kioti

When the ski flexes, the straightline distance between the toe piece and the heel piece becomes shorter. That results in the back part of the rails catch on the heel piece. That's my guess to what is going on. It's most likely not the boot that is giving you problems. If you have the heel of the boot lifting from the binding, I would say that the binding is too loose. Most good shops would take a look at it and tell you what is going on. Hope it didn't ruin your day!

There was around 6" of snow, maybe a little more. I agree with John with avy concerns. There was a lot of scoured boiler plate ice that was very slick. Some of the areas has light snow on top of the ice and it was slick when you were transitioning between the ice and snow. If the snow on top of the ice is cohesive, I'm sure it shouldn't take much to trigger some slabs.

Oleg, a few of us were up there yesterday, but visability and the wind were terrible. We didn't cross over to check out the ice because of the sufferfest that was occuring above tree line. It was snowing and blowing, and I think we decided that the ice wouldn't be showing. Avy danger is def. a concern. Good luck! Alan

The heel release mech. is the same on both (ie: they both come completly out.) But the difference is in the heel lock down (ski/tour mode)

The 404's have a upgraded heel lock down. you can disengage the heel lock with a push of a ski pole. With the 400, you have to either be handy with the pole, or use your hand to swivel the heel lock latch. It seems like there are more parts for the 404 heels out there.

For the most part, it seems that resorts will allow this. I've skinned up T-line and Meadows a couple times. Use some common sense and stick to the edge of the runs and, even better, the ski area boundary. I have heard that if you use the land within the resort that you are not to leave it. I have never heard of this being enforced though (climbing the south side of hood would be tough if they did enforce it). Just be concious of what you're doing. Don't be a dick and ruin it for all of us who are poor. Alan

Found the video on KGW's website. Check out the link. Ice Climbers in the Gorge Anybody claim the line?

A thought on the B-52 that hasn't been mentioned: It sucks for large diameter. It feeds terribly. I'd take the Reverso or ATC anyday over the B-52 for thick ropes (over 10mm) I use the reversino for skinny ropes, and in turn haven't used the b-52 for skinny threads. I should just get rid of it.

If you can find it, the Garmont Dragontail. It was basically a sticky weekend with a stiff sole. They stopped making it about two years ago. Looked pretty cool in the catalog, but never got my hands on.

MLT is tough to find. Not many shops brought them in. The mountain shop has last years TLT 4 Pro and this years TLT 4 Evo. Last years is a little more walkable.

Have you looked at the BD Drytool as an alternative? I have had a pair for the last few years and they have been burley enough for most things, although I don't use them for rope work. I've been nothing but happy with mine, and they are cheaper than the Arcteryx gloves, around $60.

It's been a few weeks since I skied the white river drainage. It was before we got that puking of snow. At the time, there was a bit of sketchyness crossing the river twice towards the bottom. We entered on the Meadows side of the canyon, but saw tracks over on the T-line side of things. I would assume that there would be enough snow in there by now with the fresh and with the winds blowing down and deposting. If you go, post and fill us in on how it was.

I'm in. Is it one of those deals where you have to purchase online first then go up? I'm in NW PDX. Don't have an insured car, but can pitch in for gas. Want to ski Wy'east? What about skinning up during the day, then ripping the resort at night?

The conditions weren't at all deep on the 8th. Jeff, Donn and I were up there, Jeff and I on skis and Donn boot packing. Conditions were perfect, not deep. We went all the way up to the base of the pearly gates (which looked climbable, but the descent would be the tough part.) Skiing was sweet!

Couloir is right about the conditions, they were awesome on Thursday all the way up. I was in White River Drainage a few weeks ago, and it still needed to fill in. With the dump of snow last week, that very well might have been filled in, but I know that the river crossings were a little sketch. Have fun!

There are a couple of options out there other than scarpa, that are a little bit cheaper too. The Intuition liners have been around forever, and are around 160. They are single density, so they don't have the stiffer material at the shin and down the back of the leg. Garmont's liners are also cheaper than Scarpas, by $20. They are a triple density liner. I suggest buying them from a local shop that can do the fit, rather than ordering them online. You'll have to pay for the fit otherwise, which would be a minimum $20. I work at the Mountain Shop in the Nordic Department, I know we have a TON of liners instock (no scarpas because they're so damn expensive), and can show you the differences.

I think you might be saying such a thing to get a rise out of us. I'd be happy to oblige. Acrylic Core skis are relatively inexpensive (although BD does get you pretty good for their skis) A large majority of the "Women's" skis on the market are wood core (K2's Line, G3 Siren, Karhu's Line) Getting a acrylic or "Foam" core ski will save you weight, for the most part, and get you a ski that I've found holds it's flex longer, due to the structural design of many of the skis (Atomic's Beta Tech, BD's Torsion Bow) The twin tip remark also seemed out of left field. None of the skis mentioned throughout this thread are at all a twin tip. I've used a few different twin tips and find that they do plunge ok, not great.

This is a good way to make sure that there won't be any good shops around. If you want all shops to be REI, or Sierra Trading Post, go this route. But I suggest supporting the local shop, especially if they give you the info that will make you confident in the purchase. I work at The Mountain Shop, so maybe I'm biased. But my opinon is that we have the most experienced staff in Portland, and definitely the most complete backcountry ski selection. On top of that, we guarantee our boot fits (both ski and hiking boots) If you bought a boot elsewhere, and needed help to get it to fit, it would be $40/hour to fit. We do this for free for our customers who purchase from us and sport us. Sorry for the rant, but we often help customers for an hour or two and lose them to websites. I won't go as far as saying that you are stealing by getting advice from a shop, then purchasing elsewhere, but there is a bit of an obligation, I feel. Good luck finding boots! Definitely come in and talk to us at the Mountain Shop. I can't help you with alpine boots, but I can help you with the Garmont Adrenaline (an AT boot that will fit into alpine bindings and AT bindings) Alan

Thanks for the input CJ, are you gonna get the upgrade? If you do, let us know how it plays out.

There are a TON of people on the Atomic TM:X, Kongur, whatever, and the crossbow is just as versitile with a better sweet spot then the atomics, IMO. The new crossbow was impoved to make it a pretty damn good all around ski for BC. Softer, but still relatively stiff, lighter (than everyone's precious TM:X even ).

has anyone used that plasti-coat stuff you can get at home depot? It seems like it would work well. What about taking them to get some spray on truck bed liner? Bombproof

I have the Mammut Zupo Pant. I don't know if it is still being made or not (I bought mine a year and a half ago.) I've used them for everything and they've always come through shining. They do have a thigh pocket, but will easily fit a T1 cuff, and have a velcro strap to cinch things down. You can also through suspenders or a belt (OR BOTH) on. They are scholler dryskin, I think. Minimally, they are scholler. Price is pretty good on them too. Good Luck

If REI doesn't come through, go to a smaller shop (Mountain Shop, Oregon Mountain Community). CJ's recommendation of going through MSR is also a good one. MSR has come through big in cases where I wouldn't have expected them to.

There's word of lowlevel snow in the next few days too. Woot, indeed.

Any idea how much longer the battery life is? I like the beacon, but the low battery life has kept me from going with it.