Tag: gear
Adding a Tip Hole to Your Skis
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, […]
Warm & Blister-free Boot Fitting
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. […]
Ski Bag Packing
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.
Favorite Glacier Rope
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 […]
New Addition to Glacier Kit
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. […]
OR Show – Cool Stuff
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 […]
Gear – A Question of Balance, Part II
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 […]
Gear – A Question of Balance
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 […]
High Stakes Snow Anchors
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 […]
Interuption of Service
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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