I thought you guys might enjoy something totally retro from the 1980s. Pete Sowar sent these over from Crested Butte. Secura-Fix adapter snaps into alpine binding and provides a touring platform. This was the ancestor of the famed Alpine Trekker touring adapter sold by Backcountry Access. Check out the museum display.
Secura-Fix backcountry ski binding touring adapter inserted in alpine binding.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain. For more about Lou, please see his personal website at https://www.loudawson.com/ (Blogger stats: 5 foot 10 inches (178 cm) tall, 160 lbs (72574.8 grams).
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12 comments
I still have a set of those in the back of the closet……
For those who never knew, or maybe forgot…the problem with the Secura Fix adapter was the cylinder style plate. It’s circular profile allowed the heel to rotate relative to the toe, causing your boots to fall out at inopportune times. The “fix” to that was to add a screw through the cylindrical plate at the heel to keep it from rotating. But that was too much home brewed engineering for the average joe to put up with.
My buddy Dan had a pair of those way back in the late 1980s. Dunno how much he used them, but it was a beginning to some backcountry adventure for sure.
I guess Dostie didn’t check out the museum display (grin).
Halsted, hang on to those, they might be worth good money on the antique market someday (grin).
Lou,
A buddy had a pair of Secura Fix. On one long skin ascent, I did a field mod for him that we dubbed the log-a-lift. With a saw, visegrips and bailing wire I modified a chunk of lodgepole pine into a heel elevator. Looked funny as hell, but did the trick. I’ll have to see if I can find the slide and scan it.
Good field mod Ed. Sometimes MacGuyver-like ingenuity in the field can yield great results.
Okay, so do you have a pair of Ramer’s version of the Secura-Fix? The Ramer RAT?
RAT = Randonnee Adaptor Thingy
Dostie, nope, I’ve had requests out for the RAT but have not been able to come up with any.
I have a pair of these bad boys that i purchased back in 93 or 94. I believe I paid 90 -100$ for them from paradise bikes and skis in crested butte. I considered sending them to you but thought I might need them since I converted to fritschis just a couple of years ago. I didnt think anyonelse had them. I never had problems with the rotating out of the thing but experienced problems with the forward pressure of the bindings loosening the plates. I solved this buy a technique I learned from the legendary Dean Cummings. Straping a hose clamp around the cylinder just in front of the heel piece solved all problems.
Darren and all, if anyone has a R.A.T. we’re still needing a set for the collection. And yeah, they’re all some crazy solutions…
I have a pair of brand new RATs still in the box I’m willing to sell.
I’m still using the old secura fix alpine adapter, just used it the other day in Toas NM. Lost some parts, so I’m locking for a set for parts ( springs etc )
Anybody out there wanting to get read of them please let me know ! Let it snow !
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