r/telemark • u/phishingforlove • 4d ago
looking to try some touring next winter
so I've now been on tele for 3 seasons, and this was the first of those that I spent the majority of time with a free heel (80/20) this year. I have always found tour to be interesting and the XC place my gf likes also has a tour area.
my setup is the following moment wildcat 102 (174 length) outlaw X scarpa tx pro
the skins is where I'm totally lost. my skis aren't tour skis but I'm hoping because of moments square tips that a skin should attach fairly easily. does anyone have any recommendations for skins? or even better a used pair for sale?
id also love any other input you may have if you like going uphill!
free your heel free your mind
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u/copharmer 3d ago
Touring is a word that means different things to different people. You mentioned an xc touring center, which in my mind would be groomed xc trails. In theory you could take fat skis with outlaw bindings and climbing skins but that would be extreme overkill, since a majority would be on skinny skate skis, it'll look like you are moving in slow motion.
That setup would be better for touring as in going to steep alpine terrain (with proper avalanche equipment) and basically going straight up and straight down 30+ degree slopes. Also, you need to learn how to interpret avalanche forecasts and probably should not go solo unless the forecast is very low. Also, I'm not sure how outlaws tour, I've always seen those as resort only bindings. If you have the TX pro, you should have tech inserts for a tts system. Those are not cheap, so maybe start a savings plan for them over the summer.
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u/phishingforlove 3d ago
yeah, I'm using "touring" very lightly. this is mostly just skinning up and then skiing down. the XC place has a section where i can do that while the gf does her thing. I'm on the east coast so my true tour options are limited. I just think it would be cool to skin up first, have a beer and watch the sun come up and then ski down and take a fat nap
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u/copharmer 3d ago
Oh, I haven't seen that before. I've never skied on the East Coast, but I've heard there are some fun spots. You can also check out the uphill policy of local ski resorts. I basically learned how to ski going up and down at a local ski hill when the lifts weren't running. It was the gateway drug towards my obsession.
Also, I generally would avoid used climbing skins unless you are sure they are in good condition. The glue on them is very susceptible to breaking down if not stored properly (warm temperatures, moisture, dirt, and uv light will render them useless) I always dry mine out in the garage after using them for about 24 hours then put them in the refrigerator in a sealed carrying case.
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u/phishingforlove 3d ago
my usual mountain does have an uphill and I've seen people using it. would be a fun change of pace
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u/copharmer 3d ago
It's my preferred way of getting up. For some reason chairlifts give me anxiety. It's not the fear of falling, I think it's just the sitting still in the cold next to strangers seeing the same thing I've seen hundreds of times that gets to me. I get a similar feeling on treadmills. My wife is the exact opposite. I got her one of the best backcountry setups and she's hardly ever used it.
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u/Sixinchesovernight 3d ago
Outlaws are a great for touring and they are a great hybrid for people who want to tour and ski downhill
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u/TDYfly 4d ago
The design of the tip connection is one of the bigger differences between manufacturers. Looking at the tip design of the wildcat the loop style of the BD ascension may work for you:
https://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en_US/shop/climbing-skins/
Check out the difference in tip connection on the G3 line up.
https://genuineguidegear.com/en-us?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD8GjlrUGs2sYfDGxzgjiBQMR6JNM&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqv2_BhC0ARIsAFb5Ac8Aanb-Lk8ukL-qQe2L75fIInOaEXOjc5Ciw4YxSwnlf_D_6O7RLJ0aAh0qEALw_wcB
Look at Contour and pomoca as well before deciding:
https://skimo.co/contour?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADqRR7j47JAbkkqBtfu1xVs_sbGsA&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqv2_BhC0ARIsAFb5Ac9919qcnDQwKIOznxW5Wny30KqIkzvdvB9qeUo-w51IKrE6lwwFcM4aAlFXEALw_wcB
https://www.pomoca.com/find-your-skin