Split boards and ice climbing

I have no experience skiing but do have some experience snowboarding and I am researching the idea of investing a split board with the idea I could C.C ski up to my climbing destination, do my climbs and board back down. Anyone have experience with this? The ultimate goal will always be to climb but looking at options for the hike in and out. Probably most climbing will be done on or around Mt. Washington. NH

The caretaker for the Harvard cabin gets around on a splitboard. But you have to be decent snowboarder to navigate the terrain effectively (trail to the ravine) with a loaded ice pack so if you’ve never done any backcountry riding there’ll be a bit of a learning curve. I was a snowboarder but switched to skiing for the backcountry- I find it easier to get around on skis, especially with tight/flat terrain. Being able to ski down from the ravines instead of hiking out is fun and much faster than hiking. Maybe rent a split board and see if it works for you? 

Lifelong avid snowboarder, splitboarding made me exhausted enough to switch and learn skiing. I use both about 50/50 right now because I’m way better at snowboarding so anything soft snow, big lines and steep = split, anything mild/moderate = ski. 

Skiing is just much more fun, fast, and efficient on moderate terrain. Getting stuck on mile-long flats in the backcountry is infuriating on a splitboard.

If your goal is to just get to ice routes, I’d really learn to ski. It’s worth it.

Have to also add: It’s much more difficult/weirder to ride a splitboard on hard snow than a regular snowboard. Splits do great on very soft snow but terrible on hardpack. So take New England’s ice coast conditions into consideration.

Rent both a split and AT skis and see how you like them. 

If you're a really good snowboarder, I'd recommend getting a lightweight splitboard and hardboots (ski boots) that articulate and climb well, or there's a La Sportiva boot (can't remember the name but it's silver) that apparently fits a regular snowboard binding relatively well. If you're not a super invest snowboarder and/or approaches are mostly moderate, skis are probably a better option. But you'd still need lighter touring boots that climb well. Or with any of those options, use whatever boots you want and put your climbing boots in your pack. 

FWIW old touring skis and boots will be quite a bit cheaper and more plentiful than old splitboards and binding setups. If you're feeling lucky, you can look for some skis with Silvretta bindings, which aren't made anymore but are compatible with mountaineering boots.

I got back into skiing after over a decade away. Always was better on boards. My only reason for this was to get to bigger ice objectives. So far I've gone on multiple  2mile - 16mile days just to climb. The skiing is chill enough I can Survival ski without going over difficult terrain. Oftentimes the transition to touring vs downhill happens more than I'd like, I'd imagine with a split board it would be really annoying. 

BLUF: Ski touring is an awesome way to get around and I couldn't have made it to some great objectives on snowshoes without losing my mind. 

I have done this exact thing quite a bit over the past 10 years, and it has worked well for me.  Both as a fun way to do mountaineering (Baker, Glacier, Rainier, St. Helens, Adams, Hood) as well as lots of approaches to technical ice climbing.  The downside is a splitboard can be a bit hard to ride with a heavy climbing pack and it really sucks in icy conditions.  You probably want to spend a season riding a splitboard as much as possible to learn the skinning side and especially how to "ski" down undulating terrain still split apart.  Of course you could just take up skiing but I think it is personal preference.  The thing I like about splitboard approach is I do it all in the same boot.  I have spent a lot of days in Nepals, Spantiks, and Phantom Tech's skinning into climbs.  I know some people don't like doing it that way but I like not taking 2 pairs of boots and focusing on the climbing.  You can always do the same with Skis and a pair of Silvrette 500 bindings.  I think no matter which way you go make sure you get a setup that works for your feet and remember their is a learning curve to being efficient.

Marlin Thorman wrote:

 The thing I like about splitboard approach is I do it all in the same boot.  I have spent a lot of days in Nepals, Spantiks, and Phantom Tech's skinning into climbs.  I know some people don't like doing it that way but I like not taking 2 pairs of boots and focusing on the climbing.  

To clarify: Do you splitboard in your mountaineering boots or do you ice climb in your splitboard boots?

If the former, how does the splitboard ride with mountaineering boots? I’ve strapped my Nepals into my snowboard in the garage and it seems reasonable, but I’ve never actually ridden it like that.

Ry C wrote:

To clarify: Do you splitboard in your mountaineering boots or do you ice climb in your splitboard boots?

If the former, how does the splitboard ride with mountaineering boots? I’ve strapped my Nepals into my snowboard in the garage and it seems reasonable, but I’ve never actually ridden it like that.

I use mountaineering/ice climbing boots in the splitboard.  They all work great for skinning.  For actual snowboarding, Nepals work pretty well, Spantiks work really well.  My Phantom Techs are doable but not nearly as good as the other two mentioned.  Obviously none of them are like using a snowboard boot but I would rather prioritize the ice climbing.  For me the biggest thing is to make sure my mountaineering boots are tight and I can adjust my bindings to ensure a tight fit in the binding.  When I first started I had too much heel movement a couple times while skinning and got blisters.  But once I made sure the boot was tight I have never had issues again.  Bottom line is I have had good success with several pairs of mountaineering boots used on splitsboards where my goal is ice climbing or mountaineering not riding quality.

Skis are better for a lot of stuff like traverses and all things icy, thats for sure. Also something to take into consideration is that when you are on skis, you can remove only one ski at a time to transition and add or remove your skins. With a split board you have to dismount completely, and in really deep snow that sucks! When you sink down so far that your board height is at your nipples, getting back on can feel like a V5!

At mt Baker last year, I wish I had been on skis this day for sure!

I took my split out yesterday. The way back to the car was a 4+ mile, rolling downhill, but mostly flat trail. I “split-skied” that section (board split apart, no skins), and gotta say…it was fun. Haven’t spilt-skiied without the skins before but wanted to try it out after reading this thread. Heels were not locked in so it was awkward and potentially catastrophic to my knees if I fell hard, BUT efficient on flats and the tiny hills were very exciting haha.

I enjoy cross-country skiing, so I’m used to the wobbly free heel but if you’ve never skiied before, I would definitely practice split-skiing. — Many binding companies make bindings that can lock your heel if you want to check that out (Karakoram, Spark makes an additional locking mechanism, the hard boot companies?)

Gotta say, after yesterday, I’m even more convinced that splitboarding is 90% skiing and 10% snowboarding so might as well learn to ski hahahaha.

Ry C wrote:

Gotta say, after yesterday, I’m even more convinced that splitboarding is 90% skiing and 10% snowboarding so might as well learn to ski hahahaha.

I agree, but that 10% is worth it most of time! And ya if you can learn to go downhill on split skis confidently then you should definitely try skiing. I have not downhill skied my split much in the back country, but I had four or five full days downhilling on slushy groomers a couple seasons ago, wearing burton tourist boots. Decided to rent some real skis the following season and had a total blast! Its sooooooooo much easier and more fun in hard boots and not having your skis 140mm wide underfoot. But the looks you get when riding the lifts with splitskis that have no heel lock are the best though. Your skis stick straight up at about 10 degrees from plumb!

I bought some Lib-Tech UFO’s for this season at the resorts and they are a blast! They got the cerated edges that all their boards have. I would never buy a board without them ever again as well. If you are stuck at the resort, half day skiing, half boarding, your legs never really get tired. 

Hey guys I have a question. 

That being, how should hard boots boots fit if I’m going to incorporate ice climbing as well as general riding and touring? 

I got shell fit for a 27 backlands carbon and a 28 backlands carbon. The 27 fit me with 1 finger and a tiny bit shell fit (under 1.5 fingers, maybe like 1.2 or 1.3). The 28 fit me with a nice 2 finger shell fit (snug 2 finger, but not too snug). 

Should I get a 27 or 28? Will heat molding a 27 with an 9mm intuition liners with 2 toe caps and an aftermarket footbed (which slightly increases volume but reduces length slightly) work for the climbing (split mountaineering) as well and give me a better performance on the downhill? 

Or is the 28 the way to go to give a slight bit more space for kicking ice? But what if after I wear out the liner on the 28’s and want an intuition liners, will it work in that shell, since some intuition liners work better with a tighter fit. I could go for a 12 or 15 mm intuition liner though. 

I didn't try the 27 on with the liners in, only shell fit. The 28 fit me well with the stock liners in. When standing straight my toe was just pressing into the front, and then when I bent my knees to a riding position, my toes just pulled off the front (were barely grazing the front). But what would happen with a heat mould and a footbed? 

I eventually want to have a quiver of boots, one for touring and riding, and one for split mountaineering. Would it make sense (not financially, just optimality wise) to have a 27 in either a backlands carbon, Pierre Gignoux Black Snowboard, or maybe a SplitPin make sense for only touring and riding and no climbing? Or does it sound like the fit for the 28 is adequate and would work with 12 or 15 mm liners for this purpose as well. I am unsure of the exact stock linker thickness on a pair of Atomic Backlands Carbon Boots.

I am a bit lost in all of it right now lol, so I really appreciate any and all help!

Thanks!

Andreas Gavalas wrote:

...so I really appreciate any and all help!

Stop spamming multiple forums with the same post.