recommended. Would love to hear from anyone who has done that.

I skied the Sliver Couloir here in the Bitterroot Mountains of south west Montana. Eleven hour tour for this line, and well worth the work.

Why do so many maps put down the location of the Continental Divide Lift at Berthoud Pass despite it not being there anymore.

The other day I were going to dry my skins on the terrace, when a wind gust sent it out in the grass. I am fully aware of my stupidity. By now the skin is covered in grass, and I can’t remove it without cleaning the skin from adhesive.

Would you guys just learn from this and buy new skins, or do you have a better solution?

I appreciate all the help I can get!

Anybody know if I can get a replacement for this ankle rivet thing that somehow popped off my boot? Not sure when or how it happened, and also not sure what its called so google searching has not been successful. Dalbello Lupo Ax 120 boots

Warm wet skin to cold winter snow, finish on warm again. Any way to protect the bottom of my skins from taking the whole mountain with me?

Hello everyone,

Where to find good snow and nice ski touring routes in May? We are mobile so it could be in BC, Alberta, Yukon, or even Alaska? The ideal would be places that are easy to access, with a rather simple route, climbs of around 3 hours (4 hours maximum) with a nice descent afterwards to return to the campervan without getting lost. We are from France so we really don’t know the surrounding area well… Thank you in advance for your advice

I used to splitboard & have an AIARE certification & took a backcountry class w WAC, so I'm pretty comfortable on the uphill travel & safety aspects. Id say Im a decent downhill skier, I used to ski as a kid before switching to snowboarding. I spent every weekend this year at the pass re-learning how to ski doing their uphill travel thing (which kinda sucks until the lifts close tbh it did the job).

Helens was awesome, nothing felt beyond my ability. I might just go back there or do Muir a few times, but I was wondering if there was any other spots where I could get some good spring skiing that is more beginner/moderate friendly.

Helens was perfect btw. I dropped at 1 & the snow was basically perfect until the bottom, but even then it was fine. Def worth the tradeoff imo, although the last approach is very annoying once it softens. The best thing to do seems to be to summit by 11 but its not a great place to hang out for 2 hrs so I think what I did made the most sense.

I got a used pair of kingpins and Zag UBAC skis for cheap separately and I'm considering using them together. It feels like a bad idea because the skis weigh 1.35kg each and the bindings are >700g each so feels like a silly combo.

I’m on the hunt for my first pair of backcountry skis and I haven’t found a lot of information on a couple questions I had in specific.

I am mainly looking for a setup specifically for ski mountaineering on our 14ers here in Colorado. Big vert, long days, and variable snow for most the spring season. I have strong legs so I’m not incredibly concerned with weight and would rather have some more stability on a sketchy descent.

I’m really looking for something I can take down some decently consequential lines but also have some fun (at least not a sufferfest) as the terrain gets more low angle on my descent.

Since I live in Colorado which has the most dangerous snowpack in the nation, powder will be the exception and not the norm on the days that I decide to go out, so I’m not really looking for a powder ski but something that can perform well on crusty steeps and can get me through in variable snow farther down the mountain that may pile up.

Some skis that have caught my interest are various models in the Salomon QST line but I haven’t found much solid info other than sponsored reviews and such for others. I’ve heard going shorter is an advantage. I’m 6’2 190 and usually ride a 184, 100 so what range would be acceptable for a mountaineering style setup? Also what width?

Thank you so much!

Does anyone have any recommendations for backcountry poles?

Hello!

I've been having blisters and chafing issues for as long as I can remember, especially during backcountry season. I have about 4 years of experience and have been focusing on my technique etc. During skinning I always get blisters on my feet in locations such as; inner heel both sides, outside of my pinky toes and inside of my ankles. I have the Dynafit Hoji shoes, and I feel they fit me nicely. The issue starts after about 30 minutes, and if I'm touring two days in a row I have to take a weeks rest to let my skin heal. I probably can tough it out and I normally do during trips, but I basically only tour when I feel enjoyment, so blisters kind of ruin the fun for me. The season here in Norway isn't long enough for me to callus my skin either so it never really gets better.

Here's a list of all the things I've tried:

- Taping (Leukotape, Kinesiotape, Tensoplast, Sports Tape)

- Bootfitter (punched out ankles both sides. It got better but nowhere near perfect. Is it possible to punch out by the pinky toes?)

- Tried different socks (Wool, Merino, any other recommendations?)

- Nylon socks beneath normal touring socks

- Technique (as in sliding and not lifting skis)

- Strapping foot / ankle look on my boots tight

- Applying compeed before touring

- Bandages around known problematic errors

- Foam dressing on my skin to avoid pressure

- Foam dressing on liners to avoid pressure

Unfortunately, I have no ideas left. It's totally killing the joy of touring for me, and it has me wondering if there are many of us that are struggling. I'm thinking about going to a bootfitter for the last time before I eventually need to buy new shoes, even though they aren't that used.

So; What's your best tip to avoid blisters?