skins

[Skilasnow]

Hi all, this is a great site. Does Tucks justice.

I've been wondering though, is it possible to skin up? I never have (always late in the season for me), never seen anyone, never heard of anyone, never heard of any reason not to. I am planning a trip this year with some friends who've never been and they expected to skin up. Is it not possible?, not worthwhile?, not allowed?, no good trail for it?, frowned upon?, whassup? I have skins and trekkars and sure would prefer that over the hike.

Thanks for any info/advice.

[notjustanotherboarder]

Hey guy,
Prior to Spring conditions (mid-March), skinning is better because the weight is not on your back. So, you're not so tired when you get to the top. Plus you can skin up the ski trail. Its more of a straight run to Hojos. o it shorter (just a little bit). Later on in the season, it depends on the amount of snow on the trail.

The biggest problem later on in seaon is the amount of people. I would not recommend skinning up the ski trail at this time because someone is likey to run into you as they are coming down. ON the walking trail, there could be a LOT of people that you'll have to go around.

[M@]

There is no riding/sliding/skiing on the TUCKERMAN trail. This is a hiking trail, and any skiing on it packs it to ice really quick. Every year, on the way down, I have to clothes line the joeys riding their boards down this trail.

Sherburn skin up would be best. Keep your eyes peeled for folks coming down, as mentioned above, but if your going UP in the morning, there won't be much traffic.

M@

[targheehucker]

Every year, on the way down, I have to clothes line the joeys riding their boards down this trail.
Can we refrain from using the word "joey" on this board. Im fron NJ and am a little sensitive... thanks guy

[4 timer]

I'll bite, what's a "joey"

[M@]

Joey refer's to "Jersery Joey" in a derrogatory frame of mind. And I apologize for using such a term.

I'm from NH: And while in VT a few weeks back I heard the term "White Plate," referring to anyone NOT from VT. Thought that was funny. "Damn Whiteplates"

M@

[Skilasnow]

Thank you all. I look forward to skinning up rather than hiking next time. Since I have always gone too late in the season to ski the Sherburn trail I don't know it, how long should I expect to take to skin up (assuming reasonably good conditions)? an hour?

[skicdave]

The sherburne trail ascends 1,870 feet in about 2.5 miles and runs parallel to the Tuckerman Ravine trail. So if hiking is < 2 hrs, skinning up in 1.5 hrs???

See the trail map (http://timefortuckerman.com/tuckermanravinemap.html) for more info (click on the Sherburne trail).

[<Jerm>]

Skinning the Tucks Trail is perfectly legit (the USFS rangers do it all the time). It's sliding downhill that's taboo, because it's narrow and they dont want you crashing into foot traffic. I prefer to skin Tucks Trail to above the switchbacks, then hop on to the Sherburne. It's a shorter route than the Tucks trail and you skip the steep and often mogulled lower sections. If you are in shape you can do Pinkham to Hojos in about an hour.

[NatureBoy]

hey guys, just curious what is skinning? :cool:

[Skilasnow]

It is when you use "seal skins" on the bases of your skis to 'ski' up hill. Seal skin (the real stuff) has a one-way effect on snow, ice, and in water. That is to say that it is very slick and slides easily in one direction, but grips in the other direction. So, this, in addition to free heal bindings or "alpine trekkar" attachments to alpine bindings allows you to cross country ski up a fairly steep incline fairly easily. It is faster, less rigorous (more distance per 'foot step' as well as less weight on your back.

We don't use real seal skin any more of course, it is synthetic.

[NatureBoy]

I'm curious about those ""alpine trekkar" attachments" you speak of. I have regular K2 downhill skiis w/downhill bindings, are you saying they can be converted? Please explain, I'm very interested.

[teledave]

Backcountry Access Alpine Trekker's

Alpine Trekker's (http://www.bcaccess.com/bcaproducts/alpine_trekker.php)

http://www.bcaccess.com/images/Trekker2.72.gif

Essentially turns alpine bindings into free heel binders. BCA also makes the best skins (IMHO), Ascension Skins, same site different page.

[<Jerm>]

If you're considering AT gear like Trekkers, do yourself a favor and plunk down the extra 50 bucks an get real AT bindings. Lots of peopel are skiing the Fritschi Diamirs and Freerides in bounds and in the backcountry. They work as well or better than an alpine binding, are lighter, and accept regular old DIN alpine boots.

http://www.fritschi.ch/e/diamir.asp

Of course, you could just tele (that's what I do) but that's a bit more of a gear shift. Either way, once you go freeheel, you'll never go back. Especially at a place like Tucks, not having skis on your back makes life SO much easier (my usual Tucks day pack weight is a massive 13 pounds, for an overnight it leaps to a whoppiong 30-35).

[Skilasnow]

I don't know if they have improved those Diamar bindings but a friend of mine had a serious problem with the heel unlocking once and a while, because it was easy for your skis bumping against each other in a bump turn to hit the locking mechanism -- not something you would want to have happen when coming over the lip at Tucks.

[NHski]

I have used the freerides all season, both inbounds and out and have yet to have any problems. I ski pretty aggressively too.

[wildbill]

hey skilaslenas, were you down there this past summer? i was there for a few weeks (should have been longer but had a bit of an injury) didn't run into any other massholes though...

as for skinning, i prefer tucks trail all the way, nice and mindless--point straight and go--no need to make any switchbacks, although i may try the tucks to sherburne route mentioned above and see how i like it.

as for freerides, i broke one pair when a certain tab wore out (after 6 tours!!) and they popped into touring mode while skiing. backcountrystore.com (good people from my experience) replaced them right away so i'm still using them although i'm always a bit nervous about them when dropping in. i'm hooked on the mobility they offer but compared to an alpine race binding they are junk. skiing-wise they offer the performance of the bottom-of-the-line $89 salomons you get with your first pair of skis. chinzty plastic and laterally they're noodles, fortunately i haven't had any pre-release problems yet...bottom line as far as i'm concerned: someone can do a much better job with a downhill-performance oriented AT binding...

[Skilasnow]

Hey Wildbill,

I didn't make it down this last year :(, I've been several times in the past though. I worked at Hotel Piscis in '94, skied 55 days that season. I post holed up to El Collar, bought trekkars and skins after that.

I've also had good experience with backcountrystore.com

[Skilasnow]

Hey Wildbill,

I didn't make it down this last year :(, I've been several times in the past though. I worked at Hotel Piscis in '94, skied 55 days that season. I post holed up to El Collar, bought trekkars and skins after that.

I've also had good experience with backcountrystore.com