Reddit Reddit reviews Allen & Mike's Really Cool Backcountry Ski Book, Revised and Even Better!: Traveling & Camping Skills For A Winter Environment (Allen & Mike's Series)

We found 9 Reddit comments about Allen & Mike's Really Cool Backcountry Ski Book, Revised and Even Better!: Traveling & Camping Skills For A Winter Environment (Allen & Mike's Series). Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.

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Allen & Mike's Really Cool Backcountry Ski Book, Revised and Even Better!: Traveling & Camping Skills For A Winter Environment (Allen & Mike's Series)
Globe Pequot Press Allen & Mike's Backctry Ski by Allen O'Bannon - 9780762745852
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9 Reddit comments about Allen & Mike's Really Cool Backcountry Ski Book, Revised and Even Better!: Traveling & Camping Skills For A Winter Environment (Allen & Mike's Series):

u/shmooli123 · 9 pointsr/Ultralight

I'm in a similar boat where I'm beefing up my winter gear. This book has some good resources both for skiing and winter camping. Assuming you'll be on snow there are a few things that stick out regardless of temperature range and whether you'll be above or below treeline.

  1. Bring a wind jacket. Hugely helpful in combination with a fleece layer.
  2. Pair the inflatable with a Z-Rest or similar CCF pad. You'll freeze with just the X-Lite, and survive the night if you get a puncture.
  3. Evaluate your footwear system. Gaiters, multiple sock layers, vapor barrier socks, neoprene overboots or socks, etc. Start here and experiment with day hikes.
  4. You'll probably want more insulation for camp. Either a larger down jacket or an additional vest to layer. Insulated pants will probably also be helpful.
  5. Stove. At a minimum you'll want a remote canister stove that you can run inverted with a big enough pot to melt snow. Multifuel stoves will be best if you're going closer to below 0*F.
  6. The Sawyer will break if you let it freeze. Either leave it at home if it's cold enough or keep it close to your body at all times if you have access to running water. Bring a scoop so you don't need to dunk your hand in freezing water. Aquamira is also more or less worthless because it can take several hours to be effective in low temperatures.
u/[deleted] · 7 pointsr/skiing

It kind of matters where in the world you are. Some places are much easier to "dip your toes in" than others, i.e. stay safe.

My general recommendations include:

  • spend time in the backcountry in the summer, remove the skiing part and make sure you're good with navigation off-trail. Get comfortable not following a trail and making your own decisions. Practice with your map/compass/GPS/etc

  • Skin at a ski resort a few times (I go early in the morning before lifts open). Futz with your gear when it doesn't matter and get you kit somewhat dialed in before you head out into the backcountry.

  • Make sure you're cool with the fact that 90% of backcountry skiing is NOT making turns and going down. Seriously, turns are gravy, you need to be in it for the tour.

  • Here is a book I really like: http://www.amazon.com/Allen-Really-Backcountry-Revised-Better/dp/0762745851/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_4
    here is another that I haven't read, but has been recommended:
    http://www.amazon.com/Book-Backcountry-Skiing-Skills/dp/B007L0D45K

  • Ask more specific questions here so we can help :)
u/micro_cam · 3 pointsr/Backcountry

"The Avalanche Handbook" is a good, thick reference though drier then Trempers "Staying Alive."

Tremper has a new book that I haven't read.

"Snow Sense" is a classic but short.

I just recommended this book on another thread and it is really great and covers lots of emergency shelter style stuff. Written by two NOLS instructors one of whom happens to be a brilliant cartoonist. They have other books on avalanches and telemark skiing too.

Some good blogs are http://wildsnow.com, http://bedrockandparadox.com/, http://straightchuter.com/, http://forrestmccarthy.blogspot.com/.

u/slick519 · 3 pointsr/CampingandHiking

you dig a hole in the snow. you also want to try and shoot for a ceiling and a wall that is greater than 2' thick.

also, if you find a snowbank, you can make your entrance lower than your sleeping spot, allowing the more dense, cold air to not settle around you and your sleeping bag. the way OP has his set up, the cold air will come in through the top and will act like a refrigerator!

:edit: here is a really, really great book: https://www.amazon.com/Allen-Really-Backcountry-Revised-Better/dp/0762745851

u/joejance · 2 pointsr/snowboarding

I would remove this as a gear question, but it sounds like you really need avalanche and backcountry safety. I have yet to take a course myself, but I have read a couple of great books that I would recommend.

Avalanche Essentials

Allen and Mike's Backcountry

If you have a guide maybe you will get some training, but these books are excellent. As far as backpacks go these are many great one out there. Make sure to get something specific for snowboarding/skiing. It will have a pad or hard plate so if you land hard on it your belongings won't hurt you. If you have the cash you migh also consider an avalanche backpack with floatation. And if you sre going to do a lot of backcountry get the ave level 1 training. That is what I am signing up for this year. And a helmet is even more important in the backcountry. People have been found unburied after a big slide with head trauma.

u/free-heeler · 2 pointsr/telemark

This! "Punching" down the hill can really help you remember to keep both hands out in front.

More tips:

  1. Try taking your uphill hand and tapping it on your downhill knee. It's an old alpine trick to get your upper body in the correct position.
  2. Put both poles together and hold them horizontally in front of you. Now try to keep them nice and level.

    Also, a necessary heads up for Allen & Mike's telemark book. There are a bunch of suggestions in there for a trailing uphill hand.

    https://www.amazon.com/Allen-Really-Backcountry-Revised-Better/dp/0762745851
u/somedude60 · 1 pointr/skiing

Allen and Mike's really cool backcountry ski book
or their avalanche book or their telemark book.

These things are seriously great reads.

u/BallsOutKrunked · 1 pointr/preppers

I don't know how much snow you guys have, but if it's reliably more than 2 meters of snow on the ground you can use dugloos / quinzees. Downsides:

  • It's a few hours of crafting.
  • You can get wet, so I'd do it with a lightweight goretex rain jacket even in the coldest of temperatures with just a single base layer underneath.
  • You need a proper snow (avalanche) shovel and a proper snow saw.

    Upsides:

  • They last for several weeks.
  • They're much stronger than a tent.
  • They're nearly invisible and have a low IR signature, much lower than a tent.
  • It's much quieter inside. Full storm outside and you wouldn't know it.
  • The interior rarely gets much further than 0c/32f, regardless of the outside temperature. Use a candle lantern and it will get above freezing. The white walls bounce the candle lantern light around really well and provided there's not a lot of cracks in the roof blocks the light doesn't escape to speak of.

    You still need a really good insulated pad whether you're in a tent or in a snow shelter but I stopped bringing my 0F down bag on winter trips and instead just use my +12F summer bag. My winter bag was honestly way too warm even on sub zero (F) nights in a show shelter.

    We get a ton of snow where I'm at so I usually go build a dugloo around February and then for that month and into March I've got a shelter. I record the coordinates, it's conveniently at the base of a kick ass ~28 degree bowl, and there I am with my backcountry ski "lodge". Next winter I'm going to haul some firewood out there too so I can really have a kick ass time. Great book if you're interested. Goes over snow shelter construction really well.