Backcountry Ski/Winter Camping Training
Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 4:46 pm
I am an experienced 3-season backpacker and have a fair amount of experience cross-country skiing on groomed tracks at nordic centers, ungrommed bridle/hiking paths, and unplowed park roads in rolling terrain of north-eastern Ohio (20-40 times a year) and occasionally the bunny hills of the tiny downhill areas we have here. My off-trail skis (which I like a lot) are Fischer Outbound Crowns (70-60-65), with Salmon Profile-BC bindings, and Fischer boots. My turns on these skis are wedge turns and stem christies (no telemarking). I've only been alpine skiing once (last winter), went to Sol Vista (a small ski resort near Winterpark) and took a lesson and by the end could parallel OK and handle the easier green runs.
I am interested in learning more about backcountry touring and winter skills for future hut trips/tent camping in the Rockies and Sierras, emphasizing getting from one place to another in varied terrain including above the tree line, avalanche assessment, winter camping, use of climbing skins, etc. Not really interested in going out-of-bounds in ski areas.
Does anybody have an opinion on school/guide services offered. A lot of them seem more downhill-oriented than touring oriented. I was looking at NOLS which looks interesting, but I wasn't sure if I'd be in over my head on the downhill portions (especially being limited to telemark skis). Does anyone have opinions on this or other schools?
Another first question is about gear. I'm 6'4", about 210 lbs., I thought the Fischer Outbounds might be a little bit light-duty for what I'm trying to do. I was looking at lightweight AT gear for better control on descents and more reliable release than medium/heavy-duty telemark gear (not all that interested in learning the telemark turn unless it's the easiest way down a steep slope), but I also hear that Dynafits behave weird with heavier skiers and are a pain to switch from alpine to touring. How much touring ease/comfort, compared to Dynafits or tele gear, do you give up if shifting to a heavier AT binding like Naxos.
I am interested in learning more about backcountry touring and winter skills for future hut trips/tent camping in the Rockies and Sierras, emphasizing getting from one place to another in varied terrain including above the tree line, avalanche assessment, winter camping, use of climbing skins, etc. Not really interested in going out-of-bounds in ski areas.
Does anybody have an opinion on school/guide services offered. A lot of them seem more downhill-oriented than touring oriented. I was looking at NOLS which looks interesting, but I wasn't sure if I'd be in over my head on the downhill portions (especially being limited to telemark skis). Does anyone have opinions on this or other schools?
Another first question is about gear. I'm 6'4", about 210 lbs., I thought the Fischer Outbounds might be a little bit light-duty for what I'm trying to do. I was looking at lightweight AT gear for better control on descents and more reliable release than medium/heavy-duty telemark gear (not all that interested in learning the telemark turn unless it's the easiest way down a steep slope), but I also hear that Dynafits behave weird with heavier skiers and are a pain to switch from alpine to touring. How much touring ease/comfort, compared to Dynafits or tele gear, do you give up if shifting to a heavier AT binding like Naxos.