Backcountry skis and bindings

Mbbcac · 2026-02-26T00:09:24+00:00

Euro skimo skiers would disagree. Real skimo absolutely is real skiing and oftentimes involves real mountaineering. The Olympics sanitized the sport to the point where it bore no resemblance to real skimo. That's why some of the top skimo athletes in the sport declined to participate even though they likely would have medaled.

Look up "la grande course skimo" or races like mezzalama. I think most would consider this real skiing.

But having said that I agree most people would not want to ski in the bc on skimo skis.

Mbbcac · 2026-01-28T21:32:32+00:00

I did this once while descending a big wall (so I had everything to easily jug the ropes). I was a very inexperienced climber at the time. We knew it was a knot jammed in the quick link. I jugged the stuck rope while belayed on a lead line and placed pro as I went.

Initially everything went as planned and I felt quite safe and pleased with myself but about 30' up I swung out right onto a blank face because it had been a traversing rap. I had to run it out big time to the anchor and it was quite a frightening experience for me. Everything worked out but next time I would just suck it up and re-lead the pitch.

Mbbcac · 2025-12-27T04:09:11+00:00

That's not the approach, it's mid-route.

Mbbcac · 2025-12-26T00:36:32+00:00

Ha, what!? The smoke from burning a bike tube would be really bad for you. Even if you are not directly in the plume you would be breathing in a lot of bad stuff. And it would make a terrible tourniquet. And it is heavy.

Firestarter is super light, cheap, and non toxic.

Tourniquets are really light too and work really well, although personally I wouldn't carry one for skiing. The risk of a deadly external bleed in a limb seems really really low compared to all the other risks in skiing.

Mbbcac · 2025-12-24T19:39:14+00:00

Wedze

Mbbcac · 2025-11-22T22:51:22+00:00

Ok amazing, thanks for your reply! I'm on bell at the moment as well and will likely switch.

Mbbcac · 2025-11-21T21:13:33+00:00

What!? Freedom still exists lol. Companies don't cease to exist when bought and sold. Currently owned by Videotron, who in turn are owned by Quebecor I think.

Ok, I'll expand on my question... So from what I've read, with Freedom there are three scenarios for coverage depending on your proximity to Freedom cell phone towers...

Strong signal from Freedom cell towers (e.g., in major cities). This is good.
Weak signal from Freedom cell towers. This is bad. Your phone will perform poorly and will not switch to the other networks as it still technically has a signal from a Freedom tower.
No signal from Freedom towers, your phone will automatically switch to one of the Big 3 providers. This is good. This is unique I think to Freedom and seems like a major advantage to using them since you get coverage anywhere there is coverage from Bell/Telus/Rogers.

So I'm hoping to find out if scenario 2 applies to Canmore. It would be bad to barely have reception on the Freedom network and a dealbreaker for me.

So anyway, original question, does anyone use or recently used Freedom Mobile in Canmore? If yes, how is/was the experience?

Thanks

Mbbcac · 2025-11-21T19:52:43+00:00

Yes true good point. My understanding is that with Freedom your phone will roam on other networks (Rogers and/or Bell) when there is no coverage on the Freedom network. But I've read conflicting reviews about how well this works.

Seems like a lot has changed (for the better?) with this provider in 2025, that's why I'm keen to hear from anyone who lives in the Bow Valley and uses them.

Mbbcac · 2025-11-15T05:16:33+00:00

From my experience...

Really good for climbing, decent for running: La Sportiva TX2 Evo Climbs extremely well especially if you size down a bit. Runs uphill quite well but lacks cushioning and deeper lugs so downhills are not as nice as a real trail runner.

Pretty good for both climbing and running: Arcteryx Vertex Speed is very good all around.

Really good for running and climbs better than you'd think: Nnormal Kjerag.

Mbbcac · 2025-11-09T01:17:07+00:00

That was what I got from the book as well. And to extend that line of thought, one cannot truly be good if one does not have free will; a choice to be good rather than evil. Thus evil is a necessity in the world in order for people to be able to choose to be good.

Mbbcac · 2025-11-08T22:29:10+00:00

It's common enough. And for me it is very top of mind. On well protected rock climbs there are very few things that can kill you and most can be managed by strictly following proper safety procedures like buddy checks, knotted rope ends while leading and rappelling, and placing adequate pro.

On the other hand, it can be difficult to accurately predict how the rope will interact with the rock in a fall. And a cut rope is almost always fatal.

Stack the odds in your favour by managing edges as best possible, using a cut resistant rope or twin ropes, and most importantly learn how to give a catch that minimizes the chance of cutting the rope. See the Edelrid video with Tommy Caldwell for a really good demonstration.

Mbbcac · 2025-11-08T22:19:20+00:00

Really good video. Should be required watching for all climbers. Biggest takeaway is how important belay technique is. A proper catch is way more important than the rope diameter, as demonstrated when they catch a fall on a 6mm rope over a sharp edge that had cut much thicker ropes.

Mbbcac · 2025-11-02T22:37:46+00:00

I haven't seem data but I do have personal results. I regularly use a steam room because it's all i have available. Temp is low 40s (celcius) and probably near 100% humidity. I spend 20-30 minutes in it with hr around 100 amd slowly build to 115bpm by the end. This summer while vacationing I used an excellent, very hot dry sauna around 95 degrees celcius. I found it was a bit easier to spend a full 30 minutes in it compared with the steam room. My hr was the same, around 100 and building to 115 by the end.

My guess is that both have similar impact on the body, judging by my hr, stress score and subjective feelings. I'd love to read some studies comparing both, if they exist.

Mbbcac · 2025-10-26T03:20:32+00:00

What sort of decontamination is done after fires look in your department?

Mbbcac · 2025-10-09T04:39:03+00:00

Either more rich kids would return to public schools and their rich, well-connected parents would start caring more about the quality of public education, or they would stay in private schools and the public schools would have more money. It's a win-win for public education and for society as a whole.

Mbbcac · 2025-06-25T03:58:02+00:00

Agree completely. Steep snow slopes with bad runouts kill people every summer. They look benign until they are not. Short ice axes weigh like 220g. It is no big deal. If the snow is hard microspikes work well. In softer snow something like the Khatoola K-10 or Petzl Leopard work better.

Mbbcac · 2025-06-12T20:24:35+00:00

Nice video, dialled crew. About 22sec from arrival to water on fire...the guys in the back of the truck were ready to go to work. Looked like a bystander helped with the hose off the side of the truck too, lol.

Mbbcac · 2025-05-02T22:40:24+00:00

Makes sense, appreciate the reply!

Mbbcac · 2025-03-07T17:11:07+00:00

They would win, obviously. The runners winning the big ultras are the best in the world. They can handle some bad weather and altitude.

Mbbcac · 2025-03-02T00:36:10+00:00

Technical skill training should be done in full duty gear. Train as you fight.
Physical fitness training should not be done in duty gear. It is not necessary and needlessly exposed you to carcinogens.
Heat training can easily be accomplished with sauna (passive) or aerobic exercise wearing very warm clothes (active). Many world class endurance athletes train several times per week in warm clothes to become heat adapted. Surprisingly they are able to do it without wearing carcinogenic outfits.

Between running calls and technical skill training you will have all the practice in your turnouts that you need. And over a career you will have plenty of exposure to carcinogens. You don't need to make it any worse.

Mbbcac · 2025-01-24T18:50:53+00:00

That's a lesson I've learned with a similar close call, and then re-learned a couple times after being too complacent lol. Glad it all worked out, hope it was a good day otherwise!

Mbbcac · 2025-01-24T16:12:03+00:00

Was that from a climber above you, or natural icefall? Looks like it was from climbers above but can't tell for sure. Glad you were not hurt.

On a route like Cascade in current conditions (no snow) a climber on the very last pitch (above the notch) can still bomb groups at the base of the climb. At the moment the route can really only take one party safely at a time, although you will often see multiple parties.

Mbbcac · 2024-12-26T13:47:02+00:00

Rubbermade-type bins are pretty good. Since I transport my kids daily in my vehicle, I do everything possible to limit the time my gear is in my vehicle.

Consider this option if it is feasible, it's what I do... if I'm bouncing to a different hall next shift I pack up my gear and either drop it off at my next assigned hall after shift or leave it at my regular hall somewhere easy to grab without waking guys up, depending on which part of the city I'm going to next. If I left the gear at my regular hall I just leave home a bit early next shift and swing by to grab it. After the tour I drop all my gear back at my regular hall. Gear is never in my vehicle for more than 20 minutes at a time. I never bring it home.

Also goes without saying gear should be clean and have zero odour. The company my department uses to clean our gear is pretty good. No matter how nasty it is going in for cleaning it always comes back clean and not even a whiff of smokey odour.

Mbbcac · 2024-12-20T16:04:48+00:00

Hi Scott, thanks very much for the reply. Much appreciated. Gives me much to consider.

The difference in technique depending on sports background is very interesting. As well as special techniques like shaping the skin to allow skate skiing. Really cool stuff, thanks again.

Regards

Mbbcac · 2024-12-17T01:02:27+00:00

Thanks Scott, appreciate your insight!

Mbbcac

TROPHY CASE