Steel edge or not to steel edge? And other pulk sled snow stuff

[randoskier]

Grace you already have the best ski for what you are doing.

There is not much elevation change along the Iditarod route, it's grade has been selected for dog teams pulling sleds. Rainy pass is a low pass by Alaskan range standards- the elevation gain on its route is only 447 meters, and its altitude is modest.

I would never go skiing with a dog with metal edged skis, the ones who do and cut their dogs were certainly trying to avoid that outcome- with vigilance, etc., but stuff happens when you least expect it. Also take care around dogless skiers who do have metal edges.

[randoskier]

You have another option. Fischer just released the Trace 98, a dog-friendly edgeless ski, takes the easyskin too. It's a fatty at:
98 - 69 – 88 mm

[randoskier]

You have another option. Fischer just released the Trace 98, a dog-friendly edgeless ski, takes the easyskin too. It's a fatty at:
98 - 69 – 88 mm
Same as the S-Bound

[Skijoring Grace Gale]

Hi Randoskier and S...ss!!
I just saw your post, haven't logged in in a while.

Initally, I posted the metal edge question and regreatted that I mentioned skiing with a dog. I was simply curious about what was the pros/cons of using a metal edged ski, particuarlly when pulling a pulk. Then I received a sleu of comments saying never to ski with a metal edge with a dog, which was not my intended question. Nor had I planned on buying metal edge skis, I was just curious about how they behaved.

Sometimes, I hook up in this fashion: dog - pulk - skier style (opposed to dog - skier - sled). In this method of traveling, I do not think a metal edge would be an issue, but then again, I think the metalless ones do the trick just as well, but don't have experieince with that.

I better post my Iditarod Trail report. I ski'd 350 miles from Kaltag to Nome this past spring with my Alaskan Husky Gale pulling me on my Breidablikks.

I also own the Kongsvold and Finnmark 54, all the metalless edge Asnes skis. I love love love my Finnmark 54, they are so much faster. I should test how much faster when I'm pulling a pulk. I put xplore bindings on them, and haven't found a boot that doesn't eat my foot yet. My Alpina Alaska Red Leather NNN-BC is perfect to my foot when its not frozen in the morning, but I have so much issues with bindings icing up with nnn-bc. While I like the xplore now, I haven't put it through the ringer in terms of going through overflow/running water at -30f, then seeing if the bindings still function. I'm nervous about their tiny pins getting stuck retracted and that being irreversible.

[randoskier]

Hi Randoskier and S...ss!!
I just saw your post, haven't logged in in a while.

While I like the xplore now, I haven't put it through the ringer in terms of going through overflow/running water at -30f, then seeing if the bindings still function. I'm nervous about their tiny pins getting stuck retracted and that being irreversible.

For the boots maybe try the Lundhags Abisko Xxplore (on sale at Varuste).

The conditions in Norway are quite often -30 or colder (and wet at times, like breaking through ice on a river) and the Xplore has not been a problem for my wife (after the original manufacturing defect that was widely noted and rapidly fixed), and we do long tours too. No binding is fail-safe.

[randoskier]

Hi Randoskier and S...ss!!
I just saw your post, haven't logged in in a while.



I better post my Iditarod Trail report. I ski'd 350 miles from Kaltag to Nome this past spring with my Alaskan Husky Gale pulling me on my Breidablikks.

Nice trip! You should fly to Norway and pick up the skis you want and ski a tour there! The DNT cabins have rooms for the dogs to sleep in.

[runcle]

Stick with the edgeless skis! I've sliced my dog while touring and although he wasn't severely cut the potential for disaster is too high to risk it!

DH

[Telemarkpete]

Enjoyed this thread. Am a dog skier here in Alberta. I own the Breideblikk which I use with my canine companion Hudson. I’ve been eyeing the Finnmark 54’s - is this essentially an edge less Gamme 54?

[blitzskier]

here I am training my pack of beast.. we're planning to run from Mexico to Alaska