How do YOU approach in winter conditions?

[Chad_A]

In winter thus far, due to my ski/snowboard non-experience, I've either boot-tracked it in, or snowshoed on the approaches.

 

I have pals who do the same, and then there's others that do randonee, tele, and another that does a split-board.

 

I guess the sport of skiing itself could be fun, but mainly, I'm thinking of mountaineering approaches at this point, so I'm looking for input.

 

At this point, it sounds like a split board might be a good option because snowboarding has a relatively quick learning curve, the shorter skis are easier to control, and snowboarding is more forgiving to descending in mountaineering boots. Feel free to give input, but this is what makes sense to me so far.

 

Also, I know that conditions and different approaches demand different gear, so that's a given, but in general, I'm looking for preferences, and what has worked for people in the past.

[iain]

Depends on the climb, but change option four to:

 

"Skin up with mountain boots, have fun climbing in them, and RIP STRAIGHT ELEVENS ALL THE WAY DOWN LOL

 

...and I will check it.

[iain]

[barkernews]

Anyone actually CLIMB in Tele boots?

[Chad_A]

Anyone actually CLIMB in Tele boots?

 

Prolly not, but I'm unknowing. The guy at the shop that I spoke to might've been implying randonee gear, not tele stuff. Forgive me if I sound stupid. Just ignorant to it all, at this point

[Chad_A]

 

Wow, nice pics. Straight out of the '80s? Colors are...uh...quite vivid.

[Dru]

What about

 

"drive to gym, get out of car, walk in, change into climbing clothes, chalk hands, climb 10 laps on 10 routes, boulder, change back into street clothes, exit into pouring gray west coast winter day, get into car, drive to bar, drink"

[Chad_A]

What about

 

"drive to gym, get out of car, walk in, change into climbing clothes, chalk hands, climb 10 laps on 10 routes, boulder, change back into street clothes, exit into pouring gray west coast winter day, get into car, drive to bar, drink"

 

Sounds a bit on the sketchy side.

[HeadSpace]

i've giv'n up approaching to climb anything in winter. now it's just a snowmachine tow-in. then a snowshoe approach. to some sweet powdery turns from 7000' on cashmere.

[lancegranite]

I'm with Head Space.

Funny, I was just dreaming about that very thing.

 

 

 

Except I have an imaginary prefab backcountry yurt.

[HeadSpace]

so do i

[lancegranite]

We should talk.

I was thinking about not making mine imaginary.

[iain]

Wow, nice pics. Straight out of the '80s? Colors are...uh...quite vivid.

 

That, or Canada, present-day. Is there some requirement for canadian skiers to have a faded one-piece suit in some heinous color? I went to Fairy Meadows a few years ago and it was like a standard-issue uniform.

[Dru]

You must be a "Two Piece Yank"

[Chad_A]

Depends on the climb, but change option four to:

 

"Skin up with mountain boots, have fun climbing in them, and RIP STRAIGHT ELEVENS ALL THE WAY DOWN LOL

 

...and I will check it.

 

So, iain, it is possible to ski reasonably with mtn boots? Or was it just a joke. That's how new I am to it! I have no idea. But I'm hoping to get an idea.

[DPS]

Anyone actually CLIMB in Tele boots?

 

Yup.

 

It is possible, but not fun, to ski in mountaineering boots. I would climb in rando boots before skiing in mountaineering boots.

Edited November 6, 2004 by danielpatricksmith

[Dr_Crash]

The main issue with CLIMBING in tele boots is that tele boots do not come with a rubber sole, while AT boots do. And the duck bill is unwieldy. But then, I've been climbing (and slipping) in plastic alpine race boots, so I'm sure someone is climbing (and slipping) in tele boots somewhere...

 

drC

[breathedeeply]

All tele boots DO come a rubber sole, most are vibram in fact. While climbing in them is not as nice as plactic climbing boots, if you have the right crampons its not bad at all. I do almost all of my winter climbing in tele boots. The duck bell can get annoying because you cant get as much purchase out of your front points and on rock you cant stand on your toes but other than that i dont have much of a problem.

[skyclimb]

My progression:

Boot tracking....

Snowslewing....

Skiing...silvretta's....falling down, making an ass of myself, and still beating the competition since 2002.

I am the first to admit....skiing sux, snowboarding is way funner, but skiing will allow you approach mountains quicly and efficiently

[tlinn]

Splitboards are fun for doing laps, but if you're doing an approach to a mountain you're better off with an AT or tele setup. Saves taking the board apart, or putting it back together every time you get to a hill.

[Geek_the_Greek]

I happily climb snow and casual mixed stuff in tele boots, but not real (ie water) ice. The duck bill is a bit annoying, as is the forward stance, but you get used to it. Then again, I'm not that hot a winter climber, so don't ask me. Ok, I'm not that hot a summer climber either, but hotter than...never mind.

[layton]

I almost always boot it up or use snowshoes if I can ditch them and get em back. I will only use AT skiis if I can ditch em and also there is no forest to kill me on the way down.

[Dru]

Yeah, it all depends on the approach. Snowshoe, bootpack or ski whatevers fastest, snow conditions and how far it is depending. Like if you were going in to do a multi-day approach postholing would severely suck but for a multipitch hard ice climb one hour from the road you probably wouldnt want to ski in and climb in ski boots.

 

Also depending on the descent.. do you have to carry your approach method up and over? Skis are heavy and suck to carry even on flat ground, on technical ground it is double suck.

[Kevin_Matlock]

A climber I did an alpine thing with this past summer also had some pretty decent skiing experience. He was highly praising randonee. So, for what's it's worth, there's your third-hand opinion.

 

I can't find a LOT of info on the web about randonee shit, but does anybody know if the bindings work with double boots? My clip-on crampons make me think that with the lip in front/back should allow a binding to work as well.

[layton]

randonee bindings work with all step in crampon compatible boots.

silvretta is the major binding company