 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all,
This topic has been around my head for a while. I am about to start to do a lot of skitouring in the 'backcountry' this season, a total beginner at the moment (in touring, not in skiing). Education on techniques and mountain safety is very accessible for me, but I have not found anything related to equipment malfunctions.
Let's take cycling as an example; you check your gear before going out to decrease the risk of a mechanical, yet you take a multitool, spare tube, bla bla, etc. Now we know that the ski/binding/boot is more robustly built and it has less failure modes than a mountain bike, but I have not heard of anyone talking about how to deal with potential issues while touring. My assumption is that the risks are just very low for, say, a binding breaking. But shall we be prepared for a case like this? If so, how should we prepare? The consecuences of ending up stranded in deep snow with no comunication are, in my opinion, too high to not consider these scenarios. What are your opinions?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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NEVER, EVER venture off piste without gaffer tape. Wrapped around the shaft of your pole, wrapped around an old credit card in you pack, anywhere but back at the apartment.
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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?
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@midgetbiker,  what about the women?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Apart from taking a whole roll of duck tape, your options are (and I've lost mine) a couple of long cable ties, and I know a guide that carries wire, and rather than take a roll of duck tape you can put quite a bit around your ski poles.
I also wear a belt that is in effect a strap that could also be useful possibly.
Communication is also vital, more so if travelling on your own in the backcountry, I have a Garmin Inreach Mini, which is a bit OTT and I have to admit to forgetting it on a couple of occasions, but not so when I'm on my own. The logic in having one of these is that it will be sods law that you'll have an incident when you don't have a mobile signal, I also do a fair bit of stuff not just in the winter season.
And obviously a decent multi-tool with pliers, and first aid kit and survival blanket etc and a spare down jacket is also a good option.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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A few hefty cable ties take up very little weight and could be used to secure a boot to a binding.
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Yeah, I should have thought about the gaffer tape and zip-ties. Will throw them in the bag along with the only screwdriver needed for my bindings (F12). Thanks for the replies. Stay safe out there.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Breaking a binding in the backcountry, especially if you are not on 10+ year old 2nd hand gear is VERY rare. I think I have seen 2 binding failures in 22 seasons (100+ days per year) that necessitated a bodged repair or walking out. I am excluding crashes where bindings got broken but the binding was not realy going to be a worry as the person was also broken beyond being able to ski out - only had one of these situation.
I have done less than 100 days, probably less than 50 days of serious MTB ing and I've had 10+ situations where I or others had to perform some sort of repair just to get home.
Unless you are going to the middle of nowhere (beyond alps etc) then I wouldn't bother unless you are on doggy old gear!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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For a broken ski pole I always carry a length of old pole about 4in long, which I've sawn lengthwise so it can be expanded/contracted and slid over the break, and secured with a couple of jubilee clips to make a pretty foolproof repair.
It's been used twice over a number of years for breakages...
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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.
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@Sep, It might also be worthwhile considering some form of ski finder or breakable leash, as nothing will ruin your day quite like spending a couple of hours trying to find a lost ski. I've seen someone heli rescued as the result of losing a ski.
@geoffers, I've seen ski poles lost when tree skiing, so carrying a folding pole is an option for a 200g penalty. When touring in a group of course, the 'what if gear' can be split between the group to share the load.
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You know it makes sense.
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I’ll endorse cable ties ( I’ve used them to fix femoral fracture in the past ), gaffer tape and multi tool.
I also take super glue as it can be used to close up small cuts that would otherwise bleed like hell.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| Quote: |
I’ll endorse cable ties ( I’ve used them to fix femoral fracture in the past ), gaffer tape and multi tool.
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Blimey, I know things are tough in the NHS these days but didn't think we were quite having to Maguyver it! Damn you Hancock!
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Jonathan Bell, Yup, superglue is very useful for climbing too.
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