I need Gear Advice

nomensteven · 01-05-2007, 01:52 PM

Hello TGR, I currently live in Toronto Ontario and will be moving out west next year to nelson BC(hopefully if I get accepted to school)... I have only skied a limited amount of big mountain and am totally new to the backcountry but I am a relatively strong skier and am looking for some gear... I will be skiing at whitewater, from what I have been told, has limited in bounds skiing and most of the good stuff is in the BC... I will be skiing in bounds for the first bit to get adapted but then will want to head out to the BC....

Heres my issue, I need all the gear i.e. Shovel, Probe, Pack, Transceiver etc. since I grew up in ontario, i have almost zero knowledge of this type of gear and I am looking for some suggestiond on what to buy, I basically want something that is light(so when I am skiing in bounds it won't kill me).. but also something strong, I am willing to pay a fair amount and would like to do most of my shopping from backcountry.com(i have had good history with them).... Pack wise I was thinking of the dakine heli pro and heli pro 2 (just because I have been suggested towards those)... but basically I want to know what shovel, probe, pack etc.. would be the best for me and basically just need some knowledge on the subject.. any links to previous threads regarding these subjects would be ideal(I searched around but am still left hopless)...

Thanks guys! any help will be deeply appreciated

nomensteven · 01-05-2007, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by Simplicity

Get avy 1 and 2 training first, it is a better use of your money.

I definetly plan on getting full training before I even think about going out of bounds... but I would like to buy all my gear before I head out west(mostly because I will be to busy with moving, school, looking for a job, etc. later when the time comes around)

L7 · 01-05-2007, 02:15 PM

You're going to need the gear for the courses anyway. An avie awareness course would better suit your needs initially as will going out with some of many knowledgeable people in that area.

If you really want to stick with the one supplier that's great but you could check out SOS and ortovox canada websites to see what they're offering and comparing.

L7 · 01-05-2007, 02:24 PM

http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...highlight=gear

That should offer a start on info. Use search function but click on advanced search and then put in your words and choose to search in titles only. That will narrow down your reading quite a bit.

If you put in packs that way a ton of good ones come up.

nomensteven · 01-05-2007, 02:39 PM

Originally Posted by L7

http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...highlight=gear

That should offer a start on info. Use search function but click on advanced search and then put in your words and choose to search in titles only. That will narrow down your reading quite a bit.

If you put in packs that way a ton of good ones come up.

thank you SO much, any links like that are so useful

**snowburns** · 01-05-2007, 02:46 PM

Order that pieps dvd that was posted the other day (it was free) also BCA has their training videos i think they're 10 bucks a piece. Good starter/refresher information.

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ighlight=pieps

nomensteven · 01-05-2007, 03:16 PM

ok so I did some quick research, and so far it sounds like:
BD Quickdraw Guide Probe (300 length)
G3 Avitech Shovel

But pack wise I am still a bit confused, I like what I have read about the dakine heli pro 2, but I have also heard bad things, so if someone could give suggestions on a pack or link to some useful threads that would be awesome (i will continue searching for more threads)

**DougW** · 01-05-2007, 03:43 PM

Before you buy state side check out MEC.ca to compare prices you may not be farther ahead after duty and brokerage. If they only ship UPS expect to pay $40 for the brokerage fee.

You could just figure out what you need and if MEC has it then if your coming through Calgary just pick it up in Calgary. That way you can try out stuff in your hands rather than online. You could go to the MEC in TO but selection in Calgary should be better, salespeople knowledge better ( compared to nonexistant) and you save the PST.

Now you haven't asked about AT bindings and boots. Are you just going to do side country or really do some backcountry with skins?

nomensteven · 01-05-2007, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by DougW

Now you haven't asked about AT bindings and boots. Are you just going to do side country or really do some backcountry with skins?

Well I think for the first year possibly I will ski mostly in bounds and side country, who knows depending on how I handle it but I am going to take it slow, but I would like to be prepared with the appropriate safety gear just in case I decide to hike a bit.. I will most likely though end up getting a full touring set up eventually
does that sound like a good plan?

**DougW** · 01-05-2007, 05:34 PM

It depends on how bummed you are when someone offers you a ride on a sled into the BC and you can't go because you don't have the AT gear.

What skis do you have now? ie are you going to need a new pair any way so way not get a pair with AT binders that would be good for inbounds also.

nomensteven · 01-05-2007, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by DougW

It depends on how bummed you are when someone offers you a ride on a sled into the BC and you can't go because you don't have the AT gear.

What skis do you have now? ie are you going to need a new pair any way so way not get a pair with AT binders that would be good for inbounds also.

I have a pair of 191 ants, but I will eventually want to buy a touring set up...

L7 · 01-05-2007, 07:40 PM

Like Doug says and I thought of dog walking, MEC. Just make a trip to Toronto and check out stuff. Not sure if they stock the same as Calgary but there should be lots of good packs. Nothing beats up close and personal with your purchase.

**mntlion** · 01-05-2007, 07:57 PM

most stores in banff, have the same price as MEC (or $5 less) and have way better trained staff etc.
I'd buy in nelson, when you get to town. Suport local, stores will help you out if you buy a package from them etc.

might get a good person at MEC, but most seem poor at best....

**DougW** · 01-05-2007, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by mntlion

most stores in banff, have the same price as MEC (or $5 less) and have way better trained staff etc.
I'd buy in nelson, when you get to town. Suport local, stores will help you out if you buy a package from them etc.

might get a good person at MEC, but most seem poor at best....

You and Jim of being the exception of course I have not found the Banff staff to that much more of a fountain of knowledge than the stores in Calgary. My experience at MEC has for the most part been good. Pack fitting especially.

Yes everyone matches MEC prices if MEC carries it. Transceivers especially as MEC, I have been told marks them up very little. If MEC wasn't around we would certainly all pay more. Though for other things , skis , boots etc .. everytime I go into banff I'm aghaast at the prices. Way more than Calgary. There is a locals discount that you might get if you say your from calgary. Maybe I'm going to the wrong places .

Skis you could do better in TO during a boxing day sale unless in Calgary around labour day.

Just looked at prices at MEC vs Mountain Magic

Ortovox X1 Avalanche Beacon MEC $290 (reduced from $415) mm -$460
Tracker DTS mec $320 m mAGIC $375
Mammut Barryvox MEC $395 MMagic $395

So can be same but can be higher.

Nice thing about MEC is that you can go right across the street to West Coast and check out the same stuff. Not that the price will be any different and not that the salespeople will be any better. Its a sport check type place with the same sort of turnover. MEC has much lower turnover but is a bit civil servant like. Some are good , some are lazy.

Don't know how getting to Nelson but if doing the fly to Calgary then bus to Nelson then MEC works out pretty well as not far from the grey hound terminal.

OR buy inline from Telmark Pyrenees ( in france) well no checked MEC has the same or better prices

**LeeLau** · 01-05-2007, 10:48 PM

Please read the BACKCOUNTRY JONG THREAD

L7 · 01-06-2007, 01:45 PM

Actually that's another good point by Doug. Not sure about sources for BC stuff in Toronto but as they have yet to have winter I'm guessing winter gear is on sale pretty damn cheap. MEC doesn't mark down that often but at least inventory should be there. If there are specialty shops they are likely dropping their pants by now.

**cj001f** · 01-06-2007, 01:48 PM

If you are unsure what to buy: Take a course. They'll let you test different bits of kit, and you can find out for yourself what works and doesn't work for you.

**hutash** · 01-06-2007, 10:43 PM

There is tons of great stuff out there, all with advantages and disadvantages. It will depend on so many factors that is is difficult to sit here and tell you what you want. I could list my gear, and why I like it, but so could every other poster here, and would be a big waste of time. Get out west and start looking at things you like. Read the pages of things posted here about nearly every piece of gear you can think. Once you have narrowed it down to a few specific things you still have questions on, post back, and you will get too much information to process.

**skinnyskier** · 01-07-2007, 11:06 PM

Originally Posted by nomensteven

Hello TGR, I currently live in Toronto Ontario and will be moving out west next year to nelson BC(hopefully if I get accepted to school)... I have only skied a limited amount of big mountain and am totally new to the backcountry but I am a relatively strong skier and am looking for some gear... I will be skiing at whitewater, from what I have been told, has limited in bounds skiing and most of the good stuff is in the BC... I will be skiing in bounds for the first bit to get adapted but then will want to head out to the BC....

Thanks guys! any help will be deeply appreciated

I just got back from my first visit to Nelson so here are my first impressions of the Nelson Selkirks. We skied inbounds and lift-served BC at Whitewater, and went catskiing with Trevor at Wildhorse.

Many, many people at Whitewater were on mid-80 to upper-90 mm skis mounted AT. There are only two fixed-grip center-pole doubles serving a modest amount of inbounds terrain. The runouts from the upper glades and bowls were pretty bumped out. If you want powder at Whitewater, you'll need to tour if it gets busy or it's been a while since the last storm. We skied most of the available inbounds terrain in one day. So, to be happy in Nelson you'll want to start touring as soon as your skills permit and you find some locals to show you around. You may want to buy this stuff at ROaM or Valhalla Pure in beautiful downtown Nelson. They could set you up in a few minutes.

From talking to various locals it seems like there is plenty of avy savvy and a large, hard-core group of bc skiers. The amount of touring within a short drive from Nelson is epic. Besides the touring, we loved Nelson for it's post-and-beam woodwork, metalwork, friendly vibe, etc...

**Toby** · 01-07-2007, 11:48 PM

Originally Posted by skinnyskier

Many, many people at Whitewater were on mid-80 to upper-90 mm skis mounted AT.

Not all. There were a couple of guys last winter who followed our skin track up the mountain and when we met at the top said that their 2 skis fit into the track left by one of ours (with 99 and 110mm waists)

. They had old-school skinnies.

Originally Posted by skinnyskier

From talking to various locals it seems like there is plenty of avy savvy and a large, hard-core group of bc skiers.

True. You'll see lots of people at the trailheads exiting the ski area.