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1 Posts |
Posted - 09/19/2007 : 02:31 AM
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I tried to find past topics that answer my questions, but they are a little unusual, perhaps...
I recently moved from Yellowknife to Whitehorse, and discovered that the world is a beautiful, hilly place after all. XC skis won't cut it for what I want to do, so I'm looking to get into AT. (Tele is cool, but AT seems better for me...)
A. What I currently have is:
1. Scarpa Vegas (and other ice climbing clobber - well loved)
2. 174cm K2 Public Enemies (plus DH boots - much loving to be had)
3. 210lb by 6'2" of me (I'm not a small lad, but precious little fat!) - it may help suggest kit!
B. What I want to do is:
1. Go back country touring (10-20days per year)
2. Approach and descend from climbing routes (10-15 days per year)
3. 10-20 days on lifts per year
4. Not mortage my friends' houses
C. My questions are:
1. Is there an AT binding that can handle both my Vegas for AT (I don't want to buy new boots just yet... see B4 above) and my DH boots for lift days? If not, what can I go for that will take my Vegas, and still release for safety? (I have been pointed at the Silveretta 500)
2. Would it work at all putting the bindings from above onto my PEs? I suspect not, but would like to save money if it is going to work. I will accept somewhat reduced performance on lift days.
3. If the answer to 2 is "no, you dim-wit", then what boards would be suggested for my one and only ski (or at least my one and only AT ski)? Again, I have been pointed at G3 Baron.
Thank you for the help!!
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Canmore, AB
Canada
1238 Posts |
Posted - 09/21/2007 : 08:13 AM
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Hi,
I'm not an expert at AT by any means but here's a contraption you may find interesting :
http://www.bcaccess.com/bca_products/alpine_trekker.php
This'll allow you to use your current equipment until you save enough to buy a dedicated AT setup. A setup like this will undoubtedly be heavy but just think of it as training. 
Personally, I use a pair of Garmont Adrenalines as my ski boot. These boots are great because the soles are interchangable - allowing me to use them on both AT bindings as well as regular downhill bindings.
I pair them up with some G3 Barons and Freeride Plus's (which I got for a steal thanks to a group deal on this forum) and they're simply amazing. In fact, I sold off my downhill skis/bindings since I never use them anymore. |
Edited by - spicytuna on 09/21/2007 08:14 AM |
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Port Moody, BC
Canada
733 Posts |
Posted - 09/21/2007 : 08:34 AM
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| Wow I am SO buying one of those gadgets. Use my old rock ski's with my nice ski boots in "walk" mode. Should get me up there at least. |
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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
1047 Posts |
Posted - 09/21/2007 : 08:36 AM
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I also now use one pair for everything I do. Downhill ski boots/salomon Guns and Freeride X's. I am much smaller than you but the x should be fine for all your downhill neeeds. The Dynafits will also work and are lighter but you need to buy a boot that will work with the system. The freerides X are heavier but you can use them with any boot. I tour all the time in my downhill boots as i found that the lightweight at boots are lightweight because they don't have as good support for ripping skiing. The ones that do almost weigh as much as a dh boot. I tour to get to good lines so make up the heavier system with fitness. At some touring resorts people look at my system and go wo you use those boots and think I am going to be off the back. They are surprised when this end up not being the case. This skis you have are great for everything. Simple is better. If you have one system and you lift skiing but suddenly want to head off you just throw your skins on and go. I have many different systems at one time and found i would always want one of the things I did not have at the time. Now I just set it and forget it...
Throw some x's on your public enemies, get good skins and you can alternate between your two boots...sweet. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
264 Posts |
Posted - 09/21/2007 : 08:49 AM
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| I wouldn't recommend the alpine trekker or any other insert system. You simply don't have the stability to actually go touring with these. I think I have a pair burried somewhere you can have if you really want them. They would probably be fine for your approach needs, but not for touring. THe problem is the device lifts you another inch or more from your skiis. When you apply any torque one of two things happen; the device comes out from your binding (even if you have the din setting cranked up) or your boots come out of the device as it is a bit flimsy. The heavier guys bent the Trekkers (I'm too skinny to do that sort of damage) All my friends started with this sort of set up in the early 90's and cursed and swore alot only to buy a real pair of binding the next year. Maybe the technology is better now, I don't know. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1421 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2007 : 2:27 PM
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The cheapest good option (as first suggested by Dave Norona) is to get fritschi freerides or naxos or a similar heavy duty AT binding, mount them on your current skis and use your DH boots. Upgrade to AT boots when you have the money, and get a boot with Dynafit inserts.
Dynafit binding systems are much lighter, but you have to buy boots and bindings at the same time, since they won't work with regular DH boots. This would put you back about $1000. I can't comment on the suitability of dynafits for resort skiing.
Alpine trekkers are a cheap option but are not recommended due to the weight. They're ok if you are going to spend 95% of your time in the resort and 5% in the BC.
Edited to add:
Some silveretta bindings, especially the older ones, will allow you to use mountaineering boots in them. However, I don't think these bindings would stand up well to resort use. |
Edited by - scottN on 09/28/2007 2:29 PM |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1009 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2007 : 3:03 PM
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| I use my vegas and my silvrettas to approach ice climbs, works great. Skiing in my vegas is fairly taxing but I have big legs so not so bad, however I have heard others just hate skiing in their vegas. My buddy uses his for resort skiing but only with touring boots. |
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Reykjavik
Iceland
139 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2007 : 10:59 PM
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Hey Yukon,
no real advice, but i was in a similar situation last year... here are my thoughts...
I wanted to get into back country skiing and skiing in general... ended up buying some used K2 public enemies. I did however buy some AT boots that fit the standard DH binding on the K2's.
My friend let me borrow his Trekkers for our first few times out. Once I knew I wanted to get more serious, I went to mec and got myself a pair of freerides and them mounted on the K2's.
The trekkers were fine to see if the backcountry was the route I wanted to go, but i'm VERY glad (and so stoked for this season!) I got some real AT bindings!
Also, Dave, glad to hear you think the K2's are good ski's for this type of skiing! I was a little worried I had made the wrong choice with them! |
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Richmond, BC
Canada
2440 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2007 : 11:39 PM
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| I have Silvretta 555s set up to handle both my Scarpa ATs and my Montrails. Both soles are identical in length. They're mounted atop Volkl mountain skis. Super comfortable so far even after punishing them on groomers and crud. |
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Topic |
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Wanting to start AT
