Member of the Month

abjectwoe
May, 2025

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Yall got any tips for boot packing?

profile picture
freewillie
Posts: 431 - Karma: 3,326
Title; tips for a n00b.
k+ for making my hikes less painful.
10 years ago
59 15
profile picture
CTD
Posts: 6303 - Karma: 360
water
no cotton
shell outerwear with good waterproofing and breath-ability (probably most important)
good layering
music
extra goggles (sweat + goggles=fog)
Sunglasses
Maybe ski straps if youre gonna shoulder the skis to keep them together
extra gloves or shell mits ( my hands usually get cold hiking from lack of blood flow, especially if im carrying skis on my shoulder)
I cant think of really anything else, backcountry stuff if your goin out of bounds, shovel, beacon probe partner.
10 years ago
5 0
profile picture
Dirty.Harry.
Posts: 1779 - Karma: 351
I wear a backpack designed to carry skis when I bootpack something. It's really nice to carry skis on my back instead of in my hand/on shoulder. Obviously I don't bother when the hike is short but sometimes we're doing mixed hiking with a mix of skins/ice axe + crampons/rappelling, so hands-free ski carrying is key.
10 years ago
1 0
profile picture
freewillie
Posts: 431 - Karma: 3,326
Dirty.Harry.I wear a backpack designed to carry skis when I bootpack something. It's really nice to carry skis on my back instead of in my hand/on shoulder. Obviously I don't bother when the hike is short but sometimes we're doing mixed hiking with a mix of skins/ice axe + crampons/rappelling, so hands-free ski carrying is key.


yeah...I have the dakine heli pack
10 years ago
1 0
profile picture
cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,681
One foot in front of the other
10 years ago
2 0
profile picture
SFBv420.0
Posts: 2539 - Karma: 3,126
stay outta the damn skin track till ya figure out why them guys aint bootin
10 years ago
16 0
profile picture
50Kal
Posts: 2836 - Karma: 5,541
Boots that fit & summit beer.
10 years ago
1 1
profile picture
freewillie
Posts: 431 - Karma: 3,326
SFBv420.0stay outta the damn skin track till ya figure out why them guys aint bootin


I would be getting an AT setup, but unfortunately I can't afford it :(
I will do my best to keep the skin track the sink track.
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Dirty.Harry.
Posts: 1779 - Karma: 351
SFBv420.0stay outta the damn skin track till ya figure out why them guys aint bootin


I couldn't agree with this more. It's one of the rudest things someone can do.
10 years ago
1 0
profile picture
ThaLorax
Posts: 21106 - Karma: 8,611
Snowshoes
10 years ago
3 1
profile picture
wrichmond
Posts: 562 - Karma: 369
Make good steps and SMALL steps.

Also, take off the helmet/beanie unless it's blowin hard. You'll sweat less with the extra body heat lost from your exposed head.
10 years ago
1 0
profile picture
ghosthop
Posts: 631 - Karma: 1,027
Boot packing sucks so much sometimes

take off your helmet/goggles, you don't need them and they'll just make you sweat worse
I usually take off my shell/hoody and just hike in a baselayer, but ymmv
get a comfortable backpack to hold your skis, throwing them over your shoulder is no fun
move out of the way if people are on your ass, the only thing worse than boot packing is having some gaper slowing you down
spray some sort of no stick on the bottom of your boots to help stop snow from building up on them
10 years ago
1 0
profile picture
iLLbiLLy
Posts: 2865 - Karma: 2,631
If the bootpack isn't bulletproof (and you keep post-holing), try kicking your toe in just a couple inches deeper than the established foot print. This will give you a better chance of the snow supporting your weight, by ensuring that you have as much surface area as possible on the snow.

This is especially important if you have a bigger foot and are heavier than the average person.

Also focus on the bootpack and try not to look up too often (unless of course you're in complex terrain). This will help prevent mis-steps (huge waste of energy) and maybe reduce the dread of the immense distance you have to go.
10 years ago
1 0
profile picture
Most-D
Posts: 729 - Karma: 1,088
I thought this thread would suck, but its pretty great!
10 years ago
2 0
profile picture
Lbird
Posts: 401 - Karma: 2,190
ThaLoraxSnowshoes


I've actually found that on steep ascents it is easier to just go naked boot
10 years ago
1 0
profile picture
freewillie
Posts: 431 - Karma: 3,326
LbirdI've actually found that on steep ascents it is easier to just go naked boot


You have very little experience
10 years ago
1 0
profile picture
ThaLorax
Posts: 21106 - Karma: 8,611
Lbirdjust go naked


Exactly
10 years ago
2 0
profile picture
Hugh_Conway_jr
Posts: 746 - Karma: 467
Bootpacking sucks.

I know you are poor, but there is a shit load of used gear out there... have you though of selling drugs? or your body? .. just for a short period of time? .. seriously, that's how much boot packing sucks... better to give a few BJ's to some old dudes in the alley for one night, than to have every day in the BC suck balls.

Even consider a used pair of skins and some alpine trekkers. Trekkers are cheap, and if you ask nice enough some dirty hippy will give you his punched out skins.
10 years ago
2 1
profile picture
ghosthop
Posts: 631 - Karma: 1,027
Hugh_Conway_jrsucks.


your username sucks. And a quote from strummer in your bio? You know you can just join tgr if you have that much of a hard on.
10 years ago
0 5
profile picture
Hugh_Conway_jr
Posts: 746 - Karma: 467
ghosthopyour username sucks. And a quote from strummer in your bio? You know you can just join tgr if you have that much of a hard on.


You can save that ass hole routine for TGR buddy.
10 years ago
3 2
profile picture
HAMNATION
Posts: 814 - Karma: 1,722
Keep Walking Asshole!! thats what I tell myself
10 years ago
0 1
profile picture
Literature
Posts: 13673 - Karma: 3,087
Just don't.
10 years ago
1 1
profile picture
soup
Posts: 6354 - Karma: 4,486
stop drinking/smoking weed for a couple pay checks and get yourself some skins and touring binders.
10 years ago
2 0
All times are Eastern (-4); Currently it's 2:07PM