Theoretically speaking, what would be your choice of skis?

[Theme]

The Continental Divide & The Continental Divide Trail are 2 different things.

The Continental Divide Trail is popular with hikers & cyclists mostly during summer and could be another area to get info.

I don't believe people ski either one all the way through. As each one just goes through Summit County, Colorado, it would be difficult to ski the entire route.

And then there's the Colorado Trail too. Again, hikers and cyclists. Do people ski that whole thing?

Thanks for pointing this out. I have definitely also heard they are separate things, but am not so used to it yet - need to start referring to the CDT instead, which is what I indeed mean. I am already familiar with the long-distance-hiking scene

I do not believe people ski any of the three. Maybe some parts of them. But there would need to be a first. I have read a book that mentioned an 800-mile ski tour with pulks through Colorado on the CDT in 1987, with slight detours away from steepest terrain. Unfortunately it was only two pages.

[Krummholz]

For your information:

https://www.rei.com/blog/hike/why-has-n ... of-the-cdt
.

Even the Colorado Trail, that can be done in segments, goes through many avalanche areas. This is a segment of the CT and CDT overlap. Map is overlaid with a slope angle layer. Any part of the trail covered over in red is a No-Go. Bushwhacking at lower elevations will slow you down to a crawl.

[Bavarian Cream]

The coldest official temp in CO the last few years was -50 F, recorded at a common inversion zone at Antero Reservoir, so anything up on the mountain slopes should be much warmer. I’m not sure what typical or extreme conditions would be like in Montana and Wyoming, but I know -50 F was the lowest temp in the Continental US that particular year (I think 2020). Our coldest temps and windiest conditions usually don’t seem to align, but I would expect times where it’s modestly below 0 F and windy. Also, if you aren’t already, maybe keep an eye on the Colorado Avalanche Information Center’s website to get an idea of weather conditions and snowpack tendencies: https://avalanche.state.co.us/observati ... -stations/ .

I’m not familiar with Finland’s continental snowpack, but I wouldn’t underestimate just how light, soft, and deep snow can be on protected aspects in the Rockies, and how much the high elevation sun can affect it at these mid-latitudes, even mid-winter. Having to cover several kilometers with complex terrain while high-stepping through bottomless powder would be my biggest consideration when choosing a ski (I might be stating the obvious).

[Theme]

The coldest official temp in CO the last few years was -50 F, recorded at a common inversion zone at Antero Reservoir, so anything up on the mountain slopes should be much warmer. I’m not sure what typical or extreme conditions would be like in Montana and Wyoming, but I know -50 F was the lowest temp in the Continental US that particular year (I think 2020). Our coldest temps and windiest conditions usually don’t seem to align, but I would expect times where it’s modestly below 0 F and windy. Also, if you aren’t already, maybe keep an eye on the Colorado Avalanche Information Center’s website to get an idea of weather conditions and snowpack tendencies: https://avalanche.state.co.us/observati ... -stations/ .

I’m not familiar with Finland’s continental snowpack, but I wouldn’t underestimate just how light, soft, and deep snow can be on protected aspects in the Rockies, and how much the high elevation sun can affect it at these mid-latitudes, even mid-winter. Having to cover several kilometers with complex terrain while high-stepping through bottomless powder would be my biggest consideration when choosing a ski (I might be stating the obvious).

These are very useful resources, thanks. I am starting to think that maybe high-stepping is not the way to go, but rather with long enough skis one could just slide mostly on top. This would mean lower alternates, as the longer the ski, the worse it deals with changes in elevation. An interesting idea, but one would need to make a comparison in the area to find the META. Coming from south, Colorado would be the most challenging bit - high mountains, lots of ridges, powder snow. This would anyway call for many lower alternates (of which there are plenty) so a longer ski could be better. Forest/fire service roads, different trail/MTB trail beds and such. Sometimes none of the above where possible

How are the bushes/forests? I am very familiar with thick growth forestbeds in forests that are used forestry and it is not always pleasant. Anything not as thick is as good as good for me.

Later on, when snow starts to carry more weight, one could switch to a speedier ski. In bottomless powder snow, something like Ingstad or even the wider BCD skis are very hard work - compare to the OAC Skinbased that are common for daytrips here. Although this is still something that needs testing. My preference may be different that others' since really, not that many people own long plank skis

[Musk Ox]

But with leathers, it is a very reliable system and I would be more worried about ripping the binding off rather than the front bar coming out.

Anecdotally, because a sample of one disaster means nothing, but I've successfully lost a bar!





(Lundhags replaced both soles for me for nothing in about 48 hours.)

Oh crap that looks harsh. What happened? Was that packed snow in the underfoot grooves too tightly packed, and levered your front bar off? I have definitely come across that thought when I feel even the smallest bit of resistance underfoot. I hope the Xplore is better dealing with snow buildup

I did, once, have an older pair of out of the box Alfa boots that started breaking down in the sole. The glue in the front, between two rubber pieces opened up like there was never any glue. Right next to the bar.

Just a basic manufacturing problem, I think. Although I have had some pretty good falls, which probably played a part. When the bar finally failed, I was standing still. On a really steep, narrow, tight and icy corner. I'd stopped on the good snow to get my skis facing the right way because it was a bit scary. When I pushed off, my left ski just remained where it was! It was really confusing for a second. I'd actually seen the bar slowly beginning to protrude from the cap of the sole for a few weeks. Lundhags said it was just the luck of the draw, basically, and must have been a fault in the Rottefella factory. They still fixed it. I love those boots.

[Theme]

For your information:

https://www.rei.com/blog/hike/why-has-n ... of-the-cdt
.

5986AAD3-A661-4AF6-9248-3DC0A91A0566.jpeg


Even the Colorado Trail, that can be done in segments, goes through many avalanche areas. This is a segment of the CT and CDT overlap. Map is overlaid with a slope angle layer. Any part of the trail covered over in red is a No-Go. Bushwhacking at lower elevations will slow you down to a crawl.

AB817E10-2701-4E97-96B9-442ACAB7FDDD.jpeg

My guess is that it is all about timing. Starting the six months of travel as late as possible, so that up north there may still be snow left. Or would it be best to start early in the fall, get through the mountains of Colorado before winter fully sets in? This option would probably make for tougher skiing the rest of the way. Yet one could get in trouble in a snowdump early in the season, scratching bases or stuck without skis, albeit being much easier travel when weather is good. Later on, if starting as late as possible, skiing would be much, much faster and safer. The time limit of a visa would strongly favor this option, as well as the limited risk analysis this far.

Choosing alternates around the most prominent avalanche areas would be my best bet. Utilizing routes that are cut clear of bush for summer use, returning to the CDT when it is safer travel again. Having taken a look at maps with slope highlights this seems feasible in the bigger picture, as the vast majority of the terrain will be in safer areas. A 10-mile bushwhack here and there would mean nothing.

I would gladly hear horror stories of bushwhacking and seriously deep powder.

If anyone in the area has experience with 210 and/or much longer skis traveling powder snow, this would also be of great help.

When will one most likely come into contact with ice and crust on the snow, the earliest?

[Krummholz]

More For Your Information:

https://avalanche.state.co.us/accidents/colorado/

If you look at the accident dates they tend to start with the first snows in October- November and end March - April, with outliers in May - June. The first snows arrived on October 25, the next is coming in a few days, this sets up the typical weak base layer of the snowpack that will cause problems all season long.

[fgd135]

Although I'm not familiar with all of the CDT, huge sections of it in Colorado are in the midst of steep avalanche terrain; only bits of the trail could be avoided by alternative route selections and still be considered as being on the CDT vs. a bypass. Hard to say what the best skis could be; something that floats well but is light enough for easy carry.

[mca80]

I slept in a car in Wyoming one winter night. It was -26F with 30 to 40mph winds when I got moving in the morning. Be careful with that wind. Wyoming is typically very windy but maybe not so much where the CDT goes through.

[JB TELE]

https://andrewskurka.com/gear-list-back ... i-touring/

https://bedrockandparadox.com/2010/10/3 ... traverses/

https://bedrockandparadox.com/2019/01/1 ... ckcountry/

https://thingstolucat.com/ski-touring-equipment-guide/

Some blog posts with various opinions on ski gear for long distance traverses.

I have actually encountered these articles plenty of times. To me it is interesting, that plenty of experiences from the North American users base on the less-secure options on NNNBC boots - is this due to availability? People used to BCD rather than BCX? There were also many warnings against NNNBC as a binding system. It has definitely not been made to withstand such extreme forces applied to a binding by skiing plastic boots downhill.

But with leathers, it is a very reliable system and I would be more worried about ripping the binding off rather than the front bar coming out. NNNBC offers much lighter, yet still stable boot options that are also more tuned towards distance and very cold weather travel. These options also include boots that do not wet out - heck, I have skied ankle-deep water on ice for many many miles. VBL liners work wonders to prevent moisture from your feet saturating the boot aswell. I am actually designing my own at this very moment, for commercial purposes. Rab and Exped liners are kinda bad and break down quickly.

But I do agree, having walked probably ~200 miles on my NNNBC boots in total, that it does suck. This is one more reason I would imagine Xplore taking the victory here. I cannot imagine taking a single step on rando/plastic boots. Duckbills are heavy, clunky, do not take crampons, and can break as likely as BC or XP boots

I work at a store that sells outdoor gear as well as backcountry ski equipment. My boss has been doing ski tech work for 20 years. I'll ask him how many nnnbc failures and how many 3 pin failures he has seen.