Moving to New England, Help Please
|
I hate to be so vague, but any advice on the following would be greatly appreciated. So I am moving to South Royalton, Vermont to finish school and I will only be there from January til May. I want to make the most of my time in New England, so I need some help. I need to buy some skis, and since Ill be on a students budget, cheap is good. I have no idea what to buy or where to get it. Do I want an alpine set up, or an AT setup? (Keep in mind I know nothing about skis; please be patient with me.) If I get an AT set up, are there plenty of places to ski outside of the (costly) resorts? I also would love to do some ice climbing. Where can I find some tools and crampons at a reasonable price, preferably used? (And no, I do not plan to go out ice climbing by myself or with someone else who is equally inexperienced. It is all about being safe, having fun, and doing something I usually do not have an opportunity to do.) I have ropes and a rack, but I dont think Ill be doing much climbing until late March. My guess is there will be too much snow to climb. Please correct me if I am wrong. It only snows about once a year in my hometown (close to Horse Pens 40), so I am probably ill prepared for a New England winter. However, I have purchased a Wild Things Belay Parka, and some Kayland Hyper Traction boots to try and keep myself warm. So I guess I am asking for 1. Ski suggestions 2. Ice tool and crampon suggestions and 3. Whatever you think I need to know suggestions. Thanks in advance. |
|
Tim - congrats on the move. you'll love the ice climbing and skiing once you get used to the cold. |
|
check gear-x in burlington |
|
Tim Davis wrote:I hate to be so vague, but any advice on the following would be greatly appreciated. So I am moving to South Royalton, Vermont to finish school and I will only be there from January til May. I want to make the most of my time in New England, so I need some help. I need to buy some skis, and since Ill be on a students budget, cheap is good. I have no idea what to buy or where to get it. Do I want an alpine set up, or an AT setup? (Keep in mind I know nothing about skis; please be patient with me.) If I get an AT set up, are there plenty of places to ski outside of the (costly) resorts? I also would love to do some ice climbing. Where can I find some tools and crampons at a reasonable price, preferably used? (And no, I do not plan to go out ice climbing by myself or with someone else who is equally inexperienced. It is all about being safe, having fun, and doing something I usually do not have an opportunity to do.) I have ropes and a rack, but I dont think Ill be doing much climbing until late March. My guess is there will be too much snow to climb. Please correct me if I am wrong. It only snows about once a year in my hometown (close to Horse Pens 40), so I am probably ill prepared for a New England winter. However, I have purchased a Wild Things Belay Parka, and some Kayland Hyper Traction boots to try and keep myself warm. So I guess I am asking for 1. Ski suggestions 2. Ice tool and crampon suggestions and 3. Whatever you think I need to know suggestions. Thanks in advance.Have you ever done any skiing? If you are really interested in new England backcountry skiing, you will be best served by a 75mm backcountry/XCD waxless set up. I know its not a sexy/extreme as AT skis, but rarely do backcountry runs around here entail a skin up followed by a solid downhill run, there are usually some rollers/flat spots, and being able to kick and glide will help your enjoyment immensely. There are a few backcountry ski-trails up here, but you are going to be doing alot of tree skiing, unless you want to take trips up to the whites, in which case your gonna need a beacon and shovels and probes and the knowledge to use them. It all depends on how much money you want to spend, your current skill level, how much free time you will have, and what you want to spend you time doing. Are you ever going to be using this equipment again? I think people manage to boulder/climb at rumney through the winter, but I think you have to pick you south faces and get used to being cold. 5 months is not alot of time to make such an investment in equipment, especially if you will be spending ALOT of time studying. I'm sure you'll get plenty of info on ice gear. |
|
Tim, |
|
A fellow swan, welcome to SoRo. |
|
@ wargowsky - Thanks for the heads up on NEice.com. I'll be using that site to supplement my studying procastination efforts. |
|
Tim Davis wrote:@ wargowsky - Thanks for the heads up on NEice.com. I'll be using that site to supplement my studying procastination efforts. @ devkrev - Nope. I am a complete skiing newbie, and I will not have enough time to learn avy skills. I also do not study as much as many law students, and I am looking to get out as much as possible. I will check out the XCD setup. Are those considered XC skis? (Again, I'm a clueless noob when it comes to skiing). As far as using the equipment again. I plan to, even if it is only a few trips a year. @ AntinJ - I plan to get out every weekend, and structure my class schedule for maximum free time, i.e. no Friday classes (fingers are crossed). I only need to take 12 more hours to graduate. I will be more of the briber (hot meal and beers), and my ice climbing and skiing skill level is complete beginner. I have experience cragging around the South. I have also taken a couple of trips to CO to do some 4th class peaks, and a glacier mountaineering trip to the Cascades. As far as ice aspirations, I would be happy to top rope, but if possible, following longer routes and/or learning to lead a bit would be awesome. I really just want to do as much as I can. In addition to the puffy and boots I have Patagonia wool 3 layers, softshell pants and jacket, hardshell pants and jacket, midweight synthetic fill jacket and fleece layers. I also have a BD Half Dome helmet and BD Speed 40 pack, as well as mountaineering axe and strap on crampons. I guess I am in decent shape. I ran a 50 min. 10k last week, and I am training for my second 25k trail race. I am certainly no Ueli Steck. Funny that you posted the Steck video, I watched him climb yesterday on a video posted on a blog that I read. He is an animal. @ Lafferty I was confused on the "Swan" comment until I searched the VLS website with the hunch that the swan may be our mascot. Evidently it is. I am excited to be one of "The Fighting Swans". Thanks for the heads up on the rental program. If I don't find a really good deal on tools, I'll probably just rent. I think you are spot on with the whole moving from the South thing. We have some good cragging, but no winter sports. NE seems to have a great variety of destinations and activities in a very small area. I am definitely psyched. To all: Thanks for all of the suggestions and advice.If you have never skied before, you should probably focus your efforts on ice climbing. |
|
Tim Davis wrote: @ AntinJ - I plan to get out every weekend, and structure my class schedule for maximum free time, i.e. no Friday classes (fingers are crossed). I only need to take 12 more hours to graduate. I will be more of the briber (hot meal and beers), and my ice climbing and skiing skill level is complete beginner. I have experience cragging around the South. I have also taken a couple of trips to CO to do some 4th class peaks, and a glacier mountaineering trip to the Cascades. As far as ice aspirations, I would be happy to top rope, but if possible, following longer routes and/or learning to lead a bit would be awesome. I really just want to do as much as I can. In addition to the puffy and boots I have Patagonia wool 3 layers, softshell pants and jacket, hardshell pants and jacket, midweight synthetic fill jacket and fleece layers. I also have a BD Half Dome helmet and BD Speed 40 pack, as well as mountaineering axe and strap on crampons. I guess I am in decent shape. I ran a 50 min. 10k last week, and I am training for my second 25k trail race. I am certainly no Ueli Steck. Funny that you posted the Steck video, I watched him climb yesterday on a video posted on a blog that I read. He is an animal.As long as your 'poons are semi-rigid or rigid, you will be able to climb ice. They may not be the best performers out there, but you will still have a good time and learn the basics. I used these for a little while before upgrading to vertical front points: Grivel G12 They worked just fine for when you are getting the hang of things. Just make sure the straps are really snug. |
|
Hey Tim, Congrats on the move, Vermont's amazing. Get ready for some coldness though.....there is tons of backcountry skiing in VT and you can tour everywhere, of course there's also the resorts which cost some cash, VT Law School probably has a great deal on one or more of the mountains up there though. At UVM I'd pay $199 for Jay Peak, Bolton, and Mad River seasons pass, ridiculously cheap. If you're interested in a telemark setup I was actually just getting ready to post an ad for one on here. I could probably do $250 on it for boots, skis, bindings, and skins, all in pretty good shape, good starter setup. Otherwise head up to Outdoor Gear Exchange in Burlington when you get up there. About 45 mins to 1hr north you'll find ridiculous amounts of ice climbing and backcountry skiing. Unfortunately the snow often holds in the woods up there until May, but it depends on the year. TONS of rock to climb if it doesn't. Let me know if you need any info. |
|
Does anyone have any thoughts on the Grivel X Monster tools? I am curious, because the design seems to be far different from the other options out there. |
|
Tim Davis wrote:Does anyone have any thoughts on the Grivel X Monster tools? I am curious, because the design seems to be far different from the other options out there.I've never climbed with them. But, those don't have T-Rated shafts, so you can't...um...build deadman anchors with them, so they are pretty much worthless. I'm not serious. |
|
Tim Davis wrote:Does anyone have any thoughts on the Grivel X Monster tools? I am curious, because the design seems to be far different from the other options out there.It was one of the first leashless tools. Great at high level ice climbing and dry tooling. Not particularly adept at alpine type climbing though. It's a very good tool, but has a somewhat specific use. I certainly wouldn't recommend it as your only set of tools. It would be more of a specific-use spare pair. You would be much better served by a more versatily tool such as BD Vipers, Grivel Matrix Tech, or Petzl Quarks. Both the BD and Petzl tools were recently updated - you can find the older versions now for dirt cheap if you look hard enough. I've seen them sell with spare picks for under $250ish for the set. |
|
For ice tools choose BD cobras or Petzl nomics period. If you wanna ski, get dynafits, if you just wanna approach, get silvarettas. If you got the Dough, get skis and ice gear, as often their ideal days are inverses of each other. Learn avalanche skills, it will save your life skiing and climbing...read Bruce Trempers book. P's...I got a brand new pair of dynafits ill let go of for a hot deal. |
|
I dunno, that's a bit extreme bheller - Tim, I'd definitely check out what gearx has to offer - you can usually find some pretty awesome deals in their consignment section. As JonH pointed out, many of the "classic" tools have recently undergone updates - BD cobra, viper, Petzl quark, the whole grivel series - foe a beginner, just about any tool will do. I've seen BD Black Prophets for <$100/pair. Great tools and will certainly serve you well for a couple seasons. GearX also usually has some pretty sweet deals on skis too. You certainly don't need the latest and greatest to have a blast. |
|
The bakery is in Jeffersonville and it's called the Cupboard, attached to a gas station. Contrary to what most people will tell you, Smuggler's Notch is the second most epic place in VT, right behind that bakery. |
|
I'm with bheller, get Nomics or Cobras, don't waste your money on outdated tools. Second best would be Vipers or Quarks. You maybe able to rent/demo tools from Sunrise Adventure Sports in Jeffersonville. I would call them up to see if they have any last year rentals for sale. They're also helpful with beta and conditions report during the season, plus their Smugglers guide is better for the Notch than the NE Ice climbing guide. |
|
No no, there's another bakery - it's in Fairfax (I just found it on Google Maps) not attached to a gas station, on the ground floor of a little red-ish building (takes up the whole ground floor), just before you turn right and pass a white church/gas station on your right hand side as your heading to smuggs from montreal/points north. It's right next to the dot that google marks fairfax with - on the left side of the intersection. There are usually some cute girls baking away there too. Sometimes they have live music in the ridiculously small eating area. |
|
Jana's Deli on the corner of rt. 108 and rt. 15 in Jeffersonville has the choice selection of baked goods and wraps. Sunrise Adventures has moved up the Mountain Road (rt. 108) a bit from their old location. They now share a space with a ski shop (can't remember the name), but's on the left hand side right past "No School" snowboard shop. Additionally, the Outdoor Gear Exchange in Burlington will have all the local beta you'll need. |
|
Thanks for all of the info. I can't wait to check out the local bakeries. I am also interested in checking out Vermont's great microbrew scene. |
|
Tim you better hurry up and get here! There was frost on my windshield this morning, which means the Ice Season is almost over! |