Sierra Backcountry Ski (gear) Suggestions

ChrisN wrote:Airbag ... won't help you if you get caught in a springtime wet slide or get flushed down a steep chute through rocks. Spend your money on training and a beacon/shovel/probe first ...

I'm not getting something here:
So how will "beacon/shovel/probe first" save you in those two situations mentioned above?

I agree about the problem with wet spring slides in the Sierra: That's why lots of people I know don't wear a beacon in springtime in the Sierra, even when skiing with partners.
. . (but seems like an Air Bag System would offer better survival odds for that situation than a Beacon).

Ken

Matt.Zia wrote:A shovel and probe are critical pieces of equipment for assessing snowpack stability and hopefully making the right decision for terrain management and route finding

I have not (so far) known any long-experienced ski-mountaineering person (who is not a ski patroller) around the Eastside Sierra or France who uses shovel to dig a snow-analysis pit when out on a ski tour.

There is a known good reason why digging a pit is not likely to be effective to guide decision-making out on a tour.
. . . (aside from the problem that most of us don't have the experience and educated perception to reliably assess what we find when we dig a pit).

Of course digging snow pits is very important for avalanche-forecast professionals doing analysis of snowpack evolution on a regular systematic basis over the whole season.

Ken

Get a splitboard

Get some prayer beads to pray for pow too!

Nobody new to touring should be going out solo (since you won't really know how to be sure you're not taking the wrong chances), but if you ski alone, there are a few good reasons to still wear your beacon. Maybe in the Sierras in the spring it's stable enough that it doesn't seem necessary, but if you are really unlucky and get caught, that beacon could make a huge difference: not for you but for the people who come to find your body--it could save them hours or days of effort, anguish and exposure to possible added risk. Also, what if you encounter other parties out there in the BC, and their decision-making is not as good as yours? If you happen to witness an accident, it would suck to be unable to help because you didn't bring your gear.

What John Badila said. Wear the beacon. You might save friends and family days of heartbreak looking for your body. It will also look better in your obituary.

Glen Prior wrote:What John Badila said. Wear the beacon. You might save friends and family days of heartbreak looking for your body. It will also look better in your obituary.

As morbid as it sounds, there's actually a lot of truth to this.

If you find yourself in an avalanche, you've screwed up. Big time.

Lots of good advice here for a 1-ski quiver.  That being said, I think there is a good case to be made for having at least a 2-ski quiver for the Sierra:

- A narrow ski (~80 to 95 mm) for ice, hard-pack, and corn.

- A fat ski (~105 to 125 mm) for powder and breakable crust.

The main rationale being that the Sierra tends to have relatively infrequent storms that drop lots of snow.  During spring and summer (i.e., a consolidated snow pack with diurnal melt-freeze cycles), it is nice to have a set of narrow skis.  

very glad that i found this thread. despite it being over 4 years old, it's answered many of my questions on this exact topic: factors to consider and dimensions for a 1-ski quiver in the eastern sierra. also appreciate the convo re: solo touring and the importance of a beacon regardless of partners skill level/recency of training. covid is making getting a spot in an avy class tough, but that is priority number 1.

If anyone has any recent updates specific to skis (and to a lesser extent bindings) i'd appreciate it. I already have boots (scarpa f1's), but am having a tough time narrowing in on skis. I don't expect I'll transfer to skis from my board inbounds, and my goal with this set up is primarily steeps/couloir descents. I don't want too narrow of skis (sub 90) as I won't be getting another pair any time soon, so I want one set up that will handle icy/variable spring sierra conditions as well as the occasional storm.

Looking at black crows camox freebird (kind of light, but I'm trying to tell myself that the navis is too expensive), Elan Ibex 94, dynafit tour 96, line vision 98, solomon qst 99... and others. I appreciate the guidance below, but I'm not sure if I understand how to use it when determining between skis. Ie. is the camox a 'noodle'? and would it not hold up to steeper descents in variable snow/icy chutes? I'm pretty sure i'd prefer a flat tail, but would a rockered tail present that much of an issue for the terrain I've described?
Thanks in advance! praying for snow...

Rando Calrissian wrote: For skis, take an honest assessment of your ski style. Everyone likes something different. Dual radius (I don't like it) wood core type, sheets of metal, sidewall v cap, length, flex, rocker profile. All of these things are something you should consider. I enjoy flatter tails and rocker tip. I am also a hard charger and really like to put the power into my feet, not graceful at all but thats what I do. I flex skis. If its a noodle to begin with, then its not the ski for me. Do you like flat tails or a rockered tail? Rocker tails allow you to have fun sliding around the mountain and is very playful, but if you are "mission" driven then you want more of a flatter tail. I didn't want to make an outside rec because it seems you want to look into dynafit and sportiva with the coupon but my go to every day touring ski is Movement Shift, but I also love the Kastle TX series. 

Jamie. good luck. I have found 105's to be 'too wide' for most sierra skiing (spring, corn) but it is what I have been on for 2 seasons. (Salo qst 105, frischi vipec binding) my touring skis were 115's before that! I currently use the Salo MTN 95 (177) with Armada/Salo (same manufacturer) MTN binding (pin). QST 99 would be less ideal than the 95's, I think its more steel and less of other / lighter (carbon?) materials. Armada and Atomic also make a 98. Dynafit 96 might be the lightest. 

Best thing you can do for your 'uphilling' setup is check the grams (weight) listed. Lighter is better in general for Sierra. Long walks to the big lines. And also, I always mount forward from the recommended line, especially for touring skis- as it gives you more tail to grip with while uphilling firm sierra slopes, and a more centered stance when going down dust on crust or tight chutes. 

 I am more of a freeride/ park skiier as well, so i go 3.5cm forward of recommended or more. I personally ride park setups true-center. No matter what I would say at least 2cm forward of recommended. So many shops mount things wonky and even back from recommended (not on purpose), and you basically only have the length of a pair of snowlerbladez from your toe-connection back. Also if you weigh less than 170 lbs, def go lighter. if you are 175-200lbs, you might benefit from a bit more bulk on the ski.  <3 <3  Who knows if we'll ever catch any snow this year... but you'll be ready if we do !

Sidenote, I also solo tour fairly often (in Sierra, not CO or elsewhere), in winter as well, not just spring.  I always bring shovel/probe and beacon (and do occasionally dig pits). You might run into someone out there who was overnighting, or end up linking up with people ! multiple times I've been solo at trailheads at 4am and linked up with other parties. 

Jamie Merkler wrote:

If anyone has any recent updates specific to skis (and to a lesser extent bindings) i'd appreciate it. I already have boots (scarpa f1's), but am having a tough time narrowing in on skis. I don't expect I'll transfer to skis from my board inbounds, and my goal with this set up is primarily steeps/couloir descents. I don't want too narrow of skis (sub 90) as I won't be getting another pair any time soon, so I want one set up that will handle icy/variable spring sierra conditions as well as the occasional storm.

Looking at black crows camox freebird (kind of light, but I'm trying to tell myself that the navis is too expensive), Elan Ibex 94, dynafit tour 96, line vision 98, solomon qst 99... and others. I appreciate the guidance below, but I'm not sure if I understand how to use it when determining between skis. Ie. is the camox a 'noodle'? and would it not hold up to steeper descents in variable snow/icy chutes? I'm pretty sure i'd prefer a flat tail, but would a rockered tail present that much of an issue for the terrain I've described?
Thanks in advance! praying for snow...

I would recommend checking out the Solis, if you plan on skiing steep couloirs with potentially icy / variable conditions.