Backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering has lots of levels. Beginner backcountry skiers typically start touring around in heavily traveled areas, typically on passes. Loveland Pass, Berthoud Pass, and Red Mountain Pass have probably been among your old stomping grounds if you started backcountry skiing in Colorado. First, you started following skin tracks and ski tracks on these heavily traveled areas. Then, you found some more novel skin tracks which you followed to see where they went, and found some fresh goodness along the way.

But your desire to explore continued to grow. So, you bought a guidebook and skied all the routes of interest in it. But then you wanted more. You wanted to go where there weren’t tracks to lead you to your destination. You wanted to go where no one you know has skied before.

Frank and I have been exploring new destinations in the backcountry for years, within Colorado, many of the US mountain states, and even Canada. However, while exploring routes to write up for our backcountry skiing guidebook, we found ourselves thrown into terrain that we are completely unfamiliar with more often than not. To accommodate this, we developed some navigational techniques which we continue to use, even past our guidebook research.

How do we do it? Well, there’s no doubt that our route planning has evolved as technology has evolved. Cell phones and the available apps associated with them have allowed for more more involved route planning than we’ve ever done before.

So, here it is. Here’s our methods and secrets to route planning for backcountry skiing in zones that we do not know!

Gaia GPS App

The Gaia GPS App is a game-changer. Now, you can have an app on your smart phone that works nearly 100 times better than any other GPS you’ve ever owned. Unless you want only the most basic features, a Gaia GPS App membership is $19.99 annually, or $60 for 5 years on Google Play and iTunes, but if you purchase through our affiliate link, you will pay only $16 for the first year or $48 for 5 years. It’s worth every penny and it transfers from device to device as it is linked with your Google or iTunes account – so if you get a new phone, you don’t need to purchase the app again until your subscription is up for renewal.

There are a lot of things that go into learning how to use the Gaia GPS App, and this isn’t a tutorial in how to use every feature on it… that would take months. But, I’ll give you a few of the basics and some ideas of how to best use this app for backcountry skiing.

Once you open the app, you’ll get a map. If the map doesn’t go to your location, then click on the circular icon with the four dashes around it at the top.

You can also search for places if you wish to review a place that is far from your current location. You can search using geographic names (ex. name of a mountain), names of nearby towns, or by latitude/longitude.

To begin recording your track, simply press the plus button with a circle around it, shown above. That will open a menu that will prompt you to begin recording.

The app is full of different base map choices. These are some that are available:

If you upgrade to the Gaia GPS Premium, you have additional layer capabilities (layers you can put on top of the base map) as well as a host of other features.

I am particularly fond of the slope shading layer, which tells you how steep a slope is – a huge asset when traveling in avalanche terrain. The slope shading layer is very similar to that used by CalTopo, further explained below. On Gaia GPS, the slope shading is available as a base map for the regular version, but this is difficult to use as it makes little sense without the topographic features. With Gaia GPS Premium, the slope shading can be added as an overlay on to the base map.

A Gaia GPS Premium membership is $39.99/year or $160 for 5 years – or if you purchase through our affiliate link it is $32 annually or $128 for 5 years. Most backcountry skiers will prefer this premium membership over the basic. More info can be found about the features included with each membership option in this article.

Can I use the Gaia GPS app in areas without internet or cell service?
The answer is yes. But it’s best to download the maps you need in advance, and using the search feature mentioned above is best for this. To download the map, click on the plus button with the circle around it located at the of the screen. This will open a menu where one of the options is to “Download Map”.

A box will appear on the screen which will allow you to select the area which you wish to download. It’s best to zoom out quite a bit so you get more area. Remember, you can always zoom in more when using the actual map. Once your region has been selected, press Save and follow the prompts. You can even give the map a specific name.

You can use your GPS app as it is, and plan as you go. But, it is often better to plan your general routes in advance. You can also plan your route using the Gaia GPS App, but I have found it slightly difficult to deal with – largely because I find it better to have a larger screen to allow for a better view for planning. My preference is to plan routes on CalTopo or Google Earth, and then import them to the Gaia GPS App.

Why is it better to Plan your Backcountry Skiing Routes in Advance?

There are probably dozens of reasons why it’s better to plan your routes in advance, but here’s a few things to get you thinking. First, using the slope shading layers can help you choose routes that minimize your exposure to avalanche terrain. Second, knowing your anticipated distance and elevation gain can help you have a better sense of the time needed for your tour – which is especially essential in spring when wet slides are a very real possibility. Third, it can make your travel more efficient as you will likely do less route finding along the way.

We also recommend having more than one plan in mind – back-up options for if your day or the snow conditions were not as you had hoped. Planning back-up options means you’ll be more likely to defer to them when needed, resulting in an overall safer backcountry experience.

Keep in mind that your route may not go exactly as planned. You may encounter denser trees than you expect, or cliff areas that do not show on the topo map, or rocky terrain. You will often have to do some navigation along the way, but creating a route in advance allows you to have a guideline to follow.

Planning Routes Using CalTopo

CalTopo is not an app. It is an online tool mapping tool that is best used on a desktop. Maps can be accessed on a mobile smart phone by using a simple web browser. But, you’ll find that many of the features are not accessible on mobile devices.

Gaia and CalTopo really work hand in hand. Just like Gaia has layer capabilities, so does CalTopo. Using CalTopo will help you use Gaia and vice versa.

To start, you’ll want to search for your desired location. Similar to Gaia, mountains are typically searchable. But, in the case that you are searching for a peak that is a very common name (aka, Green Mountain, Baldy Mountain, Crystal Peak, etc) or a mountain with an unofficial name, you may find it best to search for the closest town and then scroll north, south, east or west on the map accordingly to get to your place you wish to research.

When route planning you may want to look at some of the other layer capabilities. You can access these layers by hovering your mouse over the “MapBuilder Topo” in the upper right of your screen. When planning a route for backcountry skiing, I am a fan of the slope shading layer. Notice that the color corresponds to a range of slope angles – a very useful tool when you are planning for travel in avalanche terrain.

Many other map layers can be viewed as well and you may find them useful from time to time. Access these by clicking on “Stack New Layer” under “Additional Map Layers”. If you do not see the layer possibilities, try clicking on the empty field box with the down arrow shown in the photo. You can even choose a percentage for the opacity of the layers.

One of the simplest ways to plan your route is to simply start drawing a track as described in this image.

A pop up box will appear asking you to name your track. Name it if desired, and then choose your line style. If you do not choose, it will use a default. Click “Okay” to begin drawing your track.

Use the mouse to draw your track, clicking on various points to break up the segment.

Once you have your track drawn, you can view essential information like distance and elevation gain by clicking on the Graph Icon next to the name of your route.

There are many features to CalTopo that I have not described – some are intuitive, others are not. If you have questions, you’ll find help documentation if you hover your mouse over the words “CalTopo” in the upper left of your screen.

Last, you’ll want to export your track for use in Gaia. It’s usually best to save it as a GPX file.

Planning Routes Using Google Earth

Sometimes you may find it easier to plan routes using Google Earth. Certain features, like couloirs, are often easier to discern on Google Earth rather than a topo program like CalTopo or Gaia GPS.

Additionally, you can adjust the season in Google Earth (using the historical imagery icon and toggle) to better foresee how snow will be impacting your desired location.

To create a track on Google Earth, use the Add Path tool. Similar to CalTopo, you’ll have the option to name it and change the color. Use the mouse to move and click to draw your route.

Also similar to CalTopo, you can view an elevation profile with distance. Simply right click on the name of your route on the left side of the screen (not shown in photo), and then choose “Show Elevation Profile”.

Once you are done creating your route, you will need to save it to your computer. To do this, click “File” in the upper right of the screen, and then select “Save Place As”. Save the track as either a GPX or KML file as Gaia GPS and CalTopo accept either one (CalTopo also accepts KMZ).

You may wish to import your file to CalTopo for further review or additions. For example, you may find it nicer to use Google Earth to mark a couloir, but better to use CalTopo to plan the approach.

Importing Routes to Gaia GPS

After you download your tracks to your computer, you will need to import them into Gaia GPS. The app will read either GPX or KML files. First, you need to figure out a way to transfer the files from your computer to your phone. You can use email, Bluetooth, cloud storage like Dropbox or Google Drive, plug your phone into your computer, or many other different methods. I prefer email for this purpose as it is very easy to transfer files.

Save your GPX or KML file to your phone, and pay attention to it’s location. Then, open the Gaia GPS App, press the icon with the plus sign surrounded by a circle located at the top of the screen, then select import file.

Clicking on “Import File” will lead you to a file manager which will allow you to search for the location of your track. If you save your downloaded files in the same place every time, it will open to this file folder upon default. Once you import the track, you should see it on the map. If you don’t, make sure the location of your map is the same location as the track – so you may need to adjust the location by using the search box mentioned above. Alternatively, you can click on the “Saved” icon at the bottom of the main screen. This will list all your tracks. Make sure the “eye icon” to the right of the name of your file does not have a diagonal line through it. If it does, click on the “eye icon” to remove the diagonal line, and the track should then appear on your map.

A Word to the Wise

Learning new technology takes practice and patience. Every program, every app, every electronic device has its quirks. Don’t plan your first route for a 14 hour day and think that all will go smoothly. Practice on shorter routes and maybe in places where you are more familiar with the terrain. Learn how to read the maps and use them as tools in your planning. Build up to longer days and more challenging terrain as your planning skills grow. Last, remember that you are working with a mobile device – in the cold. Know how your battery reacts to these situations and bring backup batteries or charging options if you think you will need them!

Have fun exploring more!

The post How to use CalTopo & the Gaia GPS App to Plan your Backcountry Skiing Routes – Updated appeared first on 14erskiers.com.

Various apps and mapping programs that can be integrated into our phones have changed how we ride and what we ride. More and more people are adventuring into lesser known terrain. Here’s a look at what we think are the best apps for navigation while mountain biking.

1) Mountain Bike Project

GPS capabilities: This app has GPS capabilities while both online and offline.

What this app is missing: This app might be a true stand-alone if a topo-map was included. Using a USGS map or something similar for a basemap would allow other trails to be shown that may not be listed on the Mountain Bike Project database. It would also allow for peak names and elevations to be shown. Last, a using a different basemap would allow for land designations to be shown – what is private, USFS, BLM, Wilderness, etc.

Cost: FREE

2) CBG Trails

The strength of this app is that it defines the trails based on use. Color codes show whether the trail is allowed for mountain bikers or not. Any trail that is purple or pink is not allowed for mountain bikes. Red, orange, green, brown or blue are all game for mountain bikers. If you want to avoid motorized companions, then avoid green or brown colored trails.

Trailhead locations are marked on the topo map. And, if you click on the brown icon, it will tell you name of the trailhead with a green arrow next to it. If you click the green arrow, it will lead you to a Google Map that will help you navigate to this trailhead.

Last but not least, users can input trail observations – so if a tree is down or there is particularly muddy spot, you can find out about this ahead of time!

GPS capabilities: This app has GPS capabilities while both online and offline.

What I love about this app: This app has something that most other trail apps are missing – trail use. If I am a rider and want to avoid motorized trails or ensure that I am on trails open to bikes, then this is the perfect app. Not only is CBG Trails great for mountain bikers, but it is also great for hikers, moto riders, and ATVers. Motorized recreationists know which trails are open/closed to them. Hikers wanting to avoid other recreationists that are not on foot can easily choose the trail color accordingly.

What this app is missing: Aside from expanding beyond Colorado, this app would be better improved by including more information about the trails – such as distance, difficulty, and an elevation profile. I would also like to see more geographic features labelled such as peaks and rivers.

Cost: FREE

3) Gaia

Gaia not only works in the US, but throughout the world. The only downfall is that you are at the mercy of your basemap. Some basemaps are not always up to date. Newer bike trails are likely to be missing and any recent re-routes may not be shown.

GPS capabilities: This app has GPS capabilities while both online and offline.

What I love about this app: I love the recording capabilities and GPS navigation functionalities. Using this app makes it difficult to get lost for more than a few minutes. I use Gaia for all kinds of recreation activities. Not only do I use it for mountain biking, but I use it for hiking, and it has become a staple for backcountry skiing.

What this app is missing: Aside from the fact that the maps are not always up to date, Gaia is missing the user functionalities present in the two previously described apps. There are no directions to trailheads, trail descriptions, or trail use descriptions, let alone distances.

Cost: $19.99 per year for a regular membership or $39.99 per year for a premium membership. Discounts apply if 5-year subscriptions are purchased. But, if you purchase through our Gaia GP affiliate link, you can buy your subscriptions at a discount.

Which is the best app for navigation while mountain biking?

Determining which application is best often depends on the goal of your ride. If you’re looking for a more standard, pre-set ride, then Mountain Bike Project may be the best navigation tool, seconded with Gaia for recording purposes. If you’re looking to venture a little more off the beaten path, then you will likely find more value in using Gaia GPS, combined with CBG Trails.

For most of our adventure rides, we use a combination of all three applications. Even if you think you know the route, the unexpected could happen. Say, for example, you’re on a trail/route described on MTB Project. But, then half way through, you encounter a mechanical or an injury, and finishing the ride as intended is really not possible. It’s essential to have some tools to help you plan a better exit (dirt roads or other intersecting trails). In this case, that’s where CBG Trails and Gaia GPS come in. You can use those tools to help you see what roads and trails are available for your exit. While CBG Trails will help you determine whether bikes are allowed on these trails, Gaia GPS will help you take a closer look at the actual geographic and topographic features necessary for route finding. In addition, I’ve seen trails that exist on CBG Trails but are not shown in Gaia, and vice versa. Having all tools in your hand will help your ride go more smoothly, especially in cases where you encounter the unexpected!

Up soon – tips for how to plan for a ride to lesser-traveled places!

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At the time, Avanet was largely kept from the masses, being released primarily to snow professionals. But, it was obvious that the data stored in Avanet could be very useful for all winter backcountry users. In fact, we wrote about Avanet and some of its capabilities during our SP1 Review last spring. This summer, the Avatech/Avanet guys sat down again, enhancing their platform, and are now releasing it to recreational users as well.

What is Avanet?

Avanet is a platform that is available through the web or via a mobile app. Access via the web is through http://www.avatech.com/ and the app can be obtained on iTunes (currently no Android version available) at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/avanet/id1002265185.

What does Avanet do?

Avanet is developed for winter backcountry users. It is a crowd-sourced platform for snow observations. That means, you can have access to a wealth of backcountry observations, depending on how many people in your area are using the app. Additionally, you can input observations yourself to include in the database, depending on the version you have.

On top of snow observation data, Avanet also comes with a handy route planning tool to help you plan safe routes and estimate the time it will take you to complete that route.

What are the different versions of Avanet?

Avanet currently comes in three versions:

1. Avanet (FREE) – A complimentary version for recreational mountain travelers. It includes such features as basic topographical and aerial maps, tour tracking and the ability to submit and view public observations.
2. Avanet Tour ($5 per month) – For those wanting more, this version includes additional features like terrain visualization and route planning tools.
3. Avanet Pro ($10 per month) – Designed for professional guides and snow safety professionals, this is the most feature-rich version and includes such additional tools as advanced route planning, professional-grade observation sharing, pro data access and more.

More details of the different versions can be seen here:

Where does Avanet work?

Avanet works world-wide. Obviously, some places are going to be using it more than others. The most use is currently in Europe and North America.

Adjustable Settings

You’ll notice that the default map takes you to some place in Russia and that measurements are in metric. Let’s face it, most of us don’t live in Russia and we Americans are stuck on archaic English system of measurements. To change your default map location and units of measurement, go to your settings.

What snow data can I view with Avanet?

You can view any kind of snow observation that is input for public, or someone has granted you access to view. The details of the observations will be dependent on the observer and the tools they have available. But, in many cases, snow professionals will be inputting highly detailed snow pit observations like this:

The above example was from a snowpit, but some observations may be directly from a probe. Others may have more about overall snowpack and weather conditions.

But, perhaps one of the coolest features of Avanet are the filters. You can view observations based on location, date, elevation, aspect, and slope angle. The Pro version allows you to filter by publisher (You, Outside Organizations, or Rec Users).

What can I report with Avanet?

You can report your snowpack, snowpit, and weather observations with Avanet using the app on your mobile phone. If your observations are recorded out of cell range, then you can set the app to report your observations once you are back in cell range. If you choose, you can also report snowpit observations using your computer. Either way, observations can also be made private, or shared with specific users.

You can report snowpit information and the results of tests:

Details of each layer can also be reported:

What can I do on my mobile device?

Your mobile device can be used to send and receive real-time snow observations, assuming cell service is available.

Also, depending on the version you have, your mobile can be set to use the route-planning features. Routes can be planned in advance on your computer or phone, or on the fly. If you know you will be venturing out of cell-range, maps can be cached in advance. And, of course, your cell phone can be used for route-tracking as well:

More about the Avanet route-planning tool

Perhaps one of the best features of Avanet is the route-planning tool, available in the Tour and Pro versions. Take CalTopo and Gaia and all the cool maps and mapping apps, tie them into one, enhance them, and you’ve got Avanet.

The route-planning tool hosts a number of filters. For example, you can filter by elevation. This is great if you know you want to stay within certain zones, like below treeline:

You can also specify a range for slope angle. This map highlights, in yellow, the 25 to 43-degree range which is the sweet spot for a lot of ski zones.

Or on a high avalanche day, you may want to plan your route to be under 25-degrees:

Alternatively, you may prefer certain aspects over others or are trying to avoid certain due to wind-loading or faceting. There’s a filter for that too!

Just like most route-planning tools, way-points are entered and an elevation profile is generated. Total mileage and vertical are tallied. But, the Avanet differentiates itself by using the Munter system to estimate times. Once done, you can download a GPX file for use on a GPS device or other phone. Or, you can download a PDF copy to print and take with you as well.

If conditions are different than what you expect or your group is slower than you planned, you will probably need to change your route on the go. To do this, all you need is the app on your phone, and to cache the maps in advance if you are expected to be out of cell phone range.

Why should I become part of Avanet?

As a community of backcountry users, we have a responsibility to be informed and help keep others informed. Avanet provides the perfect platform for all winter backcountry users to share their snow observations. With more data, we as backcountry users can make more educated decisions. Additionally, we can help our local avalanche forecasting centers in creating more accurate snow forecasts.

Professional skier and ski mountaineer Chris Davenport perhaps puts it best: “The more knowledge you have the better. Crowdsourced, real-time information about what’s happening in the mountains, in the backcountry, benefits professional forecast centers and backcountry users everywhere. I use Avanet in the field and trip planning, and it’s been a game-changer in how I prepare to go into the mountains.”

Be smart, be informed, make good decisions. Get Avanet now!

How do I get Avanet?

Find Avanet on avatech.com or download the app on iTunes (currently no Android version available).

Our take on Avanet

Avatech revolutionized snow data-collection with it’s SP1 Probe, which has now been upgraded to SP2. But, we believe that opening Avanet to recreational use is perhaps one of the greatest revolutions the backcountry skiing world has seen. Backcountry users will now have the opportunity to make well-informed decisions with wide-spread real-time data. Essentially, we will all become forecasters to an extent.

Avatech first changed the way that snow data can be collected by professionals with the SP1 Probe. Now, Avanet has the chance to be an even bigger game changer if users begin using it on a widespread basis. As our local forecasters (friends of ours) have noted, their forecasts are only as good as the data they have on hand. Avanet should give forecasters more data to work with, and that’s a good thing. Areas with heavy backcountry use and decent cell reception, like the central Wasatch, may have a large amount of data- and much of it in real-time. Just imagine if all the dawn-patrollers end up reporting touchier than expected conditions, and how that info can save lives.

So, if you haven’t tried the app yet, you should try it now. I mean, there is a FREE version after all! Observe data and make smart, educated decisions. Become an active part of the community and share your snow observations. The more people contributing to this platform, the better. So, get your Avanet on!

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The instruction manual and BD’s website don’t make it very clear where exactly you’re supposed to change the lean. Basically, you have to push the upper cuff as far forward as possible (in walk mode) to expose the lean mechanism, shown here:

The “moon sliver” is what controls the lean, based on its position in the small oval. Changing this position gets tricky, however, so here are some tricks which I learned along the way and will make life much easier should you attempt to change the lean on these boots.

The first step is to press the upper cuff so far forward (in walk mode) that it gets caught in the removable spoiler (with the liners out). This photo should make it clearer:

This will allow you to work on the boot without fighting the cuffs the entire time. Next, take a look at the underside of the lock mechanism:

See that spring? That spring will want to pop out when you remove the bolt to switch the “moon”. It is really difficult to put back in, so steps should be taken to keep the spring in there. Don’t worry, I have a trick, so keep reading… Take the two allen keys that Black Diamond provides, and unscrew the short end, making sure that the bolt section stays in the boot. Remove the moon:

Here comes the trick: take one allen, and carefully use it to push the long bolt through. In this way, you are removing the bolt so you can adjust the moon while still keeping the mechanism intact thanks to the allen fitting in the same hole as the bolt, especially the spring. This photo should clear things up:

Now you can reinsert the bolt with the moon in the new position. It will take some trial and error to get the bolt to push the allen back out with everything lined up, but trust me, it’s a whole lot easier when the spring is still in place.

Hope that helps! Ask questions if anything didn’t make sense!

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This tip might be most useful for those of you competing in IFSA Big Mountain events, since that’s the context of the discussion that led to the tip, but honestly it makes a ton of sense in backcountry situations as well. So, let’s say you’re skiing towards a cliff (or a rollover in the backcountry). You want to see if the landing is in good shape, or make sure the line actually goes. What do you do? Well, you can ski straight to the obstacle, stop, and check it out, but at that point you’ve lost all your momentum (and killed your scores in a comp), and possibly put yourself in a bad situation in the backcountry.

Disclaimer: I am clearly not an artist. Brittany suggested I get some clipart off the internet, but I think my drawing is far more humorous. Hopefully it’s making someone laugh right now. In any case, the dashed line represents your line of sight, and the squiggly line are the turns you’re about to make.

Rather than ski fall line, Jack pointed out that if you swing wide above the cliff, you can spot the landing, keep your momentum (and your fluidity and aggressiveness scores in a comp), and hit the cliff with style, like this:

I hope that my crude drawings convey what Jack explained to me, and what I now tried to convey to our readers. Comments are always welcome, so if you have your own tip you’d like to share, please do so!

The post Tech Tip: Spotting Your Landing appeared first on 14erskiers.com.

That’s the situation my friends Jon Johnston and the late, great Jack Hannon found themselves in years ago as they skied the steepest lines they could find up in the Coast Range of British Columbia. Jack, however, had won a pair of Verts (Basically a small plastic snowshoe) in a ski comp, and quickly found that they worked for ascending steep, soft snow. But they also found that little plastic snowshoes were incredibly sketchy every time the snow got a little harder from the sun or wind, or a small ice bulge. So they started playing around with their own solutions. Several prototypes later, Jon finally has a production model and has teamed up with Lance Edwards to release the Billy Goat Technologies’ (BGT) Ascent Plate.

While visiting Jon in Canada, I was lucky enough to get my hands on them, so here’s the skinny:

As you can see, they’re pretty simple and it’s pretty amazing no one thought of this before. Just slide your crampon’s heel bail through the slot:

And then clamp it down like you normally would:

What you’re left with is the floatation of the plates, with the security of your crampons if you run into a bit of ice or hard snow. The plate is thin enough that if you only need the crampons without the plates, they’ll still be tight enough without the plates. A BGT Ascent plate and an aluminum crampon is about the same weight as a pair of Verts without straps, and obviously a whole lot lighter than a pair of Verts and crampons (and more packable, too- at roughly the same size and shape as a shovel blade, they should nest nicely up against the shovel blade). Add some webbing and a BGT plate would make a decent snow fluke as well, not to mention a great platform for cooking.

Unfortunately, I never got a chance to use them on my recent trip to Canada. Meanwhile, here in Colorado, climbing up something steep enough to make the Ascent Plates worthwhile would be quite the gamble with the Persistent Weak Layer we’re dealing with this season. But that doesn’t mean I can’t look back and remember quite a number of occasions in the past where the ascent plates would have been just the ticket, especially after springtime storms. They’re very similar to ski crampons in that when you need them, you really do need them. They won’t be in your pack every time, but you’ll generally know when you should throw them in the pack. Where the ascent plates really shine is in places like WA, BC, and AK when conditions are frequently ideal for the plates (soft, steep, and stable- come to think of it, those are pretty ideal ski conditions, too. Coincidence?)

Here’s a video from Chris Christie from a couple of years ago with a prototype- The video does a nice job showing their usefulness and the conditions they’re designed for:

Birkenstock Couloir ! from Chris Christie on Vimeo.

Where can I buy them? Where can I find out more? Presently, they’re only available online at their WEBSITE. BGT is at OR this week, so hopefully they’ll be available soon at your local shop.

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Take, for instance, a long bootpack up a couloir. It’s awfully nice to be able to take your pack off, jam the tails of your skis in the snow, and get whatever you need out of your backpack without the fear of bumping the pack and watching it ragdoll down the slope.

Skinning with twintips leaves a fair bit to be desired as well. The twintips seem to get caught up frequently, but what really annoys me is that I can’t use advanced techniques like the tail-stab switchback turn. (Or, for that matter, tail-stab down a slope in certain conditions. It rarely comes up, but it’s a nice tool to have). The tail stab in icy conditions on Pike’s Peak:

Yet another tail-stab technique which is nice to have in the backcountry involves getting the skis on on a steep slope- anchoring the tails is a great method to use in this scenario. Can’t do that with twins.

There are other reasons why flat tails are advantageous in the backcountry- certain snow pit tests, for instance, anchoring guy lines on a tent, or holding the tail of your skins. Quite a few backcountry-oriented lineups, like K2’s backside, exclusively use flat tails for these reasons.

I purchased my Elan Pogo Stix as a backcountry skis for 2 reasons- I liked the dimensions but more importantly I liked the price. I bought them knowing the twintips were going to be somewhat of a hassle. Well, I reached the point where I decided enough was enough and it was time to change the ski- by cutting those twintips off.

Step one, mark the skis:

Step two, make sparks:

Step 3, done. (Actually I’m going to put a little bit of epoxy on them just in case.)

I was using a friend’s diamond sawblade (that he uses to make splitboards), but a regular hacksaw would probably work just as well. I’m pretty sure my main regret will be not doing this sooner.

Bonus core points if you do this while wearing Carhartt’s:

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