[pct-l] XC ski boots's

[atjulliard at yahoo.com (Alan Julliard)]

Hi Old Timer (from another Old Timer),

  Yes, 3-pin bindings are still in use and still for
sale.  They are still the preferred binding system for
a lot of true "backcountry" skiers, those of us who
love to do extended wilderness touring by ski.  If you
have an REI near you, they can set you up.
  This was an timely question for me.  Yesterday I did
our annual winter solstice 18 mile wilderness ski trip
that some friends and I have been doing for more than
17 years.  My 13 year old son went with us.  Because
he didn't have any new gear to use (he'd outgrown all
his gear), I could only set him up with some really
old boots that I had laying around.  Less than a
quarter of the way into the trip, the sole ripped
halfway off of the bottom of one boot as the snow was
heavy and unpacked and the terrain was rough and
brushy.  Anyway we solved the problem by applying
liberal amounts of electricians tape carried just for
this reason; I also carry a small Phillips screwdriver
and a few extra screws for the binding.  Although I
have broken skis, bindings and boots miles from the
road, I have yet to ever turn back, including going
more than 300 miles on a broken boot on the Iditarod. 
We also switched boots with each other since we have
the same size foot and I wanted him to have good
control the rest of the trip.  I guess what I'm saying
is that if you use a 15 year old boot (and my boots
are 10 year old leather Alpina's), then be prepared
for breakdown in the wild; in fact, even with totally
new gear, you should be prepared.
  By the way, when my buddy Rick skied the PCT from
Weldon to Tuolumne while the rest of us snowshoed, he
used a wooden metal-edge ski with a cable binding and
his heavy Galibier hiking boots (this was 1975).  He
had no problems whatsoever except klister all over his
gear.  He also had long rests waiting for the rest of
us to catch up....

Alan

OK, This is off-topic but I think some of you could
advise me.

I have a pair of Asolo XC ski boots with an extended
toe for 3-pin 
bindings. The bootsw are ankle high. I got them 15 or
so years ago.  My 
question: Is the 3-pin binding system still being used
for XC skiing. 
(I'm referring to true cross country skiing -- not
skiing around on 
groomed trails with set tracks.  Are the boots
suitable for today's 
skis, or should I just toss them into the trash.?

"an old timer"


		
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