Ski Mountaineering Sticks

[Marmot]

I posted this on the PM forum and a buddy told mentioned to me that I should post it here as well due to the educated crowd. I am looking for the right pair of sticks for myself to click off a few fourteeners this season winter/spring/summer. I need a ride that will pretty much handle is all from pow, to wind-blown, to steep summer corn. I want something stable while crankin' down on some GS's, but I also need something to navigate the tight steeps. Right now I am thinking about the '02/'03 Atomic Rex's with a pair o' dem Naxo binders. I am 5'5" and 155lbs. Recommendations on skis are great, but I am really interested in the length. 177 or 184? I have always skied 190+, on my old sticks (mid-fats from 1999) and hesitate to drop down to 177. That may be the right size for the '02/'03 Rex though. Thanks all.

[Ireallyliketoski2]

5'5" and you ski 190+ damn, that's a lot of ski for a person of such stature!! But enough about you, let's talk about me, as a person who loves to ski in the mountains I personally love my salomon x-mountains with my diamir II's. I believe that my skis are 184s and I'm 5'11'' and I weigh from 165-185lbs depending on what I did last week. I always recommend shorter skis than you think you would need. For you I would say definitely go in the 175 range. As for skiing the big mountains in CO, most of the skiing that you will do will be during the spring time if self perserverance is an instance you possess. Winter time on the big peaks is a crap shoot at best and a death trap at worst. With that being said, ski mountaineering in Colorado is amazing!! Why the interest in the 14ers? What type of experience do you have?

[Marmot]

I am taking some time off between defending my thesis and getting a job. Luckily that time falls between the months of March and June = CO BC heaven. Yeah, winter condition in CO are pretty sketchy with our illustrious snowpack. I have clicked off about 8 14ers on skis so far and plan to hit the road this winter/spring - summer skiing as many more as I can starting in the South and working my way up. Hope that answers your Qs. Thanks for the reply.

[stompinlines]

Sweeeeet avatar.

[Woodsy]

177
I am 6' 225# & I have the 191s mounted AT & I found it to be too much many times in the backcountry.
in fact i am looking to move to an 84 or 77.

[Marmot]

Thanks Woodsy,

I may have to fax tele-p right now and go with the 177s. Sounds like it is enough ski for me.

[Gorillo]

I ride the R:ex 03-04 in a 191 with freerides and found em perfect.

I'm 6'2 ish between 195lbs(fighting weight)-210lbs(boozing weight)

I hicked two days in my lowa and with em on the back, worth the trot.

Go for the 177 r:ex. Perfect At ski as far as I'm concerned. Although the crossbow looks interesting.