Local Westchester Co. Woods: 1.25.16

Thanks to Jonus, we have our first local snowpack of the season. Temps stayed cold yesterday which kept the snow nice and dry. In fact, drier this morning than when we got out during the storm on Saturday afternoon.  I love, LOVE my backcountry XC setup which is basically a light duty tele or XCD. It is already about 8 years old. Leather Alpina 3 pin boots with Alpina Cross Terrain skis and Voile 3 pin cable bindings. Perfect for cruising our local woods.

The local woods are about 450 acres and span 2 ridges which have about 300 feet in vertical.  There are a few miles of older trails which were old dirt roads that have grown in and some double track.  In addition over the years my buddies and I have built a few miles of techy single track with rocks, berms, whalebacks, and some laddered sections.  But with Jonus' 16", I never hit bottom today even on some of the more techy sections. The best thing about our local woods is that they are just 1/2 mile up the road from my house.

I got out there for about 2 hours today. It was nice, sunny and cold this morning but it was warming up quickly and got above freezing today.  I took the dog with me to romp in the snow. He is still just a pup but I think after today he may qualify for the skidog thread. Here are a couple of pics of Crosby enjoying Jonus' bounty:





I am not sure if it is my age, as I approach 50, or perhaps it is due to exclusively being on tele skis now, but I enjoy a day touring the local woods in good snow just about as much a day of downhill.   I can't wait for tomorrow morning....I'll be out there again at dawn.

Marcski wrote

backcountey

Marcski wrote

I enjoy a day touring the local woods in good snow just about as much a day of downhill.

I get this. I'd still rather tour in the mountains as the solitude is more complete, but I am with you.

Sweet!

I'm with you on being out in the hills and away from the crowds. I love that.

Very cool. All the Jonas-inspired XCD skiers shall be named honourary Hinterlandians!

Marcski wrote

I am not sure if it is my age, as I approach 50, or perhaps it is due to exclusively being on tele skis now, but I enjoy a day touring the local woods in good snow just about as much a day of downhill.

PS

Technically according to the Knights Templar of XCD:

Leather boots, plain pins or NNN/BC, Skis less than 109mm max width = XCD

Plastic boots, cables/wires/free pivots, Skis over 110mm = Lite Tele

If you carry a cable in your pack and ski with pins and leather boots, then you can be both in the same tour.

I know it sounds crazy but really if you don't make that distinction what is the difference between T2s, switchbacks, scaled Voile V6s and 215cm E99s, Norwegian welted boots and Rotte Super Teles?  Fishscales and a freeheel don't make it XCD.  Wax is every bit XCD, even more so XC than scales if done with leathers and neutral bindings.

Skins are considered XCD if they are applied to skis that meet the 109 rule and typically kicker skins or the new 'easy' skins are preferred.

PPS

The Knights are very strict, and very secretive about how these rules are made and upheld, but due to recent marketing trends, the 109 rule has been exceeded by Fischer and Rossignol with skis that are essentially of the same camber, rocker and construction as the smaller versions with slightly more width under foot, and thus more width in the shovel.

Careful consideration is being made as to whether to increase the 109 rule to 125mm to include said skis, but more testing needs to be done to see if the fun requirements are met with currently available leather boots.  If these strict requirements are not met, then the Knights will be forced to uphold the 109 rule until better leather boots with free ankle motion are available that can adequately drive said skis.  If one is forced to move to two buckle plastic boot in which the tibia is not free to move fore and aft as is in typical leather mountaineering, hiking or light exo-skeleton style skate boots, then it shall be considered Lite Tele, regardless of whether the 109 rule is met or not.

I'm sorry but

Very cool report. Funny, as I get close to 50, I am thinking of starting Tele.

We were up in VT until today - and I can say it was very odd that coming through Southern VT and all of Mass, too central CT NOTHING - no snow and if so, there was just a dusting. Then coming back home to NYC and having to dig a parking spot -40 inches deep  - moving a ton or more of snow in 2 hours - it was really surreal.

If you are starting Tele - what would be a reasonable set up . I can skate and skinny ski so, I am assuming it's similar technique.

My skis are actually the Alpina Lite Terrains. 102 at the widest:

http://www.backcountry.com/alpina-lite-terrain-ski

The heel cable is removable (although I ski with it on most of the time) and my setup is most definitely an XCD, with emphasis on the XC. The skis are light noodles. But fun as hell in the local woods. Got out again this morning.

 

I'm not a Knight.  I only know of them and their code.

Thing is, you never know who these guys are... it's a secret society.  The only way to tell for sure is to check for a tattoo under the right eyelid.  There should be three dots symbolizing 3 pins; the origin coming from the 'pinners' comprising the original Knights.

If you are so unlucky as to run into one, and make the mistake of disgracing their code... well, I can't be responsible for what might happen.  They are instructed to discipline any offenders with no discretion.

Some believe Steve Barnett started the Knights before he wrote Cross-Country Downhill, but there is no proof.  No ones been able to get hold of him long enough to check under his eyelid, and well... that doesn't mean he started them.  It could have just as likely been any bearded male with sunglasses and arms held high in the air with poles that are just way too long...

You can spot the old Knights by their long skis, typically in the 210-215cm range, tattered and often duct-taped leather shoes, long (even if adjustable) XC poles and 3 pin bindings.  No cables, EVER.

The younger Knights or ones that have jobs may also be found on the newer gear, like your Alpinas.  You'll never see them with a cable though.  That is strictly forbidden in their code.

just a brother plying the metal edged weaponry searching for excalibur



aye this squire seeks the wisdom of the grail in the crusade for the highest order of the bcXcd



hark, what demon hath wrought this wizardy of plastic boots and hardwires?

Whatever they're called, they are a blast!  I got out again early this morning before work.



The dog is still just 7 months...still training so I don't let him wander too far away from me, hence while he is running around with his lead still attached:
 




Another great morning.  The snow stayed soft.  I hope the weather cooperates today and I can get another soft day of local skiing in tomorrow.

Great report! Sounds awesome!

Gorg gets it!

I don't test the Knights.  But generally skiing without prefixes is just fine.

Where in Westchester is this?

St. Jerry wrote

Where in Westchester is this?

It doesn't really matter where it is...after a snow like Jonus, all of the woods in Westchester were undoubtedly skiing well.  I would be willing to show you and ski with you first hand, but I'm sure it's against the Knight's Code to divulge such information over the intrawebs.  

I did, however, get out again this morning. After the warm, above freezing temps the last couple of days and last night's clear and relatively chilly weather, the snow surface turned to grade "A" Kaka. Totally frozen over and rutted...aka "Kaka".

My buddy came out on his Fat Bike with his Golden.  My pup joined as well.  Since the snow was so crappy, we tried to just bushwhack off trail for the most part...the snow was still frozen but at least there were no frozen tracks, ruts and footprints.  Even with the crappy snow, it was still so awesome to start the day with a ski!!  

Some pics from today:

Attempting to navigate the frozen Kaka at sunrise:


My buddy on his fatbike: (he had even a harder time on the Kaka than me)



The dogs:

Grade A - ha. It's crazy how warm it got this week. Hoping for more snow like soon.

Your local Knights might not like it if you blow all their stashes on forums...

If you do, and an old pair of Karhu XCD-GTs get set ablaze in the form of a cross in your yard, I'd consider moving.

Also old split soled Norwegian welted boots filled with burning dog poo on your door step is a bad sign.