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Gear, Tech & Food

Be strong and healthy: Chocolate moose recipe from Canada's skimo champ

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The night before an opening race of the 2010 Canadian skimo racing season I ganged up with other two Canada’s skimo racers, Reiner Thoni and Ian Gale, to prepare dinner for us, plus Ian’s wife and their room-mate.

Chocolate moose fancied by lots of fruit. Preparation and photo by Reiner Thoni.
Chocolate moose fancied up by lots of fruit. Preparation and photo by Reiner Thoni.
Since there were three pairs of hands in the kitchen we knew that to serve this dinner without a desert would ruin the whole experience and wouldn’t go unnoticed.
So Reiner happily volunteered to get ready this portion of our little feast.
Once the dust after the main meal settled and we were talking racing once again, Reiner served us his chocolate moose with fresh fruit.
I have to say, it was one of the most delicious healthy deserts I ever had.
And I had to ask Reiner to share his recipe with us since I think it has a shot to become a refueling hit during evenings at Pierra Menta.

From Reiner:

Until the last couple years chocolate moose was on my no eat list, especially while training, however, this recipe has pushed it into a healthy choice.
Loaded with healthy fats, antioxidants and electrolytes it not only tastes good but it feels good to eat!

Guilt free Chocolate Moose

  • 4 ripe avocados
  • 1 cup coconut milk or almond/rice milk
  • 1 cup cocoa powder
  • add sweetener to taste of your choice (Agave nectar or real maple surip makes it smooth and healthy)
  • (Bannas or dates are also great but not as smooth)
  • 1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract or vanilla seeds
If you thought there was no way to put a moose in a fridge here is proof - two of them cooling down. (Reiner's photo)
Moose in a fridge? Actually, two of them cooling down. (Reiner's photo)

Method

Put all the ingredients into a food processor, or a blender, and blend until smooth.
If it is not sweet enough add more sweetener and if consistency needs adjustment add more avocados to make it thicker and water or milk to make it thinner.
Next, place in a bowl and put in the fridge for 1 hour. Keep in mind when mixing ingredients that it will firm up in the fridge.
Serve with fresh fruit to enjoy this guilt free treat!

Which skis you want or would recommend to your friend, and why?

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The 2010 Gear Guide published by Backcountry Magazine obviously contains ski reviews among other gear. By now everyone that bought this gear guide issue knows what their testers think about the skis that were available to them.
However, there are more skis out there than can be contained in one test and more importantly there are many more different “tastes” than those represented by the testers. Therefore, I thought it would be great if we all get to say what would make our “Editor’s Choice” list.

How does this work? What do you do?

The way this works is based on your honest opinion or a desired choice.
In the comments section below, you can either state reasons why would you love to have (own) a certain ski or why would you recommend a specific pair to your best friend.
So the rules are simple – be honest, make sure to give good reasons (why?) and pick no more than two pairs of skis. And you can go as wild as you want with brands or types of skis you would recommend – wide, skinny, super light, hard, soft…

How did the Backcountry Magazine review work?

The magazine ski review was basically divided into two categories – freeride skis and all mountain skis.
The freeride skis were on the fatter side – about 110 to 140mm wide under foot. The all mountain skis were in the range of around 86 to 105mm wide. Then of course there were other properties but this seems to be trend these days in terms of widths and how we categories a ski based on this one single figure.
This is quite interesting because about 15 years ago an 85mm ski would be almost unheard of. And the magazine states in their own words that in 1994 they featured a story: “…about new ‘super wide’ skis that [were] 85mm at the waist.”
It is amazing how our perception changes with time and evolution. And also, I believe this perception is shaped a lot by the terrain and snow we ski the most often. Because on the West Coast you can “get away” with a narrower ski, even on a powder day, than you could in some bottomless interior regions.

My picks

My desired ski would be something that floats enough and behaves fairly well in most conditions. Therefore, it would be around 85-95mm at the waist and perhaps weigh no more than 1600gm per ski. So my choice might be…Ski Trab Stelvio Light XL…or Dynafit Mustagh Ata Superlight.
A ski that I would recommend to a friend, based on my own experience, would be a super light ski mountaineering ski for fast backcountry missions or skimo racing competitions.
The skis would be Dynastar Pierra Menta Pro or its carbon version. It is quite stiff for its weight (870gm per 164cm ski for the non-carbon version) and it is still 65mm wide under the foot.
Now go on share your own pics. This should be interesting 😉

Questions and answers about G3 Onyx bindings with Melanie Bernier

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Melanie Bernier is a G3 sponsored athlete for past couple of years and tests their equipment any time she is playing in the snow. She lives in Revelstoke, skis almost every day and is a member of the Canadian Ski Mountaineering National Team.
Melanie will be representing Canada at the 2010 Ski Mountaineering World Championships as well as at the famous Pierra Menta – a four day skimo stage race.
onyx-main-photo
I saw Melanie using the new G3 Onyx bindings at our Canada Team ski mountaineering training camp I asked her to answer a couple of questions for you regarding the product.
Obviously, this is not a review of the G3 Onyx bindings since Melanie is sponsored by the manufacturer, however, I don’t have any real use experience with the bindings myself, therefore I thought why not ask a friend couple of questions.
I am sharing my view of the product (even though it’s limited due to no real experience with it) below the questions/answers section.

Product intro

G3 Onyx bindings use the Tech technology that was developed by Dynafit about 15 years ago. Since the Dynafit’s patent expired few years ago some companies took on the challenge improving a system that revolutionized alpine touring bindings market. Here is how G3 made their mark.
» Click the following link to see a bigger photo of the G3 Onyx bindings.
» Click this link to see a PDF version of the operating manual for Onyx bindings.
G3 Onyx features as highlighted by the manufacturer:

  • Easy to switch between tour and ski mode on-the-fly
  • Easy step-in toe utilizing the Tech system
  • Dependable and intuitive pole-actuated heel lifts
  • Increased overall rigidity creating increased overall skiing performance
  • Adjustable base plate mounting system applied to the toe and heel for quick adjustments, maintenance of boot center mounting and 33mm of adjustment to fit a wide range of boot sizes
  • Ski brake and crampon compatible
  • Complete disassembly and re-assembly possible
  • Lightweight

Materials

  • Forged aerospace aluminum toe-jaws, chassis and heel-post
  • Fibre reinforced binding mounting base plates

DIN Settings

  • 5 – 10 (My)/12(Mz)

Weight

  • 1430g / 50oz with screws

What does Melanie have to say about the G3 Onyx?

Q: For how long have you been using the Onyx bindings? How many days have you toured or skied on them, backcountry and ski resort?

g3-onyx-walk-mode
Tour mode lever (1) is in the locked position and the heel mode lever (7) is in the down position. In tour mode, the RED tour mode indicator (10) is visible.
I received the bindings in April 2009. They were part of the “Beta Program” which consisted on giving the opportunity to G3 gear users to test the binding and give feedback after each day of skiing on them.
So the bindings version that I have been skiing on is slightly different than what is on the market right now. What you can buy at your favorite gear store is an enhanced version of the Beta Onyx bindings based on testers’ feedback.
I skied the Onyx bindings about 10 times in the backcountry exclusively last season, and I have skied them about 22 times already this season, which 7 of those days were on a ski hill.
Q: Did you have any problem with the binding during that time?
I did not have any problem per say. They are still in great working shape. No brake and no need to replace any parts.
I only had one emergency release while skiing with them and it was well needed and actually comforting to know that it works. I also only had one accidental switch from skiing to touring mode but it could have happened with any other binding in that situation.
Q: What features do you like the most about the G3 Onyx bindings?
g3-onyx-ski-mode
Tour mode lever (1) is in the unlocked position and the heel mode lever (7) is in the up position. Low (8) and high (9) heel lifts must be in the stowed position.
How quick and easy they are to switch from walk mode to ski mode and vice versa. And activation of the heel-lifters is very fast too.
Then I like the fact that the bindings are so easy to adjust for different boot sizes. If you have different touring boots that have different sole lengths or if you want to let your friends use your skis, it’s a feature you will appreciate!
Also, the fact that you can adjust the positioning of the toe and the heel pieces of the binding on the skis is great. Therefore, whoever is using your skis can be positioned at the right place on them.
Another really nice feature of the Onyx bindings is that they are really easy to clip-in since the toe piece is designed to place the tip of your boot exactly where it should be in order to clamp onto the toe piece.
Q: What would you like to see improved in the future?
The toe piece activation mode since you have to push on it quite hard in order to get the boot in or out. It’s easy enough to get clipped-in properly as mentioned but sometimes when you are in knee-deep snow or if you are trying to put your skis on a steep icy ridge the current mechanism may cause some difficulties. I know G3 has been working on this.
Also, there are a lot of movable pieces with this binding but so far everything is pretty solid for me.
Q: What Skis are you using with the Onyx binding?
The new 2009/10 G3 ZenOxide. They are 105cm under foot – big boards. They have exactly the same side-cut as the G3 El Hombre but with a lighter core!
Q: You are a Dynafit binding user too. Pick one (feature or specification) to which the Onyx is better in your opinion and pick one thing that Dynafit has and Onyx not.
Onyx – Really quick and easy to switch from walk to tour mode.
Dynafit – Really light bindings, especially the Dynafit Low Tech model.
Q: What do you think is the best use for the Onyx bindings – backcountry skiing, slack country, extreme skiing, big vertical days? In other words, what type of user would mostly benefit from this product – regular backcountry skiers, occasional tourers…?
I think the Onyx would answer the needs of someone looking for a binding that does it all. It’s a great option for people getting more and more into backcountry skiing, people that do not want to carry the weight of heavy bindings like Fritschi or Naxos, and who want to have a closer contact with their skis.
The Onyx would be also for those who want a reliable setup which works on the hill, in the slack country and on day touring trips.
It will also meet the needs of people who are not wiling to spend a large amount of money for bindings since the Onyx are sold at a competitive price.
I think even the Dynafit die-hards should consider this binding since it is a great option. If you are all about the overall weight of your touring setup then it may not be your preferred choice but for a good days out in the backcountry it’s been proven to be a great choice!
Q: What is your overall impression?

I am so glad to see that there are companies, like G3, out there looking for alternative to touring bindings. It’s like the touring boots a few years back. Before Scarpa, Garmont and Dynafit were dominating the market, then others started to come out with alternatives which forced the previous mentioned companies to have a closer look at their products and improve them.
I think the same phenomenon will happen with the bindings. Since the Dynafit patent ran out, I am glad to see that more options are offered to backcountry skiers. I think the Onyx is a great alternative since it’s a competitive and reliable product.
And like any piece of equipment, the Onyx bindings have great pros to them and some room for improvement. But I still think that people have to try them in order to see what they have to offer.

My take on the Onyx bindings

As a loyal Dynafit bindings user since about 1998 it is tough to look at any other bindings without high expectations. But I fully credit G3 for sticking their head out and trying something new.
Whom the Onyx will benefit – in my opinion
I can clearly see that there are people that would desire the Onyx bindings and that they would really benefit from them as opposed to buying Dynafits or Fritschi or other models.
In my view, those people that would benefit from the new features that Onyx introduced (easier stepping in or more convenient ski-to-tour switch mode) are more of a leisure tourers or slack country skiers because all this comes at a weight cost compare to Dynafit bindings. In my opinion it would benefit more those that don’t log too many big days in the backcountry during a season or are likely to backcountry ski only seldom.
Whom the Onyx won’t make a difference for – in my opinion
In my view, the Onyx won’t make a difference over other existing bindings (meaning Dynafit bindings here) for people that are heavy backcountry users or performance oriented people. Because these groups use their equipment in such ways that they can live with small “inconveniences” if that means having a lighter and simpler product. Personally, I belong to that group.
My overall impression
My overall impression is that the Onyx appear very solid, therefore should be quite durable. The new features seem like a good improvement towards user friendliness, however, that caused an addition of many more parts over the very simplistic design of the Dynafits. With all those extra parts the Onyx design seems quite “exaggerated” to me, kind of overdone or unnecessary.
The price point (about $400) is very similar to Dynafits and other bindings, it only depends what models you are comparing it to. So there is no advantage or disadvantage when it comes to your wallet.
As you can see I am a Dynafit fan and that’s why I wanted someone else to make a case for the G3 Onyx. With that I hope to give you a more honest picture of a new product.
I believe, that in the next couple of years G3 will improve the Onyx more to my liking as well, thus I would finally have more choices on the alpine touring bindings market.

More about G3 Onyx bindings

There is a website dedicated by G3 to their new product with videos and all the specs – visit Onyx bindings at http://www.g3onyx.com.
Also, you can read more answers and reviews at  Backcountry.com.

Any questions? Share your experience

If you are thinking about buying the Onyx bindings or just simply have more questions you can ask in the comments below and Melanie, I or other people will try to answer them.
It would be valuable to hear from people that are using or have tested the Onyx bindings. You are welcome to share your experience in the comments below.

New carbon ski boot: LaSportiva Stratos / Discussion about different carbon boots

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With some plain luck, I found this YouTube video that introduces the new LaSportiva Stratos carbon ski boot.
Before, there were only some images available along with some technical information. Now the picture gets clearer. The ski boot seems quite sophisticated, therefore the expectations will be high.
Take a look at the video and some basic information about the LaSportiva Stratos that were posted on SkinTrack couple of weeks ago.
You are welcome to post your reactions in the comments below. Mine is – WOW.

From tele to Team Canada: A telemark skier's switch to AT race gear

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My first ski mountaineering race was completed on 184cm K2 telemark boards with non-free pivot bindings and Garmont Excursion boots. My skins were G3 Ascensions that required the removal of the ski from my foot in order to get each skin off.
This is a guest post from my friend and fellow skimo racer, James Minifie. James is sharing a great personal experience that is interesting as much for telemark skiers as for alpine gear users.

james-race-gear
James' gear before (right) and after "The Switch". Now he is on Ski Trab Duo Race Aero World Cup skis, Dynafit bindings and Scarpa F1 boots.
I had never seen light randonnee race gear up until then and looking down at the competitors to my right and left and seeing 160cm skis 60mm at the waist mounted with impossibly small low-tech bindings and skins that could be ripped off in seconds left me awe-struck.
These guys were clad in Lycra suits with special skin pockets. They wore ultra light AT boots that converted from ski mode to tour at the flick of a lever. Their poles were composite Nordic jobs extra long and stiff for ultra efficient climbing.
These guys were F1 racers and I felt like a monster truck ready to lurch my way up a mountain. The good thing was, there were a lot more monster trucks in the field that day 🙂
I was lucky that day. Most of the really fast guys were in Europe competing in World Championships so I was able to Clydesdale my way to a 4th place finish on the tele boards. The other thing that happened that day was a beginning of my obsession with ski mountaineering racing.

The Switch

The winter of 2009 saw my return to skimo racing and this time I came armed with lighter skis and free pivot telemark bindings. I still used the Excursions (little more than a glorified cross-country ski boot) because they were light and nimble.
To paint a better picture, here are my 2009 before “The Switch” results. I always finished as the best telemark skier, yet I wasn’t reaching the top spots in the overall standings:

  • Whitefish Whiteout, MT – came 5th behind 4 AT speedsters
  • Sunshine 5000, AB – finished 9th
  • Nelson ROAM Randonnee rally, BC – finished 8th
  • Mountain Storm in Fernie, BC – finished 9th

See the pattern? It was then that I made my silent apology to the spirits of my telemark brethren and purchased all out AT race gear complete with carbon poles and a tight Spandex race suit.
The transition was surprisingly easy actually. The hardest part was learning to ski in alpine style again. Something I hadn’t done in almost a decade.
The difference in my results was profound. I raced in two final races in 2009 with my new AT set-up and took third in both. The biggest result “The Switch” brought was my second place from Canadian Ski Mountaineering Championships which secured me a spot on a National Team for this season.

Lessons learnt and shared

For those telemark die-hards pondering “The Switch” here is my humble advice:

  1. Just go to AT straight up! I transitioned through lighter telemark gear before I went AT Race. All this did was cost more money and delay the inevitable.
  2. Just give in and get a race suit. Not only does it allow you to show off your um…pecs, it’s an invaluable piece of race gear for comfort and skin storage.
  3. Plan the transition with plenty of time to practice the Alpine turn and get used to having your heel locked down. If you can, take a couple of lessons at a local resort it’ll fast-forward the “re-learning” process.
  4. Keep in mind that you don’t have to transform into Hermann Maier to race on this stuff. Look at the skiers in any rando race. We’re so tired and on such unsupportive gear that we all look like we’re just surviving on the descents anyway.
  5. And finally, if you’re already fast on your telemark rig, get ready for the podium because having AT race gear and learning to use it will put you in that lead pack before you can say “Spandex”!

Have fun shopping for that new gear. It won’t be cheap but neither are cigarettes, junk food, and cable TV!

Want to share or know more?

You are welcome to share your experience in the comments below as well as feel free to ask about any details of this article’s topic. James, I and other fellow readers will answer.

Buying altimeter watch that fits your needs and budget

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Choosing which altimeter watch to buy is tough with the variety we are presented today, so let’s make it simpler with some basic advice that will help you decide.
altimeter-watches-mainThis article is an extension of “Altimeter watch: Why it is important and beneficial to know your altitude?“. It is a recommended read for those that are unsure whether they need an altimeter watch or not.
Altimeter watches come in all shapes and sizes, and their features can vary greatly. Some don’t let you record your trips while others combine altimeter functionality with a heart rate monitor.

Making decisions – factors to consider

Two factors you need to really consider are your needs and your budget. The lower your needs and preferences are the less money you will need to spend and vice versa.
To beging the process make a list of your “watch needs”. What you want the watch to use for? What features should it have?
Here are some hints to get your needs list started:

  • need to know only my immediate altitude
  • want to record my trip/hike vertical profiles (logbook)
  • want to know how many laps I skied today
  • need to download data from the watch to computer
  • and so on…

I use and suggest these functions with an altimeter watch:

  • obvious – time, stopwatch, thermometer, alarm, immediate altitude
  • vertical speed – shows your actual vertical speed you are traveling at; once you start following it you will find many uses for it – here is more on vertical climbing speed topic
  • logbook – lets you record your trip/hike/workout including couple of parameters, mainly total vertical meters gained/lost
  • chronograph – almost the same as logbook but more useful for workouts with heart rate monitor

Once you know your needs you can start looking for the solutions – different altimeter watches.
Note: One thing here though is that you may not come up with a certain need in your list because you simply don’t even know a watch can have such features. Therefore, you might adjust (expand on) your needs as you are already browsing different models.

Define your budget – will save you time

Even though it is obvious you know your financial status it is good to predetermine your budget. Come up with a price range, it will help you narrow down your choices and save time comparing different models.
Again like with the needs list, this can be a little tricky if you are new to buying altimeter watch. You may simply not know what altimeter watches are going for.
Altimeter watch prices vary greatly due to different features, their brand name (recognition, prestige) and materials they are made of.
To get an idea, here two examples:

  1. Altimeter watch with titanium housing and leather straps are expensively priced mostly because they are very stylish for everyday wear and they are also very durable.
  2. Watch that has a heart rate monitor and shows only the immediate altitude but has no further altimeter functionality (i.e.: recording accumulated vertical gains) is going to be more affordable than its titanium brother.

Altimeter watches – various brands

As far as your brand preferences go you will have many options these days. But here we will take a look only at those brands that have proven over long time they are worth their price, whether low or high.
Suunto
Based on personal experience, Suunto is my favorite brand if the watch is primarily used as altimeter. Besides me, there are thousands of mountaineers swearing by Suunto.
Polar
Again based on personal experience, Polar is my favorite if heart rate monitor functionality is the most important. And again, millions of athletes swear by this brand too.
Timex
Everyone had a Timex watch at some point in their life. How was it? Mine was great. Unfortunately, I don’t know anyone who has a Timex watch with an altimeter but the brand is definitely strong.
Other popular and casual brands
Then there are other brands that offer altimeter functionality in their watches as well but don’t have as much history with it: Casio, Highgear, Nixon, Freestyle USA and more…

Altimeter watches – introducing 6 models

Now that you have considered your needs and defined your budget let’s look at some actual altimeter watch models:

suunto-vector
Suunto Vector
» Essentials		 Price: about $200
Various styles: yes
Available at: Backcountry.com, Altrec.com

The name “Suunto Vector” is a legend among altimeters and it was the first altimeter watch I ever saw. I believe, Suunto improved it since then yet they are still keeping it at a very affordable price. This watch has scored many awards and has been used by millions of people that go further than a stroll around a lake. Most recently, Suunto added a new model to the Vector family – Suunto Vector HR – that includes a heart rate monitor.
suunto-observer
Suunto Observer
» Skier specific		 Price: $300-500
Various styles: yes
Available at: Backcountry.com, Altrec.com

I believe this was one of the first watches that was rated “for skiers” because the logbook was recording your day/trip and at the end you could see how many laps you skied. There are about four different styling options for it, however, not many stores carry more than two. Backcountry.com does.
suunto-x6-hr
Suunto X6HR
» With heart rate		 Price: about $450
Various styles: yes
Available at: Backcountry.com, Altrec.com

I am using this is a watch past two years. (Before it was Polar.) I like everything about it except that heart rate monitoring is not as flawless as with Polar. Vertical speed, logbook functions and stopwatch recording are great. It connects to PC but the software is not as user friendly as Polar’s.
polar-RS800G3
Polar RS800G3
» Heart rate & GPS enabled		 Price: about $470
Various styles: no
Available at: Backcountry.com

Polar is mostly know for their high quality heart rate monitors. My personal experiences support that 100%. This watch has basic altimeter functionality but great heart rate monitor features. It also shows your speed and tracks your distance via GPS. Polar comes from Finland, same as Suunto. And it connects to your computer.
suunto-lumi
Suunto Lumi
» Women’s casual		 Price: $300-350
Various styles: yes
Available at: Backcountry.com, REI.com

This is as interesting watch because the styling doesn’t say anything about what’s inside. The Lumi looks to look cool at any situation and it must be. It has an altimeter, barometer and compass. Also, it speaks four languages: English, Spanish, German and French.
suunto-x-lander
Suunto X-Lander
» Casual & stylish		 Price: $300-350
Various styles: yes
Available at: Backcountry.com

Suunto X-Lander is a great watch for anyone who is active outdoors but some times needs to head to a meeting right from the mountains. It has all essential altimeter functionality but with leather straps and aluminum body styling looks very “official”.

At different stores you will find different types/options/colors for different models, therefore you should check out more than one store:

  • At Backcountry.com you have the biggest selection of altimeter watches online (brand, models and options) and you can easily compare 2, 3, even 4 watches side by side.
  • At Altrec.com you will find less selection and different pricing than Backcountry.com.
  • REI.com doesn’t offer too many choices for altimeter watches, but does for other multi-functional watches.
  • MEC.ca offers about 10 different models.

Any questions re: altimeter watches?

If you have any questions or just want to leave a comment about this article or altimeter watches you can do so in the comments below.

Altimeter watch: Why it is important and beneficial to know your altitude?

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Knowing at what altitude (elevation) you are at any moment while backcountry skiing is very important and can be also very beneficial. Lets take a look why this is the case, and how you may go about choosing an altimeter watch that suits your needs and fits your budget.
map-compass-altimeterThis article is followed by “Buying altimeter watches that fit your needs and budget” guide to make your decision easier if you decide to by an altimeter watch.
For simplicity sake, terms “altitude” and “elevation” will be used interchangeably throught this article. (To see the difference read the first paragraph of Wikipedia article on Elevation.)

Case for knowing your altitude (having altimeter watch)

The single most important argument for knowing your altitude is safety as that can make or break your navigation.
The second argument is your benefit – meaning the luxury of knowing your altitude helps you make better choices towards enjoying your days even more by getting the best out of them.

Safety factor – navigation and general awareness

While backcountry skiing, on a single day trip or a multi-day traverse, we have couple of tools that support our decision making. Altimeter would be one of the tools along snow stability tests, weather observation skills, maps or compass. To use these tools correctly we need also experience which in itself becomes a tool then.
Having an altimeter watch, thus knowing your altitude, significantly helps you make safer choices in navigating through terrain because:

  • If you have a map and compass but you don’t know what altitude you are at you can’t accurately figure out where you are on the map. Therefore it’s tough to make a decision where you should be going, safely.
  • Or, if an avalanche bulletin says that there was a significant accumulation of snow above 2100m it’s good to know where the potential overloading of slopes begins.

The factor of knowing your altitude for navigation purposes is the most important one for your safety. And this becomes increasingly important on longer multi-day trips.
Once out there you are completely relying on a map, compass and altimeter (or GPS with altimeter). These three are like avalanche safety equipment – beacon, shovel and probe really work the best together. Leave one out and you have to deal with additional unnecessary problems.

Benefit factor – better skiing and comfort

On this day the snow above 2000m was fantastic, below 1900m was wet. In between was so-so.
On this day skiing above 2000m was fantastic, below 1900m was crusty. In between was so-so.
Enjoyment and fun is why we ski (some ski for work). Quality of snow makes this experience good or great.
Besides knowing which aspects (slopes face certain direction, e.i.: north, south…) to ski for the best snow at a given time, knowing your altitude can greatly help you with getting the most fun out of your runs.
Scenarios presented here are not always true as the conditions greatly vary from place to place and from time to time, but they demonstrate how altimeter can help you:

  • At higher elevations the temperatures are lower on average. This means that if it rains up to 1900m the better skiing should be above this elevation.
  • Also, precipitation increases the higher the altitude. That means deeper snow pack which usually means higher quality powder skiing. And better chances of face shots.
  • On the other hand, places at higher elevations are often pounded by greater winds which can blow the snow away or form a hard wind-affected top layer that you penetrate through unpredictably while skiing. And that is no fun.

In the three cases above you can clearly see how knowing your altitude can make you help decisions where and when to ski to have the biggest blast.
Among other beneficial factors of knowing your altitude is comfort. Sure, once you are out and the elements are testing you, you enjoy but there is a limit to everything. Here are examples of what I mean by comfort factor, especially on multi-day trips:

  • You need water but want to save gas for your stove (or time melting snow). Creeks with running water are more accessible (convenient to reach) at lower elevations.
  • You may have trouble sleeping comfortably above certain altitude. Altimeter can help you find a spot without loosing significant vertical meters by letting you know where you are exactly while looking for a suitable place.

Altimeter watches

Now that points were made why knowing your altitude is important and beneficial we will take a look at some altimeter watches that will fit your needs and budget in the next article.
“Buying altimeter watches that fit your needs and budget” will provide you with tips on what you need to consider when buying an alti watch as well as it will introduce you to couple of models where each one has a specific use.
If you just want to browse online stores for watches  take a look at Backcountry.com and Altrec.com.

Introducing the lightest ski mountaineering boots

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Trend towards lighter gear in any mountain and outdoor sport is obvious. It was, is, and will be going on at every stage of gear development.
Light gear in many sports starts its development inside racing environment where every second counts. This is how it is happening in ski mountaineering world too.
pigSkimo (rando) racing is the ultimate force behind the evolution of the lightest equipment where skis, bindings and boots are dropping not grams but pounds almost every two years or so…and there are string$ attached.
Light gear has clear advantages for going uphill but what about going down?
While there is a compromise in quality of skiing it is not as much as you would think. This is mostly due to materials such as carbon that is very light yet very stiff, and due to clever designs and engineering solutions.
Today, we are going to take a look at ski mountaineering boots that are used almost exclusively for skimo racing, however, they are slowly finding their way into everyday use for vertical junkies and speed obsessed crazies.
Also, we will briefly introduce/compare another four models that are very light yet they are more affordable and durable for everyday touring.

Lightest ski mountaineering boots

For the 2010 season there are four manufacturers that can offer sub-kilo (sub 1kg) models:

  • Scarpa and Dynafit are well established brands on the market.
  • LaSportiva is also a well-known brand but not for ski mountaineering boots, they are famous for their mountaineering and climbing shoes.
  • Then there is the ultimate craftsman Pierre Gignoux from France.

It seems that big brands have their hands somewhat tide with their already established images of quality that prevents them to go for more aggressive approach. And since they are designing for a wider range of users their products are not as impressive light-wise as from the smaller companies.

Pierre-Gignoux-XP-444 La-Sportiva-Stratos
Pierre Gignoux XP 444 La Sportiva Stratos
weight: 590g / boot (size 27.5)
price: 1300€ (about $2055)
more info: Pierre Gignoux
weight: 640g / boot (size 26)
price: unknown
more info: La Sportiva
Scarpa-F1-Carbon Dynafit-DyNA-TF
Scarpa F1 Carbon Dynafit Dy.N.A. TF
weight: 840g / boot (size 27)
price: about $1400-1600
more info: Scarpa
weight: 920g / boot (size 27.5)
price: about $1400-1600
more info: Dynafit

The differences between the boot models  in terms of weight are quite astounding considering all of them are very light already. The price tags are impressive as well 😉
The XP 444 is a newer version of XP 500 which was Pierre’s first widely sold model. The XP 500 was used by the fastest skimo racers on the world cup circuit past 2-3 seasons and XP 444 is likely to follow suit.
Weight differences make also difference in durability as it was reported numerous times that the rivets and some other parts needed replacement after few races on the XP 500. This didn’t seem to be the case with Scarpa’s and Dynafit’s older racing models. But weight is king and light is everything, so XP 444 will do well.
To read about personal experiences with the above boots and opinions about their advantages/disadvantages go to the comments section of an article about Vertical climbing speed where conversation was hijacked towards this light weight boots topic.

More affordable light skimo boots

The second tier of the lightest boots are more affordable. Yes they are heavier than the above, never the less, they make for very fast skinning too.
The most popular model between a wide range of skimo racers and weight conscious backcountry skiers is Scarpa F1 Race model. This boot was preceeded by Scarpa F1 and the two mainly differ in two ways: F1 Race doesn’t have a tongue and is “missing” the middle part of the vibram sole. These adjustments make it much lighter.
Dynafit’s Zzero 3 and Scarpa’s F3 models are very close with their weight and their price tags match the ones of more regular touring boots.

Scarpa-F1-Race Scarpa-F1 Scarpa-F3 Dynafit-Zzero3-C-TF
Scarpa F1 Race Scarpa F1 Scarpa F3 Dynafit Zzero 3
weight: 1120g / boot
(size 27)
price: about $800
Essentially F1 boot but without a tongue and mid-sole. Improved and lighter locking system.
Reviews and more infos here.
weight: 1350g / boot
(size 27)
price: about $700
Boot that started the F1 series and took over skimo racing scene by storm couple of years ago.
Reviews and more infos here.
weight: 1470g / boot
(size 27)
price: about $650
Hybrid boot between F1 and Laser models. Uses F1-like bellows but it’s taller with a Laser-like cuff.
Reviews and more infos here.
weight: 1450g / boot
(size 27.5)
price: about $550
Very light weight for a boot that has 3 solid buckles. Features a stiff sole unlike the Scarpa models.
Reviews and more infos here.

Choosing a light ski mountaineering boot

The good thing about this light weight boot revolution is that it provides us with more variety to choose from. The “bad” thing are the price tags that come with it but don’t worry – more competition should bring the prices down a bit.
For pure racing
If you are shooting to place at podiums at skimo racing events then you should be considering investing in the very lightest boots possible. However in North America it is much easier to get your hands on Scarpa F1 Carbon and Dynafit DyNA boots than on XP444 or LaSportiva Stratos. Ask Scarpa and Dynafit reps for ordering these models if you won’t find a store that sells them.
For everyday use
To get the best weight-to-price ratio you should consider the more affordable models.
Scarpa F1 is a proven everyday rando boot, and it’s lighter F1 Race version is very solid too. It doesn’t like fat skis though as the bending bellows somewhat “give in” under certain conditions.
The Dynafit DyNA seems to be suited for more than just racing, however, the price is a bit too high for everyday use for many. So the lightest Dynafit alternative would be the Zzero 3 model that is a very solid downhill performer.

Your boots

Share your reasons and opinion in the comments section below. Here are some questions:

  • Do you currently own a pair of light boots?
  • Which model?
  • Do you like them?
  • Which boot would like to have and why?

Any questions on this topic? Again, you can ask in the comments window below.

Buying backcountry skiing, alpine touring and avalanche safety gear

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This article is from a series on “How to start backcountry skiing and alpine touring?”. Visit the link to see an outline of all the topics.
Now that you skied off piste in knee deep powder with your friends and learnt some very useful things in the avalanche safety course, you are hooked. If not, then something went wrong while you were reading the two preceding articles from this series, please go back and re-read 🙂
When you are truly aboard you will need some basic gear that will get you further into the backcountry. The choices are immense these days, so your budget will be your biggest definer.
The basic fact with backcountry skiing is that since we need to climb up before we go down, the weight of your gear is very important. Light gear means faster uphills but may not provide the best control for downhill. Heavy gear doesn’t necessarily mean great downhill control but definitely means tougher climbing.
There are three ways to go about this:
•    you take someone’s advice and stick with it
•    you start experimenting on your own
•    or you combine the two
In my opinion, the best thing to listen to some advice but experiment as well. And eventually you should gradually hone your skills and technique that will allow you to eventually tour with lighter gear without compromising anything.
Below is a fairly long yet still quite brief overview of all basic equipment (that you will need) divided into sections: skis, boots, bindings, climbing skins, avalanche safety gear, and backpacks & clothing.

Skis for backcountry and alpine touring

Fat, skinny, light, heavy – the preference should be made on what you plan on skiing the most, whether powder or more of a harder snow.
skis
The best, before you really find your soul, is to go the middle way. Get backcountry skis with around 80-90mm width under the foot. Pick something in the middle of this range and you should be fine for now.
Lengthwise, get a pair that is about the same height as you are, or the skinnier the skis the longer they can be while the opposite is true for fatter skis.
The weight of skis will depend on the length of the ski. At 80-90mm width the weight will generally vary from 1300g to 2200g per ski.
Most popular backcountry ski brands are Atomic, Ski Trab, Dynafit, Black Diamond, K2, G3, Dynastar and Goode.
The usual price range is between $500 to $800. To get a better idea you can check out a wide backcountry skis selection at Backcountry.com.

Alpine touring boots

Backcountry (or alpine touring) ski boots have a lot to do with how well you will be controlling your ride. Again, the obvious properties are light or heavy, however, for good control you need to consider things such as:
boots•    how many buckles a boot has
•    how high the boots are
•    how well do the boots fit
The number of buckles ranges from two to five (to maybe more on some models) and this pretty much defines how well the boots will fit your feet. The better fit, the better control. But again be aware of the weight.
For starters, go with three to five buckles, with a heat moldable liner. The weight of these will be around 1400g to 1900g per boot. Weight significantly depends on the size of the boot.
There are four major alpine touring boots manufacturers: Scarpa, Dynafit, Garmont, Black Diamond. Scarpa and Dynafit will most likely have something for everybody from weight cautions to best downhill performers. Garmont and Black Diamond are focused more towards the downhill performance, so you might not find as light boots in their selection.
The usual price range is between $600 to $800, and again you can check out Backcountry.com to see what’s out there since they seem to have the widest selection in North America. Also, you can check out MEC.ca as they carry lots of models too.

Alpine touring bindings

Fifteen and more years ago the market in Europe was dominated by Silvretta. In North America there were different brands since telemark skiing was much more popular than a fixed heel.
biddingsThen Dynafit came out with a revolutionary Dynafit LowTech binding that changed everything. This was primarily due to the very innovative functionality design which shaved pounds and pounds of weight off the previous touring models.
Over the years Dynafit bindings proved to be at least as durable as anything else on the market. However, your choice should be still made based on some other facts.
If you like to ski the resorts on your backcountry skis or if you ski more in the resorts than in backcountry then you can for Black Diamond’s Diamir bindings since it gives you more clearance above the ground and skiing feels more like on normal bindings. Marker’s Duke bidding belongs in this category too.
Anyone else should pretty much consider only Dynafit. Nowadays, the brand offers various models yet all of them are way lighter than any other brand’s models. And the simplicity of the design means that there is a lot less to break than on any other models.
Dynafit design is specific in a way that not all alpine touring boots can be used with their bindings, however, now all boot manufacturers have at least couple of models that are Dynafit compatible. So no worries.
Also, you may consider “alpine touring adapters” for normal biddings. Those can be easily locked in your downhill bindings and provide a climbing mode for you. You can use these with your downhill ski boots. But beware you will be hauling a lots of weight up the hills with this setup.
Most recommended alpine touring bindings brands are Dynafit, Black Diamond’s Diamir and Silvretta. G3 has recently released an alpine touring bidding too, so if you are like to test new things that might be your choice.
Again, to see what’s out there go to Backcountry.com. Prices will range mostly between $350 to $500.

Telemark skiing gear – skis, boots, bindings

Being not a telemark skier myself (but soon to try) I will give it my best to introduce you to the tools of the trade. (Original photo of the telemark skier is from John Baldwin collection.)
telemark-skiingTelemark skiing (or telemarking) gear consists of the exactly same components as alpine touring – skis, boots and bindings. However, this gear functions differently due to the downhill technique of the marvelous telemark turn.
Telemark skis
Many people are using alpine touring skis (or all mountain skis) for telemarking or even skiers are using tele skis for skiing. Although, that definitely says something about compatibility telemark skis, in general, are somewhat softer and narrower than backcountry skis. However, in recent years they are catching up with the fatness.
When choosing the right ski for you, you need to consider your height, weight and skill just like with normal skis. The best is to ask an experienced tele skier but you should not go wrong with a length that matches your height. And the deeper the snow you plan on riding the fatter the skis need to be.
Usual prices for telemark skis would be about the same as for alpine touring skis, between $500 to $800.
The most popular manufacturers that offer specialized telemark skis are Karhu, Voile, K2, Atomic, Black Diamond, G3, Ski Trab and Rossignol.
Telemark boots
Telemark boots are different from any other ski boots at a first glance. They feature a bellow that allows for a “bending motion” of the boot that is necessary for dropping low when carving the tele turn.
telemark-bootImportant differences among telemark boots, including the weight factor, are:

  • How soft or stiff a boot is?
  • How tall or low a boot is?

To have more control for downhill as well as to have a more precision for aggressive skiing (or jumping) you should be choosing some of the beefier boots that are stiffer and taller. On the other hand, if you want more comfort while climbing then a softer, lower boot will do.
Telemark boots as well have about the same price point as alpine touring boots – $600 to $800.
There is not as many specialized telemark boots manufacturers as for telemark skis, however, there are plenty of boots to chose from. The most popular brands are Scarpa, Black Diamond, Garmont and Crispi.
Telemark bindings
Telemark binding is responsible for making the core differences between telemarking and backcountry skiing downhill techniques. Telemark skis and boots are just follow ups of this tele gear component.
telemark-bindingIn the past, the biggest concern for telemark skiers (and those that wanted to try it) was a lack of releasability of their bindings in a case of a fall. Therefore, facing a potentially nasty “beating” of your head by your attached skis or spraining your knees. This has been dealt with in the recent years by improved binding models.
A cool feature with some of the latest tele bindings is that you can adjust its stiffness. This would affect your downhill control (aggressive vs relaxed). I am not sure how much telemark skiers fiddle with this “setting” while on their skis, however, it is something that alpine touring equipment is missing.
Telemark bindings price range is a bit wider than for backcountry skiing bindings and it’s nice to see the price drop even under $200 on some models. However, you can pay almost as much as $500 for a pair.
These days, telemark binding manufacturers offer a wide choice from different models. The most notable brands are Black Diamond, 7tm, Voile, G3 and Rottefella.
Where to buy telemark skiing gear?
You can buy specialized tele equipment at the same online stores that sell alpine touring gear. So Backcountry.com and MEC.ca will do, with MEC.ca having a better selecion of the bindings and boots.

Climbing skins

Skins are divided usually into three categories – mohair skins, synthetic and mixed. The more mohair, the better glide (less energy, goes faster), but absorbs water in warm conditions quicker. The more synthetic, the less glide but somewhat more durable. The mixed models are a mix of bought.
climbing-skinsMake your first pair of skins synthetic or mixed ones and maybe after a season or two treat yourself with mohair skins for glacier skinning days.
When buying skins you need to consider the length and the width of your skis. Skins are now usually sold in about 2m length, but the widths will differ. It’s always better to buy fatter ones, then trim them to fit your skis as oppose to have skins too narrow.
Popular brands for climbing skins in North America are Black Diamond, G3 and Dynafit; in Europe it would be more Coltex, Pomoca and Ski Trab.
Backcountry.com carries about 15 different types of skins with prices ranging from $120 to $190.

Avalanche safety gear

Avalanche safety gear is a package of three items which function together in a case of an avalanche accident – avalanche beacon (or some times called transceiver), snow shovel and avalanche probe.
The most trickiest to chose is the avalanche beacon, mostly due to the wide range of prices (from $200 to $600).
avy-safety-gearThe shovel and probe are more straight forward with each costing only around $40 to $80. Pick a shovel with an extendable handle and a metal blade as this gives you the best tool to dig with. For the probe, don’t go shorter than 240cm, preferably buy one that is 320cm long.
As for the avalanche beacon, the recommendation is to ask friends that have experience in using one or your instructor at your avalanche course. How to chose an avalanche beacon is a whole new topic, so I won’t discuss it in this article.
A new piece of safety equipment to consider is an avalanche airbag. After pulling a handle a bag full of air infaltes around you or your head. This protects you from trauma injuries as well as helps you to stay above the floating snow.
There are very few manufacturers around the world that focus avalanche safety equipment, and these would be pretty much it: Ortovox, Backcountry Access, Pieps, G3, Mammut/Barryvox, Pulse.
You can find the widest selection of avalanche safety gear at BackcountrySafety.com or at Backcountry.com.

Clothing and backpacks

Most of the clothing you need for backcountry skiing can be the same as you use in a resort. The main difference would be the top layers. Buy a breathable jacket for uphills (soft shell) that has some wind proof properties. The same is true for pants with more emphasis on the breathable part.
ski-clothing-packsFor downhill or more stormy days you should have some heavier duty windproof and waterproof gear. The most recommended are jackets and pants made out of GoreTex fabric.
Then you will need some thin gloves for climbing and a pair of warm ones for skiing, or when the conditions turn bad. The same goes for hats.
All of the extra clothing and avalanche safety gear is best carried in a backpack along with some water and a bit of food. The choices for backpacks are great, but to start buy a pack that is around 25 to 35 liters large and features straps that allow you to attach your skis, this is very useful for boot packing.
This is the category where you will find the biggest selection of all equipment and the most popular brands for clothing and backpacks for backcountry skiing are The North Face, Arc’Teryx, Marmot, Patagonia, Mountain Hardware, Columbia, Mammut…
You can go nuts at these online stores: Altrec.com, Backcountry.com, MEC.ca, REI.com and many more.

Altimeter watch

Altimeter watch doesn’t really fit inside any of the above mentioned categories but it’s an essential piece of backcountry skiing equipment, and the more you learn how to use it the more you will appreciate it.
To learn why altimeter watch is a great tool to have see:
Altimeter watch: Why it is important and beneficial to know your altitude?
To get help with buying an altimeter watch see this article:
Buying altimeter watch that fits your needs and budget

Have questions about gear?

If you have any questions or comments about the gear I just introduced you to feel free to ask or discuss below. I will answer the best I can or even write a post about it. And you are all welcome to answer each other’s questions too.

Buying altimeter watch that fits your needs and budget