{"id":1628,"date":"2015-12-05T01:01:13","date_gmt":"2015-12-05T09:01:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/?p=1628"},"modified":"2015-11-28T21:17:09","modified_gmt":"2015-11-29T05:17:09","slug":"cross-country-skiing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/products\/equipment\/cross-country-skiing\/","title":{"rendered":"Cross Country Skiing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1635\" src=\"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Paske.jpg\" alt=\"Skiing Near Vegglifjell, Norway\" width=\"550\" height=\"259\" srcset=\"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Paske.jpg 550w, https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Paske-300x141.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><br \/>\nFrankly, \u00a0I enjoy cross country skiing (XC) more than snowshoeing. \u00a0It takes a little more skill, but getting through the countryside is much faster and requires significantly less energy per mile than snowshoes. \u00a0I began enjoying cross country skiing\u00a0as a kid when my grandparents gave me a set of wooden skis with bamboo poles. \u00a0My dad had wax for the skis and I\u00a0learned a little about how different waxes stick or slide with different types and temperatures of snow. \u00a0I had everything I needed for winter adventures.<\/p>\n<h1>Skiing Adventures<\/h1>\n<p>My first skiing adventures were on the small hills behind my house. \u00a0Mostly I skied straight down the hills with no ability to stop or turn unless I fell first. \u00a0A little later I skied for\u00a0what seemed like forever (Google Earth tells me it was about 1.5 miles) to a much longer\u00a0hill\u00a0that offered an outstanding ride &#8211; especially when covered in ice. \u00a0Those wooden skis were not designed for ice\u00a0although they made for really fast travel. \u00a0Again, there was no turning or stopping without falling and even then, falling on the ice just turned a skiing adventure into a toboggan adventure &#8211; without the toboggan &#8211; until my momentum dwindled. \u00a0By some miracle, \u00a0I never broke a leg.<\/p>\n<p>As an adult, I finally got some more\u00a0advanced\u00a0skis, the same pair I still use. \u00a0They are waxless &#8211; a great invention\u00a0&#8211; and designed so that I could actually learn to turn and stop. \u00a0After much practice on a short hill on a local golf course, \u00a0I was able to make a couple of telemark turns before getting to the bottom &#8211; still standing. \u00a0That led to some great adventures in the woods with friends. \u00a0A couple come to mind.<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Learn to make telemark turns-Part 1\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kqpS41vV_ww?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Night skiing. \u00a0One frigid\u00a0night, lit by a full moon we decided to go skiing in the woods with no flashlights. \u00a0Someone in the group must have known where they were going because I didn&#8217;t. \u00a0It did require some concentration to stay in the leaders&#8217; tracks and, fortunately, they waited for the slower folks in the group from time to time. \u00a0Amazingly, no one got lost and we had a great time.<\/p>\n<p>Another time, \u00a0I decided to go skiing with an outdoor group at Oregon State University. \u00a0It was rainy, the snow was wet and not a great lot of fun as we trudged up a hill. \u00a0When we reached the top our leader said &#8220;see you at the bottom.&#8221; \u00a0We weren&#8217;t told we were going to the ski bowl\u00a0at <a href=\"https:\/\/skihoodoo.com\/hoodoo-ski-trail-map\/#prettyPhoto[235]\/0\/\" target=\"_blank\">Hoodoo<\/a>, but there we were at the top of an icy slope with nowhere to go but down. \u00a0I flashed back to that icy hill as a kid, but this one was at least 20 times higher, steeper and just as icy. \u00a0Now, \u00a0I had been downhill skiing on similar slopes at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.schweitzer.com\/content\/uploaded\/images\/SchweitzerBowl_2015-16_web.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">Schweitzer<\/a> without much trouble, but then I was using downhill skis with metal edges designed for this particular type of skiing. \u00a0Now, \u00a0I was older\u00a0and\u00a0considerably more fragile than I was in\u00a0my younger days and using XC skis without metal edges. \u00a0I made it down, slowly and deliberately by skiing across the run while sliding sideways down the hill. \u00a0Upon getting across the run, \u00a0I turned and went across the other direction, still sliding down the hill sideways. \u00a0After more zigs and zags that I could count I finally arrived, exhausted, at the bottom. \u00a0I learned that I could go anywhere with those skis\u00a0&#8211; it&#8217;s was just a matter of careful route selection.<\/p>\n<h1>Keeping Warm<\/h1>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-1637\" src=\"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Skier.jpg\" alt=\"Skier\" width=\"225\" height=\"244\" \/>It&#8217;s easy to get cold when playing in the snow, but XC skiing is a different story. \u00a0The energy generated while skiing provides plenty of heat. \u00a0So much so that bundling up as if to go sledding could lead\u00a0to hypothermia. \u00a0The problem is the sweat the body produces at this level of exercise. \u00a0It&#8217;s critical to wear lighter clothing than you might imagine, wear clothes in layers and be sure to keep your body properly ventilated. \u00a0 While skiing, less clothing will provide\u00a0plenty of warmth. \u00a0Once stopping for any length of time, it will be necessary to add layers to retain that heat. \u00a0Key is the base layer that must be able to wick moisture away from the body. \u00a0A wet body and cold air means hypothermia.<\/p>\n<div class='et-box et-shadow'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et-box-content'>Appropriate clothing helps to prevent hypothermia. Synthetic\u00a0and\u00a0wool\u00a0fabrics are superior to cotton as they provide better insulation when wet and dry. Some synthetic fabrics, such as polypropylene and polyester, are used in clothing designed to wick perspiration away from the body, such as liner socks and moisture-wicking undergarments. Clothing should be loose fitting, as tight clothing reduces the circulation of warm blood. &#8211; <em>Wikipedia<\/em><\/div><\/div>\n<h1>Skis, Boots, Bindings and Poles<\/h1>\n<p>The skis I bought as an adult, sometime around the late 1970&#8217;s, were Trak waxless skis with a fish-scale pattern on the bottom. \u00a0That pattern was later marketed as Omnitrak\u00ae and still works great in all kinds of snow. \u00a0Later on, Trak merged with Karhu and ultimately the fish-scale base is no longer produced. Since my old Trak&#8217;s are wearing out, it&#8217;s time to find a new set. \u00a0As it turns out, \u00a0there have been some advances in cross country skis in the intervening years. \u00a0\u00a0Here&#8217;s how I am going about finding a new setup:<\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3>Skis<\/h3>\n<p>I&#8217;ve used waxed skis and waxless skis and I want waxless. \u00a0I want to ski, not dink around determining snow temperature and consistency and applying whatever type of wax will make them work then reapplying when it wears off. \u00a0Sure, \u00a0if you want to race you want your skis perfectly matched for the snow, but for the touring I do, waxless works perfectly.<\/p>\n<p>The next consideration is the type of ski. \u00a0I want touring skis and I could be persuaded to go with tougher, steel-edged skis because I do get out on virgin snow as much as I can. \u00a0Still, plain old touring skis work fine in almost all situations. \u00a0There are special skis for racers, but that&#8217;s not me.<\/p>\n<p>Getting the correct size used to involve getting a ski that reaches to your wrist when your hand is held over your head. \u00a0These days. it&#8217;s more about weight. \u00a0Skis are designed so that they arch upward under the foot area. \u00a0That&#8217;s called camber. \u00a0When gliding down a hill, the skier&#8217;s weight is balanced on both skis and the foot area \u00a0is off the snow, offering the best glide. \u00a0When striding\u00a0with the skis, the weight shifts from one ski to the other so that with the full weight on one ski, it will flatten and allow the foot area full contact with the snow\u00a0and offer maximum kick. \u00a0If you buy skis to match your weight, they will work the way they should.<\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3>Boots<\/h3>\n<p>Normally you will get the type of boot to match your style of skiing. \u00a0Unless you are into racing where the boots tend to be lower and lighter, \u00a0there are only two styles. \u00a0Touring boots and back country boots that are higher, heavier and stiffer for skiing off the path with those metal-edged skis I mentioned. \u00a0I have weak ankles and prefer the higher boots for the support they provide. \u00a0So I either need to find a touring boot that is more rigid and higher than typical or go with the back country style of boot.<\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3>Bindings<\/h3>\n<p>Somehow, the skier&#8217;s foot needs to be attached to the ski. \u00a0At the same time, \u00a0unlike with downhill skis, the heel needs to be able to lift off of the ski as you move along. \u00a0My skis have what&#8217;s called a nordic norm binding. \u00a0That basically a three pin system that mates with holes in the front edge of the boot soles and has a clamp that holds the boot on the pins. \u00a0The heels are not held down at all, although there is a heel stop that holds the heel in place, more or less, on downhill runs. \u00a0This type of binding seems a little hard to find these days. \u00a0Today there are some other options and the binding must match the boot.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-1639\" src=\"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/poles.jpg\" alt=\"Ski Poles\" width=\"225\" height=\"221\" srcset=\"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/poles.jpg 225w, https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/poles-62x62.jpg 62w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/>There are &#8220;New Nordic Norm&#8221; (NNN) boots\/bindings that work more or less like my old nordic norm binding except with a couple of ridges instead of the three pins to hold the toe in place. \u00a0Salomon offers a couple of different style bindings. \u00a0One is called\u00a0Salomon Nordic System (SNS) Profil and the other is\u00a0SNS Pilot. \u00a0Both attach to the boot differently from the NNN bindings and, to complicate matters further,\u00a0SNS Profil boots cannot fit into Pilot bindings\u00a0while, generally,\u00a0SNS Pilot boots can fit into Profil bindings.<\/p>\n<p>I mentioned that nordic norm bindings are a bit hard to find, but they are still available from some sources for use with backcountry boots. \u00a0Also for backcountry boots are\u00a0New Nordic Norm Backcountry (NNN BC)\u00a0bindings. \u00a0They are much like \u00a0NNN touring bindings, but are built to be\u00a0more durable for backcountry use.<\/p>\n<p>The bottom line with bindings is to chose your skis and your boots and you will be pretty much locked into the bindings you will need.<\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3>Poles<\/h3>\n<p>Once you find poles that will reach from the ground to your armpits about any will do. \u00a0The differences are in the strength and\u00a0durability of the poles. \u00a0The more durable poles will be heavier, but better suited to backcountry skiing. Normal touring poles will tend to have smaller baskets since they are designed for skiing on groomed trails where the snow is compacted. \u00a0Poles for backcountry use have larger baskets to hold in deeper, loose snow.<\/p>\n<h1>My Approach to Buying<\/h1>\n<div id=\"attachment_1631\" style=\"width: 235px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1631\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1631\" src=\"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/FischerBoot.jpg\" alt=\"Fischer BCX 675 75mm Backcountry Ski Boots\" width=\"225\" height=\"222\" srcset=\"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/FischerBoot.jpg 225w, https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/FischerBoot-62x62.jpg 62w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-1631\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fischer BCX 675 75mm Backcountry Ski Boots<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In my case, I decided to settle on the boots that I wanted first, so I went to my favorite outdoor store, REI, and searched their website for cross country ski boots. \u00a0There are a lot to choose from, but it&#8217;s fairly quick to scan through all those that are available. \u00a0I was looking for a higher boot that looked like it would provide good ankle\u00a0support. \u00a0As it turned out these were all backcountry boots, so I compared the four mostly likely suspects. \u00a0I like to pay attention to reviews, \u00a0and three of\u00a0the four had reviews. \u00a0One rated 3 stars\u00a0and two with\u00a04.5 stars with prices ranging from $120 (3 stars) to $200 (4.5 stars) to $300 (4.5 stars). \u00a0All of these\u00a0were designed for\u00a0the old fashioned nordic norm 3-pin bindings. \u00a0The $120 boot was marked down from $250 so it seemed like a bargain, but only one size (30 or Men&#8217;s 6) was available and it was way to small for me. \u00a0The remaining two boots, with any ratings at all were the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.avantlink.com\/click.php?tt=cl&amp;mi=10248&amp;pw=181465&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rei.com%2Fproduct%2F859272%2Ffischer-bcx-675-75mm-backcountry-ski-boots\">Fischer BCX 675 75mm Backcountry Ski Boots<\/a> and the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.avantlink.com\/click.php?tt=cl&amp;mi=10248&amp;pw=181465&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rei.com%2Fproduct%2F822534%2Fscarpa-t4-75mm-backcountry-boots\">Scarpa T4 75mm Backcountry Boots<\/a>. \u00a0The Scarpa&#8217;s looked like more boot than I would need as confirmed by the reviews. \u00a0Reviewers noted that the Fischer boot works well with wider feet, seems to be durable and provides good ankle support. \u00a0I need a wider boot and the ankle support, so I decided upon the Fischer boots at $200.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1632\" style=\"width: 62px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1632\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1632\" src=\"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/RossignolBC90.jpg\" alt=\"Rossignol BC 90 Skis\" width=\"52\" height=\"440\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-1632\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rossignol BC 90 Positrack Backcountry Skis<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Once I arrived at the boot, I was locked in to 75mm Nordic Norm bindings. \u00a0The only one I could find at REI was the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.avantlink.com\/click.php?tt=cl&amp;mi=10248&amp;pw=181465&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rei.com%2Fproduct%2F790822%2Frottefella-super-tele-bindings\">Rottefella Super Tele Bindings<\/a> at $60. \u00a0It had good ratings (4.5 stars) and reviewers indicated it was a good durable binding, so I went with it.<\/p>\n<p>Next, the skis. Some skis come with bindings that would not work with my selected boots so I put the skis that would work (all metal-edge backcountry skis) in order by price (low to high) and began by comparing the first four skis under $300 that had no bindings, were waxless and were designed for backcountry use. \u00a0They were easily eliminated because they were not designed for my weight. \u00a0The lowest priced ski like this available\u00a0for my weight is the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.avantlink.com\/click.php?tt=cl&amp;mi=10248&amp;pw=181465&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rei.com%2Fproduct%2F890994%2Frossignol-bc-90-positrack-backcountry-skis\">Rossignol BC 90 Positrack Backcountry Skis<\/a> at $300. \u00a0I had to use the sizing chart available at the Rossignol website to make the weight determination. \u00a0The\u00a0BC 90&#8217;s\u00a0went into my shopping cart.<\/p>\n<p>Finally poles. \u00a0Given that I was firmly in the realm of backcountry skiing, I decided I should have appropriate poles. \u00a0 I have never used adjustable poles in the past and see no need for them now,\u00a0but it looked like all of the poles at REI were adjustable. \u00a0I looked at the four that looked the best at first glance. \u00a0As far as strength, all are made of 7075 or\u00a07075-T6 aluminum and the T6 variation is tempered to provide considerably more strength. \u00a0The least expensive of the three with the tempered aluminum, at $85 for a pair, was the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.avantlink.com\/click.php?tt=cl&amp;mi=10248&amp;pw=181465&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rei.com%2Fproduct%2F876931%2Fblack-diamond-traverse-ski-poles-pair\" target=\"_blank\">Black Diamond Traverse Ski Poles<\/a>. \u00a0They come with larger baskets for powder snow and seemed well suited to my needs. \u00a0Being adjustable, \u00a0they can also be adapted to hiking use in the summer.<\/p>\n<h1>Conclusion<\/h1>\n<p>My choices led to a $645 package suitable for backcountry skiing as well as standard XC skiing. \u00a0Given the purchase from REI, the member rebate should be about $129 bring the total down to $516. \u00a0Your choices are likely to be different. \u00a0For example, \u00a0my wife is much smaller than I am and isn&#8217;t usually interested in getting far off the trails. \u00a0Thus, \u00a0a lighter weight ski not designed for backcountry use would work well for her. \u00a0We would start with the ski and probably find a pair that come with bindings. \u00a0That would limit the choice of boots and we&#8217;d go with lighter poles. \u00a0Again, your choices are likely to be different, but just getting equipped and getting out there exploring is more important than any equipment choice you could make.<\/p>\n<h1>Please Share<\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Frankly, \u00a0I enjoy cross country skiing (XC) more than snowshoeing. \u00a0It takes a little more skill, but getting through the countryside is much faster and requires significantly less energy per mile than snowshoes. \u00a0I began enjoying cross country skiing\u00a0as a kid when my grandparents gave me a set of wooden skis with bamboo poles. \u00a0My [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1642,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,7,3,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1628","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-activities","category-adventure","category-equipment","category-video"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1628","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1628"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1628\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1643,"href":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1628\/revisions\/1643"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1642"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1628"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1628"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1628"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}