Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's backcountry skiing information & opinion website. Lou's passion for the past 50 years has been alpinism, climbing, mountaineering and skiing -- along with all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about
ski touring and is well known as the first person to ski down all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, otherwise known as the
Fourteeners! Books and free ski touring news and information here.
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Backcountry skiing is dangerous. You may be killed or severely injured if you do any form of ski mountaineering, skimo randonnee and randonnée skiing. The information and news on this website is intended only as general information. Due to human error and passing time, the information, text and images contained within this website may be inaccurate, false, or out-of-date. By using, reading or viewing the information provided on this website, you agree to absolve the owners of Wild Snow as well as content contributors of any liability for injuries or losses incurred while using such information. Furthermore, you agree to use any of this website's information, maps, photos, or binding mounting instructions templates at your own risk, and waive Wild Snow owners and contributors of liability for use of said items for ski touring or any other use.
That heelpiece is amazing and perplexing–quite a marvel of design.
Notice the Aluminum triangle, visible on the rear top of binding — here I made a repair, as the plastic housing had cracked. The forward release was based on the idea of metal drum loaded by a spring, adjusted by the mauve screw, and housed in plastic. the drum’s housing cracked and was repaired by soft aluminum stock, screws and JB weld. In use, I found the climbing heel very effective to use and actuate. The front part this binding, the pivot, would often release too soon. Yet, The forward release seemed OK. Jeff Connor
Someone asked about Ramer VauDe mountain. Is easy to mount and install. You just use the binding for the screw hole pattern. That’s all I can tell you…
Don’t know if you saw our museum display of VauDe Comfort, if not check our binding museum. To locate use site search or our nav menus.
I’m still skiing these(mt 2000)…you have to turn everything up to 11 so they don’t pre release…I cranked the tailpiece and drove a roll pin thru the whole thing to keep the plastic screw from flying out…still light by any standard…great heel lifts..good pivot point…mounted on mt bakers….I ski them both days every weekend….lateral toe release is non existant………peace
Are you still looking for Ramer Rat bindings? I have a pristine pair