Jul 23 2012

Review: BD’s O1 doubles down!

After six years Black Diamond’s O1 will feature a six-hole mounting pattern. As with all other telemark bindings using a six-hole pattern, it doesn’t match any other binding on the market. That’s the bad news. The good news is the two extra holes extend the overall length, and thus the retention surface area of the mounting pattern. Though too early to tell for certain, this ought to eliminate the potential for O1’s to pull out of skis.

Finally, BD’s O1 comes with a 6-hole mounting pattern.


It had to have been an embarassing moment when a photo of Nick DeVore, a sponsored BD telemark athlete, made the rounds on the internet holding up his skis after a fall with the O1 binding torn from the ski. Though I’m willing to admit that the number of people who manage to do this is smaller than the amount of attention it attracts on the internet would indicate, nonetheless the tendency for O1’s to be pried from skis is more likely than bindings with a six hole pattern like the Axl or Hammerhead.
Keep making backcountry turns

Jul 20 2012

TR: Skiing the Wickersham Wall – Pt. III

© 1994
 

1994: May 11, Day VII of the approach

Summer view of Denali’s north side.

In clear weather we skinned across the Peters Glacier, trying to focus on the views rather than contemplate its hidden dangers. With only two of us on this checkerboard of crevasses we were nervous, the saga of Jim Wickwire and Chris Kerebrock always at the back or our minds. Roped together with sleds they had both fallen into the same Peters crevasse while accessing the Wickersham in 1981. Wickwire’s shoulder had been broken, but he’d managed to climb out. His unlucky partner had been wedged into the ice by his sled falling in on top of him, a worst–case nightmare. Though Wickwire tried every type of force–reduction system he could, nothing worked. He could only talk to Kerebrock until his partner no longer responded.
Keep making backcountry turns

Jul 20 2012

BC News: New Rubicon Trail agreement

 
Years of effort by Snowlands Network, other environmental organizations and concerned individuals culminated in an agreement between the Forest Service and diverse interests that will close the Rubicon (Off-Road) Trail at times to protect water quality and prevent erosion.
 
The agreement will also allow improvements to the Rubicon Trail to move forward.
Keep making backcountry turns

Jul 18 2012

BC Ski Review: Black Diamond’s Revert

Black Diamond’s new crop of skis for the Twelve-13 season are the most shapely backcountry skis they have ever produced. That does not mean they have dramatic changes in the sidecut of the ski, but rather, the whole gamut of ways to shape a ski, including the sidecut but more importantly, the shape of the surface, from subtle to dramatic camber underfoot and mild to wild rocker at the tips and tails.

BD’s Revert, part of their new Free Touring Series of skis. 122-95-110 mm $749


The Revert is an interesting ski in the mid-fat range with a waist width of 95mm. Some may call that low-fat or skinny but here at EarnYourTurns I’m adamant about reining in grade inflation on fat categories. 95mm is wide enough to give plenty flotation in soft snow, without being so wide you can’t hold an edge on firm snow with a binding as neutral as a Switchback or NTN’s Freedom. By comparison, edge hold is not a function of a binding with training heels, but rather the boot.
Keep making backcountry turns

Jul 16 2012

Review: Exped Downmat UltraLite

When it comes to getting a good nights rest you don’t want to cut too many corners. In the backcountry that means down insulation, top to bottom. Nothing is as light or lofts up as well and thus, is as warm as down. When camping on the snow it would seem obvious this means a down sleeping bag, and for ski touring that is pretty much agreed except in very damp conditions where the down is likely to get wet.

Exped’s Downmat UL 7 – $200

For everywhere else, however, down rules. It is particularly valuable as the primary insulation between you and the snow – your sleeping pad. Down underneath you in your sleeping bag provides little insulation because it is being compressed by your body. It provides warmth when it lofts up, not when smashed flat. Thus, a down mat completes, or augments any type sleeping bag with down insulation where it matters most, because the ground can pull more heat from your body than the air because of direct conduction losses.
Keep making backcountry turns

Jul 13 2012

TR: Skiing the Wickersham Wall – Pt. II

 

1994: May 4-5, The adventure begins…

Classic B&W view of the Wickersham Wall. Photo by Bradford Washburn.


A storm kept our photographer Bill Stevenson, John, and I from departing on May fourth, but we hit a good send-off party with halibut, moose, and beer instead. We finalized gear the next morning, and taxied across the runway in John’s sleek white ’76 Caddy. Motivation was high. Talkeetna Air Taxi Paul flew us up the glacier to Kahiltna Airstrip and we began slogging across the glacier by 4:30 p.m.
Keep making backcountry turns

Jul 11 2012

Review: Leki’s SpeedLock Pole Series

Three years ago Leki realized backcountry skiers had given up on their twist-lock adjustable ski poles, including their improved SuperLock adjustment system. So they created their SpeedLock adjustment mechanism. The SpeedLock is the only external adjustment system that is TUV certified with a clamping pressure in excess of 55 kg. They now offer several models of SpeedLock poles, from the economical Tour Vario model to the ultra light, carbon fiber Tour Carbon with three sections that collapses down to less than 28 inches (70 cm) in length.

Leki Haute Route SpeedLock backcountry ski pole

Leki’s Haute Route SpeedLock backcountry ski pole. Adjustable, lightweight, and comfortable.


Last season I enjoyed checking out Leki’s Haute Route pole which has all the basic features you could want in an adjustable ski pole, including the SpeedLock adjustment, a carbide tip, Aergon™ grip and durable, lightweight 7075 aluminum shafts.
Keep making backcountry turns