ricardo
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Posts posted by ricardo
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Cool!
Thanks for the tip spud. I'll have to check into that. of course it's a non-issue here...Korea doesn't have $#i+ for snow! I need to move to Japan...or somewhere with snow.
8^)
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spud: the skis I use are shaped with metal edges. I've found that traversing wasn't difficult until I encountered solid ice. the skin wasn't holding so I was nearly side stepping up the ice. I slid a couple of times, which must have been quite a sight since I'm not a skier must less a free heeler. If I had shoes I could have gone for the summit that day (a blue bird bummer) so you're right on about snowshoe versatility. I would have stashed my board but the option would have been there.
Ski crampons would have gotten me much further than I did, but I don't have them (not even sure if they're compatible). unfortunately they don't make crampons that fit on bulky snowboard boots either.
My skis aren't that clumsy when strapped to the pack, but I also use a slightly larger pack than necessary puffed up with a down jacket. I've taken a few falls but no serious cartwheels to speak of. skis are strapped to the sides so I don't imagine they would ever smack me in a tumble (maybe in the head but I wear a helmet).
Montoya: I've never skinned on real skis so I have no comparison. by shear physics they can't have the same float, but I wouldn't know the differences in 'x' snow conditions. otherwise it's just as fast (except you have a board on your back).
Good point about "what are our partners riding". to add to that, if you're the only one on shoes you're stuck in the back so you don't jack up the skin track.
Most of my experience is in spring corn conditions in the cascades which are very predictable. If I know I'm going to hit variable conditions I usually hike up, add crampons, summit, wait for corn (no sinkage in early corn). winter trips...well, cascades are known for 'cascade cement'...heavy powder so the shorter skis were never an issue.
kumapix: the ideal setup really depends on where/when you want to ride. for 'all around' the suggestions on this thread are excellent.
poles: another option to think of are whippets. if you're on glaciers or steep hard snow you need a way to self arrest (whether you're going up or down). whippets are from black diamond, but the attachment poles are two-piece and don't collapse as short as the 3 piece. there are other options discussed on this thread .
happy riding!!
-rick
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shoes: better on ice...yes. steep hardpack...only if you're going straight up. better on traverses...no way. traversing up a slope on shoes will torque your foot/leg position unless your in more than 6" powder when you can kick your steps (why kick when you can glide).
skiis: heavier...definitely (nothing that's going to "be a pain on your back" though), more cumbersome while riding...not with a decent pack.
the energy saved from gliding and not fighting traverses made me convert (i used shoes for 6 years similar to the Denali's).
with a 45 lb pack the skiis will work better in deep pow than the small msr's (don't know about the others)...in champaigne pow both will suck.
_spud, do you have any first hand experience with them?
edit: good point about traversing in soft boots. mine are fairly stiff so that's never been a problem for me
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Kumapix, don't forget about the approach ski option. i have a pair of the K2 skis (out of production) and they are way better than snowshoes! I haven't gone the splitboard option yet b/c of the costs so these skis are the next best option.
better for traverses, better for the exit!
here's a link to karhu's models: link
note: if you find a pair of K2's make sure they have the right binding on them.
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I second badmigraine's Solomon suggestion.
my 163 400 series has been incredible bombing through cascade cement, choppy ice, and every other crappy condition the cascades can throw at you. on the pow days...it floats like a dream!
enjoy the new ride!
-r
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Leedom makes a good helmet too.
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from one of the greatest movies ever.
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"Go that way... really fast. If something gets in your way...turn"
-Charles DeMarr
"This is pure snow! It's everywhere! Have you any idea of what the street value of this mountain is?"
-Charles DeMarr
"The K12 dude. If you make a gnarly run like that girls will go sterile just looking at you!"
-Charles DeMarr
too many quotes from Charles to post here
"I wish it would stop snowing"
-a teenage fool from Texass after 8" dropped on Breck throughout the day
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huge change!
advantyper, here's an indication of the riding in korea...i'm lurking on a japanese site (but there's a reason for that...).
my town has had 80 inches in 3 weeks and there's nowhere to ride in the rice paddy flatlands i'm in. there are many resorts here and i've only been to one so far (muju) and half was closed. it is 'early' season (ok, i don't want to hear how much snow everyone else has...let me remain in my bubble) so i still have hope for the steeps and deeps. there are many reasons to visit korea as it is an amazing place, but as far as the riding goes you'll have to ask me again in a month.
i lived in portland for 8 years before moving here and have spent countless days on mt. hood (meadows, tom dick and harry, newton creek, zig zag, crater rock, etc.) if you want any info let me know.
oh yeah, if i'm still here you have a place to crash.
cheers!
(tip: hard W winds after a dry fresh snow will deposit a constant supply of freshies on one bowl. a friend and i hit that run over and over one night with fresh tracks every time! keep cutting right to maintain fresh and steep)
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aahhh, home sweet home. Heather...wy'east...superbowl. damn i miss that peak
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i think the 'police' analogy has gone too far. i continued with SKI's reference, but i wasn't suggesting speed cops out in force giving citations. just not letting near misses capable of fatalities go unchecked...like fattwins yelling at the racer.
to the resort, OB is black and white...in bounds or out of bounds. my opinion does not matter to patrol. i guess the greyness can arise when an area opens and closes throughout the season.
i can't argue the OB vs. no fun issue...i'll still do it. although i won't have many opportunities for that here. :crying graemlin:
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hhhhmmmm...correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that a part of their job?!?!Quote:Originally posted by SKI:
I'd be interested to know how you would propose that patrol 'police' (for want of a better word) the slopes for dangerous skiers.
Are you justifying the status quo of targeting OB riders instead of "dangerous skiers" b/c it's easier? I really don't think it's that complicated.
Everyone gets out of control at times, but it's obvious when riders are in over their head or are just going too fast in the wrong place. Suggestions: 1) Patroller stops them or catches up with them at the base, and talks to them about riding on an easier slope or slowing down when there are others about. 2) If they witnessed the rider in a potential close call, extend 'the talk'. 3) A near miss, take them into the office or yank the ticket if they're an @$$hole (the office talk actually worked on me as a young punk).
OB is a black and white issue and is an easy decision. Out of control is a big grey area that (I think) patrollers are less likely to lecture about. Of course this is my uneducated perspective from my experience in the states. Any former or current patrollers want to chime in?
btw, My opinion of a patrollers duty is to keep the riders and slopes safe so everyone can have fun. That includes both, keeping people out of dangerous areas (avy prone, etc. (I'm not going to argue hazard vs. skill)) and preventing others from getting nailed by high speed objects. -
oh, I'm not saying that they should ignore one because the other is more dangerous, just that the resorts I've seen (granted, not in Japan) seem to have patrol out and ready to catch the riders going out of bounds when they're ignoring a much greater hazard in bounds. I think these priorities are BS.
I know a handful of people who have been injured for the day, the season, or their life getting nailed by someone out of control, and I have heard/read many more horror stories. Some assailants are apologetic, but my friend was out of commission for 2 years after a flailing skier rammed an edge in her back (she was standing) and he kept going. If 4 of the 5 patrollers at the top of the run were on the slopes this might not have happened or at least they might have caught and stuck him with the medical bills.
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The only thing I would add to this discussion is this hypothetical situation...
5 days after a good powder dump i decide to duck the rope to get some freshies. Patroller busts me, takes my ticket, and I head out to the groomers to leave in shame. Just then I get nailed by some gumby careening out of control.
Which one of us is a bigger danger to others?
Which one is more common at a resort?
One piece jumpsuit ski wear?
in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
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i know them as fart bags