Destination

Gear

Ski Touring Kit 1. POLES

2. BOOTS
Ski touring is a superb way to enjoy the If we do the cheap bit first, any pair of ski poles will do. I use a cheap single
Boots are probably the most important thing to get right and it’s
all about getting a boot that suits your foot and style of skiing, so
Kate Scott on her way to the Col des Chasseur at
Le Contamines, France.
mountains and a fast way of getting into piece pole all the time. Telescopic poles are expensive and always collapse at shopping on the internet or a car boot sale is not to be advised. Even
the wrong moment. Poles that double as avalanche probes are pointless - you if you have an odd shaped foot a good bootfitter will get a shell that
All photos: Bruce Goodlad and out of winter alpine climbs. Mountain will waste too much time assembling them and they are rubbish at probing. best suits you, then work with a heat formed inner (most boots come
with these) and a footbed. They can also alter the shape of the shell
Guide Bruce Goodlad picks out the to get the fit right for you.
essential boots, skis and bindings you’ll Touring boots aren’t the compromise they used to be. They
range in style and stiffness, the softer and lighter the boot the more
need plus some top technique tips. comfortable it will be going uphill. The stiffer the boot the more control
you will have going downhill. This is a real consideration if you are
thinking about a big powerful ski. A light boot would not be able to
control many of today’s freeride skis.
The development of ski touring racing kit is beginning to filter
into mainstream ski touring with boots getting really light. If you are
looking for a pair of boots that will let you ski in resort and go on a
multiday tour I would look at something that is fairly stiff so you can
enjoy your skiing but light enough to go uphill as well.

Scarpa
Scarpa have produced the lightest four-buckle boot on the market
with the Maestrale (£400). At 1,530g skinning is a breeze and the
downhill control is superb, in fact amazing, for a boot of this weight.
My brothers are very keen on reminding me how disparaging I used to be Scarpa have used a funky asymmetric tongue which flops out
about skiing when all I was interested in was climbing all winter and skiing was sideways to allow easy access. We are going to see a lot of these on
for losers. That was until I went to the Alps in winter and discovered skiing. the hill this winter. If you want something stiffer from Scarpa have a
It’s great, giving the mountaineer a new way to enjoy the mountains and look at the Mobe.
taking you to places that you would never visit if you only went climbing. It also
provides you with a means of transport that will let you travel to and from alpine Garmont
winter climbs at a speed unimaginable when you are travelling on foot. Last I skied the Garmont Radium (£464), which weigh 1,790g, for a lot of
year I spent almost 100 days on skis. last winter and love them. They are stiff enough to drive a big ski but
I’m always amazed how many climbers are into ski touring so if you are light enough that you can go uphill all day in them. Scarpa have used
wondering what a review of ski touring kit is doing in a climbing mag it’s for a similar shell to produce the lighter Helix which is great looking three-
those of you who ski and for those of you thinking of giving it a go. buckle boot at only 1,502g but I haven’t had a chance to ski a pair yet.
People talk about ski mountaineering and ski touring but what is the If you want something a bit beefier the Endorphin is really good and the
difference? To me ski touring is travelling through the mountains on skis and ski Axom is basically the same boot with inserts for Dynafit bindings.
mountaineering is climbing mountains on skis. In this article all the kit we are
going to talk about is suitable for both activities. The Alps is where most of us Dynafit
go ski touring so the kit we are going to look at is suitable for Alpine terrain. You The Titan are the most downhill orientated of the Dynafit range
will want different kit if you are thinking of hut to hutting in Norway. We will just and they are awesome for downhill charging and a bit of
focus on the most important kit you will need, I’m sure you will manage to work touring. The Zzero 4 C TF are more versatile,
out what clothing etc will work for you. not quite so stiff and, at 1,595g, pretty light
for touring but can still drive a big ski. These
look like being my boot of choice for this
Avalanche safety kit lot of research has been done into coming winter. If you want to go really light
If you are going to leave the piste, you effective shovelling, have a look at have a look at the TLT 5 boots which are a
and all of your team should be wearing www.backcountryaccess.com at sensibly priced version of their race boots.
an avalanche transceiver. Know how the Basic Avalanche Safety section
to use it and practice before you go (in the Education & Research tab) on Black Diamond
– 95 per cent of people not killed the website and watch the video on Black Diamond have been making boots for a
by the trauma of an avalanche are strategic shovelling. couple of seasons but all the early ones I looked
pulled out alive if rescued in the first There are increasing numbers at were too heavy to take seriously. Enter the
15 minutes. The chance of survival of people skiing with avalanche Prime, at 1,640g their lightest boot so far. The
decreases dramatically after this time rucksacks like Snowpulse and ABS. first thing you notice is the chunky toe box.
so if you are involved in an avalanche it Stats show these do save lives, but Apparently this is for extra insulation round
is up to those on the scene to rescue they are heavy and expensive. the toe and, having used them, it’s
those involved. The recco system you true and I had nice warm feet. On
see advertised is just for recovering Once you have sorted your avalanche the hill the boots are a sensible
dead bodies. safety kit you can start thinking about all weight going uphill and
A transceiver is only any use if you the other kit you will need. A basic list is: offered great control
have an avalanche probe (240cm min) going down. After
to pin point a victim under the snow 1. Poles skiing the Prime I
and shovel to dig them out. Only use 2. Boots have revised my
a metal shovel - plastic ones flex, 3. Bindings view on Black
absorbing your efforts and don’t move 4. Skis Diamond ski boots.
snow as effectively as a metal one. A 5. Skins

76 Feb 2011 climber.co.uk www.climber.co.uk Feb 2011 75


Ski TouringKit
3. BINDINGS
You can attach touring
bindings to any ski, freeing you
from the confines of a ski area. There
are two basic systems. First is the
classic frame binding style, which is
effectively a lightweight downhill-style
binding mounted on a frame so that
the heel can be released to go uphill.
The alternative is the Tech system,
developed by Dynafit, where pins on
the binding locate into the boot. There
are pros and cons to both - the Tech
system is significantly lighter but doesn’t
have an adjustable release setting at the
toe so isn’t as safe. Despite that I have
been using this system for 10 years
and have always found that the binding
releases whenever I want it to.
If you are used to skiing in downhill
bindings you may feel a lack of control
in some touring models due to the
amount of sideways flex in the binding.
If you are worried about this you should
look at the Tech system or the Marker
bindings, which don’t have any real flex.
Fritschi
The Fritschi revolutionised touring
bindings and is the most versatile of the
bindings on the market. It can be used
with any boot and is easy to adjust
The payback for the up – descending into the
Selle Valley, La Grave in the Ecrins.
76 Feb 2011 climber.co.uk
between
boots. The
most versatile
for those folk getting
into touring who want a binding
that will do everything. You can
ski them with a ski boot which
will let you try a bit of touring
without investing in a touring boot.
They are easy to adjust would you
want to use ski boots in resort and
touring boots elsewhere. There are two
models worth looking at. The Free Ride
Pro is their robust model with a higher
Din setting and the Eagle is lighter and
more suited for general touring. The
Axiom ski crampon can be fitted to
the binding at the start of a tour it can
then be deployed using a ski pole when
you need it. They are pretty good but
sometimes feel a bit short to me.
Marker
If you are looking for a freeride binding
that will give you total control and a
high release setting, the marker range is
Destination
Gear
A night in a high mountain hut is a great way to
experience the mountains in winter.
for you. It skis like a
downhill binding then goes
uphill pretty well. The down side is the
weight and the mechanism to switch
modes isn’t that easy to use and is
prone to icing. These are a favourite
among guides in La Grave, where the
skiing is steep and full on. Models are
the Duke, Baron, T12 and T10.
Dynafit
These are my favourites, effortless
skinning and really solid skiing. There
are a number of models to suit, all
with the same basic design. I would
suggest getting a model with ski
brakes as they are much easier to
use. The ski crampons that go with
these bindings are the best I have
used. There have been a few reports
of problems using these bindings on
really wide skis so take some advice
from the shop or, if you are going to
go large, use the Dynafit Stoke ski
which has inserts in the ski specially
for these bindings.
G3 Onyx
This a tech binding from Canada
that has the same basic front half of
Dynafit but a different back. You can
switch from ski to walk mode without
taking your foot out of the binding
and the heel raisers are easier to use
than the Dynafit. You may ask if there
is any real advantage in this and I can
say from skiing these a lot last year
that I didn’t think they were worth the
weight penalty. A solid binding for
those looking for a more user-friendly
tech system, though.
www.climber.co.uk Feb 2011 75

Ski TouringKit
HOW TO PUT SKINS ON
When starting ski touring there are a few key skills
that, once mastered, will make your progress
through the mountains much simpler. As with any
mountain activity smooth efficient movement is
the key. No faffs and multi tasking when you do
stop will keep things moving along nicely.
1. Putting skins on
ú Take your skis off. Do this one ski at a time
if you are on a glacier. Brush any snow off
the base of the skis. If it's sunny turn the
bases to face the sun - if they warm up a
bit the skins will stick more easily.
ú If you carry each skin in a separate cheat
sheet they will be easy to manage in a
breeze. When you get your skins cut the
sheet in half then the skin can be stored up
one side and down the other.
ú Starting at the tip or tail, depending on the
attachment system, peel a short section
of cheat sheet off and stick the skin to the
base of the ski. Make sure it is in the middle
and you can see the edges.
ú Smooth the skin on with the palm of your
hand and make sure there are no wrinkles.
ú Peel another bit off and repeat. Keep going
until the whole skin is attached.
ú Run your hand along the whole length of
the skin. If you rub quite hard you will heat
the glue up a bit helping it to stick.
2. Taking skins off
ú You may need to use your skins a number
of times in one day so try to keep any
snow, moisture or dirt off the glue.
ú Before you start make sure the brakes are
deployed so the ski can't slide off as soon
as you remove the skin.
ú Turn the ski upside down to make a platform.
ú Unpeel the end and stick on the cheat sheet.
As you unpeel the skin roll the cheat sheet
onto the skin. Fold the skin up and put it in
its bag before going onto the next ski.
3. Taking care of your skins
ú Always dry your skins after use, but never
in direct heat.
ú Treat the skins with waterproof skin care.
This increases glide and stops the skin
balling up in soft damp snow. They will also
dry faster if treated.
ú Carry a block of glide wax and a scraper in
your sack so if your skins do start to ball up
you can scrape the snow off and rub the
skin with the wax.
76 Feb 2011 climber.co.uk
Smooth onto the base, keeping the
skin in the middle of the ski.
4. SKIS
Don’t let a salesman talk you into buying
a ski that has tour printed on it. You can
ski tour on any ski. If you have some skis
and want to give touring a go, then take
the downhill bindings off and put on a pair
of touring bindings. The only problem with
doing this is that skis have become so
shaped that you will have to trim a pair of
skins to fit your skis.
Assuming you are only going to own
one pair of skis you have to decide what is
important to you. Light skis are easier and
more fun going uphill. Wider heavier skis
are easier and more fun going downhill,
but you will have to push them uphill in the
first place. Soft skis are easier to ski in soft
snow as the tip will ride to the surface, and
a stiffer ski will hold and edge better on
hard pack but the soft snow performance
will suffer. I have featured a few skis here in
this review that I have tried. There are loads
more skis out there but this should get you
started.
G3
This Canadian brand is imported by
Mountain Spirit in Aviemore. They produce
some great skis and I have skied the
Spitfire LT 123-89-111 (3.2kg) a fair
amount with Dynafit bindings and love
it - not the lightest but it is a quiver of
one coping with all conditions. I climbed
Elbrus (5,642m) with a pair so they aren’t
too heavy. If you want something a bit
wider for more in-resort skiing and a bit of
touring have a look at the Saint 136-93-
114 (3.4kg).
Destination
Gear
10 TIPS FOR HOW TO DO A KICK TURN
Efficient kick turns are the essence of ski touring. Being able to change
direction on steep awkward slopes will make the whole experience much
easier. Here’s some basic tips to help you get it right.
Dynafit
Now with a UK importer in Anatom we will see
some more Dynafit kit on the market over here.
It used be the case that light skis were terrible
uphill, but not anymore. Ski design has moved
on so much that you can now have both. The
Mustagh Ata Superlight 122-88-111 (2.67kg)
is light but is actually superb to ski. It holds an
edge on hard snow and copes really well in soft 7. Lift your ski off the snow. Don’t rush, 8. A flick with the heel will get the tip up
conditions as well - I wish I had them on Elbrus let the ski settle. clear of the snow and you can then
last year. If you want something a bit wider have steer the ski alongside the other one.
a look at the Manaslu 122-95-108 (2.82kg). With
a funky long shovel this copes with soft snow no
problem but is surprisingly good on hard snow. If
you want to go even bigger check out the Stoke
130-106-120 for deep snow performance in a
lightweight package.
Scott
I saw a lot of the Scott Crusair 128-90-116 1. Stamp a platform. 2. Position poles downhill forward,
(3kg) on the hill last winter and, with their uphill back.
distinctive carbon top sheet, they look really
cool. On the hill the weight is pretty good
and they offer plenty of float in the powder
and hold an edge well on the hard pack
too. If it wasn’t for the weight advantages of
the Dynafit these are what I would be skiing 9. Bring the ski alongside the other one. 10. Carry on skinning
this winter. There is a funky skin attachment
system available but I haven’t found anyone
say particularly positive things about it. Any
standard skin will fit.
Black Diamond
I used to hate Black Diamond skis. I got
given a pair once and they were total planks.
I gave them away and they were so bad they
got given back! Fortunately, Black Diamond ������������������������������
has redone its range for this year. My partner
Kate and I have been out on the Aspect and ������������������������������
Stigma. I thought the Aspect 130-90-117
�������
������������������������������������
����������������������������������������������
was the best Black Diamond ski I have used.
Enough float for all conditions it held an edge 3. Use a bit of forward momentum with 4. Using the momentum rotate your
really well on hard snow and had enough your uphill leg to carry it forward into uphill leg.
climbe rs
side cut to actually be fun on piste. Well done Britain ’s best climbi
ng magaz ine for ALL
Black Diamond - finally a serious contender.
The Stigma 124-80-108 is lighter and more ������ ���� ����������
����������
�����������������
��������� IN SEARCH OF
fun than the previous version and more suited ����������������� VIRGIN PEAKS
to long tours than the Aspect.
Other skis worth a look that I haven’t had a ������
chance to try out are the Dynastar Mythic
Light, Movement Logic and K2 Wayback. Cornwall
��������������������
��������������������
5. SKINS
You have a choice of material Mohair or nylon �����
or a mix. Mohair gives more glide, nylon �������
Exclusive interview
more grip, though if you treat nylon with skin ���������������������������������
���������������������������
www.climber.co.u
proof you won’t notice much difference. G3,
��
�����������
��������
������������������������
���������������������■�������������
������������������� �������������■�����������������
�����������������■����������
Black Diamond and Montanta all sell skins
01 cover.indd 2 23/12/10 15:40:11
that you can cut to fit any ski. Dynafit have
laser cut skins available for their skis for a �������������������������
precise fit and they have an integrated skin
ski system which works really well. 5. Then stamp a platform. 6.. Place the downhill pole above you
for stability.
www.climber.co.uk Feb 2011 75
CLI_QP_AD_FEB11.indd 1 23/12/10 15:43:38