Thanks to everyone for the advice. One more question, Yardsale mentions getting a 3 pin cable binding...Isn't that a Tele Binding?
I thought the whole point of getting Nordic BC gear was that you didn't have to wear those stiff / heavy Tele boots.
I'd add Sequoia / Kings Canyon...
Ropers route is one of the best backcountry cross country routes in the country.
Basically take the John Muir Trail, remove the people, trails etc.
Question: Can you use skins with Nordic BC skis? Do you?
Well I've been trying to decide whether to buy Nordic Backcountry (Fisher S-Bound's), Teles or ATs for years now...
Yesterday I was snowshoing up Silver Peak (near Lake Tahoe) and everyone had tele gear.
Seeing everyone using skins to...
This stuff is expensive but awesome. I find it last about a season on heavily used gaiters and a few seasons on most clothing items. It does not leave the same residu as duck/duct tape.
Tenacious Tape
Another vote against the Yaktrax...I used them on a couple hikes and I was soooo angry afterwards I would have killed one of their execs. They kept slipping off, breaking etc. I would not trust them or recommend them to anyone.
One more trick
I have a pair of Smartwool downhill ski socks that have funky padding. The sock is padded in front but not back, and has special joints in the padding etc. It cost me around $20 for 1 pair but does seem to make some difference.
In general I haven't gotten much shin bang issues...
Well some of you may know that I spent 3 weeks this summer backpacking with a friend in the Sierras. She was updating the JMT trail guide which will be available in June...
2 random thoughts on huts...
1. Great Sierra Club hut in LA area is the Baldy Ski Hut, spent new years eve there last year...lovely hut, nice summit etc. Strongly recomend to anyone looking for what to do for a weekend in LA
2. Anyone been in the Sierra Club backcountry huts in Tahoe?
In general what I would most want in the whites and other places is as follows:
Highly accessible from my house (i.e. great highway access from a major city
But... no traffic on said highway
Few other people...
But I have to be able to go there, no problem getting permits, tent site etc...
Doing only dayhikes would be a big mistake. Just got back from 6 days from Toulomne. What you see from dayhikes is only a tiny fraction of what you would see if you head into the backcountry. I would go up lyell and head towards Ritter etc.
Why not do a week of JMT if you don't want to do any...
Ok thanks everyone. As some of you might have guessed, my wife and I ran out of mountains in the northeast so moved out to SF a couple weeks back. :D I have 3 weeks to backpack in the sierras and then starting a new job...Let the fun begin....