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vivid
Stranger


Registered: 12/14/99
Posts: 1,888
Loc: Berkeley, California
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Cross Country Skiing
#5374473 - 03/07/06 02:30 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Do any of you happen to cross-country ski? I'm taking a class this semester for winter camping and went on a trip a few weeks back. Everything was fine (except that I was withdrawling a little and the temperature got down to 8 degrees overnight) but my feet got really cold while i was standing around cooking food. Whats a good system to keep my toes warm while i'm not skiing? I have to go on another trip (i was supposed to go to Yosemite over the weekend but I caught the flu) in the next few weeks. I have a couple questions for anyone experienced with skiing or winter camping: What are some good skiis for backcountry access with a backpack?
What is your favorite method for carving out a snowcave?
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Shroomism
Space Travellin


Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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Re: Cross Country Skiing [Re: vivid]
#5380980 - 03/09/06 11:43 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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I know nothing about cross country skiing.. As for keeping your toes warm.. what kind of socks are you wearing? If you don't already.. might want to get some synthetic liner socks and then have thick smartwool socks over those or something. Then if you still need warmth... sprinkle a little cayenne powder into the inside of your socks before you set off for the day. Seriously. It works. Just don't use a lot (little goes a long way).. and don't have any open wounds on your toes.. 
As for snowcaves.. I'm partial to the Quin-zhee hut. Basically you just make a huge pile of snow, pack it down.. and let it set for an hour or two (important). Then you take some sticks and poke them about 12" into the roof... at various intervals around it.. this is for measuring. Then dig it out and make sure it's a dome on the inside.. stop when you reach stick. I like to go for around 18" just for peace of mind. The bottom walls should be thicker than the top. Then pack the walls from the inside.. and you have your fortress. They suck building one alone.. it helps if you have a friend. Do have some dry clothes ready, because you will get soaked building it. If not from being waist-deep in snow... from sweat.
Here's a link - http://north-link.net/cmsakry/1pub/874bwj2.htm and another - http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Gorge/1066/543quinzhee.html
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ToTheSummit
peregrinus



Registered: 08/22/99
Posts: 9,126
Loc: Las Vegas
Last seen: 10 hours, 54 minutes
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Re: Cross Country Skiing [Re: Shroomism]
#5387485 - 03/10/06 09:48 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Good socks are good advice, Shroomism! 
I wear Thorlo brand socks exclusively for my outdoor activites. There are other good brands as well but those are the ones I prefer. I wear a thin liner (wicking) sock with a heavy wool blend over it for warmth/comfort.
Thorlo (and some other brands) makes many different socks tailored for different purposes. Hiking, trekking, running, skiing, etc. Each is designed to do a specific job and I've found that socks are almost as important as the boot you put over them.
-------------------- You invented the wheel....You push the motherfucker!!
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vivid
Stranger


Registered: 12/14/99
Posts: 1,888
Loc: Berkeley, California
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Re: Cross Country Skiing [Re: vivid]
#5391383 - 03/12/06 09:33 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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yeh i got the socks covered, wigwam wickers and expedition weight wool socks over that.. i'm pretty sure what was going on was that my feet would prespire and then freeze over when i wasn't working.
I searched the internet for some tips and found that some people actually apply anti-persperant to their feet for a week leading up to a snow trip, by that time the aluminum whatevericide clogs up the pores in the foot to the point you dont need to reapply while you're in the field.
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