So what exactly is everyone up to in their non-boating hours?

[memaquay]

Yes, gas mileage is similar for the 900. When I still owned my old truck, I would frequently skidoo to work in the winter, as my gas mileage was so much better on the sled.

 

[scoutergriz]

dang, Mem, I didn't want to hear about all that overflow! I've been jonesing for some remote ice time, I even reloaded all my ice fishing rods- I guess I'll be hitting the jumbos on Simcoe instead

 

[clemency]

Good thread dredge. Winter time I alpine ski mostly. We're still mid-drought here in nothern New England, but its been way cold so the snowmakers have been able to pick up the slack. I'm on day 17 or 18 so far this ski season. This is Mt Sunapee (and Lake Sunapee), about a 45 minute drive from the house. If you zoom in, Franconia Notch is out past the furthest end of the lake, with Lafayette just to the right and snow covered Washington a little further to the right.

 

[Aslowhand]

Backcountry-skiing...walking up with skins on my skis, enjoying a nice view from the top of a mountain and having fun skiing down.




Even though it is becoming increasingly popular, it is a good alternative to avoid the large crowds in the ski resorts.

 

[stripperguy]

Backcountry-skiing...walking up with skins on my skis, enjoying a nice view from the top of a mountain and having fun skiing down.

View attachment 152252

View attachment 152253
Even though it is becoming increasingly popular, it is a good alternative to avoid the large crowds in the ski resorts.

Wait!! Where are the trees?? How do you know where the trails are? haha
That looks fantastic.
Just curious, do you have AT bindings and boots? Or telemark?
Over here, tele skiers are decidely in the minority, most BC skiers I see have AT bidings, as do I.
Lastly, that snow looks a little thick, was it heavy?
I prefer BC tree skiing, because of the lack of wind and direct sun, any powder tends to stay drier and lighter. No sun crust, no windslab.

 

[Crazy Trout Craft (CTC)]

CTC, the skis are alpine powder boards from Voile in Utah. The bindings are Switchbacks, also from Voile, they have a free pivot function for climbing, or as I use them for cross country skiing. The boots are 30+ year old Garment Excursions that I bought new for my wife cheap but they never fit her, so they sat in the garage for 30 years. They had always been too tight on me but I recently got some thinner liners for some other boots and they worked in them. Now they are my favorite boot. They are not only the lightest and softest boot I have but the only ones that don't hurt my feet.

I use Nordic kick wax on the bottom just like on cross country skis. I also have wide no wax, or scaled skis, that I use on warm snow. As much as I love xc skiing I'm hooked on making turns. In Pa. I mostly ski old logging roads or ski the trees. I'm fortunate to be able to ski right from my house.

Thank you… that is fantastic being able to ski right out back! I’m going to do a deep dive into those skis… thank you very much for the details!

 

[Crazy Trout Craft (CTC)]

Neat thread.

Cerberus is not only a world-class canoe dog, she is a stellar bird dog, and we typically do three trips to SD chasing pheasants and sharpies each year. This past year there were also a couple of waterfowl trips. She even helps recover deer from time to time.

I bowhunt quite a bit. Whitetail at home in MN, at our farm in WI - last year also chased elk in CO and spot-and-stalk antelope as well. Also bowhunt wild turkey.

Sewing gear would have to go on the hobby list...do a decent amount of that.

Finally, learning about tallgrass prairie, and am expanding the farm prairie from 12 to over 30 acres right now. That's probably the limit as the rest of the farm is too steep &/or heavily wooded.View attachment 152231View attachment 152229View attachment 152230

Beautiful pup!

 

[Aslowhand]

Wait!! Where are the trees?? How do you know where the trails are? haha

Haha!!! The trees are further down. The trail is where you want to go...of course, one must exercise due caution...e.g. regarding the steepness of the slopes, avalanche danger, personal skills etc.

Just curious, do you have AT bindings and boots? Or telemark?
Over here, tele skiers are decidely in the minority, most BC skiers I see have AT bidings, as do I.

If AT means alpine touring...yes, I have AT bindings and boots.
I've been skiing for as long as I can remember. My parents didn't have the money to go to resorts, so we went ski touring. My mother skied telemark, my father classic, so I learned both. Over the years, it turned out that I was less confident on telemark skis, so I stuck with classic.
Here too, Telemark skiers are in the minority.

Lastly, that snow looks a little thick, was it heavy?

Yes, the snow was quite heavy on the sunny side. That's why I skied down the north side. I've marked the entrance with a blue arrow in the photo below. It's a bit steeper there, but you can enjoy nice slopes of powder.

I prefer BC tree skiing, because of the lack of wind and direct sun, any powder tends to stay drier and lighter. No sun crust, no windslab.

I'm jealous. Skiing in British Columbia must be wonderful. If I ever win the lottery...

 

[stripperguy]

Haha!!! The trees are further down. The trail is where you want to go...of course, one must exercise due caution...e.g. regarding the steepness of the slopes, avalanche danger, personal skills etc.

If AT means alpine touring...yes, I have AT bindings and boots.
I've been skiing for as long as I can remember. My parents didn't have the money to go to resorts, so we went ski touring. My mother skied telemark, my father classic, so I learned both. Over the years, it turned out that I was less confident on telemark skis, so I stuck with classic.
Here too, Telemark skiers are in the minority.

View attachment 152258

Yes, the snow was quite heavy on the sunny side. That's why I skied down the north side. I've marked the entrance with a blue arrow in the photo below. It's a bit steeper there, but you can enjoy nice slopes of powder.

View attachment 152259


I'm jealous. Skiing in British Columbia must be wonderful. If I ever win the lottery...

Oops, BC is back country skiing I can only wish to ski in British Columbia
I’m in New York State, all around there are many failed ski areas, most went out of business in the ‘80’s due to lack of natural snow and the rising costs of insurance. Plenty of good skiing in southern and central Vermont too.

 

[Dana]

It's killing me that I won't be able to ski this year... due to a torn rotator cuff from lifting my ancient heavy canoe this past summer. Surgery next month, hopefully I'll be good to paddle by next summer.

I haven't downhill skied in years; it just got too expensive and crowded, that great 1960s-70s vibe is gone. But I can and do XC ski out my back door, either from our CT house or NY cabin.

This is my daughter in the woods behind the house a couple of years ago:

 

[tketcham]

It got me to thinking, what other serious hobbies do you guys pursue with the same vim and vigor as canoeing?

Used to be road bicycling in the summer and skiing (alpine & Nordic) in the winter but I don't ride roads anymore and I'm only a half-hearted mountain bike rider. Fifteen years ago I moved away from some of the best Nordic skiing in North America and ended up 15 miles from a big alpine ski resort so now it's pretty much alpine skiing that I pursue in the 'off season'. I love the new ski designs available and have two pair that stay in rotation; one for hardpack slalom carving and one for soft snow play. I have a good set up for ski tuning so the edges stay nice and sharp and the bases are fast. Well, fast enough for an old geezer.

Here too, Telemark skiers are in the minority.

Telemark skis were the skis of choice years ago and what I used for decades but if I were still back-country skiing I'd most likely be using AT gear now. More stability in variable snow conditions and on steep sections. Your photos of the Swiss Alps reminds me of the North Cascade Range (USA) where I used to ski.

 

[Erica]

Oops, BC is back country skiing I can only wish to ski in British Columbia
I’m in New York State, all around there are many failed ski areas, most went out of business in the ‘80’s due to lack of natural snow and the rising costs of insurance. Plenty of good skiing in southern and central Vermont too.

I used to have a cabin just north of North Creek. We did XC skiing, cross-country skiing. In the woods. On the frozen quiet areas of the creek. Sometimes we would be out all day, stopping for hot soup from a thermos at a break. I really liked XC skiing, but I like being barefoot year round better.