my wife is using an Osprey Switch 18 pack. the board is an egf swallowtail 164cm.

Montoya is making his poor wife break trail in three feet of powder without poles!! Look at the poor girl struggling up to her armpits whilst Montoya hangs back and takes casual pictures.

spud: the skis I use are shaped with metal edges. I've found that traversing wasn't difficult until I encountered solid ice. the skin wasn't holding so I was nearly side stepping up the ice. I slid a couple of times, which must have been quite a sight since I'm not a skier must less a free heeler. If I had shoes I could have gone for the summit that day (a blue bird bummer) so you're right on about snowshoe versatility. I would have stashed my board but the option would have been there.
Ski crampons would have gotten me much further than I did, but I don't have them (not even sure if they're compatible). unfortunately they don't make crampons that fit on bulky snowboard boots either.
My skis aren't that clumsy when strapped to the pack, but I also use a slightly larger pack than necessary puffed up with a down jacket. I've taken a few falls but no serious cartwheels to speak of. skis are strapped to the sides so I don't imagine they would ever smack me in a tumble (maybe in the head but I wear a helmet).

Montoya: I've never skinned on real skis so I have no comparison. by shear physics they can't have the same float, but I wouldn't know the differences in 'x' snow conditions. otherwise it's just as fast (except you have a board on your back).
Good point about "what are our partners riding". to add to that, if you're the only one on shoes you're stuck in the back so you don't jack up the skin track.

Most of my experience is in spring corn conditions in the cascades which are very predictable. If I know I'm going to hit variable conditions I usually hike up, add crampons, summit, wait for corn (no sinkage in early corn). winter trips...well, cascades are known for 'cascade cement'...heavy powder so the shorter skis were never an issue.

kumapix: the ideal setup really depends on where/when you want to ride. for 'all around' the suggestions on this thread are excellent.

poles: another option to think of are whippets. if you're on glaciers or steep hard snow you need a way to self arrest (whether you're going up or down). whippets are from black diamond, but the attachment poles are two-piece and don't collapse as short as the 3 piece. there are other options discussed on this thread .

happy riding!!
-rick

I was only joking, being light hearted.

That was an infornative post, cheers Ricardo.

In this particular context do you mean ski crampons for approach skis and boarder boots, or just standard crampons for boarder boots? If the later, then do not despair. I own and have used at least 20 times a pair of Grivel G10 Wides. They have a wider toe piece and fit my snowboard boots like a dream. Besides the rhythm of hiking with poles, one of my favourite sensations is finishing off the last 300m stretch of a hike in crampons. They are totally satisfying and enjoyable things to have on your feet. It also means you are climbing something with a bit of consequence, which feels good in the stomach as well.

http://www.grivel.com/Home.asp?L=E


Always carry your crampons, they come in handy. Just a few weeks ago I had to give up on a minor Coulior because I couldn't climb any higher without crampons (feet were punching through the snow to the rocky base. Like most early season cover in Europe, the pack was almost entirely depth hoar and was like trying to climb up a 45 degree pile of sugar. Perhaps it wasn't so safe for me to ride, either....


You need crampons to reach the top (I did it last year)


This was as far as I got.

Cool!
Thanks for the tip spud. I'll have to check into that. of course it's a non-issue here...Korea doesn't have $#i+ for snow! I need to move to Japan...or somewhere with snow.
8^)

Split boards, I think, have some serious drawbacks in Japan. Many around me don't use them anymore.

1. Boards/bindings get heavy.
2. Decreased riding performance (to some extent)
3. Skins are may be heavier than shoes
4. Unless you are trained skier, tough to turn on a switch back on a steep and traverse.

Of course it is always a good idea to have all parties have the same clibming equipment.