samski360

Trip: Middle Sister - North Ridge via Hayden Glacier Date: 6/30/2014 Trip Report: Headed up Middle Sister this past weekend. Climbing route is in great shape. Skiing conditions were pretty dicey. Snow line is about the same at tree-line. Full TR here: http://kickturner.blogspot.com/2014/07/humble-pie-on-middle-sister.html Gear Notes: AT gear, crampons, ice axe, helmet. No protection needed. Approach Notes: About 5 mile approach via Pole Creek Trail to Hayden Glacier

I've been on the Rossi bc 125 for three seasons now, and I would recommend them for any long approach, meadow skipping, or as a general volcano ski. The fish scales hardly reduce your speed. The movement on flats is far superior to skins. Best suited for rolling, or flat terrain with no skins. With skins, they're just like any other alpine ski. I did a review of the bc 125 a while back...might answer some more questions. http://kickturner.blogspot.com/2013/06/gear-review-rossignol-bc-125-skis.html#more

It sounds like your primary purpose is to use the skis as a means of transportation, more so than crushing epic powder lines. If that's right, I would recommend the Rossi BC 125s. I really like my Rossi BC 125s for ski mountaineering. With a tight turning radius and low weight, I can maneuver them easily is tight terrain or bad snow conditions. They hold an edge reasonably well for a light weight ski. The two reasons to go with BC 125s over the K2 Mt. Baker (similar style ski, weigh about the same) are: (1) the BC 125s have fish scales like a xc ski, so you can move faster with less energy on long approaches. This makes them suitable for ski traverses too. They are a little slower on the downhill compared to a standard ski, but not by much when they are on edge. (2) They are cheap (they retail for $350). That said, the Mt. Bakers, or any of the lightweight BD skis will serve you well. I did a review of the BC 125s on my blog: http://kickturner.blogspot.com/2013/06/gear-review-rossignol-bc-125-skis.html#more

Sorry for the long delay but here is my updated review. The only question left unanswered is durability, which doesn't seem like it should be an issue. But I will update if it is. http://kickturner.blogspot.com/2013/07/gear-review-cilogear-30z-field-review.html#more

Hey All, so I drove by Mt. Washington today on my way back from Bend and it looks like the season is over for the NW bowl. The thin strip of snow we skied last weekend is gone. Has anyone been on Cooper Spur or Snowdome recently?

Trip: Mt. Washington - NW Bowl Date: 6/29/2013 Trip Report: Got up on Mt. Washington's NW bowl to get some late-season turns last weekend. The snow is melting fast but there might still be some left if you're trying to come up with good 4th of July plans. Mosquitoes weren't the worst i've see. See my whole trip report at: http://kickturner.blogspot.com/2013/06/mt-washington-62913.html

Hey all, I didn't realize this thread had gotten activity! Thanks PCG for fielding questions. I'm heading up Mt. Washington Saturday and I'll post my updated review early next week. Maybe I'll see some of you good folks out there? So far the lack of insulated hydration sleeve hasn't been a issue for volcano season. I have always been skeptical of insulated sleeves anyway. For me the Avy gear pocket is great, though I wouldn't mind it in an internal pocket on the outside of the pack (a la the BD alias). Sandwiching soft gear between the back panel and avy gear has always produced the best compression for me. The reasoning for having the avy gear inside the pack is to avoid any of it getting lost if YOU are taken for a ride. Shovels, probes or anything else are likely to be lost if they are attached to the outside of your pack. In a multiple burial situation, you might be called to help search for someone else after your buddies have pulled you out. CiloGear also offers an aftermarket shovel/probe pocket that attaches to the outside of your pack. If you like a different model that they make and want to be able to transition the pack from alpine/rock to alpine/ski, then maybe thats the solution for you. Or if you want your avy gear on the outside of the pack. As PCG mentioned, the hip pocket is the weakest part of the design. I have a whole bunch of gripes about it. It might be worth asking Graham to throw in the standard 30L worksack hipbelt instead of the 30z hipbelt if you order. Or maybe they will fix the hip pocket design before next season.

I picked up one of CiloGear's relatively new 30z ski packs a few weeks ago. There's not much online about the pack so I figured I would shell out my two cents. The link below is to my blog. I wrote up a review with my first impressions (including photos of the shovel pocket and that sort of thing). I'll be posting an updated review after I get a few more tours with the pack (maybe next week?) Let me know if you have any questions about it. http://kickturner.blogspot.com/2013/06/0-false-18-pt-18-pt-0-0-false-false.html

Trip: Shasta - Hotlum-Wintun Route Date: 6/15/2013 Trip Report: Climbed and Skied on the Hotlum-Wintun route last Saturday. Snow is variable below 10,000 feet with massive sun cups below 9,000 feet. Above 10,000 snow remains very good. The ski season on the route is drawing to an end but the climbing route remains pretty good. You have to walk 45min-1hr to hit snow from the Brewer Creek TH. For a full trip report, see my blog: http://kickturner.blogspot.com/2013/06/mt-shasta-hotlum-wintun-route-61513.html#more