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Loving my skin skis for the Spring Conditions!

Report Submitted by JoLynn
(trip) Date: Tuesday Mar 21, 2023

Submitted: Tuesday Mar 21, 2023 at 17:26

Participants:

Roger and I

Discussion:

This was my first time skiing Pipestone and as an intermediate skier, it looked right up my alley! It was-7 at 11am when we started and a little above 0 when we finished at 1:30 (fast, I am not!) We skied Pipestone Loop counter clockwise, which seemed a good choice, because the trail’s wider on the hills in the second half (makes a snow plow in icy conditions a little safer). The trackset is in good condition -some tree debris on the trail on the first half and a bit icy here and there, but my skin skis were perfect for the conditions! Roger’s wax was a magnet for the tree needles, and he was scraping them off and reapplying V45 at the halfway point. We passed the junction with Merlin and I was just beginning to think it was pretty easy for an intermediate rating…then came the fast, icy hills! Skin skis weren’t any help at all, but I stayed (just barely) in control. With the warm afternoon and then freezing conditions again tonight, I might opt to walk down some of those hills, or turn off at Merlin to take the green route back if we skied here again this week!

About those skin skis…On past trips, I was struggling with them slipping too much going up hills/tired of walking herringbone style, while I watched Roger ski straight up! I made up my mind to get waxable skis and got excellent help from Emma at Norseman Outdoor Specialist. They were out of skis in my size, but she adjusted my bindings, cleaned the skins, gave the skis a hot wax, adjusted my poles higher and gave me lots of good instructions-all for free! I’ve noticed a definite improvement, so will stick with the skins for now. Thanks Emma!

I receive no financial gain for wearing this earband (just free trip planning 😉)