Interesting comments on one of my other threads about rare occasions where someone might purposefully remove skis and attempt to walk the side of a piste (I guess either up or down). Now ski boots aren't the easiest of things to walk in and I have been told very firmly that you are always worse off without your skis on. It's something I've seen done, but I've never seen discussed on SH's and I wondered what the opinion might be - hence this thread. Is there ever a situation where you would be better off if you took off your skis off. Aside from the obvious such as avi. searching, rendering medical assistance etc.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Yes. I took my skis off in tight glades once, because they got tighter and tighter as I was going down; I lost touch with my friends and I was really scared I would hit a tree, do some dumb injury or much worse. I walked out. I am convinced that was 100% the right thing to do. I was safe walking out and I wouldn't have been skiing safely that's for sure.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
presumebly the time I fell and ruptured my ACL counts "the obivous"? Once the original pain subsided I could put weight through it but not with any sort of twist without causing excruciating agony. Thankfully a nice chap on a skidoo stopped and gave us a lift to the top of the gondola which took us to the bottom
My daughter and son, along with other skiers, once had to get off a broken down drag lift and walk up the slope. Conditions were nasty - raining - and the snow very slick. She found it extremely difficult to get up at all, using her skis like ice-axes, and having made it part way up slid down almost to her starting point and burst into tears. At that point her big brother, having reached the top, dumped his skis and went down to help her. If you are near the top of a run which is too difficult for you it might be sensible to take skis off and walk back up the side - but it's very hard (the slope which defeated my daughter was a blue one). Generally far better to avoid it, and perfect your side-slipping skills, I'd say.
One of my ski bindings broke one day, fortunately near the top of a lift. The liftie tried to fix it, but failed, and sorted out an alternative way down for me (partly by lift, then skidoo). I do the occasional "one-legged" drill for a few yards but couldn't possibly have skied all the way home with just one ski so might have found myself walking, and carrying both, if it hadn't happened so near to assistnce.
My son completely knackered one of his skis, on the Grande motte glacier in Tignes. He was with two younger cousins - one of whom carried the broken ski so Nick could get back to Val d'Isere on one, occasionally swapping legs to give his muscles a break. But most of us couldn't do that.
A broken ski is one of the things that worries me a little - knowing how hopeless I'd be with just one! OK on piste, you are never far from help, but off-piste? Would have to hope someone else in the party was expert enough to give me on of their skis and carry on with just one.
As the above replies show, there have to be some situations where it's better to walk.
However I still remember the opposite case, when I wussed out on a climb in Verbier (with BobinCH). It wasn't extremely steep but I had been spooked by a bad fall through rocks in St Anton the previous year. Kept feeling that I'll fall backwards, pulled by my backpack. Decided that I anyway didn't like the top traverse to get to the couloir we were looking for, so I might as well turn back. Took ages to put my skis on, still fearful that I would fall and slide a long way. As soon as I had clicked into the skis, the fear-inducing slope became a very simple steep run, zero worries, which I skied with some style... (though not half as much as BobinCH in the couloir itself, I think it was the Banane).
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pam w wrote:
A broken ski is one of the things that worries me a little - knowing how hopeless I'd be with just one!
Having had to walk back up several times to gather up lost kids gear I wouldn't want to do it for any distance on even a moderate blue. Reds/blacks it becomes nearly impossible. Haven't tried walking down but I would think you would be better off on any piste with your skis on.
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After all it is free
Telemark boots . . . Big comfy plastic slippers with Vibram soles
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I should state that me walking out of the glades meant traversing, not ascending or decending
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If it's somewhere with the potential for a big slide, you've got a lot more braking potential with a pair of skis on than with just ski boots and no ice axe.
Normal ski boots aren't really designed for walking, particularly downhill, and you'll be further impeded by carrying the skis, unless you can strap them onto a rucksack.
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Megamum wrote:
Is there ever a situation where you would be better off if you took off your skis off. Aside from the obvious such as avi. searching, rendering medical assistance etc.
avi "searching" ... I would suggest keeping your skis "on" as much as possible ...
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Fri 17-01-14 17:32; edited 1 time in total
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Quote:
Have you not been doing your drills?
yes, and on the right day, on the right skis, I can ski for a km or two on just my left leg. But that's with a ski on the other one (just in case) and on a gentle and well-groomed run.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
i always carry a spare ski strapped to my rucksack for such an occasion...
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
When she was 5, laundrette#2 came off a long, steep drag (Lanchettes, for those who know Megève), about 50-70 yards from the top. While I was working out my rescue plan, (I think I must have been 2 poles back), she calmly unclipped from her skis, hoisted them on her shoulder and started marching to the top. She's always been a no-nonsense kind of gal.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
My youngest son took a nasty fall this Xmas in Les Arcs and the binding on one ski broke, fortunately he was only bruised. He was miles from nowhere but escorted by his brothers, one of whom carried the broken ski, he managed to ski back to the resort!
Having once, many years ago, tried to walk down a run I did not like the look of I have decided it is generally easier to ski it! This year on a run I really did not enjoy I saw a lady (my sons said she was crying but I had to concentrate on what I was doing and did not look) who seemed to be sitting on her skis whilst a man with her was somehow breaking her with poles as a tow rope! Looked like an interesting option
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Quote:
a man with her was somehow breaking her with poles
that sounds a tad excessive, even if she was being a complete wimp!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Complete wimp has my sympathy, it is supposed to be enjoyable, and skis as a toboggan looked fun. Given half a chance I would not have skied that run Penny has just dropped as to why my boys would not go into detail about the set up
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
In my years of learning, I found out just from experience it's much easier to side slip down than walk down.
Skis have a metre long metal edge which has a lot better traction than a 25cm long of plastic!
Going UP is the only situation that walking might be more efficient, provided it's not too steep to worry about a long slide back down.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
On the third day that I went skiing in the mountains I had a one of my skis front bindings detach from the ski, unfortunately I was at the top (more or less) of a gentle red run, I ended up having to walk down the side of the piste... in fact on the stepper bits I ended up sliding down on my ass which was quite fun...
Ended up at the bottom of the piste and managed to get a another set of skis to carry on falling over
My wife decided she could not tackle a steep icy slope in Kitzbuhel and would walk down. Got down very fast, but lucky not to break anything or hit anyone. Escaped with some giant bruises.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
you are almost always better off with skis on. Having said that, I was told by a ski instructor to take skis off when there were too many rocks on a traverse and hitting them was unavoidable. I took skis of to clear the rocky place and put them back on. The snow was soft though otherwise this sort of manoeuvre would be very dangerous.
After all it is free
After all it is free
abc, on the up it's more efficient to clip on skins and set bindings into touring mode - if this is possible. Even if you compare skinning vs. snowshoeing, skinning is easier as you slide on the snow dragging your feet rather than lifting them as in case of snowshoes.
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Thornyhill wrote:
pam w wrote:
A broken ski is one of the things that worries me a little - knowing how hopeless I'd be with just one!
when the french pikey Fitzwilliam stole my skies i skied back to the chalet on my boots, concentrates the mind.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
nope I can't think of any time I would find it easier to take my skis off and walk. When I was learning I learned to sideslip and traverse quite well and then it was only nerves that would hold me back on a turn if the slope was steeper than I thought. I was on a run last year the Kandahar in Garmisch at the very top which was steep and full of deep moguls, There was a girl sitting in the middle of the slope, ( I almost ran into her when I came over the edge) and she was crying, she hadn't realised how steep it was. Her boyfriend was yelling at her and her courage was gone. I tried to get her back up on her skis but she refused , she took her skis off and one scooted off down the mountain , so she had to walk back up a very steep slope. The lost ski would really annoy me.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
biddpyat, it would have been poetic justice if the runaway ski had hit him in the balls.....
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Yes it would, poor thing she was terrified. Then to lose a ski and have to climb back up the slope, and then not be able to ski over to a simpler slope.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
I did this once many years ago on a steep, icy black in Geilo. Never EVER again will I do something so stupid!! Have a vivid memory of taking skis off, and then finding myself clinging onto the ice with my fingers to stop myself catapaulting down- I can honestly say my life flashed before my eyes, and the worst part was, I was on my own!! Lesson learned, it is a BAAAAAD idea
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Poster: A snowHead
My sister in law got nervous once and she took off her skis crossed them over her body knees with her polls, and came down the run on her backside, she had an all in one suit, ( which are now called fartbags I believe) . She used her feet as her brakes. I will never forget watching her do it, she stayed to the side and off she went. I wouldn't fancy it to be honest.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
It's not usually a problem on green and blue runs imo. I've done it fairly often to help out with kids/sledging/lost equipment/beginner friends. Not a good idea on steep red/black in the main although I have walked UP out of a black in very bad weather (10/20m or so).
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Had to take my skis off yesterday to slide under a fallen tree (with branches pointing down into he snow) as I was too lame to take the 6 metre huck over tree stumps into a heavily treed zone that my mate had just sent. Tried to sideslip under it but the gulley wasn't wide enough - my skis jammed into the edges of the slough runnel. Not so dignified...
Trying to go down anything steep then it's much better to keep skis on IMO. But then I'm a clumsy and get scared hiking on foot (in summer) on the same terrain that I happily ski without a qualm. I poo-poo myself in steep exposed terrain on foot, but am happy as soon as I've got skis on my feet..
If it's that bad, keep your skis on and sidestep down. There seems to be a misunderstanding here that if you keep your skis on you have to run them. You don't. By sidestepping on skis you increase the length of your support several times over and you don't move one foot before the other is secure.
abc,has pointed the same out for sideslipping, but you might find yourself in a position where even sideslipping unnerves you. So just step it down slowly but more securely than any other way down can be. You can take your time to dig the edge of your ski in each time if need be.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Only time I've done it was on day 2 or 3 of learning to ski. Ended up on a steep black mogul run covered in fluffy powder by accident, and after repeatedly falling as I attempted my newly-learned snowplough turn I got so knackered that the only solution was to take off my skis and walk down, which was a LOT easier. Even if I'd known how to sideslip I don't think it would have made much difference in those particular conditions.
Now I should have taken my skis off last weekend in Verbier when confronted by a really rather rocky ski in to a nice powder field. Instead I tried to ignore it and hope for the best, and ended up landing on my chin on said rocks when they inevitably stopped me dead, and needed 10 stitches. The reason I didn't take them off was to try and avoid the exposure fear that horizon describes above... but I should have!
Saw a lady take her skis off on the final third stretch of the Rhododendron piste back into Pre Le Joux (Chatel) last Thursday where it's quite steep and was hard packed snow - I assume she lost her nerve. However, it resulted in her sliding out of control towards a collection of trees in the middle of the piste.
A good example of why you shouldn't take your 1.7m sharp edges off when you get scared. The only exception would be if you're in deep snow.
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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I wouldn't normally consider it but I have discovered that if you are skiing in very poor visibility and a whole group of people come walking up the piste towards you then it is a good idea to stop and join them
After all it is free
After all it is free
What happened welshskier, ?
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The lift at the bottom was shut, but we couldn't see that. Nothing more dramatic, I'm afraid.
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welshskier, We saw that in Tignes in October - lots of people walking up. Happily we could see them from the top.
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Penny has just dropped as to why my boys would not go into detail about the set up 
and get scared hiking on foot (in summer) on the same terrain that I happily ski without a qualm. I poo-poo myself in steep exposed terrain on foot, but am happy as soon as I've got skis on my feet..
We saw that in Tignes in October - lots of people walking up. Happily we could see them from the top.