Mitigating Snow Buildup Underfoot

[JohnSKepler]

I've been doing a lot of touring in Northern Utah this winter. The snow has finally started falling but it's closer to West Coast cement than Champaign powder. As a result I'm getting some severe snow buildup under my boot with the Transit binding.

I'm thinking of using this spray stuff I sprayed in my snow blower last year that really helped the snow from building up. What are others doing to mitigate snow buildup under foot with spring-cable type bindings? I don't seem to have the problem much with Xplore but when the snow is deep I tour with the Transit on an Objective or V6 so I don't really know.

Thoughts?

[Nick BC]

Are you skiing the binding with the new TXPro boot, because there is a lot of comment on BC Talk about the increased propensity of the snow to build up on the new boot? I ski all my TTS skis with a discontinued TX and have never had an issue of snow buildup. My one Meidjo set up does sometimes have a problem in wet snow conditions.

[JohnSKepler]

@Nick BC , no not the TXPro. I have some old, green, bellows F1.

[Montana St Alum]

In the past, I've used spray silicone with good results. Also, Teflon tape can help.

[JohnSKepler]

In the past, I've used spray silicone with good results. Also, Teflon tape can help.

I think you're just a little south of me. I ski mostly in the Bear River Range. I've noticed a lot more caking underfoot this year with the warmer temperatures. Wondering if you seen the same though, if you ski at higher altitudes than me (mostly < 8,000 feet and much around 7,000 feet) you may not have. The Cache Valley canyons I usually enjoy from mid-December - now have been mostly inaccessible all winter. La Nina must die!

[Montana St Alum]

In the past, I've used spray silicone with good results. Also, Teflon tape can help.

I think you're just a little south of me. I ski mostly in the Bear River Range. I've noticed a lot more caking underfoot this year with the warmer temperatures. Wondering if you seen the same though, if you ski at higher altitudes than me (mostly < 8,000 feet and much around 7,000 feet) you may not have. The Cache Valley canyons I usually enjoy from mid-December - now have been mostly inaccessible all winter. La Nina must die!

I have noticed that. Most of my skiing is at or above 8k, but I have skied the Deer Valley East area this season. It starts at about 6k and it's noticeably wetter. Even the groomers down at that elevation tend to be really hard pack as a result. But my place is at about 6200' and I haven't had to shovel or snow blow as much this season. Our statewide snow pack is right at 100% of normal, so the potguts that eat my lawn will be happy.

[JohnSKepler]

In the past, I've used spray silicone with good results. Also, Teflon tape can help.

I think you're just a little south of me. I ski mostly in the Bear River Range. I've noticed a lot more caking underfoot this year with the warmer temperatures. Wondering if you seen the same though, if you ski at higher altitudes than me (mostly < 8,000 feet and much around 7,000 feet) you may not have. The Cache Valley canyons I usually enjoy from mid-December - now have been mostly inaccessible all winter. La Nina must die!

I have noticed that. Most of my skiing is at or above 8k, but I have skied the Deer Valley East area this season. It starts at about 6k and it's noticeably wetter. Even the groomers down at that elevation tend to be really hard pack as a result. But my place is at about 6200' and I haven't had to shovel or snow blow as much this season. Our statewide snow pack is right at 100% of normal, so the potguts that eat my lawn will be happy.

Yes, it was an odd year. Our snowpack is about average across the board. We didn't have long-lasting snow in the valley but it's usually, mostly gone by now, anyway. The canyon skiing has been almost non-existent though. Looking out my window here at work there are 20' cornices all along the eastern ridgeline of the Wellsville Mtns. I hope I'm sitting here staring out the window when one of them gives way...