Maiden voyage of the Altai Hok skis and Scarpa T4 telemark boots
During periods of elevated avalanche hazard or when there's only poor quality snow, I like to go ski for conditioning rather than seeking downhill turns. And since my AT setup is more suited for climbing rather than cross-country travel, I've been intrigued by the Altai company's Hok skis for several years, and after testing out a pair at the White Pass Nordic Center in February 2022 , I finally took the plunge and purchased a pair of the 145cm Hok skis , 108mm in the waist. I chose a 3-pin cable 75mm binding for these skis, and bought a new pair of Scarpa T4 telemark boots , shell size 25, since I used to telemark ski. With a permanent skin attached to the middle third of the ski (i.e., directly underfoot), these skis are best suited for rolling terrain, but depending on your boot and binding choices, can also handle mild downhill turns. I plan to use this setup for a 3-day trip in March 2025, going from hut to hut managed by Three Sisters Backcountry , since the focus wi...
