Comments on: Silvretta Traverse 5.5 — The Gear

By: Dan Powers

Dan Powers — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 01:35:46 +0000

We just got back from a Euro trip as well. I used a BD Alias pack that I had modified so the top pocket was extendable. That took care of any volume issues I might have had. One trip we toured with our shoes as we were ending up in a different valley, and the pack was still plenty big. No computer though. The pack was great as both a hut trip pack and as a compressible day pack for off piste lift skiing.

Loved the Euro hut tour thing and can’t wait to go back.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 04:11:49 +0000

Lou, I’ve got an EMS Techwick top that is amazing. It is light enough for summer use, but is good for sun coverage with mock t-neck: http://tinyurl.com/c2c6ys I use it for everything. Only thing better might be a Merino wool top from Icebreaker or Ibex, etc., but I’m trying to hold off spending that kind of coin until Techwick wears out.

By: Lou

Lou — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 21:17:21 +0000

I just buy a pair of carbon poles on sale at Sports Authority or the other sporting goods discount store downvalley from us, then cut to length, retrofit with grips, tips and baskets that I like (mostly stuff from Life-Link I swap from one pole to the next). They’re strong, light, cheap, and don’t have that adjustment catch that most people never use other than to get caught on things or to cause the pole to collapse. Unless you actually adjust your adjustable poles, what’s the point other than to spend money on something you then have to worry about getting stolen or broken? When I’m using Black Diamond Whippets I use adjustable poles, otherwise I’m usually using my super duper custom carbons!

Now, all that said, we do have a cool pair of K2’s alu adjustable poles here, that have a scale on them to check slope angle, and what looks like a very sleek and reliable cam/catch. We’ll be reviewing those sooner or later, and yeah, you might see me out using them (grin). Also, we do like the BD carbon/alu adjustables when we want an adjustable — they’re what Lisa uses.

By: Jason Gregg

Jason Gregg — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 17:41:29 +0000

Lou can you say something about the ski pole you used. I recall it was a simple non-adjustable type. I assume you do use adjustable ones some time but not on a trip like this, why?

By: Lou

Lou — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 22:52:24 +0000

Geoff, don’t worry, those impressions are mostly just from stories related from other guys. I thought it all to be quite amusing, all the mystic surrounding the guides… during our trip there were so many people milling around it was tough to know who the guides were and were not, though occasionally it was pretty obvious, like that guy who had his clients hung from the cross (grin). Overall, the attitude and culture on the Silvretta was super friendly, that’s one thing that made the trip special. I’d definitely like to head back up there, though perhaps not during Easter…