Kit

Extortion? You have got to be kidding. We're talking about skis, not inheritances. I'm pretty sure its not illegal to tell others when you've had bad service. No one is threatening anyone. Berg's screwed up, in this case. *Let it be known* Mountain Gear screwed up in my case. *Let it be known* These mistakes were inexcusable and these shops did almost nothing to correct or make up for them. In fact, to give an update on the bad service I recieved from REI just now: Yesterday was day 31 since I bought skis. They hadn't given me a call since day 6 to let me know whether parts were in or what. So I finally went in so see what was up. The master tech was there, and all the parts were in. He told me he was going to mount them that afternoon. Whatever. I got a refund and I won't be going back there for ski shop work. I'll try my luck at Backcountry Essentials or try to learn how to do it myself. Backclipped, what kind of adhesive do you use? I assume you remove your bindings several times over the life of the ski? It is good to hear someone with some experience removing bindings and remounting in the same holes. Also, I will look into the heli-coil method, thanks.

This one took me a day or two to tie.

Climbup, your insight is much appreciated. Can you post a link to a posidrive gadget you refer to? I'd love to bolster what I thought was a fairly complete binding repair kit (good for everything but mounting failure). And, I'll get to practice it's use on my blown out Crossbows. Edit: Okay so I assume the posidrive bit is just the name for the binding screwdriver. So I take it you just cram a wad of steel wool in the blown out hole, screw the binding in, and hope it holds enough to get you out?

Yeah that came out a little harsh; my intent was not to flame REI employees. Let me clarify. What I get at REI is better policy, not necessarily better service. Case in point: the skis I just bought to replace the busted Crossbows. I purchased them (Kilowatts) and they told me it would be five days to get them mounted with bindings that I brought in (7tm Power Tours). I said great, no problem. So on day 5, the ski tech calls me and we mutually decide he doesn't know whether he can properly mount them or not. Day 6, the master ski tech determines they need a shim that they don't stock. So on day six the parts to mount my skis are on order. Now its day 15 and I'm still waiting. I'm not at all upset. I'm just saying, this is what I would expect from REI. Great great folks work there. Its just a bit of a lumbering giant, is all.

...and now I'm halfway considering the 179 stiff Bro. Lots of good info on the TGR tech talk forums, thanks.

Well there you go Rotary. I assume you live close to Berg's. Take 'em back; make them start over. You don't want that nagging thought of weak mounts in the back of your mind every time you go into the backcountry. Anyone think otherwise? If I had the chance to do it all over again, I'd insist on new skis. Now I'm stuck a couple of seasons out and wondering if it was someone's carelessness that caused this. And Mountain Gear is putting the burden of proof on me. How could I prove it? I can't, and now I'm forking out for a new tele rig two seasons too early.

A couple of seasons back I bought a pair of BD Crossbows and BD O2 tele bindings at Mountain Gear in Spokane. The skis are left-and-right foot specific. The ski tech inadvertently mounted the left binding the right ski and the right binding to the left ski (!) I noticed this immediately when I picked them up and told them that this wasn't going to work. They told me that re-mounting them wouldn't be an issue at all, but I held the same concern as you about the reduced strength of the mount. I suggested that they give me a new pair since it was their fault, but they insisted re-mounting would come at no cost in terms of strength, so I relented. About two weeks ago, one of the bindings pulled out (while climbing) near Herman Saddle. Do the ski-tech types have any opinions about whether this might have been precipitated by the re-mount? Luckily this didn't happen over a cliff or further in the backcountry. Still, I was left with a thigh-burning, unhappy mono-tele return trip, and an unsatisfactory response from Mountain Gear. They told me this just happens, and they weren't likely to do anything about it except try to remount them, and that I should bring them in. A 350 mile drive for me, to which they told me to ship them (very expensive). I gave up and bought new skis on sale from the bad guys at REI, where I would have expected service like this in the first place. Hmmm... wonder how far to the car???

I'd recommend a G3 shovel, and here's why: I bought a Voile shovel back in the 90's. I'm not sure of the model name. I used it and abused it. I even used it to dig my truck out when it was stuck in the snow a couple of times. The blade is slightly bent and dented but not cracked. Several years ago I decided I needed something a little smaller, so I was a sucker and bought a BCA one with the probe inside. I only used it a couple of times and the blade began to crack. I assure you I was not levering the blade, or at least not much compared to the abuse I put my Voile through. The crack occurred, of course, when digging in dense snow. I believe it was not the strength of the aluminum, but the shape of the scoop that caused this failure. When pressing the tip of the blade straight into the snowpack, it makes a flat kerf. When you press the shovel all the way into the snow, the curved upper part of the blade comes into contact with the kerf and flexes, even when you push the shovel straight in. The BCA shovel begins its curve only 6 inches from the shovel end. This leads to repeated slight flexing every time you push the shovel in more than 6". A weak design point where the wings of the shovel meet the handle tops off the equation and I was left with this small crack. (Off the point, I never liked the flimsy, short, hard-to-access probe in this shovel, either.) I think the Voile shovel lasted so long because the blade is flat for a long distance, and has a considerable brace in the stamped aluminum where the blade and handle meet. I subsequently bought a G3 shovel which has a huge weld right where the shovel meets the handle, which I've been happily using and abusing ever since. The scoop is also flatter for a longer distance before it begins to curve toward the handle. This makes for better compression tests and less flexing of the blade because I'm less likely to drive the shovel straight in all the way. .

Hmm like the looks of the DPS Wailer, hadn't considered those. Must have to order them direct? Anyone have any thoughts on the Voile Insane skis?

Me: Dynafit bindings/ Garmont mega ride boots/ ????? ski???? I'm looking to go light. Will I find anything as fat and light as the Dynafit Manaslu ski? Does anyone have these and how do you like them. The Trab skis seem a little narrow for my taste...

I bet it doesn't take much to choke Steven Segal unconscientious.

Anyone else have trouble with the climbing wires on BD tele bindings bending over or flattening? I'm on my third round of replacement wires (in as many seasons). Anyone know of burlier replacement wires, or have any suggestions? I'm a bigger guy but no tub of lard, either. I've about had it with these POS's.

Wow. Way to get it! Stunning pictures.

Perhaps this is the book, looks to be currently available from Climbing Mag. https://www.e2e-store.com/climbing/climbing-product.cgi?product_id=33

No its your fault. No its YOUR fault. NO YOURS. Let's move forward. This is our country, lets all take responsibility for where we're at in this moment. Every action a US president takes in tems of foreign relations could be construed to have life-or-death consequences (though some are more obvious than others). This blame game will surely be played on the actions of whoever we elect this time around no matter who it is. So, if you don't like what has occured in the past on either side, then think long and hard about which candidates are most capable of working outside of those old political constructs (hmmmmmmmm I can think of one on each side). Prize fight!

Great photos, nice tour! Thanks for sharing. :tup:

Panos, you seem to know what you want in terms of your skiing... if you are looking for used gear and want to save money I would refrain from getting too specific. Just get out there and shop and when you find something at least mid-fat and big enough for you, get them. Shop the deals. Get the stuff and start practicing. The number one hint for me when I began skiing powder was to focus on the up-and-down motion. I was used to carving, and once I figured out how to exagerate the up-and-down motion that is part of switching from edge to edge, the powder got much easier for me. But I'm no ski instructor. Read, take the avy classes, practice beacon searches, check the avy forecasts, and talk about snow with whoever will listen. Then, just get out there and do it, as safely as you know how. How many people actually were introduced to the sport by paying a guide? Very few. Be careful (read: be scared of avalanches) and have fun!

Yup, its still available if you email BHandF, mine's on the way! Got it... watched it again... still the best ski film ever. If you haven't seen it, you should try!

Cool. Thanks HC. I emailed Bill. Will report on availability.

Rbwen what did you end up showing?

Now let's see the perspective of the renter who has been responsible and has shyed away from buying a house for a couple of years. Should they benefit from houses like my neighbor's foreclosing and driving down the price of housing? Yes! But... the market will really have to fall hard to tip the tables for them. It would depend on how long they've been shying away from buying, and how far the prices fall, and how fast. This renter could have been responsibly holding out for only a couple of years and the market might be buoyed tremendously (specifically) by this rate freeze. In that case, the rate freeze might hurt this renter. Does anyone feel that this is really going to be the result given the the small number of people who will actually take advantage of a rate freeze?

I don't really see the harm. This is not as big a deal as everyone is making it. My neighbor and I both recently bought similar houses. I was conservative and went with a traditional loan. Why should I get all upset if her lender freezes her initial ARM rate, should she be eligible under this program? Will she be paying less for her house than I will be for mine? In terms of payments, yes! But in terms of total cost, no. She'll pay more over time as long as she keeps paying down the principle more slowly than me. If this allows her to stay in her home until her son is grown and she has more income to spend on principle, I'm all for it. Doesn't cost me a dime. The only way it could affect me is by possibly keeping her house (and all the others like her) from foreclosing in the next couple of years and flooding the market, which would drive down the price of my house. Of course, not that many people will actually fit all these eligibiliy req's and the effect on the market won't be that great. (IE I won't be surprised if the value of my house stagnates or even falls). But, its something.

Anyone know where I could get a copy of "Sinners"? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Best ski film I've seen, far and away.

In a hotel in Guatemala this year I was watching an 80's hollywood movie with spanish subtitles. In one scene, a man hangs from the ceiling as he screams "I'M BUGGIN' OUT, MAN!" The subtitle read "SOY UN INSECTO!"

I took this picture last Saturday 6/2/2007 from Baker....