Kick and Glide in High Wind
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Lars_Danner
- Posts: 38
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Kick and Glide in High Wind
Does anyone have any tips for dealing with high wind conditions during a multi-day tour? One thought would be to bring ultra lightweight snowshoes and switch to them in high wind. But I really don't like the idea on aesthetic grounds.
Last edited by Lars_Danner on Sun Mar 03, 2024 3:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Lars Danner
See my blog at: LarsDanner.blogspot.com
See my Facebook group at: Adventure Nordic Skiing--Alaska
See my blog at: LarsDanner.blogspot.com
See my Facebook group at: Adventure Nordic Skiing--Alaska
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randoskier
- Posts: 1044
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Re: Kick and Glide in High Wind
I carry inflatable snowshoes in my pulk, but not for high wind, for snow turning to mush in late season (or early season theses days- I had 11°C in March last year at 71°N). Also good if you bust a ski-binding-boot a few days from a road.Lars_Danner wrote: ↑Sun Mar 03, 2024 2:37 pmDoes anyone have any tips for dealing with high wind conditions during a multi-day tour? One thought would be to bring ultra lightweight snowshoes and switch to them in high wind. But I really don't like the idea on aesthetic grounds.
They are very tough and have front an rear crampons- weigh about 1kg a pair. see Smallfoot.EU The Musala is the all terrain one. The Royal Marines use them.
Also a small tarp works if the wind is behind you.
May the wind be with you.
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Crayefish
- Posts: 92
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Re: Kick and Glide in High Wind
What's wrong with kick and glide in high wind? Wind behind... kite skiing effectively! Wind in front... reduced to a walk (which is no different than snow shoes but still less effort).
I've had some wild winds before (with a pulk mind) which made for much hilarity with a tail wind and the pulk overtaking me, but you just have to suck it up when it's front or side. A good face shield/balaclava and a ruff is obviously advisable.
I've had some wild winds before (with a pulk mind) which made for much hilarity with a tail wind and the pulk overtaking me, but you just have to suck it up when it's front or side. A good face shield/balaclava and a ruff is obviously advisable.
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Lars_Danner
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Mon May 04, 2020 3:28 pm
- Location: Anchorage Alaska
- Ski style: Classic
- Favorite boots: Fischer Comfort Pro
- Occupation: Adventurer
- Website: https://www.LarsDanner.blogspot.com/
Re: Kick and Glide in High Wind
I've run into side wind conditions in the Alaska range that are virtually unskiable, but you're right a lot of the time the answer is to just deal with it.
Lars Danner
See my blog at: LarsDanner.blogspot.com
See my Facebook group at: Adventure Nordic Skiing--Alaska
See my blog at: LarsDanner.blogspot.com
See my Facebook group at: Adventure Nordic Skiing--Alaska
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Crayefish
- Posts: 92
- Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2021 6:10 am
- Location: Netherlands
- Ski style: Pulk hauling and Alpine
- Favorite Skis: Asnes Gammes
- Favorite boots: Alfa Outbacks
- Occupation: Part time adventurer
- Website: https://the-gentleman-explorer.com/
Re: Kick and Glide in High Wind
Yeah, I bet if its so bad that you can't ski, then it's probably going to be too bad to snow shoe too!Lars_Danner wrote: ↑Sun Mar 03, 2024 4:21 pmI've run into side wind conditions in the Alaska range that are virtually unskiable, but you're right a lot of the time the answer is to just deal with it.
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captainswallowtail
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2022 8:46 pm
Re: Kick and Glide in High Wind
What's the problem? Headwind? use full skins. I can't see a situation where changing to snowshoes would be remotely beneficial.
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lowangle al
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Re: Kick and Glide in High Wind
I can see snowshoes helping you to not tip over in a crosswind, but so would very wide skis. I really don't think you would need to resort to either though. If the wind is that strong and you weren't in a ground blizzard of moving snow, I would assume the trail would be hard enough to walk on without snowshoes.