 Poster: A snowHead
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I've just moved to Brecon with my wife and it has just dawned on me that getting some skiing done on our doorstep is a possibility. We both ski in the alps each year and own boots, but no other ski gear. Could anyone please advice on what kit we'd need to be able to get ourselves up the mountains and ski back again.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Skis, touring bindings, skins, adjustable poles are nice but not strictly neccessary, avi knowledge, avi kit.
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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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If you already have downhill kit then a pair of Alpine Trekker touring adapters and some skins will get you started..
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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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steviebald,
Welcome to Snowheads.
You will probably need ski crampons too.
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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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not sure touring kit is really necessary - could just put skis on pack and walk
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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steviebald, For what you are talking about ie touring in the Brecons, you could do it with some cheap snow shoes and your existing skis and boots (some old skis if you have some) with a lot less things to figure out. If you want to carry on with touring and do it in the Alps or further afield then you will need new boots skis skins avi gear etc for about £1000- snow shoes £50 up.
On short tours my boarding mates are often quicker than me in their snoeshoes, while I mess about getting skins on and off.
A word of caution, Skiing on snow with no base (a thick layer of hard snow that covers the rocks) can be very dangerous, a friend of mine broke her back boarding in Cham a couple of years back in such conditions. There was 50cm of powder covering a 40cm rock!!
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Mon 29-11-10 15:22; edited 1 time in total
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snowshoes? how deep is the snow in the brecons?!
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Arno, too true..
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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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Thanks for all the advice.
Snow shoes sound like a cheap and simple option to get started, can you get ones that clip onto ski boots?
I haven't experienced a winter here yet, but from what I've read on other forums it sounds like you can get up to 60-100cm at the top.
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Arno, I think I seen on the news they had 16 foot.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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steviebald,
When I went to Latin America a few years ago with Snoworks we used snow shoes attached to our skis so yes it is possible.
I also think that the advice given by jbob, about skiing on snow with a poor base is very sound. I have never even seen the Brecons in winter but I would imagine snow conditions would be extremely variable. Something like a new snowfall on a top of an old thin icy base which might have survived because it was north facing could be lethal.
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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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Thanks for the safety advice, I think I will try and find a friendly local for some advice and guidance on when and where to go before setting off.
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I'm sure TCL do a snowshoe with a ski-boot binding. Although, even as a qualified snow-shoe guide and a long-time backcountry snowboarder, I'd say get some Alpine Trekkers as your starter for 10.
In fact, since you don't have your own skis yet, if you were planning on making that kind of investment anyway, get some nice all-round skis and a set of bindings that work well for both Alpine and touring - e.g. Marker Barons.
I ordered skis, bindings, skins & crampons this morning and shelled out for touring boots last week. I need someone else to share my wallet's pain!
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You know it makes sense.
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stevomcd, go the whole hog and get an ABS bag as well, that really gets the wallet squirming!
Especially as it was more peer pressure from a few of my mates who had them rather than a mad moment of retail therapy and now a couple of the guys that did not buy them last year feel under even more pressure to get them this year -what a great ruse!
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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Arno, what you don't think he need an ABS bag as well 
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Tue 30-11-10 0:04; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Arno,'s link is a picture of me in my "touring" kit. Downhill skis and bindings, downhill boots and a rucksack to strap the skis to when walking uphill.
Took about an hour to get from the carpark to the top of Pen y Fan on Saturday morning, most of it in the dark (early start).
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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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imorris, How was it skiing down, looks like alot of greenery poking through? We walked up Pen y Fan from Cwmgwdi on Sunday and to my untrained eye it didn't look skiable.
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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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I've toured (skins and touring bindings) and bootpacked (in alpine boots) all over the Brecon Beacons and the typical winter conditions don't justify the expense of purchasing touring equipment.
Adequate clothing is far more important.
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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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steviebald, it was interesting but skiable! When I walked up I didn't think it looked skiable at all. Mike Pow thought otherwise and I followed his lead. Skied all the way back to the car park.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| jbob wrote: |
| Arno, I think I seen on the news they had 16 foot. |
So would that be 8 pairs
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