The route doesn't get a lot of sun so the snow was better than many places. Icy in the lower sections. Lots of people, and we saw one helicopter rescue on the neighboring route. More snow is coming!
Tête Pelouse = "lawn head" in English
For those unfamiliar, if you are going up hill on skis and you are making switchbacks up the hill, when you want to turn around you need to do a very awkward turn that humbles everyone.
The big mountains had bad avalanche forecasts so we picked a route in the foothills and had a great tour. The snow was a little thin at spots but mostly it was bouncy and un-tracked. After some lunch we did the middle section again. 1400m total ascent.
This last pair was a craigslist find. Yeah I'm sure the moment you do anything professionally you ask a lot more from your gear.
Yeah I have these. Maybe not the best tool but fine for the rare cases I want them.
Interesting. Largely by accident I landed on some very stiff 32 boots, dual zone boa, like the insanos, just before I got into touring. They have served me very well. I guess I would use a ski strap around my boot if the boa failed.
Finding full zip pants that fit over snowboard boots was a problem I only recently solved.
I have 32 boa boots with two boas per boot. Had them for at least 5 seasons now, 20-30 days a season. I use them for touring and resort. I'm generally really impressed with the boa system. I don't have boots designed for touring so I like that the boa allows me to loosen the boots quickly for uphill and tighten them quickly for downhill.
All that to say, today when I pulled on the boa to loosen it, the fabric tore and the boa is now just held on by the cables. It still works but I need two hands to operate it. I may try some shoe goo because otherwise the boots seem to be going strong.
Wow I had no idea any snowboard boots were designed for crampons. I have some universal Camp crampons that work for my 32 boots.
I too blame my partner, or the dog, for cutting the cheese at large family gatherings :P