Harlen wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 7:47 pm
Gogd wrote:
I had a short-cut route that halved my walking distance to elementary school, on the heels of a big blizzard, I was on my route....The drift at the top was waist deep.... the next thing I knew I was completely buried in powder at the base of the slope.... had the snow refrozen solid, I would probably be lost for the the rest of the season,
So Ed, you are one of those old guys who as a kid really
did have to walk miles in waist-deep snow to get to school?
One mile only. And the snow was usually deep only where it accumulated on the leeward side of things and drifts. Lol, I forgot to mention we had to fight off bear and moose en route, and collect wood on the way home to cook said moose. Yea, right... Actually I didn't have to walk, mom drove my sibs; but I liked walking, especially in the rain, snow and elements. Perhaps a sign of things to come? My school NEVER had a snow day. I remember walking backwards in blizzards to school because the driving wind stung if facing it head on. We'd travel down the middle of the street in white out conditions, because that was the only way to assure we kept on route. You could only see 20 yards, our surroundings like apparitions popping in and out of the gloom! The cars weren't a problem, they couldn't safely travel faster than walking pace either, due to visibility. It was all an adventure for this little boy.
About those Ramers: I found this link that succinctly describes the doctrine that drove Paul Ramer's ski equipment designs.
https://earnyourturns.com/24/tribute-to-paul-ramer/ There is other content on the web for those curious about the paradigm shift that occurred to 3-pin and alpine touring equipment during the late 1970s though the mid 1980s.
I remember well, retiring my bamboo poles, hiking boot-like Scarpa touring duckbills and Bonna 2400 wooden, heavy duty touring skis with segmented steel edges. The new stuff was amazing on comparison. I ended up owning lighter, stiffer, plastic tele boots (do not recall the model), and the first model year of Fisher 88 tele skis. As I was mulling over my options, I did come across some of Ramer's designs. In fact I acquired a pair of his telescoping poles
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... -242746087 that had interchangeable grips - one of which had built-in arresting picks, and the shafts could be joined to make an avalanche probe. Very nice and decades ahead of its time.
Ramer was an Alpine touring advocate. I was not convinced that alpine equipment was the future of backcountry ski touring. I was more in the Alan Bard camp of BC skiing, go light go fast, and rely on good technique and physical strength to get you there. So to answer your question: Ramer had a catalog of binding designs. From what I read his designs had significant short comings. I believe he had a 3-pin as well as alpine style binding among his designs, both allegedly capable of receiving a variety of boots. I do not know how well that went. I did not hang with the Randonne/alpine touring crowd, so am not aware of the efficacy of Ramer's alpine bindings. As for his free heel XC designs, they were all on the heavy side, this opinion coming from someone who eschewed even the lightest of cable bindings.
Alas Ramer did not come up with enduring concepts, regarding his binding designs. But he was correct in his vision, that alpine style equipment and technique would get more people into off-piste skiing. Nowadays more backcountry skiers are in the mountains to ski, versus ski to get into the mountains. They overnight in the snow by necessity to reach their objective, versus the journey being the means to its own end. Me? I don't think pulling off Glen Plake like gonzo-epic runs down 40 degree slopes miles from a vehicle (to get me to the hospital) is a smart move. As you so experienced, Ian, it takes very little for a ski day to become a serious ordeal. BTW, you are one tough dude, to self extricate such an injury! As it was, even at my peak, three pin equipment was plenty sufficient to get me over any terrain I desired to ski. The only runs I never skied on 3-pins at Mammoth were runs I also never attempted on alpine gear, due the hazards those narrow chutes presented. And I knew only a couple of people willing to ski those runs on alpine equipment. In the BC I always chose conservative lines to preclude the consequences of an injury in a remote setting. Now old age is my limiting factor, no matter what is shod to my feet.
PS: I happen to like TR photos that include people in the frame, they speak to your humanity, as well the faces tell a story the rock fail to articulate. So keep those family images coming!
Ed
I like soloing with friends.
.