Fat bike for approach?

Has anyone used a fat bike instead of skis for an approach? I know, when I was asked if it was possible I was like WTF, but told a friend id ask on MP and wait for the hillarious comments to ensure.

I use skis, as most do, but was wondering if the weight of the gear would make using it impossible?

I have zero experience with them, but asking for a friend who might be getting one in a trade.

Quite popular to use them up here in Alaska. 

Here you go-

http://thefirnline.com/episodes/episode-04-short-ropes-chitistone-chuckles/

"In February, 2016 Dusty Eroh, Andrew Burr, Scott Adamson and Todd Tumolo rode, pushed and postholed their fatbikes up the Nizina River to the mythical frozen waterfalls of the Chitistone valley. Equal parts climbing and comedy, the trip was an authentic and memorable Alaskan adventure"

I think it'd work with 6" tires. A lot of fat bikes aren't fat enough. I am pretty sure ski's would be faster and would cover more terrain.

When the ice comes in on the Blue Ridge Parkway here in NC and recent snowfall has it closed, a fat bike is a great option. 

Obviously depends on the snow pack.

On skis you have about 500 square inches so for a 200pound male with gear that works out very roughly to be 0.4PSI.  You would need some pretty fat tires to get around at 0.4 PSI!

Vee Rubber makes a 5.05" tire that is significantly higher volume than most other fat tires available but there are only a few frames that have the clearance for it. I have found it's possible to stay on the surface with those tires when even a 4.8" sinks. The key is to run low, low pressure (I ride less than 1psi in deep snow) and maintain a slow and steady cadence. 

It's often more practical to XC ski or snowshoe, but not always.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc3GauCWI5g

Think bigger....... ;)

I think it would be very practical on some approaches in the Rockies. Professors, Whitemans, biking across the awful and windy dry lake beds in the South Ghost/Devil's Gap. I can think of a lot of these type of approaches.

Do I want a super specialized piece of expensive gear that my buddy also has to own?

Nah

Edit: Hmm, I suppose skis easily fall into that category. What I mean is that for the # of climbs around here that would be greatly aided by fatbike approach, I don't think I could justify to myself buying yet another fancy widget I have to store and maintain to save time on approaches. If someone ever passes me on a fatbike while I am skiing into Whitemans, I might take notice.

There are some relatively unexplored areas around here where a fatbike could be "the key" to access them during the right time of year to score a bunch of FA's. But I still don't think I want to buy one.

I have used a fat bike a handful of times for specific approaches, but only because I have it.  It's a novelty to bike to an ice climb, and it's a lot fun.  That being said, you need hard packed snow or ice. (ie...snowmobile track, frozen lake, or perfect snow conditions.)  If you get your bike to the climb and things soften up in the afternoon...you get to post hole while carrying a fat bike.  Oh...and a no go in wilderness areas.  

I've never ridden one. How well do they float? I mean, I can almost ride a road bike on packed snow.

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion wrote:

I've never ridden one. How well do they float? I mean, I can almost ride a road bike on packed snow.

I've had a few fat bikes ranging from 29"x3" tires to 26"x5" tires.  The 5" tires had the most "float", but you still needed specific snow conditions.  You sink through powder, but if there is a firm layer below it's really fun.  Granular/chewed up snow doesn't give you traction if it's the dry stuff.  (Think snowmobile track when it's cold). Wet heavy snow is perfect unless it gets too deep...then you feel like you're constantly riding uphill as you displace the snow.  Most of us are 200 lbs +\- with our gear plus the bike weight.  You only have a couple 5"x5" patches to hold you up.  That being said...frozen turf with intermittent snow can be covered at a lightning pace in the early season.  Late season cold snap can ice things up enough to cover ground quickly as well.  Basically, if it's too dry or too icy to ski...far bikes are perfect.  

Good info! 

Listen to that podcast linked above.... great stuff 

best conditions would be a hard-packed surface like a fire trail closed to civilian traffic but open to maintenance/utility/private traffic or a well-traveled snowmobile trail. A couple inches of fluffy (i.e. not overly wet) snow on top would be dreamy for fat bike travel.

it's difficult to imagine many venues where a fat bike approach would be non-contrived -- though I can think of a few circumstances.