Alpine Touring Thread

[gorgonzola]

I propose removing the timeframe to this thread name. @NYSnowflake agree?

It's timeless stuff and Xenforo threads don't crap out at 100 pages the way Nabble did.

you could remove alpine too for the freeheelers!
What's the deal with Lyon Mountain? spent some time in those woods as a kid

 

[marcski]

Considering the size of the Adirondack Park, it is surprisingly difficult to find suitable terrain for Alpine touring. Most New York State ski areas, for insurance reasons unique to the state, do not allow uphill travel. Historically that has meant driving to Vermont ski areas, though this may not be possible this year. Vermont seems to be years ahead of us considering what they have done with areas like Hogback mountain and RASTA.

Add this as well: https://www.dhash4vt.org/ The old Dutch Hill Ski area. Sure to get lots of action this season.

 

[marcski]

you could remove alpine too for the freeheelers!
What's the deal with Lyon Mountain? spent some time in those woods as a kid

Gorgo, giving freeheel some love. I like it!

 

[Harvey]

you could remove alpine too for the freeheelers!

I'm guessing what I call touring and what @Duckbutter calls touring are very different.

Who here, when they say "Alpine Touring" means an activity where the primary goal is seeking out downhill lines?

When we tour in the Siamese, it's different thing. My interpretation of touring:

Wide Waxless Backcountry Skis

Backcountry skis for powder and rolling terrain.

nyskiblog.com

Winter Camping Alone: High Adventure

I didn't plan to go solo.

nyskiblog.com

 

[MC2]

Considering the size of the Adirondack Park, it is surprisingly difficult to find suitable terrain for Alpine touring.

Yep. There’s nothing to ski in the ADKs. I suggest that everyone go to Vermont & New Hampshire. The skiing is great there.

?

 

[Duckbutter]

I'm guessing what I call touring and what @Duckbutter calls touring are very different.

@Harvey, I think we are on similar pages or at least reading from the same chapter. I myself use the term touring pretty liberally and enjoy all flavors (nnn, nnn-bc, 75mm, NTN!) just as long as my heel is unencumbered. But, I do think there is a delineation, not so much gear-related, but where the activity becomes more turn focused. And while I enjoy a tight bobsled singetrack run through the deep forest as much as the next guy, my happy place is a wooded area with at least several "lanes" of potential descent.

In terms of uphill skiing, the original focus of this thread, and I apologize for contributing to the drift with bringing up land management issues, if anyone hasn't tried a skinless setup (fish scales) I highly recommend it. Yes, if you're intent is to ski something steep enough to get turns in you'll be taking a longer (but easier) route up. And 0 transition at the top is really nice.

In terms of skins, I've gotten many recommendations for Pomoca skins from touring partners. The Climb 2.0 seems like a good general purpose model that would work well in the east. I believe they are a nylon / mohair mix.

A few years ago I bought skins from ClimbingSkinsDirect. They were made and sold buy a guy out of JH who had the recipe for the original purple BD Ascensions. They were cheap but absorb water like sponges. Not really a big deal in the Northern Rockies but not ideal for a wetter zone. Anyway, they seem to be shutdown now anyway. I think these guys are carrying the torch of that style dependable nylon direct to consumer skin. Actually they sell them out of a van on the way to Bridger Bowl... not quite brick & mortar retail.

Then there are the other usual suspects BD, G3, G3/Backcountry and even a bunch of ski companies are jumping into the market as the backcountry sector surges. Choosing skins that sacrifice grip for glide becomes important for the spandex crowd and people regularly putting in long days especially with rolling approaches but if I skied <10 backcountry days a year I would go with something that is durable and really grips well. It's super frustrating to be sliding backwards on the uptrack. Good technique can mitigate this too.

This is a thorough current article on the topic - Climbing Skins: A Guide & Comparisons

 

[gorgonzola]

I'm guessing what I call touring and what @Duckbutter calls touring are very different.

Who here, when they say "Alpine Touring" means an activity where the primary goal is seeking out downhill lines?

When we tour in the Siamese, it's different thing. My interpretation of touring:

Wide Waxless Backcountry Skis

Backcountry skis for powder and rolling terrain.

nyskiblog.com

Winter Camping Alone: High Adventure

I didn't plan to go solo.

nyskiblog.com

maybe we need to reincarnate the XCD thread!? That Mikey guy went off the rails but he did bring the BCxCD stoke

 

[idratherbskiing]

Whiteface has allowed it for dawn patrol, but there is no uphill traffic allowed once the lifts are running.

Why doesnt Gore?

 

[Harvey]

Why doesnt Gore?

I think Aaron is the difference at Whiteface. He's closely tied to the local uphill culture/crowd.

No uphill at Gore or Belle.

 

[idratherbskiing]

I think Aaron is the difference at Whiteface. He's closely tied to the local uphill culture/crowd.

No uphill at Gore or Belle.

And just like that...it seems that Whiteface has changed the uphill policy and added a 60$ fee.