To tour or not to tour

[Pini Pow Pow]

While living in Canada a few years ago I was really into alpine touring. Unfortunately, at the time I sold all my gear to stretch my travels a bit further. Now that I am settled back in OZ I would love to get back into it but the cost of replacing all my gear is looking a bit daunting. So I pose the question, to tour or not to tour?

My main incentives for getting back into touring are to avoid the crowds, lift passes, extend my season into spring and of course to get out and enjoy the mountains.

So is it worth it? what are the options for day trips in NSW that don’t involve lift passes? and do many people regularly hit the backcountry on the weekends? most of my mates are boarders’ and wouldn’t know what climbing skins were if they were slapped in the face by one.

Cheers

[John Deere]

Definitely worth doing. Can go out from top of thredbo, charlottes, guthega, dead horse gap for main range skiing. Some brilliant stuff out there....check this from 2007...

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=34125516

[Caboose]

yes do it

yes it can be like pitt st out there on a weekend, but less than in the resort

good thing for boarders they don't need skins when they can rent snowshoes ;)

[skijacski]

Already been out and Kozi and the other mountains are looking good.

Plenty of snow up high with less on the flats, but that should have filled up by now. Will go out next week when the weather lifts to check out what it is looking like.

I also have a snow kite, +1 and I hope to kite to Charlottes from Thredbo for lunch one day.