Kulkea Puts Ski Trekker to the Test!
We couldn’t resist. Although the Ski Trekker ski & boot bag was developed as a recreational skier pack to go from parking lot to lodge, we were dying to see how far we could push it. We had to give it the challenge of
Tuckerman Ravine, NH, the birthplace of US backcountry skiing.
In March 2012, we put the Ski Trekker into the hands of avid VT backcountry ski trekker, Andrea Gallitano. Andrea regularly pushes himself and his gear to the extreme.
His favorite stomping ground is the Northern Presidential Range in NH, which he has trekked over 40 times, including skiing Oakes Gulf, the Munroe Brook, the Ammonoosuc Ravine, the Cog Rail, Mount Munroe and, of course, multiple visits to Tuckerman Ravine. Prior to testing the Ski Trekker at Tucks he relied upon various 40-110 litre packs with compression strap systems for carrying skis.
Here is what Andrea had to say after climbing Tucks three times using the Ski Trekker:
“The Ski Trekker is superior to other systems, and clearly my pack of choice. The Ski Trekker holds skis more firmly than packs designed for A-Frame uses. The Ski Trekker does away with the hassle of additional fasteners to hold my skis (eg: bungie cords and duct tape). Further, when I am unsure of the terrain I will encounter, the Ski Trekker allows me to simultaneously carry my crampons, skis, skins, snowshoes, poles and an ice axe.”
Andrea was also impressed with how the Ski Trekker allowed him to avoid banging into trailside rocks and obstacles, and with the ability to easily elevate skis for downward trekking.
The Ski Trekker is still the solution for men and dads to help families go from parking lot to lodge, but we know Andrea can't wait to get out there again with the Ski Trekker.
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