Splitboarding Quandary

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cottonmountaineering
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Re: Splitboarding Quandary

Post by cottonmountaineering »

Been_Jammin wrote: Mon Mar 08, 2021 10:09 am I sent Quandary on Saturday with a successful snowboard descent.

Does anyone have a good rule of thumb for when they think booting becomes more efficient than skinning?

I embraced the skinning aspect of the climb Saturday because this was my first time splitboarding. Touring is fun and a great workout. But if I were to climb/snowboard Quandary again (with the same conditions) I might just boot pack it. The trail was hard packed so flotation was pointless. Being a bigger person (6'4" 200lbs) I would prefer carrying the extra weight of the gear on my shoulders/back instead of my feet... unless I need the floatation obvi.

Ramble over. Cheers.
congrats!

IMO i always keep my equipment under my feet until its too steep, it takes less energy to skin than to boot
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Jorts
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Re: Splitboarding Quandary

Post by Jorts »

Been_Jammin wrote: Mon Mar 08, 2021 10:09 am I embraced the skinning aspect of the climb Saturday because this was my first time splitboarding. Touring is fun and a great workout. But if I were to climb/snowboard Quandary again (with the same conditions) I might just boot pack it. The trail was hard packed so flotation was pointless. Being a bigger person (6'4" 200lbs) I would prefer carrying the extra weight of the gear on my shoulders/back instead of my feet... unless I need the floatation obvi.
Good work. Doesn't really matter weight or height, if you know what you're doing, skinning is just plain more efficient than booting. But if your skins stop gripping and you start sliding back, that's generally a good time to start booting.

FWIW, Quandary's summit block can be skinned all the way to the summit even with dinky skinny skis that have less surface area than your splitty.
Traveling light is the only way to fly.
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