SummitPost.org

I am in the process of coming up with a gear list for things I will need for Denali 2010 and I am at a quandary as to what boots I should use.

I have a pair of old >10yrs koflach double boots that i thought I could maybe pair with some 40 below overboots. first question...would this be sufficient enough? I have been eying the spatniks for a while now and really like what I see and have heard. If i dropped the money for those would they be warm enough without overboots?

Finally i would like to bring skis rather than snowshoes. My koflaches clip in to my AT bindings and I am assuming i could clip the spatniks into them also. However skiing downhill in boots rather than at boots is barely doable and I am a little nervous on anything steep especially if hauling a sled behind me. Therefore I have been thinking about the option of using my at boots paired with overboots. Would this be a. warm enough and b. miserable for the uphill? Curious as to what other people on skis have done.

koflaches with overbboots im assuming? What do you mean by hook up a power cord to the at set up?

You may want to consider swapping out the stock liner for a pair of heat moldable Intuition liners. They will make the bott wamer and lighter.

I had the same dilema a few weeks ago, with my footwear for Denali.
I listen the advice from some users and I both a pair of Intuition liners for my Koflach Degree. They were about 175$can (and 50$ for molding) but they are incredible light.I have not tried them on winter conditions but I hope they will be ok.
So my gear will be Koflach Degree+Intuition liners+Purple Haze(over 14000).
Good luck.

Does anyone have a link on directions as to setting up a power cord system as mentioned above? I have looked on both google and climbing mag but have not found anything.

I'm a little doubtful, but for completeness:
http://www.wildsnow.com/929/want-to-ski ... be-ticket/

Paul Ramer had a device called the "knee leash" that was viewed with skepticism by a lot of backcountry folk.

How do you think a leather boot with an overboot would fair on Denali? Nepal evo?

Johnba wrote:How do you think a leather boot with an overboot would fair on Denali? Nepal evo?

Poorly, unless you would happen to be blessed with great weather at the end of June/early July. Even then, I am far too attached to my toes (physically and sentimentally) to consider trying this option. YMMV

FortMental wrote:Power cord connects from a strap below your knee to a another point on the ski between your toes and the ski-tip.

It's not actually a power cord. The velcro strap above your calf is known as a powerstrap, as it is meant to fasten around the cuff of your boots, giving a firmer fit and thus better transference of power through your skis. Also good for keeping climbing boots tight for frontpointing.

The leash/cord thing uses a powerstrap, but is generally not referred to as a 'power cord'. In the 1999 Climbing mag #190 p.132 article by Dave Sheldon he referred to it as a "shin strap".

D

Johnba wrote:How do you think a leather boot with an overboot would fair on Denali? Nepal evo?

The boots would fare just fine. Your feet would fare badly.

I know it's been done, but so have lots of things. If you were an experienced climber trying a superlight single push speed ascent in good weather in mid-June, then yes, you might be fine. Otherwise, no.

Only something like an OR Brooks Ranger or 40Below neoprene overboot might be warm enough, but without an inner boot, how do you stop your Nepals freezing at night at 14/17K? What have you done on previous overnight trips in winter? Are you just trying to save money cos you already own Nepals? How much do you value your feet?

D

Johnba wrote:How do you think a leather boot with an overboot would fair on Denali? Nepal evo?

dude, you want a double boot for a variety of reasons.

Whoa! Calm down bra!

Whoa! Calm down bra! Just wondering! I'm bored at work. Just floating thoughts through my head.

I just bought the Spantik for my 2010 trip. Break-in hike on Shasta this weekend at about 18* and my feet were almost too warm. I also plan on the lighter overboot from 40 Below for above 14 camp. Scott