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Crag & Route Beta

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Topic Date User

Perisher Backcountry ski/climb trip info! 24-Aug-2012 At 7:25:47 AM TonyB

Message

On 17/08/2012 Mike Bee wrote:
>Tell that to the icy crud that was supposed to be snow on the Main Range
>when I was there last month.

There's always lots like that on the main range mid winter. Good technique will get you up through anything. I don't think most people learn what good climbing technique is, because of use of heavy gear. There's almost always good snow somewhere to have fun skiing down if you look around a bit. Usually you can avoid the really nasty stuff. Funnily enough though, coming back from one trip down from Guthega trig, everywhere was thick breakable crust covering deepish powder. I put my pack down, did a test and it looked like being a nightmare ski down to the dam. I put my pack back on and went for it. The extra weight of my pack and extra aggression, allowed me to break through the crust and do magificent teles all the way down.

Still, most people will find heavy gear easier. If you want to try extra lightweight gear, go in the spring on sunny days. Ego snow.

Another thing I find interesting is the position of the hands in teles. I learn trad technique with arms high for better dynamic balance (try balancing a stick with a weight on one end on the palm of your hand - best with centre of gravity high). Modern style teles teach arms low. Except for one of the very best downhill tele skiers I've ever seen, who travelled only with a knife. He cut a single thin tree branch for a pole when he arrived at a resort. He held it horizontally and used it side to side. Only good for resort skiing of course.