Tag: gear

Adding a Tip Hole to Your Skis

Adding a Tip Hole to Your Skis

| February 27, 2013 | 7 Comments

Step 1 – Void your manufacturer’s warranty. Step 2 – Be brave.  Don’t fear the drill. There are a lot of advantages to having a tip hole in your touring skis, and while not every manufacturer adds one, they are easy to retrofit.  Tip holes are traditionally thought of as haul points for emergency sleds, […]

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Warm & Blister-free Boot Fitting

Warm & Blister-free Boot Fitting

| November 8, 2010 | 17 Comments

I’m happy to say that I haven’t had a ski boot related blister for years and the last one I did get came from trying to mold my own liners.  Some things are better left to the pros. Here’s the not-so secrets to my blister free success… 1) Go with boots that fit your feet.  […]

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Ski Bag Packing

Ski Bag Packing

| October 31, 2009 | 9 Comments

Whether you like it or not, skis count as a piece of luggage when flying, so I always try to maximize my ski bags utility by both stuffing it full of 49.995 pounds worth of gear, and also using my gear to pad my skis.

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Favorite Glacier Rope

Favorite Glacier Rope

| October 28, 2009 | 8 Comments

I’m slowly assembling my Antarctica kit and pulled out my favorite glacier rope tonight.  The sad thing is, I don’t even know the brand, but it doesn’t really matter – what is important is my fast and easy, do-it-yourself modification.  Starting with a 60m dry 9.1mm’ish rope, find the center, apply a sharp blade to […]

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New Addition to Glacier Kit

New Addition to Glacier Kit

| October 21, 2009 | 17 Comments

Much to the dismay of my partners, I am a minimalist when it comes to the amount of gear I bring for performing a crevasse rescue.  I bring a snow pickett for an anchor, waist and foot prussick loops, a 20′ cordelette, about six Oz carabiners, a screwgate locking carabiner and 2-3 full-length Dynex runners.  […]

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OR Show – Cool Stuff

OR Show – Cool Stuff

| August 3, 2009 | 2 Comments

A last update from the OR Show… I’ve been collecting knives for a while because I like how they often embody the cultures who created them.  Swiss Army knives are tight, compact and high quality, just like Switzerland.  American Buck knives are big, simple and durable – a bit like America. Italian switchblades are flashy […]

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Interuption of Service

Interuption of Service

| March 5, 2009 | 6 Comments

I’m never quite sure what to say when people ask me “What do you do for a living?”  If I say I’m a Professional Ski Mountaineer, that leads to all sorts of embarrassing questions, like, “Can you make a living at that?” (no) or “How many of you are there out there like that?” (two)  […]

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Gear – A Question of Balance, Part II

Gear – A Question of Balance, Part II

| February 27, 2009 | 18 Comments

In regards to balanced gear diets, here are my current favorites: Superlight  (15% of the time)    Skis – 160cm K2 Sahale (68mm waist)    Bindings – Dynafit TLT’s without brakes    Boots – Scarpa F1 Comments:  In the right conditions, I love this set-up as it tours effortlessly.  Because it is so light, you […]

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Gear – A Question of Balance

Gear – A Question of Balance

| February 26, 2009 | 18 Comments

Individually, skis, boots and bindings are important, but a far more significant concept is how they all work together.  I was reminded of this the other day when a friend mentioned that he didn’t think his new boots were stiff enough, which may have been the case, but then again, the 125mm waisted skis he […]

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High Stakes Snow Anchors

High Stakes Snow Anchors

| October 9, 2008 | 4 Comments

When it comes to dedicated snow anchors, nothing beats the simplicity, strength and versatility of the classic Snow Stake, also known as a Picket, Snow Fluke or Snow Pig.  They are the ultimate do-it-yourself piece of climbing equipment involving not much more than a length of angle aluminum, a drill, hacksaw and some beer.  Placed […]

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