Posted by Jack Brauer on March 13, 2007 at 3:57 PM
Haha... Jody you beat me to it! Thanks for the link. I just went on a brutal 2-night solo backpacking trip this weekend. It was the longest 5 miles I think I've ever gone... first day took me 7 hours of hiking to get about 3.5 miles... all on my splitboard. Snowshoes would have been impossible due to the rotten sugar snow.
Anyhow, due to Google Earth inspiration, I really wanted to get up on the ridge above Cow Creek in the Uncompahgre wilderness. The views are incredible up there, looking across at Wetterhorn and down into the rugged Cow Creek drainage.
It was one of the most challenging solo trips I've done. I had fun shooting with my new Nikon D80... I got a lot more shots than I would have with the 4x5. Besides I wouldn't have made it there with the weight of the 4x5 setup - that's for sure.
Posted by Scott Bacon on March 13, 2007 at 4:23 PM
Wetterhorn! My favorite in CO. Nice work dude.
Thoughts on that location during wildflower season? I'm already planning a wildflower backpack trip...
The sunset shot is stunning! Makes we want to get back down to the San Juans sometime soon!
Posted by Scott Borger on March 13, 2007 at 9:07 PM
So you got a splitboard...sweeeeet. How did it work out for you? Did you get a Voile? Skins? I'm working on getting some randonee gear together to climb some 14ers. I just need bindings at this point. I like the shot of that steep ridge that is all lit up...definitely a no fall/avalanche prone line.
Posted by Jack Brauer on March 13, 2007 at 11:25 PM
Scott Bacon: are you asking about Wetterhorn Basin? That place is a tundra paradise.... lots of wildflowers.
Scott Borger: yeah the splitboard is great. It's a Venture - based out of Silverton - with Voile hardware and skins. I've quickly realized that skinning is the far superior method of winter travel.
Posted by Paul Beiser on March 13, 2007 at 11:43 PM
Scott,
Check out Lou Dawson's site and blog for lots of info on at/randonee gear.
http://www.wildsnow.com/
-Paul
Posted by Scott Borger on March 14, 2007 at 12:52 AM
Thanks, Paul. I've been all over that site lately, along with telemarkski, etc. Lou Dawson's site is especially useful!
Posted by Paul Beiser on March 14, 2007 at 10:28 AM
Scott,
Lou recommends (and so do I :-) the Dynafit bindings. I've skiied them for years and never had a problem and they are incredibly lightweight. You can carry more camera gear that way.
Paul
Posted by Scott Borger on March 14, 2007 at 10:44 AM
Paul, I like the light weight of the Dynafit bindings, but they really don't meet my needs and they are very expensive. I ski pretty agressively and I would like to have a binding that fits both AT and alpine boots, so I'm probably going to go with the Naxo N01 or Fritschi Freeride. The DIN setting goes up to 12 on these! I'm pretty paranoid about losing a boot or binding at high speeds (http://www.14ers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=5170_, so I need a beefier binding.
My philosophy on weight and camera gear: Buy lightweight gear when possible. If I find myself leaving essentials behind, I need to hit the weight room harder and run a few more miles.
Jack/Jody, sorry for hijacking this thread.
Posted by Paul Beiser on March 14, 2007 at 4:20 PM
Sounds great, Scott (and yes, Jack/Jody, my apologies as well!)
Discussion
12 replieshttp://www.widerange.org/news.php
Anyhow, due to Google Earth inspiration, I really wanted to get up on the ridge above Cow Creek in the Uncompahgre wilderness. The views are incredible up there, looking across at Wetterhorn and down into the rugged Cow Creek drainage.
It was one of the most challenging solo trips I've done. I had fun shooting with my new Nikon D80... I got a lot more shots than I would have with the 4x5. Besides I wouldn't have made it there with the weight of the 4x5 setup - that's for sure.
Thoughts on that location during wildflower season? I'm already planning a wildflower backpack trip...
Scott Borger: yeah the splitboard is great. It's a Venture - based out of Silverton - with Voile hardware and skins. I've quickly realized that skinning is the far superior method of winter travel.
Check out Lou Dawson's site and blog for lots of info on at/randonee gear.
http://www.wildsnow.com/
-Paul
Lou recommends (and so do I :-) the Dynafit bindings. I've skiied them for years and never had a problem and they are incredibly lightweight. You can carry more camera gear that way.
Paul
My philosophy on weight and camera gear: Buy lightweight gear when possible. If I find myself leaving essentials behind, I need to hit the weight room harder and run a few more miles.
Jack/Jody, sorry for hijacking this thread.
The Wetterhorn/Coxcomb image is very sweet indeed! Congrats on pulling off a huge solo feat! The voice in your head must be kind.............