UKC

The snow might be melting away on the hills of home, but out in the Alps the ski mountaineering season is in full swing.

Keen Chamonix-based skier Dave Searle offers some words of wisdom for anyone looking to push the envelope on serious big mountain descents.

Read more at http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=5399

In reply to UKC Articles:

Great article! Enjoyed every bit of it!

In reply to RockShock: Thanks!

In reply to UKC Articles: Good article Dave, some good photos! Need to come and have a look at Cham skiing.

In reply to UKC Articles:
Leading on from this ... "How to ski Steeps and Couloirs" by Paul Garner of TDC Val D'Isere. Good coaching tips, great read. p31 onwards

http://issuu.com/churchoftheopensky/docs/march?mode=window&proSidebarEn...

In reply to UKC Articles:

Nice. Thank you.

Just one suggestion from an old fart: a helmet. Our whole family wears them skiing. On and off the slopes.

Keep up the good work and have fun!

In reply to UKC Articles: Bloody brilliant post, I know you were saying light is right but at what cost in length. I'm relatively new to ski touring and had a brilliant UK season this year, a days touring in WALES before flying to Kalymnos was surreal. What set up do you have ski and bindings wise? Probably going to invest next year maybe when I can get some more time off, currently using some diamir bindings and 178cm mt blanc 4800 that a lovely chap in Cham gave me in the summer.

In reply to UKC Articles: Excellent read. ski tour in the ecrin and know the experience. You get everything with ski touring.

In reply to slow: Lid is to heavy and hot when climbing. You can happily climb between 700m 1500m in a day, hard graft, but fun. I like the peace and getting close to nature aspect of it.

In reply to Alex Hallam: I'm currently running a pair of la sportiva lo5's in 178cm
http://coldthistle.blogspot.fr/2013/02/la-sportiva-lo5.html
http://www.sportiva.com/products/ski/skis/lo5

I really like them and they seem to be a good one ski quiver for ski touring/ mountaineering and the ocasional powder day.

As for bindings I have the plum guides which are very similar to dynafit binding. They are defo the best type of bindings for touring as you don't have to lift up any extra weight under your foot when skinning up. They also provide the best contact with the ski. Everyone uses them out here for touring and mountaineering. .

I personally don't use a helmet when I'm ski touring but there are a few routes I would use one on if I thought the danger of getting hit by a rock/ ice from above was high. The only other time I feel vulnerable is when skiing a busy piste!!! For me all the ski helmets avilible are to heavy and hot for spring days trying to move fast and most climbing helmets dont work that well with ski googles. Perhaps there is a niche there or maybe I've not been looking hard enough.