Comments on: Steep Skinning – Mindset

By: Bart T

Bart T — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:11:13 +0000

Looking at the photo makes me think that somebody (Andrew) ought to invent special poles for slab climbing, maybe with little suction cups that could attach to your ski poles? It would be spooky to lead with them, but I bet you could just run up some slabs on second. I guess that might count as aid climbing though :-(

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 04:18:15 +0000

Hi Greg – I’ve had the same experience where a group will follow our track for hours, then when we finally cross paths they lay into us about the angle, danger, etc.. Personally, I don’t see breaking trail as a public service, although I could care less if anyone else wants to use it.

By: Greg in UT

Greg in UT — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 01:16:15 +0000

I have never understood people that complain about an established skin track being too steep. If they don’t like it, they are welcome to break their own.

I remember skiing alone several years ago in White Pine. I broke a steep track in deep snow. When I got to the top, another party came up my track and complained to me that I had put it in too steep. I was so stunned I couldn’t even think of a response.

By: Colin in CA

Colin in CA — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 03:47:56 +0000

Ugh… slab climbing. A necessary evil. Especially if you climb in Tuolumne. But not my cup of tea, if given the choice. Give me clean granite ridgeline traverses.

Thanks for the skinning tips Andrew. I’ll try to think about them next time I’m out.

By: David

David — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 22:27:26 +0000

I thought you were gonna say Steep Skinning was all about headbands.

I think the slab climbing analogy is absolutely perfect, except that the people who need to hear it probably ain’t big climbers.

By: mark

mark — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:04:44 +0000

Good info as usual. Thanks for this series, it’s been valuable.

By: Nate

Nate — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:47:30 +0000

Great advice. Out of all the skiing web sites I visit, this one’s the best for two reasons: it’s based in my home state, and there is great advice like this featured. I also used your helemt cam idea but it didn’t work out due to all the crap I got from my partners for having a camera screwed to my head. Weird huh.