The one-ski quiver is difficult to pull off. So, I decided to go for two this year.
With complicated construction and shapes, boutiques to mass producers, picking out new skis can be perplexing. I work on Mount Hood, so skis must attack a huge variety of conditions - corn, windblown, steeps, ice, and powder, and varied four-season terrain. It must be light and compact for travel and mountain rescue missions, which sometimes last all night. The key: versatility. Of the multitude of skis out there, here's my skimo gear for this season.
Skis: When a big winter storm hits, I reach for the pow slayer for backcountry tours and inbounds yo-yo laps during the height of the avalanche cycle. The Dynastar Cham HM 97 has a generous tip rocker, short radius, mid-fat underfoot, and light paulownia core. For one-day spring volcano climbs, spring corn, and the glaciers of Europe, I eyed the traditional-shape, 5.5-pound, 90mm-waist Black Diamond Carbon Aspect.
Binders: For 15 years I've been a Dynafit devotee, inbounds and out. They are light, strong, simple, and time-tested. This year, I'm using Dynafit Radical ST 2.0 with brakes and ski crampons.
Boots: I really tried to love the low-volume, ultralight skimo race boots, but my feet got cold and the boots lacked the heft to drive a fat ski. The light, stiff Dynafit Vulcan TF with Intuition Pro Tour liners balances weight and performance.
Other gear: The precut, ski-specific skins are not quite as versatile to swap between skis in the Wallowas or repair in a Chamonix hotel. This year, I chose the Black Diamond Ascension skins: a bit heavier than mohair but better grip. I'm using Black Diamond Razor Carbon poles. For ski mountaineering, I have skied both the Haute Route and Ortler Circuit with the ultralight, skimo-specific Black Diamond Raven Ultra Ice Axe, Neve Crampons, and Couloir Harness.
Avalanche: I'm using the Backcountry Access Float 36. After deploying it for air travel, I've refilled the canister - with some preplanning - in Chamonix, Davos, and Portland, Oregon. I'm using a Backcountry Access tour shovel, a CAMP Carbon probe, and a Mammut Barryvox beacon.
Head gear: I've got three helmets to test this year: the ultralight CAMP Speed, the warmer Smith Maze, and the burly Poc Receptor Backountry MIPS, the new multi-impact protection system.
Now, let's hope for snow!