Hiking for turns gear advice

[loafer89]

My son and I want to hike up Killington Peak this saturday and I was curious what would be the most comfortable method of getting our gear up and around the mountain.

Last weekend we hiked/traversed from Skye Peak in ski boots, but this time there are no lifts running of course so we would start from the base.

Does one hike up in ski boots, or take a backpack and wear hiking boots?

 

[thetrailboss]

Last weekend and Wednesday I did it in ski boots, but I tried to stay on the snow. Roark used hiking boots with his ski boots in his bindings. Biggest thing is having a good pack to carry the skis up.

 

[riverc0il]

This is certainly a situation when the advantages of skins are truly great If I couldn't skin, I would ski boot it right up the trail you plan on skiing. Faster, less weight on your back, no hassles getting a boot on your foot, and more direct than trying to hike around on flatter or dryer ground. Steeper and frozen trails will also be much easier to kick steps. But if you are hiking all the way to the summit, perhaps hiking boots would be better. I certainly wouldn't want to ski boot up 1700 vertical feet or whatever it is (at least in regular alpine boots, AT not so much a problem.

 

[loafer89]

Last weekend and Wednesday I did it in ski boots, but I tried to stay on the snow. Roark used hiking boots with his ski boots in his bindings. Biggest thing is having a good pack to carry the skis up.

I do not have such a pack, so I carry both pair's of ski's on my shoulders for balance. Where do you get such a backpack?

 

[awf170]

This is certainly a situation when the advantages of skins are truly great If I couldn't skin, I would ski boot it right up the trail you plan on skiing. Faster, less weight on your back, no hassles getting a boot on your foot, and more direct than trying to hike around on flatter or dryer ground. Steeper and frozen trails will also be much easier to kick steps. But if you are hiking all the way to the summit, perhaps hiking boots would be better. I certainly wouldn't want to ski boot up 1700 vertical feet or whatever it is (at least in regular alpine boots, AT not so much a problem.

This is basically all personal preference. I would way rather have hiking boots on then ski boots. As long as I don't posthole, slip because of iciness, or have to bootpack because of steepness I would way rather be in hiking boots. I have pretty light AT boots too. If I had Alpine boots I would never think of hiking up unless all I was doing was lapping lower superstar. I am way faster with the 20 or so pounds of ski crap on my back then on my feet, but it seems like most people aren't.

 

[riverc0il]

Austin, I am really amazed at how much you dislike climbing in the Mega Rides. My G-Rides are like slippers on my feet. I down hiked from GoS no problem in those boots and would not hesitate to climb a moderate amount of vertical in my AT's. My threshold on Alpine Boots would be less, but I wouldn't hesitate to climb Superstar in Alpine Boots. A summit bid would definitely require hiking boots without ATers. But you are right in that this is all personal preference... but that is what loafer asked for

 

[loafer89]

What about carrying ski's, what is the best method for that? I am most comfortable with them over my shoulder.

 

[thetrailboss]

I do not have such a pack, so I carry both pair's of ski's on my shoulders for balance. Where do you get such a backpack?

Online or at an EMS/REI. My Kelty Redwing has ski holders built in. A frame pack may also work....just lash them onto the side of the pack.

You could probably rig something up as well...I saw some folks last weekend with a sling contraption...

 

[wa-loaf]

What about carrying ski's, what is the best method for that? I am most comfortable with them over my shoulder.

If your going to hike a good distance you probably want a pack that can carry skis. One made specificaly for it would be ideal, but just about any pack that has side compression straps you can slide the skis through will work. Not sure what you can do about carrying two sets.

 

[awf170]

Austin, I am really amazed at how much you dislike climbing in the Mega Rides. My G-Rides are like slippers on my feet. I down hiked from GoS no problem in those boots and would not hesitate to climb a moderate amount of vertical in my AT's. My threshold on Alpine Boots would be less, but I wouldn't hesitate to climb Superstar in Alpine Boots. A summit bid would definitely require hiking boots without ATers. But you are right in that this is all personal preference... but that is what loafer asked for

You just don't get the flex in the ball of your foot with ski boots, I can't stand that. Also, I just hate weight on my feet. Also, having 35-40 pounds on my back doesn't really bother me at all, which is really weird since I am so skinny.

Loafer: you defiantly need a backpack or some sort of sling. Carrying skis for a long distance is terrible.

 

[loafer89]

I hiked up to Tuckerman 17 years ago with my boot bag on my back and my skis on my back, but I was 18 years old, so the pain and sore mucles did not come on as fast as they do now.

I think I will try a short run in ski boots, sans a backpack and then with one with hiking boots to see which I like better. Depending on remaining snowcover, we might hike up Spillway/East Fall to the Glades area, or take Great Northern.

We will also boot pack it up Lower Outer Limits or walk in the grass/mud.

This trip is thetrailboss's fault, he posted those lovely pictures of Bear Mountain:grin:

My son is less than thrilled with the prospect of hiking, but he will go to play on snow.

 

[thetrailboss]

This trip is thetrailboss's fault, he posted those lovely pictures of Bear Mountain:grin:

My son is less than thrilled with the prospect of hiking, but he will go to play on snow.

HA! :lol: Glad I contributed...hope you find the snow you want! It should still be there.

 

[loafer89]

We took a look at the Killington webcam just before dark today and the snow really took a beating. Doudle Dipper was really chewed up, as was Downdraft and Cascade. The best looking snow was on Upper Cascade and it looked solid all the way to the peak, which way be our game, that part of the trail had at least 4-6' of base last weekend.

Right now there is heavy rain in the area according to radar, and it's not really moving anywhere fast.:x

 

[riverc0il]

Definitely pack the skis. Any basic hiking pack of decent size will make for an easy "A Frame". Use compression straps to attach each ski to each side of the pack then use velcro ties, duct tape, etc. to tie the tips together which forms an "A". You can clip your ski boots into the bindings or put the boot's velcro straps together and sling the boots over your pack, one boot on each side. This can lead to uncomfortable elbow positions but I prefer it rather to the weight being away from the body.

 

[kbroderick]

1. Having a pack would make life much, much better. I like my Dakine Vertex for shorter outings (with a built-in diagonal carry system, far slicker than compression straps), but I used an old Northface day pack (in the vicinity of a 1800-1900 cu in capacity, I think), compression straps, and a tie around the ski shovels in an a-frame carry quite a bit previously. The compression straps on my Marmot Eiger (also a SAC purchase) are purposely designed for ski-carrying and look like they'd work even better (and it has enough capacity to handle longer day trips and probably even short overnights). If you don't want to wait for one to come up on SAC but don't mind waiting a few days for shipping, try backcountry.com (or backcountryoutlet).

2. Hiking in ski boot sucks, as does carrying ski boots. Which sucks worse is largely dependent on the type of terrain--the flatter, the more benefit from hiking boots or other rockered boots with reasonable ankle movement (e.g. AT boots).

3. If you're going to hike on trails with snow, please try not to damage the limited snow that's left on your way up (particularly where it's undermined and a skier can cross it due to weight being spread out but a postholer will make nasty holes that can then trip up a skier).

4. If you can't get your hands on a purpose-designed pack with a ski carry system, almost any internal-frame pack can be made to work. You might even make a school bag work if it has any compression straps or any way to attach the skis.

 

[kbroderick]

Definitely pack the skis. Any basic hiking pack of decent size will make for an easy "A Frame". Use compression straps to attach each ski to each side of the pack then use velcro ties, duct tape, etc. to tie the tips together which forms an "A". You can clip your ski boots into the bindings or put the boot's velcro straps together and sling the boots over your pack, one boot on each side. This can lead to uncomfortable elbow positions but I prefer it rather to the weight being away from the body.

Just remember that if you use duct tape at the bottom, you may need some again if you're going to be downhiking with the skis a-framed. (No, you don't need to ask me how I know.)

 

[AHM]

You'll forget the discomfort once you are on the way down.......

Hiking to ski, be it on skins, or on feet is always great. There may be some discomfort on the way up, but it will be long forgotten once you are skiing. Any day pack can carry skis as long as you plan it out ahead of time. Take whatever pack you intend to use and attach the skis to it at home, then go walk around a bit and see if you will be able to "shoulder the load" for about 90 min. That is the typical time to get up 1700 verts.

Besides comp straps, duct tape etc, you can use toe clip straps if you bike and have not switched to clipless.

Hiking the K is a piece of cake. If you go up in ski boots, just keep them loose so there is a bit of flex.

Some have discussed not hiking in Alpine boots. That's bs. Alpine boots hike and tour just fine, in fact I just had a friend on a 7 day touring trip who was new to the sport. He used his alpine boots without a problem. Must be Austin's age that makes alpine boots and AT boots such a problem. Once he grows up, he'll be able to boot pack in either type of boot without "sobbin"................

 

[awf170]

\Must be Austin's age that makes alpine boots and AT boots such a problem. Once he grows up, he'll be able to boot pack in either type of boot without "sobbin"................

I can do it fine. I just hike a lot faster with it on my back.

 

[riverc0il]

The big difference for me between Alpine and AT is comfort and weight. My alpine boots weigh 15 pounds whereas my AT are almost one third less weight and a less dense material. If it wasn't for the feeling of having stones strapped to my feet, Alpine wouldn't be so bad for climbing. On steeper trails, the ski boots work much better. On the flats, the hiking boots will be more comfortable. All personal preference as previously mentioned. I guarantee once you do it once, you will quickly identify your preferred method of travel.

 

[tjf67]

I think the easiest way would be to get a pack. Put the boots in the binding attach them to the pack and go. If you want to make it even a little easier put a pair of snow shoes on to reduce slippage and post holing.