Anybody here do any backcountry Nordic skiing?

[kmb5662]

Here in the mid-Atlantic we sadly don't seem to get much snow anymore but I've been really enjoying my Rossi Evo OT 65 skis with partial metal edges. If I lived in a place with more snow I would definitely consider getting a wider and full metal pair since I don't ever go on groomed tracks but rather cruise around the local state parks and hiking trails.

Here's some photos from last year taking them out in Rickett's Glen State Park in PA







Alpine skiing is my true love but I've really enjoyed getting into Nordic skiing the past couple years and getting away from the crowds, lines, and high expenses of alpine skiing and just getting out to enjoy nature and relax. If mother nature cooperated more I wouldn't even bother alpine skiing on holidays/busy weekends and instead go out XC skiing instead but there's such a reliance on man made snow here anymore.

 

[Verve]

I LOVE my backcountry Nordic / cross country downhill (XCD) adventures and have turned into a full-on evangelist for this silly activity. My rolling terrain setup is similar to @HuntersEmma57 - a lightweight plastic boot tele (Scarpa T2X from about 10 years ago), Fischer S-Bound 98s (a double camber scale ski that’s 98 at the tip but very skinny underfoot) and a 3-pin binding (like a lighter duty tele binding without a cable). My case for it:

1. you can do it in very low snow conditions. In Vermont, there are plenty of days when I can enjoy a xcd tour but wouldn’t touch the backcountry on my AT setup.
2. Relative logistical simplicity. We are really spoiled and can go out our back door on logging roads. But even when we drive to a trailhead or to a section of the Catamount Trail () there’s always parking, no crowds and you just clip in and start scooting.
3. It’s cheaper. For friends who want to enjoy winter more and think resort skiing is the ticket, I always want to suggest they try this first. Cost per day is obviously 0 but even the gear is also cheaper (bindings $150, skis $400 but you can find used in many cases, boots $300, kicker skins also pretty cheap compared to AT).
4. adventure! It’s just *feels* like a journey and it’s a totally different perspective on my local landscape. I’ve done some more adventurous point to points and had friends pick me up, but even the 4.5 mile tour I did this weekend on a marked trail felt like I was in a different world.

If anyone has questions about how to get started, I’m happy to share my experience. Like downhill and A/T, there are lots of variables but unlike those, I don’t feel like there was a lot of good info out there aside from specialty forums like Teletalk and the Reddit XCD forum.

And if anyone wants to try it in Central Vermont, Clearwater Sports in Waitsfield rents equipment and I’m happy to meet up or share my favorite easy tours in the area.

 

[kmb5662]

@Verve just curious if you knew how to tele ski before getting into XCD?

I am genuinely curious to see if this activity will continue to grow in popularity with years to come as resort/downhill skiing prices continue to get more costly, overcrowding/long lines, and climate change impacting areas especially like the NE US where having a reliable snowpack for alpine touring makes it more challenging. Seems like a great and underappreciated sport for many!

 

[RachelV]

I've been meaning to get a setup for this for years now. Maybe this will be the winter I finally do. The dog would LOVE it.

 

[Verve]

@Verve just curious if you knew how to tele ski before getting into XCD?

I am genuinely curious to see if this activity will continue to grow in popularity with years to come as resort/downhill skiing prices continue to get more costly, overcrowding/long lines, and climate change impacting areas especially like the NE US where having a reliable snowpack for alpine touring makes it more challenging. Seems like a great and underappreciated sport for many!

Haha I did not and still do not! The closest I come to a tele turn is letting on leg fall slightly behind me with a bent knee to use like a sort of rudder. You can totally get away with making parallel turns in these boots and bindings - and TBH I do a fair amount of wedging too. I was joking with my partner that it's liking being back at the beginning of my learn to ski progression. I'm a mess out there, haha.

I hope it will grow, just like you're saying. A/T has obviously had a huge uptake, which is cool - but the barrier to entry is so much higher (cost and skill) and in some areas it's also much riskier and you need AVY training etc.

@RachelV oh your dog is going to love it. Definitely my preferred form of winter dog walking!

 

[HuntersEmma57]

@Verve, we are so much alike! And an amen to all you've written. I continue to be stunned by how little interest I've been able to generate in others taking even a spark of interest in Nordic Backcountry. But I'm also selfish and not so sure I do want hordes discovering what we've found. Honestly, I think if you're a good alpine skier, it's not that difficult. And there is certainly a thrill factor for me bombing down lower angle stuff on free heel bindings.
I started telemark to bring new challenge to the small mountain we skied every weekend. Total reboot - pun intended.I learned enough that I can make half-hearted tele turns (rudder description is PERFECT), but I have enough experience on alpines, that I can make solid parallel turns. The gear is far lighter than AT, seems to last forever, is comfortable and I'm never cold. It's physically demanding, but I didn't even start skiing til I was 50 and I was doing both downhill and Nordic.
Things that come to mind: Don't be afraid to go fat. Having more control and stability is a Very Positive Thing, IMHO. I can say with no hesitation that I regret trying to ease in on skinny stuff and soft boots. It was somewhat costly and undermined my confidence and took up unnecessary space in our gear room.
Voilè is a great source for wider skis and light tele-bindings.
When we lived out east, we did a lot of business with the Fey Brothers at Telemarkdown.com out of New Hampshire. They were slanted toward downhill resort telemarkers, but have a range stuff. They're super helpful on phone.
White Grass Nordic Center in Davis, WV is a mecca in the mid-Atlantic with boundless knowledge and experience. I'm still skiing on the stuff I bought from them 6-15 years ago here in Utah.

 

[dloveski]

I'm in the market for a new Nordic setup. My XC boots and skis from the 90s fell apart 2 winters ago while I was goofing around with them in the yard after a snowstorm. There are groomed trails in parks not too far from me so I'd like to add to my winter repetoir.

DH just got a great Fischer ski boot bc Nordic set up. The skis have light weight skins for breaking trail and icy hills etc. I think outback with bc binding boots. He’s happy and skied on them all over Yellowstone country. Track and no track.