Skiing on trails - Etiquette/protocol ?

[HikerBob]

OK. So, I have visions of a Fox special "Hikerbob - Trail of Destruction!"

I'll be hitting a White Mountain trail (face first probably) this coming weekend for the first time on skis. I've been practicing as much as I can just to get a feel for them and went out today on a local hike with a 3/4 weight pack.

Todays 'hike' involved mostly forest road with a few gradients way steeper than I expect to face any time soon in the Whites. Can I just say, what appears to be a gentle slope on foot assumes white knuckle proportions on skis

My question is - Are there established protocols when skiing trails regarding right of way etc? Does one stay to the right? Give right of flight to those descending under the apparent 10x normal gravitational pull?

I've said it before, I promise to wear lots of red

Bob

 

[TMax]

Hey HikerBob,
I'm not a skier but as a hiker, I've not noticed any protocol! There have been plenty of times I've been hiking down Tuckerman Ravine Trail and simply here "look out" from a skier coming up on me! Actually, more often than not, they'll holler "on your left" or "on your right" whichever is appropriate. Then I have to be quick-thinking enough to figure out which way to move!

 

[Jay H]

The etiquette is not to run into anybody! I've found the louder I scream, the faster the hikers get out of the way....

Given a choice, I will stay to the right, but that of course depends how narrow the trail is. A good scream "on your right" or so is generally good but this is the same problems when mountain biking as it is skiing, Sometimes people don't seem to comprehend the "on your right" part, so don't assume the hiker to understand what you're saying, other than knowing that you are there. Slow down and proceed when you are sure the hiker acknowledges your presense. Don't ski faster than you can stop.

Jay

 

[frytz]

Sometimes people don't seem to comprehend the "on your right" part, so don't assume the hiker to understand what you're saying, other than knowing that you are there. Slow down and proceed when you are sure the hiker acknowledges your presense. Don't ski faster than you can stop.

Jay[/QUOTE]

As a hiker only, it is my practice to acknowlege a warning from a biker, skier, rollerblader, etc with a hand wave without ever facing them! That lets them know they have been heard! Then a verbal greeting and a smile when actually passing makes for a better day for all!
Jay, I'm more used to bikers and bladers, so "on your left" is the usual!

Fred

 

[poison ivy]

HikerBob -- I think we'll be leaving early enough & getting back late enough that we won't be running into anyone else.

- Ivy

 

[giggy]

I never really thought of it - I guess if I am coming down and they are coming up - I usually make an effort to get out of the way for them. If we are both coming down - I would think they would avoid me since they are going to pass. Never been hit or close to it so cross that bridge when it comes. Never heard of it being a problem either.

 

[HikerBob]

Ivy - I don't expect any problems next weekend. This was more a general question for when the circumstances arise.

Today I was going up an incline and made sure to get out of the way of a couple skiing down. I just figured I was in a position of greater control and felt obliged to do that.

Right now 'me going downhill' and 'me being in complete control' are mutually exclusive statements. I may be able to aim and swerve a little but stopping seems to be something that eludes me. It does however seem as though I have mastered the 40mph snowplow! Just how does one slow down on icy, hard-packed and rutted trails? I snowplowed, I got on the edges and still I just kept on trucking.

I'm thinking of learning how to wax for braking or inventing the pop up braking scales

Bob

 

[David Metsky]

Today I was going up an incline and made sure to get out of the way of a couple skiing down. I just figured I was in a position of greater control and felt obliged to do that.

It will greatly depend on the trail and conditions, but in general the hikers/skiers going up should move to one side (follow the lead person) and the skier coming down should have their speed under enough control that they aren't a danger to others. This means slowing down around blind turns and being willing to execute a sitzmark (controlled fall) if needed.

Right now 'me going downhill' and 'me being in complete control' are mutually exclusive statements. I may be able to aim and swerve a little but stopping seems to be something that eludes me.

This could be a problem. If you are using skis it's your responsibility to have some control over your descent. But avoiding is perfectly reasonable, stopping is often not needed (or possible).

It does however seem as though I have mastered the 40mph snowplow! Just how does one slow down on icy, hard-packed and rutted trails? I snowplowed, I got on the edges and still I just kept on trucking.

To quote the great Dartmouth ski coach Otto Schiebs "Schtem! Schtem like hell!" There are some great survival ski skills, such as dragging your poles, or learning how to ski with one ski in the rut and the other on the untracked crust, but the main one you should master at this point may be the controlled fall, back and to the side.

-dave-

 

[frytz]

I'm thinking of learning how to wax for braking or inventing the pop up braking scales

Bob[/QUOTE]

Maybe watch old WW2 movies of planes landing on aircraft carriers! And pray a lot!

Fred

 

[HikerBob]

Just to put everyones minds at rest - I won't be tackling anything too demanding for a while yet.

Today's foray was, in the main, on a lightly travelled woods road and my speedy descent was on a section where I could see the entire run out. I was only a danger to myself.

I would (and did on one occasion today) remove my skis and walk down any section I could not see further than my ability to stop in.

I may joke about it, but you really don't have anything to lose sleep over

Bob

 

[Jay H]

I'm getting good at the dragging of poles, myself, It's amazing how much "draggage" <- Is that a word? you can get by simply dragging your poles. I'm also getting better at turning while in the snowplow position.

I read somewhere that if you want to do a controlled fall, that one way to do is to simply sit on your poles and your weight will really dig your poles in and act like anchors... Just be careful of exactly where you sit on the poles

Jay

 

[Jasonst]

I am interested to know what kind of skis we are talking about here. I am guessing you get better stoppage and turnage out of a Randonee package but what are you using Hikerbob?

 

[HikerBob]

Jason - I am using Alpina Tracker skis with an NNN-BC binding.

I'll have to give the pole dragging a shot. Beats my idea of tying some rope to my ice axe and using that as an anchor

Thinking nautically, I guess dragging a rope like a sea anchor would do the trick

Bob

 

[Jasonst]

I feel your pain. This is my first year on BC skis (same deal but with sns bindings) I am a competent downhill skier but never imagined the lack of control that a BC package provides! I have found myself "jump stopping" when I really get out of control. Good luck!

 

[AMF]

Skiier Etiquette

Just remember - when you stop for a rest (or a snack, or water), do yourself and everyone else a favor and GET OFF THE TRAIL! Don't mean to yell, but as I came downhill around a turn on a relatively wide trail this weekend there were 3 nitwits standing around discussing life or something equally banal spread out across the entire trail. Fortunately I was able to thread between them, or there would have been one UGLY pileup.

 

[Stan]

I resent the thought of skiers speeding or careening down hiking trails for the serious hazard it presents.

When on ski trails it is appropriate for hikers to stay well off to the side and avoid skiers. When on snowmobile trails it is appropriate for hikers to be alert for snow machines and get out of the way. Likewise, on hiking trails it is appropriate for skiers and bikers to take the primary responsibility for avoiding hikers.

Technique and voice commands are no substitute for caution and courtesy.

 

[Adk_dib]

I was told to always wear snowshoes even on well packed trails. some trails you do not need snowshoes but use them so you don't tear up the trail. I was going up Hadley this weekend and out of no where came a skier around a turn. After this skier and a second one later on, the trail was shredded, all loose snow.

 

[Dalraida]

Stopping or Slowing

Once when taking a BC skiing clinic from Dickie Hall of North American Telemark Organization fame, we were shown how to tuck our poles inside our legs between our skis for braking on really scary slopes. I have used it several times over the years and it works quite well. Darned if I know how to adequately describe the method. Of course I use the tree arrest and butt arrest a bit too.

Advice: For the first quite a few times go out with someone else. Especially if they are BC competent.

 

[DougPaul]

More stopping or slowing

Once when taking a BC skiing clinic from Dickie Hall of North American Telemark Organization fame, we were shown how to tuck our poles inside our legs between our skis for braking on really scary slopes. I have used it several times over the years and it works quite well.

That is one form of pole drag. Pull up with the hands, push down with the back of the thigh. Works, but be careful not to bend or break a pole.

The simplest form of pole drag is just to let the baskets drag. Another is to hold both poles together, one hand near the baskets and one near the grips, lean down and push baskets into the snow. Frequently combined with a snowplow or half-plow. Less chance of damaging a pole.

Other ways of controlling speed: turn uphill, ski out of the track, traverse (switch-back), sideslip, snowplow, half-plow, ski drag (against side of track or top of adjacent snow), sitz-brake (controlled crash--sit down between or next to (not on) skis), and uncontrolled crash. You can also ski downhill with skins on, but if you hit a patch of ice, you are likely to do a faceplant (I have experience with this maneuver...).

For steeper slopes, one can use turns (much like a downhill skier) but this can be difficult on narrow trails.

A safety tip: take the wrist loops off before schussing down a brushy trail--allows you to drop the pole if it catches in the brush. Can save you from a nasty crash or shoulder injury. Also easier to move the poles into the pole drag positions.

2nd safety tip: put the wrist loop on properly. (Start with your hand along the pole shaft and bring it up through the loop. The strap should end up going between your thumb and forefinger, around the back of your wrist, and return between your thumb and forfinger.) Less risk of a wrist injury if you catch the basket in the bushes. Also pushes better.

Doug

 

[David Metsky]

Skiing this weekend
Right now, it's all good!

-dave-