Theoretically speaking, what would be your choice of skis?
Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2022 5:11 pm
Hello fine folks on the forum,
Let's say, one was to plan a journey along the Continental Divide Trail - the whole thing - and wanted to maximize the (safest possible) time on snow through the corridor. When would this be, and what would be your preferred ski? Would there be different skis on different sections? Is there even snow most of the way? Time limit given six months.
I am sure, based on what I could find going though past posts, that there are plenty of folks that have the kind of experience on their local snow, which is required for such attempt. Perhaps someone has skied many areas along the divide.
Personally, coming purely from long-distance oriented Nordic backcountry touring background (Finland, Sweden, Norway and Sierra Nevada (California), I would imagine there are not as many route selection options to follow existing winter trails. However I do think the most technical bottlenecks could be avoided - if local laws and agencies permit slight detours off-trail but within the corridor? Maybe such a journey would require a bit wider skis to break trail and manage elevation instead of long forest planks. Xplore seems like the obvious choice, although I am yet to test it. Finally it has snowed at Ylläs where I am staying for a few months, and Lundhags stocked their Abisku Expedition Explore boots, which I already have on the way along with some Alaska XP, as Pioneer Pro is a bit late.
I have completed and planned some very long distances in the Nordics, but not this long. Having taken a closer look to the guys that made it through the PCT in winter - it did not impress me much (having skied through the Sierra on skinnies - although in springtime), other than by crossing avalanche territory in such amounts, and traveling such distance in such time. Which is my opinion of course, allowed the limited information, and should not be confused as even slightly an insult. They did make something happen that had not before been done. Standards of cold weather travel otherwise were quite low, given the injuries suffered. Also, not that much emphasis was on the long distance orientation, as was on downhill capabilities. Personally I prefer to somewhat easily survive the downhills, But ZOOOOM though the flats, including lower angled terrain where crampons are not needed. Along the divide however, challenges are definitely different. Why is there so little literature on nordic winter travel?
Gamme, Ingstad and Nansen seem the obvious contenders, especially as the North American field of telemark/Nordic skiers so seems to massively imply.
What are your thoughts?
Disclaimer:
I am interested in such a journey. However, I am extremely aware of the many different obvious and not-so-obvious challenges that would be faced when connecting such a line on the snow. There is no way, anyone should attempt this without proper preparations, research and training. Such issues that could be critical, can be quite local, and hence anyone attempting to plan, should not take the preparations lightly. Local training is always best. Within 5-10 years is the goal, if possible. This user thinks anything is possible, as long as someone is willing to make it possible. But as always, at the thought stage, everything is speculative and should not be taken to heart as arrogance. Let's keep fearmongering at bay, as it goes both ways.
I am willing to help anyone planning a long journey in Fennoscandia, to best of my ability. Would some of you be kind enough to share your North American wisdom?
Let's say, one was to plan a journey along the Continental Divide Trail - the whole thing - and wanted to maximize the (safest possible) time on snow through the corridor. When would this be, and what would be your preferred ski? Would there be different skis on different sections? Is there even snow most of the way? Time limit given six months.
I am sure, based on what I could find going though past posts, that there are plenty of folks that have the kind of experience on their local snow, which is required for such attempt. Perhaps someone has skied many areas along the divide.
Personally, coming purely from long-distance oriented Nordic backcountry touring background (Finland, Sweden, Norway and Sierra Nevada (California), I would imagine there are not as many route selection options to follow existing winter trails. However I do think the most technical bottlenecks could be avoided - if local laws and agencies permit slight detours off-trail but within the corridor? Maybe such a journey would require a bit wider skis to break trail and manage elevation instead of long forest planks. Xplore seems like the obvious choice, although I am yet to test it. Finally it has snowed at Ylläs where I am staying for a few months, and Lundhags stocked their Abisku Expedition Explore boots, which I already have on the way along with some Alaska XP, as Pioneer Pro is a bit late.
I have completed and planned some very long distances in the Nordics, but not this long. Having taken a closer look to the guys that made it through the PCT in winter - it did not impress me much (having skied through the Sierra on skinnies - although in springtime), other than by crossing avalanche territory in such amounts, and traveling such distance in such time. Which is my opinion of course, allowed the limited information, and should not be confused as even slightly an insult. They did make something happen that had not before been done. Standards of cold weather travel otherwise were quite low, given the injuries suffered. Also, not that much emphasis was on the long distance orientation, as was on downhill capabilities. Personally I prefer to somewhat easily survive the downhills, But ZOOOOM though the flats, including lower angled terrain where crampons are not needed. Along the divide however, challenges are definitely different. Why is there so little literature on nordic winter travel?
Gamme, Ingstad and Nansen seem the obvious contenders, especially as the North American field of telemark/Nordic skiers so seems to massively imply.
What are your thoughts?
Disclaimer:
I am interested in such a journey. However, I am extremely aware of the many different obvious and not-so-obvious challenges that would be faced when connecting such a line on the snow. There is no way, anyone should attempt this without proper preparations, research and training. Such issues that could be critical, can be quite local, and hence anyone attempting to plan, should not take the preparations lightly. Local training is always best. Within 5-10 years is the goal, if possible. This user thinks anything is possible, as long as someone is willing to make it possible. But as always, at the thought stage, everything is speculative and should not be taken to heart as arrogance. Let's keep fearmongering at bay, as it goes both ways.
I am willing to help anyone planning a long journey in Fennoscandia, to best of my ability. Would some of you be kind enough to share your North American wisdom?