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philfort

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Posts posted by philfort

  1. So one thing I've always wondered about splitboards is.. .when you're touring in ski-mode (if that's what ya call it), how is it (are they) for going down short little hills while you're on the mostly-uphill part of the day?? can you ski downhill short stretches with them 1/2 boards? And how are the climbing attachments? work pretty good for steep climbs?

     

    If you can ski, they work fine for short stretches as skis. The width means they kind of suck on firm snow, but it's not too much trouble. I've split-skied many miles of narrow trail on descents - it works. In deep soft snow, they actually ski pretty well.

     

    Uphill:

    In you're in powder, they are superior to skis as a climbing tool. On firm snow, they pretty much suck if you're trying to side-hill.

  2. To any very experienced skiers that decided to make the switch to snowboarding, a couple questions.

     

    1) What made you decide to make the switch? Was it boredom of skiing? Did you just want to try something new?

    2) Overall, which do you like more? Can you really get the same feelings and experiences from snowboarding that you did from skiing?

     

    I took up boarding 2 years ago, but I don't remember why, other than it wasn't because I found skiing boring. I think I saw movies of people boarding down steep powder and that's what did it for me. I prefer it to skiing in powder, even on flattish stuff. It's a different feeling for sure.

    At a resort, I much prefer skiing. I hate snowboarding on bumpy snow. Boarding is all about surfing and floating for me.

    I ski/board about 50/50 now, mainly skiing in spring when the snow is firmer and bigger tours are the objective.

  3. I thought it would be appropriate to post some Quick Facts about Lake Huron (near Lake Erie), which has some of that lake-island-in-island stuff.

    From http://blacksbay.com/links/manitoulin_links.html:

     

    Manitoulin has more lakes on an island than any other island in the world (total of 110 lakes)

     

    Come to Manitoulin & see an island in a lake in an island in a lake.

    Treasure Island is in Lake Mindemoya. Lake Mindemoya is on a bigger island (Manitoulin Island). Manitoulin Island is on one of the world's biggest freshwater lakes (Lake Huron).

     

    This is exactly the sort of thing I was pondering to achieve a zen state while my body and head were engulfed in powder this past weekend.

  4. Here's another shot of the hole on Mowich Face, with sunlight shining through it, making a spot on the snow.

    RainierHole.JPG

     

    It's pretty big, I would guess two people high (I had several hours to contemplate it this summer while hanging out across from it on the face)

  5. How does it affect access, considering it is prohibited to ski there regardless? It can't make it any worse.

     

    I think he meant that fact that picture of a skier in an illegal area could affect legal skier access to areas.

     

    Suppose, for example, that were the cover of a snowmobile magazine, and there was a shot of snowmobiles highmarking in the crater (which I have witnessed) - that could potentially affect currently legal snowmobile access to St Helens.

  6. Wow, ballsy route, but I have to say I kind of agree with Josh.

    To each his own, but even if I was capable of climbing at that level, I don't think I would try that route.

    A few years ago in early fall, I saw what appeared to be a glacial outburst on that glacier. An incredible amount of water and debris came down, and that "little" waterfall at the bottom turned into Niagara Falls for a minute or two. Amazing sight.

     

    Anyway, here's to you for pulling off a sick line and getting down safely. bigdrink.gif

    I gotta add, it must have been really cool to be in such a dramatic spot that so few travel in... up close and personal with the evilness that is Johannesburg. I often look up at a mountain and wonder "what would it like to be up there?".

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