I’m wondering if any ST’ers could chime in on a predicament I’m in with wanting to get my feet wet with backcountry xc skiing.
I raced xc skiing in HS and continued to go a couple of times a year until I moved to Oregon where there is less groomed skiing. I go now but my race skis and poles are not perfect for cutting trails. However, there is lots of ungroomed skiing opportunities near me. I’m considering a BC xc setup but am challenged by my budget and knowing exactly what will meet my needs.
I have some pilot skate boots and an extra pair of pilot bindings. I think the cheapest and quickest way to have a decent setup would be to get some 65-70mm wide skis, have my pilot bindings mounted, and use the skate boots. The skate pilot boots are similar to BC boots with the high ankle support.
Another part of me thinks I should bide my time and money and save up for some 3 pin Tele-ish boots and bindings and go for more of a 90-100mm ski.
I suppose to cut the horse in half i could get a 90ish ski, put the pilot binding on for now and save for bindings and boots but I’ve read that the bigger skis are harder to control with lighter boots/bindings.
Some day, id like to ski around crater lake, to give you an idea of the kind of skiing I’d like to do in the future. I know there are lots of other variables to that like camp skills and avalanche preparedness which I either know now or am also learning.
I don’t like groomed trails; I just like to wander around through the trees and explore. Last year after not skiing for several years, I bought the Rossignol BC 70. They are a waxless, metal edge, back country ski. Because it had been so long since I skied, I went into a store that I trusted (my regular LBS also sells skis), told them that I wanted a metal edge, waxless, back country ski for wandering around off trail, and that is what they recommended. It has worked really well so far. I will tell you though, it is not a fast ski. It is good for breaking trail and climbing, and it is maneuverable, but it is slow. For the type of skiing I do, that is OK.
One thing that surprised me in my shopping is that waxable skis are very hard to find. I thought it was just because the snow where I live tends to be pretty wet that people were looking at me like I was crazy when I discussed waxable, but the skiers that I know in Wyoming have said that the skis and even the wax are getting hard to find. So, if you are old-school about your skis, you probably have to order them.
Biggest issue I see is with the boot binding plan. Skate boots are not going to flex at the ball of the foot and that is THE thing required for a solid tele set-up regardless of terrain.
I think a Scarpa wasatch boot, Rottefella super telemark binding, and look for an 80-90mm waisted touring ski would be the ideal set-up for the conditions you describe.
The skate boots will have plenty of a plenty of support but the lack of sole flexibility will make it no fun on the downhill sections and make it more difficult to really set the fishscales for the uphill.
That’s my $0.02