The Accidental Tourer

[skidmarks]

SIA reports big growth in the AT/Rando arena!!
I'm very happy to hear the news and feel personally responsible for the uptick in back-country equipment sales.

It all started years back when my friend Mike bought a pair of Atomic 10:EX skis from me.
I suggested that Mike have installed a pair of Fritschi Freeride bindings just in case he wanted to tour sometime in the future. He would have some options. As it turns out a few years later we did our first tour together up Mt Washington's Gulf of Slides. He was hooked!!

Whenever I'm working with a customer who's looking for a wider ski I recount Mike's story and ask them to consider an AT binding for their new ski purchase. I just makes sense. Now with a great side-country binding like the Marker Duke/Baron it makes even a better case for keeping your touring options open. Shopping for a pair of wide skis, spend the extra $100.00 now for an upgrade in binding and keep you BC options open.

I can't wait to hear from the SIA notifying me that I'll be the recipient of their prestigious "Saving the Industry Award" in Las Vegas this January.

Hope to see you on the Thunderbolt this winter!!

http://www.wildsnow.com/3694/backcountry-skiing-statistics

 

[snowmonster]

Whenever I consider a new ski, I always consider slapping on AT bindings. They work well inbounds and give you the option of touring. Slack/backcountry touring has opened up a whole new world of skiing possibilities for me.

 

[billski]

I'm very happy to hear the news and feel personally responsible for the uptick

It's all your fault!


Actually what happens if the trend takes off and we start finding more and more people in BC who don't belong (aren't prepared, need rescue, etc.)?

 

[skidmarks]

It's all your fault!


Actually what happens if the trend takes off and we start finding more and more people in BC who don't belong (aren't prepared, need rescue, etc.)?

That's already happening, people now use cell phones to call for rescues not that thats really much different than using a radio.

 

[riverc0il]

That's already happening, people now use cell phones to call for rescues not that thats really much different than using a radio.

Nothing wrong for calling a rescue in via cell phone as long as it is legit. The problems that normally happen are first time inexperienced hikers calling in rescues that they don't really need. I don't see people going out and hiking in the winter (even winter touring) in true BC conditions without at least some minimal expeience and knowledge. The up tick in touring gear is primarily driven from the "Accidental Tourer" market (great phrase) as skidmarks put it. These are people that bought AT gear and have never used it or might use it for something like Tuckerman Ravine Trail (which is so packed down you don't even "need" touring gear though it does make it easier). This market is not going to increase rescue calls. Folks that start going off the beaten path usually have enough experience that any rescue call is going to be pretty legit. I think slackcountry rescue's are where you need to worry about (Mansfield, Jay, Loaf, etc.) -- I bet that is where most of the rescue's happen.

 

[skidmarks]

Slackcoutry Lost

I think slackcountry rescue's are where you need to worry about (Mansfield, Jay, Loaf, etc.) -- I bet that is where most of the rescue's happen.

2 from Jay Peak
Why did he have a lighter in his pocket??

They had a half-eaten bag of M M’s, a bag of Reese’s Pieces, a lighter, and only one of them – Dan, had a cell phone, which had very little battery. Joe remembered throwing his cell phone on the car seat earlier that day, reasoning to himself that he wouldn’t need it.

http://www.skitheeast.net/blogs/bd/2010/04/09/Lost-In-The-Jay-Peak-Backcountry/

and not just dumb guys..
http://www.newportvermontdailyexpress.com/content/view/57676/