AlexS

I'm really inexperienced in back country and I'm hoping to get into it soon. I'm not looking to buy a splitboard just yet, I'm just wondering why they're so popular in back country? I know people say you can do more with a splitboard, but how?

linvillegorge

Have you ever tried snowshoeing in deep unconsolidated powder? That's why.

vrecksler

+1.

This was my primary motivation; skinning up takes WAY less physical effort than shoes, so you can cover a lot more terrain in the same amount of time and be fresher when it's time for the descent.

The initial investment can be steep, but places like REI have end of season closeouts so you can usually pick up the previous year's Voile Mojo for under $600 in the summer.

AlexS

Got it, thanks!

killclimbz

You have!

BliND KiNK

I don't understand the skins thing.. but I assume you have to carry ski and board bindings with you? o_O

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cifex

The skins are so the board doesn't slide backward when you are climbing. You use the same binding for climbing and descending. That's one of the advantages, less equipment to carry. Snowshoes through trees with a board on your back is a serious pain in the ass. The bindings attach to the board with a metal plate that can be moved. The plate also serves to hold the board together.

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ElChupocabra

I unfortunately don't own a split. I even prefer booting to snowshoes alot of the time. When the snow is soft you need really big snow shoes to make 'em worthwhile because if they sink (even a little) they will get snow on top of them and be worse than boot packing. so either buy the biggest shoes you can and prepare to boot around a bit or just save up for a split board but even if you can spring for a $600 split you'll need to buy alot of other equipment also.

linvillegorge

Yeah, and it fucking sucked. Although, I must say, at least snowshoeing through deep pow didn't leave me with a partially torn MCL like my first skinning experience did!

linvillegorge

I was coming down gliding out of some steep trees back out onto the well packed skin track and when I did, the tip of my left ski caught on the edge and pretty much turned my entire left leg outward almost 180 degrees. It hurt, but I didn't realize I was really injured until after I'd sat in the truck for over half an hour driving home. By the time I got home it was swollen up a good 50% larger than normal and was getting pretty darn stiff. I went and got it checked out and was relieved to find that it was a grade 2 MCL sprain, but no meniscus or other damage. I was back riding in two weeks and pretty much good as new after a month.