Lou Dawson's Backcountry Skiing Blog & Website -- Content Pages

Garage mount your Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings
Part 2: Mount the Heel Unit

By Louis Dawson

You now have the "plate" portion of the Silvretta Pure backcountry skiing binding mounted on both your skis. Time to mount your rear "heel" units.

Step 1 Cut out the heel portion of a WildSnow template. Cut sides of template so it's slightly narrower than ski, cut front and rear off template, but leave plenty of the tip/tail center line so you can align it accurately with that on your ski. Notice that the heel unit template has a bold black mark labeled"...align ends of carbon fiber rails with middle of this line."

Step 2 Place template on ski, align indicated mark with end of carbon fiber rails, and center left/right by aligning template center mark with the one you drew on your skis. Tape template to ski once it's perfect.

This method of mounting uses the main binding plate to locate the rear "heel" unit, so mount it first then use it to locate the rear template.

Double check location of Silvretta Pure backcountry skiing binding heel unit: Raise binding plate. Set heel unit on template, align screw holes, then drop binding plate. Rear of carbon fiber rails should be close to rear of screw holes in base plate. Also compare to photo above. It's crucial that the heel unit is properly located in relation to the binding plate, so take your time with this. Disclaimer: This template is to the best of our knowledge accurate, but variations in binding manufacturing and user error may result in mis-located bindings. Check all dimensions before drilling skis, especially location of heel unit. WildSnow.com and Louis Dawson make no guarantee or warranty, express or implied, in the results of mounts using these instructions or our template.

Heel unit is located such that rear of carbon fiber rails is close to rear of screw in base plate.

Step 3 Use your sharp center punch to dimple the 3 screw locations, as indicated on the paper template.

Step 4 Drill holes and screw heel unit to ski, use drilling and screw insertion instructions in part one of this guide. While attaching heel unit to ski, take care that small red plastic tab and metal spring are properly located.

This shows correct assembly of heel unit before screwing down on ski. When unit is attached, spring should compress into slot. Check as you screw it down.

Step 5 Test operation of heel unit. Clamp binding into alpine mode. Check all heel elevation modes.

Step 6 Refer to your user manual and complete all binding adjustments, give the epoxy 12 hours to cure, then go skiing on your newly mounted Silvretta Pure backcountry skiing bindings!

Silvretta Pure Binding The Silvretta Pure Alpine Touring binding is mind-bendingly light and has a unique pivot point mounted under the ball of the foot for a natural, comfortable stride with less moving parts.