Getting into touring, please guide me...

nomensteven · 09-12-2007, 08:09 PM

Long story short I moved out West to Nelson BC from Toronto and apparently there is this phenomenon out here known as natural snow. So I am looking into buying some avy and touring gear. I asked a few friends as well as a few local shops and heres what I am looking at buying as of now:
Pack: Dakine Heli Pro
Beacon: Backcountry Access Tracker DTS Beacon
Shovel: Backcountry Access Traverse EXT
Probe: Backcountry Access Carbon 260
Is there anything there that is crappy or is unessaresary for my level(I am a strong eastern skier but don't have much experience out here, but I will be skiing with experienced locals and taking courses etc. thankfully)

Any tips would be great thanks.
Also I will touring on a pair of 175 armada arv's(thats all I have right now), whats the best touring binding and what skins would be ideal?

Thanks Again Guys, I know a decent amount about park and carving skis but once I get into this stuff I am pretty lost.

**Eds** · 09-12-2007, 09:01 PM

theres some pretty sick deals on new freerides around, you probably be needing dukes if this is a touring-only setup. Look around for some dynastar early trams, naxo nx21's, maybe older Fritschi Titanal III's or the explore series. FR+'s seem somewhat unnecessary unless you plan on hucking, in which case buy Dukes. Get them mounted at a reputable shop, if they are not mounted properly you will have surprise releases into tele mode, especially on soft skis. or you could use some nice alpine binders (preferably not Look/Rossi) and BCA trekkers, that would be ideal as you would be able to use your skis on-piste as well as off-piste. Make sure you loctite everything nice and good though, trekkers are somewhat unreliable in that area.....
The probe sounds good, make sure you don't break it and hopefully you won't be using it. The beacon is pretty basic, should work fine though. The shovel is solid. Should be good for most stuff, it will get chipped though. And get longer skis, 175's are for midgets and won't float you good unless you weigh in around 160 with all your gear..... IMO anyways. I would use at least 185's, but really it's your choice. The pack is whatever fits you best. If that's it, and it can hold your skins (buy BD ascensions), trekkers, probe, shovel, etc..... you should be fine. Always ski with someone (duh) because otherwise your beacon is pretty much useless.

EDIT: Oh yeah, take a decent course in avalanche training if you haven't already. Beacons are harder to operate than they look. I find the best judge is if you are able to locate two well-buried beacons in five minutes or less. Have a friend help you. Also learn how to assess snowpack conditions, or go out with someone who can.

**SkiCop** · 09-12-2007, 09:04 PM

Dumb jong trying to get smarter:

Along those same lines, when one uses AT bindings do they use a special boot or do alpine boots work? How about the skiing style, more tele oriented or do the bindings lock down like alpine?

**Eds** · 09-12-2007, 09:10 PM

most AT binders work with alpine boots, I doubt you'd even want dynafits and I think the silverettas might use AT boots..... can't be sure/remember. Of course, the bindings lock down, but a lot of people like to tour with tele skis which, unfortunately, do not lock down. Or, as they would like to say, fortunately, as they think dropping their knees makes them some kind of deity and above us touring guys. I'll find out for sure this winter

**LeeLau** · 09-12-2007, 10:12 PM

Well - you're in nelson which probably means a lot of whitewater sidecountry and maybe some trips to the Bonnington, salmo-creston etc.

ROAM and Valhalla Pure have used gear boards. I suggest you start looking now for used touring gear setups if cost is a concern.

As for touring bindings, i suggest you start reading around a bit about the different kind of bindings. You've said nothing about your weight, where you will mostly ski, how you ski etc

That gearlist you mentioned is fine. It can't hurt to buy the stuff new IF YOU DON"T HAVE ENOUGH EXPERIENCE TO LOOK AT SECOND HAND STUFF. If you buy the package, you may be able to swing a deal.

Also check out this thread. http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=79349

nomensteven · 09-12-2007, 10:36 PM

Thanks for the long replies, I was looking at trekkers but everyone I talked to said if you have one set-up dedicated to touring then just get touring bindings, as far as ski length goes I think 175 will be fine for me, since im inexperienced in this terrain, plus I only weigh 145-150 pounds so I am a pretty small guy. As far as the other posts go I am not really sure exactly what I will be skiing, since I haven't skied out here before and was raised on the east. As far as hucking goes nothing major, biggest cliff I could imagine myself doing in the near future is 15 feetish so nothing non-amateur. But yeah, hope that covers the posts, thanks for the help so far guys. And as far as buying used gear I would like to but as mentioned I don't have a ton of experience with this gear so i have a tough time knowing what exactly to look for.

**addict** · 09-12-2007, 11:22 PM

Nomen, pm sent. Lee, love that thread, nice work I hope it's got a sticky.

nomensteven · 09-13-2007, 07:13 PM

Another question, ugh I feel like such a noob, I was looking at some touring bindings and I am halfway between sizes(I am a 315 sole).. so according to their guides I could use either(small or large on the dukes for ex), so my question is, is it better to go with the smaller size or the bigger size?

**iggyskier** · 09-13-2007, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by nomensteven

Another question, ugh I feel like such a noob, I was looking at some touring bindings and I am halfway between sizes(I am a 315 sole).. so according to their guides I could use either(small or large on the dukes for ex), so my question is, is it better to go with the smaller size or the bigger size?

smaller. You will experience less lateral flex with the smaller size that you will with the bigger size. It will also be lighter.

**Cruiser** · 09-13-2007, 07:43 PM

You want your boot to take up most of the binding's adjustment. So the smalls would be better if you can fit into them.

nomensteven · 09-13-2007, 08:04 PM

thanks guys, exactly what I was looking for, awesome

nomensteven · 09-13-2007, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by Eds

it can hold your skins (buy BD ascensions).

Which Black diamond ascensions? the Nylon STS Skins, Custom STS Skins, or the Nylon Clipfix Skins? and why are these better then other skins? Thank for the recommendation BTW.. also, as far as size goes, if the ski is 92mm in the waist I would get 100mm then trim correct?

**crackboy** · 09-13-2007, 10:11 PM

if your skis are 110-92-90 i would get 110 and trim down for full coverage, but opinions will vary

**crackboy** · 09-13-2007, 10:13 PM

also, i would think twice about the bca probe, i checked it out when i was buying and did 't like the construction as it felt cheap and i didn't like the locking mechanism. i ended up with the BD same goes for teh shovel

**hemas** · 09-14-2007, 03:11 AM

The probe is on the shorter end of the spectrum.

STS or G3 type rattails seems a tad better system than the clipfix.

For sizing skins, the general rule for wall to wall cover is the wideness of your skis tails (ie. 115-92-105) you could either get 100 or 110mm skins. And remember, you always have to trim the skins so that you have the metal edge exposed... meaning that the skin will always be about 5mm narrower than you actual ski (ie. 2.5mm per side).

**Artie Fufkin** · 09-14-2007, 06:58 AM

There's some great information in this thread if you're short on cash and interested in venturing into the backcountry: Cheap Access to the backcountry

**hutash** · 09-14-2007, 10:28 AM

^^^Tongue in cheek of course, you got to be careful with nOObs.

**PNWbrit** · 09-14-2007, 10:49 AM

Pre-order a copy of this new book by Martin Volken

**soul_skier** · 09-14-2007, 11:32 AM

I would suggest not getting the 260cm carbon probe and springing for a 300 or 320cm guide probe. Yes, it will weigh more, yes, it will take up more space, but if it is ever not long enough, the person is dead anyway and I have found that they are just more bomber than other probes.

**SorryBro** · 09-14-2007, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by soul_skier

I would suggest not getting the 260cm carbon probe and springing for a 300 or 320cm guide probe. Yes, it will weigh more, yes, it will take up more space, but if it is ever not long enough, the person is dead anyway and I have found that they are just more bomber than other probes.

Seconded. I feel like the longer, the better. What's interesting about probe/shovel, is that you're only as good as your partner's gear. Ski with people who have long probes. I'll quote my friend: "If you don't get a long probe, I'll make sure I only use 260cm of my 320cm when I'm searching for you."

**FFsup** · 09-14-2007, 03:33 PM

Is it just me who finds the BCA Tracker slower than the Mammut barryvox? Really much more slow-like in the processing of direction and distance? Since they are about the same price (?), i'd go with the barryvox. But maybe it's just because i'm used to them.

Also the new generation of trancievers is better, if you can afford it (Mammut Barryvox Pulse).

nomensteven · 09-14-2007, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by soul_skier

I would suggest not getting the 260cm carbon probe and springing for a 300 or 320cm guide probe. Yes, it will weigh more, yes, it will take up more space, but if it is ever not long enough, the person is dead anyway and I have found that they are just more bomber than other probes.

Would the Black Diamond Quickdraw Guide Probe 300cm be suitable?