26
votes
Is it unsafe to ride the chair lift with a backpack?
Yes there are increased risks associated with riding a lift while wearing a pack
Hangups
The first major risk, mentioned by Paparazzi, is hangups. These occur anytime the pack becomes entangled in ...
- 1,327
24
votes
Accepted
Is this image of a skier skinning up a very steep slope rotated?
On the right snow, you can ascend extremely steep (even if it probably isn't the most economical thing to do) - so from that aspect, I don't see a problem.
Looking at the skiers center of gravity, it ...
- 21.7k
21
votes
Accepted
Is it unsafe to ride the chair lift with a backpack?
With a dash of common sense, and a modicum of skill I'd say packs are safe on a chairlift. One winter I skied over 100 days at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. I wore a pack the vast majority of those ...
- 9,678
21
votes
Is this image of a skier skinning up a very steep slope rotated?
I agree that the mountains in the background look weird, but the crop is so close that it's hard to tell for certain without additional context.
This image appears to be from an article on skinning ...
- 414
19
votes
Can I use one helmet for both kayaking and skiing?
It's not recommended to use a kayak or "CE/EN 1385" helmet for skiing. However, you can use a skiing or "CE/EN 1077" helmet for kayaking.
The helmets are manufactured and tested for specific ...
- 23.5k
16
votes
Do I need a hard shell to ski in sunny weather conditions?
As a beginning skier you will probably be falling down a lot. This means that you are likely to end up covered in snow even if the weather is nice. If you are wearing a soft shell, the snow melting ...
- 3,034
13
votes
Accepted
Can I use one helmet for both kayaking and skiing?
As the protection required in these activities differ, there are different standards for helmets: EN 1385 for kayaking and EN 1077 for skiing. There are of course even more norms for other helmets. So ...
- 21.7k
12
votes
Can I use one helmet for both kayaking and skiing?
There seem to be many widespread assumptions about helmet design, particularly regarding how well they handle multiple impacts. The poor availability of the relevant standards documents[0] does not ...
- 8,428
12
votes
Accepted
Skis or Snowshoes for Colorado
I am willing to take the time to learn what I need to, so I don't want
to go with the "easier to use at first" option.
If you really mean that, then you can't not try skiing.
There are many ...
- 23.4k
11
votes
Accepted
Relation of ski edge sharpening to skiing ability and snow conditions
TL;DR
Don't do it. It is really easy to ruin a perfectly good pair of skis. A great way to handle ski maintenance is to wax your own skis, touch up the burrs with a fine grit diamond stone (400-grit ...
- 4,179
11
votes
Accepted
Have these ski bindings been mounted properly?
I used to do some work as a ski technician many years ago, and yes, definitely this is not correct. You should not be able to see the screws from the underside.
Take them back for a replacement, they ...
- 933
11
votes
Escaping tree well
Really the key to escaping tree wells is to ski/board/snowshoe with a buddy. I have friends who have ended up head down in a tree well, completely unable to reach their bindings. With every movement ...
- 3,034
11
votes
Is this image of a skier skinning up a very steep slope rotated?
It cannot be that the image is rotated, and that this rotation is the only alteration to the image.
The reason is simple: look at the straps of the backpack. They are hanging vertically, and they are ...
- 219
10
votes
Skis or Snowshoes for Colorado
If you have no experience with either, then I recommend getting some snowshoes first (I'm not recommending you don't eventually get into everything else as well). There are many different styles of ...
- 53.5k
10
votes
Accepted
Backcountry Skiing Bindings compatible with soft boots
I believe the answer to your specific question is no; the only boots I know of with tech fittings are hard boots made of plastic or carbon fiber. However, I think you may be underestimating those ...
- 8,428
10
votes
Do I need a hard shell to ski in sunny weather conditions?
tl;dr
I don't think you need spent big money on a new jacket just to go skiing if you have a serviceable soft shell.
You can wear anything you want. I know when the ski season is coming to a close ...
- 9,678
10
votes
What are the use cases for ski crampons over boot crampons?
The answer to this question at its most basic level is generally use your ski crampons until you would feel more safe using boot crampons. I suspect since you asked this question you aren't very ...
- 9,678
9
votes
Accepted
Which ski binding for alpine touring?
There are two basic designs for bindings for ski-touring: tech/Pin bindings and frame bindings. All examples given are not a generally representative sample as they base on my experience here in ...
- 21.7k
9
votes
Are AT skis unsuited for downhill skiing at a resort?
There are two different norms for ski bindings (and their release characteristics): ISO 9462 for alpine ski bindings and ISO 13992 for touring ski bindings. The former is tested together with alpine ...
- 21.7k
9
votes
Is this image of a skier skinning up a very steep slope rotated?
I just wanted to give my input as an avid backcountry skier and general ski bum during the winters.
As mentioned above, the straps seem like a pretty good indicator that the picture is real. Even if ...
- 91
8
votes
Is it unsafe to ride the chair lift with a backpack?
In many (possibly all) European ski resorts it is mandatory to lower the safety bar in a chair lift. On the chairs I have ridden there is not enough space to sit down while wearing a backpack - I am ...
- 241
8
votes
Is it unsafe to ride the chair lift with a backpack?
As a ski patroller for many years I usually have a pack on when riding the lift. Yes packs can be dangerous, but it is a manageable hazard, and a potentially life saving and life saving and required ...
- 81
8
votes
Carrying skis attached to backpack
This article covers the 2 commonly used methods for vertically carrying skis, and their relative advantages and disadvantages.
The diaganol:
The A Frame:
Shoulder Carry:
One additional method of ...
- 1,327
8
votes
Accepted
How does ski binding height affect skiing off-piste?
This dimension is know as the binding stack height (as well as binding stand height) and can be both beneficial and detrimental:
On piste / carving / racing: a larger stack height is generally ...
- 4,179
8
votes
Accepted
Can you "kick and glide" and climb without skins in Alpine Touring ski gear?
You can, but how well you glide will vary depending on your skins. Some styles glide better than others, and you will glide more with a shorter skin opposed to a full length skin.
There's a 2km ...
- 53.5k
8
votes
Accepted
Is it a good idea to do ski binding settings yourself?
Your settings are mostly personal preference.
Adjusting your DIN settings is not a complicated procedure. It's not uncommon for ski resorts to provide public benches with screwdrivers chained to them ...
- 53.5k
7
votes
How can I rescue someone lost in an avalanche?
In addition to Dangeranger's answer: If you as victim have climbing equipment or a rope, fasten it to your body (if not already fastened) and release your rope. It is very, very hard to find avalanche ...
- 909
7
votes
How important is thermal underwear for skiing?
You did not say whether you were going downhill skiing or cross-country. The difference is significant:
When downhill skiing you are being carried uphill each time between runs and so are not ...
- 4,088
7
votes
What are the use cases for ski crampons over boot crampons?
This is an excellent article comparing the two.
Use the ski when you need the grip but still want the flotation of the ski. You are limited to how steep you can go with a ski. This is a picture of ...
- 7,156
7
votes
Accepted
Use normal urban jacket for skiing/snowboard
As for most outdoor activities, you can certainly get by with non-specialized clothing for skiing and snowboarding. As @imsodin points out in the comments, a ski resort is (compared to a lot of ...
- 3,752
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible