So I FINALLY have enough white stuff to ski on!!!
Got over 40cm of heavy, moist snow on Tuesday night through Wednesday. Started snowing hard again at 5am this morning with 20-30cm in the forecast for Central NB.
I went out for a short tour earlier in the day with my Annums and they offered the perfect balance of float and glide on that fresh, fluffy snow.
Went out for a second tour yesterday evening- the temperature had climbed and turned the snow very soft, wet, heavy and rotten.
But- yesterday evening my Annums sank into the abyss of that heavy wet muck. They wouldn't float, and the snow was so wet and heavy, the width of the Annum felt like I had giant spoons on my feet- I felt the weight of several pounds of wet snow every time I tried to lift each ski!
So- I turned around to try a different ski. At first I tried my Eons- they were actually a bit better than the Annum.
Next- I tried my E-99s- they proved to be the best- depsite the depth of the snow! I certainly sank as deep as both the Annum and the Eon through that rotten snow, but because the E-99 is so much lighter, they were so much more responsive!
I have many times experienced skiing in this kind of deep, wet, rotten snow- but I have typically chosen a wide ski- for flotation. I had not considered the narrow ski performing the best in this deep, rotten snow.
Anyone have experience with this?
Deep, wet, and rotten
-
lilcliffy
- Posts: 4286
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:20 pm
- Location: Stanley, New Brunswick, Canada
- Ski style: backcountry Nordic ski touring
- Favorite Skis: Asnes Ingstad, Combat Nato, Amundsen, Rabb 68; Altai Kom
- Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska BC; Lundhags Expedition; Alfa Skaget XP; Scarpa T4
- Occupation: Forestry Professional
Instructor at Maritime College of Forest Technology
Husband, father, farmer and logger
Deep, wet, and rotten
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.
-
MikeK
Re: Deep, wet, and rotten
I use my e89s, the skinniest I have. Previously I've used my Glittertinds or e99s. They slice right through that shit and are fast as hell.
Problem is, when you gotta turn, they don't. They just wanna go straight always. One of my most difficult skiing nightmares was in just such snow. It was so deep that taking the skis off and walking was impossible - you'd posthole to your crotch and still not touch the ground.
Perhaps this a situation to try a really skinny ski and a really stiff boot - like the e89 and the Svartisen BC. Really thought that was an unlikely combo until you made me recall this scenario.
Problem is, when you gotta turn, they don't. They just wanna go straight always. One of my most difficult skiing nightmares was in just such snow. It was so deep that taking the skis off and walking was impossible - you'd posthole to your crotch and still not touch the ground.
Perhaps this a situation to try a really skinny ski and a really stiff boot - like the e89 and the Svartisen BC. Really thought that was an unlikely combo until you made me recall this scenario.
-
lilcliffy
- Posts: 4286
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:20 pm
- Location: Stanley, New Brunswick, Canada
- Ski style: backcountry Nordic ski touring
- Favorite Skis: Asnes Ingstad, Combat Nato, Amundsen, Rabb 68; Altai Kom
- Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska BC; Lundhags Expedition; Alfa Skaget XP; Scarpa T4
- Occupation: Forestry Professional
Instructor at Maritime College of Forest Technology
Husband, father, farmer and logger
Re: Deep, wet, and rotten
I agree it is almost impossible to steer through that deep, wet, rotten snow- with light-duty boots/bindings that is.
However- I found that the E-99 was so light and narrow that I could effectively stride through turns- because I could actually pick them up! Anything wider and I felt I was lifting 20lbs of wet snow along with the skis!
However- I found that the E-99 was so light and narrow that I could effectively stride through turns- because I could actually pick them up! Anything wider and I felt I was lifting 20lbs of wet snow along with the skis!
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.
-
MikeK
Re: Deep, wet, and rotten
Yeah - that was what I had noticed as well. Also I didn't really have much of an easier time steering the wider skis in that type of snow.
I'm not sure a ski exists that really works great in that stuff. It's basically a giant snocone.
I'm not sure a ski exists that really works great in that stuff. It's basically a giant snocone.
Re: Deep, wet, and rotten
Sounds like the kind of nasty snow that kick turns were invented for. Heavy snow can really mess with your body, especially your knees-ACL injury waiting to happen.