Skintrack.com and what we didn't see at OR?

Besides the newest Scarpa boots that have yet to be unveiled 

There is a lot of good things to be seen @ skintrack.com

This interview is just a start:

http://www.skintrack.com/people/trevor-hunt-interview-steep-skier/

Looking for ice axe parts and pieces?

Unlikely I suspect but you never know what might turn up if you ask.

2014 Winter OR?

 

The Outdoor Retailer shows are an obligatory destination twice a year to preview the the products that will be available to the public in the next business cycle.  So what you see in Salt Lake's Salt Palace Convention Center the last week of January every winter actually won't be available physically (to most) for 6 or 9 months yet.   Usually for the esoteric items we want (rando skiers and alpine climbers) next fall at best for delivery but usually later yet if the item is actually worth owning.

Dynafit Nanga Parbat ski review.....

Wow, the winter here is actually shocking to me.  We are getting a temperature inversion up high and a damp cold fog (but not freezing)  down below.  We are lucky to have had a good dump of snow a bit ago to keep us skiing but it is getting bleak again.  Frightening how quickly the little snow we do have will go once the temps warm and an early Spring arrives for good.  Snow level here is more typical of  mid May than mid January.

Super Mario and the Dynafit TLT6

TLT6 LIMITED EDITION – A BOOT TO HONOR “SUPER MARIO”

“I’ve always dreamed of a boot that is the perfect combination of weight and comfort.” After years of product development, DYNAFIT boot developer Mario Sartor (known as “Super Mario” to insiders) did it: The TLT6 counts as a true all-rounder. Among ski tourers, expedition mountaineers and ski alpinists around the world, it is recognized as a stable yet agile boot. In 2014, Super Mario, based in Italy’s Montebelluna, will be honored with a TLT6 Limited Edition model that will only have a run of 1,500 numbered pairs.

Training for the New Alpinism

"Training for the New Alpinism, by Steve House and Scott Johnston, translates theory into application to allow you to coach yourself to any mountaineering goal. The authors present training plans for weekend warriors as well as the world's best mountaineers. Filled with photos, graphs, illustrations, and anecdotes. www.patagonia.com/books"

Black Death...

and more WI7 for Robert Jasper....and some Rockies quality stone.  Great vid of hard mixed.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irvPkcSCV_s#t=20

Praxis ski discount?

I am a big fan of what Keith at Praxis is doing with skis.  Both the products (the Praxis in our house are awesome!)  and how he markets..."Internet sales only!"

Tech Bindings? AKA "Dynafit bindings" Part Two:

The Conehead here is smiling, because -0- ramp delta in the bindings and a -.5mm boot pin delta makes the lwt skis really fun and more importantly for me, comfortable to ski in and ski on!

Some background?   I wrote this in July of 2011:

http://coldthistle.blogspot.com/2011/07/tech-bindings-aka-dynafit-bindings.html

In the past couple of years I have learned a few things about tech bindings I thought worth passing on.  I find it interesting is that out side the limited back country skiing market,  understanding the tech bindings from both the positive and the negative has so often obviously been missed or simply misunderstood.

Light tools, right tools....

My suggestion is don't get distracted by the Patagonia ad but listen to what House and Kennedy are saying here.  It is good stuff.  Basic Cold Thistle stuff.  Basic Bonatti stuff.  Basic Oscar Eckenstein stuff.

More alpine ice..

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05PjRcrzTc8

Super Couloir, Mont Blanc du Tacul

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAglW5KqPS4

As the snow conditions...

and weather in general continue to SUCK, this is fun :-)

Working">http://vimeo.com/83163983">Working For The Weekend 1 - Tuckerman Ravine
from Ski">http://vimeo.com/skitheeast">Ski The East on Vimeo.https://vimeo.com">Vimeo.>

Dynafit Cho Oyu ski mini review again

This pretty much sums up my feelings on the Cho Oyu today!

Dynafit never fails to impress me with their skis.
And I don't always use them where and for what they were specifically designed for,

Pitons in the alpine?

Is there a future for pegs in British climbing?

Posted by Dan Middleton, BMC Technical Officer on 18/12/2008

"Should we continue to use pegs as semi-permanent anchors, or is it time to retire them from active service? "


If you climb in the alpine  pins are still a part of life and likely will continue to be for a long time.  Some thoughts  on pins in the link below worth considering courtesy of the BMC Technical Office:

https://www.thebmc.co.uk/is-there-a-future-for-pegs-in-british-climbing