[DIYSteve]

[Randito]

I have a couple year's back version of Mountain Hardware Mixaction™ Pant soft shell pants that have worked pretty well for me. I like the thigh vents. The ones I have are a little thin for mid-winter days, but using thicker long underwear and/or windbreaker overpants can extend their temp range. The pants I have came with zip in gaiters -- but I've removed those and find that the pants seal up pretty well without them. For lift-skiing I use a pair of snowboarding pants -- The features I like about these are 1) They have a thick piece of fleece built in the butt -- which is nice for riding on the chair. 2) The thigh vents on the inside help keep things from overheating on warmer days. 3) The fabric is thick and durable and is holding up well against ski edge cuts 4) I got them cheap from DogFunk.com 'cause I bought a particularly ugly prior year design.

[ScottP]

For most conditions (lighter precip days in winter, early spring conditions) I wear a pair of Patagonia Backcountry Guide softshell pants. They're very comfortable, loose enough to allow layering, and they vent well. When it's dumping and/or I am going to be skiing in deeper conditions, I wear a pair of Flylow Chemical pants. They are bombproof pants. The venting is versatile with inner and outer thigh vents. The knees are reinforced and articulated and the waist is adjustable to accomodate layers. The fit is a little looser than I like, but the protection and comfort are undeniably good. (I got both of these in nearly-new used condition off of the TGR gear swap for about half of retail.) In late spring and early summer, I go with a lighter softshell pant made by Mountain Hardwear. (I think the model is the Chockstone.) In t-shirt conditions, I wear a pair of Kuhl Liberator convertible pants.

[Relax]

[EJ]

For splitboarding, I have a pair of Patagonia Backcountry Guide soft shell pants. I really like them; they've got an internal gaiter that fits over my boots and venting for when I need a bit of cooling. They've been durable. They are, however, expensive if you buy them full retail (I got mine on clearance.) For spring adventures, I might wear my lighter soft shell pants (the PG Alpine Guide) and I've used regular hiking pants for summer and fall snowboarding (the kind with zippers on the legs so I can get them to fit over my boots.) I couldn't imagine touring in a pair of hardshell or insulated pants (hot!). I've never needed super waterproof pants when splitboarding; the softshells have been good enough.

[DIYSteve]

[Stefan]

My setup is goretex pro over heavy softshells. Now, I am not a big backcountry skier as you know. I have found the few times I do it, it works okay for me. sometimes I think it is too roomy. It allows for flexibility to take off the goretex. The problem is and will always be going on the uphill when it is wet snow coming down. Too hot! And I get too sweaty! I guess the only answer to that problem is to not cut trail and follow in your path. The other problem is when the softshells get too wet, the fabric expands and droops at my hips no matter how tight I wear a belt and wear suspenders. I wish there was a fabric that was "stretchy" but would NOT get excessively "stretchy" when wet!

[DIYSteve]

[Schenk]

[DIYSteve]

Do you have another name for it?

[Randito]

When the temps are above 28F, but the snow is untracked and not yet crustified by sun, wind or the dreaded "R" -- I call it "fresh snow". It is a lot more fun to ski than usual PNW breakable crust or glop.

[Schenk]

Sure: How about Cascade Concrete? Or Pacific Ready Mix: Starts out soft and sets up fast. Now, let's not get in a big discussion over names for snow. I wasn't criticizing the term "Wet Pow" Steve; I was just noticing that it takes a true Cascade skier to appreciate "wet' snow and still call it powder! More pow(d)er to you Steve

[DIYSteve]

[DIYSteve]

[Schenk]

I have heard the Inuit, and other Natives of the northern lands, have hundreds of words for snow. I believe we could give them a run for their money! BigSteve wrote: Ah, the old days when we skied that stuff with 68mm waisted traditional camber skis. Very few people ever developed the "head" for the speeds required to ski Sierra Cement on those things! It required lots of kinetic energy to blast through and not be deflected on every turn...