Equipment failure. It's happened to the best of us. Ski touring gear is built to be minimalist and ultra-light, and unexpected failures in the backcountry can be a major hassle at best, and life-threatening at worst.

Shorter days, fall colors, and crisp mornings mean that summer is giving way to fall and ski season is right around the corner. The first tour of the year sneaks up fast, and the trailhead probably isn't the best place to knock the mud out of your bindings from last June. **Now** is the perfect time to be proactive and begin maintaining and dialing in your ski-touring gear to make sure it functions at its best this season.

An ounce of prevention can be worth a pound of cure when it comes to preventing a catastrophic gear failure deep in the backcountry. By performing a few routine gear checks as the season progresses, we can identify potential problems before they ruin your long-anticipated.

Does your gear pass the preseason check?

Touring skis are purpose-built to be lightweight, and are subjected to some pretty extreme stresses as we use them to move through the mountains. Skis are constructed of layers of different materials laminated together vertically and horizontally to give the skis their on-snow performance characteristics. If any of these layers begin to separate, you have a dreaded delamination, or "de-lam".

Closely inspect the entire length of the seam between the skis' edge and sidewall for any separation. If you find any gaps, this is an area where water can penetrate the core of the ski and eventually damage and weaken the core materials. If a de-lam is found, repair using a dab of two-part waterproof epoxy and clamp tightly until the epoxy is fully cured. The 5-minute quick-set epoxy found at many hardware stores is usually fine for this repair.

As you're inspecting your sidewalls, keep an eye on your edges and note any major burrs, compressions or cracks. A compressed edge may or may not accompany a delamination. If an edge is badly compressed or damaged, a professional ski technician may be able to cut the damaged portion away and lay in a new section of edge. If the damage is minor, consider keeping the damaged edge on the outside, where it will be subjected to less force than the inside edge. Designating a left or right ski can make this easy to pull off at-a-glance.

Base repairs should be addressed in the preseason, as well. Deeper gouges and minor core shots should be filled with p-tex, and bases should be waxed. Waxing your skis regularly helps to keep them slippery, but also helps prevent the buildup of skin glue residue.

Many touring bindings also use machine screws (fine thread). If any machine screws are found to be loose, removing and adding a drop of Blue Loc-Tite to the threads should prevent loosening in the future. As you're reinstalling screws in your bindings, don't go crazy with the torque you apply (you don't want to strip them), but make sure they're nice and snug.

Closely examine the toe and heel piece of the binding for any signs of stress or micro-fractures. These can often go unnoticed until a serious malfunction occurs. Cracked, stressed, or otherwise compromised bindings should be replaced immediately.

Binding maintenance is a crucial step to staying safe in the backcountry. Cripple Creek Backcountry in Carbondale has introduced a new "Parts Wall" to their repair shop, making it a one-stop-shop for replacement parts for most brands of touring bindings!

The boot-binding interface is crucial to having a safe, enjoyable day in the backcountry. Check the wear of your boots' tech-inserts. When the boot is locked into the binding, there shouldn't be any play in the interface between the binding's pins and the boot's insert. If you notice grinding or excessive play, your tech inserts are worn, and it may be time to consider replacing your boots.

Boot shells are subjected to extreme forces, and micro-fractures in the plastic can lead to major problems down the road. Closely examine your boots for any signs of stress or cracking. Cracked shells should be replaced immediately. (Scarpa has issued a voluntary recall on certain models of 2017 Maestrale and Maestrale RS touring boots. The shells are prone to this type of cracking, and Scarpa is repairing them free of cost. If you own a Scarpa boot that may fall under this recall, more information can be found here).

Closely examine your liners for excessive wear or damage. Touring boots often have lightweight, low-density liners that tend to show signs of wear rather quickly. Remove your liners from their shells and give them a once-over. Are all seams holding and intact? Is there excessive wear near the pivot-point of the shell? Finally, try the boot on before you head out skiing. Small changes to your anatomy over the off-season can lead to unanticipated fit issues. Replacement liners can breathe new life into your beloved shells, and can potentially extend the lifespan of your boots by a few seasons. If something feels out of whack, schedule an appointment with us at Cripple Creek for a pre-season boot fitting appointment to realign your boot’s fit.

If any of this information seems overwhelming, the touring equipment experts at Cripple Creek Backcountry are here to help!

We are now open to walk in traffic seven days a week in Aspen Highlands and Carbondale and open Monday-Friday in Avon. We are adhering to social-distancing guidelines, and limiting the number of customers in the store. Booking an appointment is the best way to make sure that we have the gear you need and an expert ready to offer you a personalized one-on-one consultation.

Book an appointment or give us a call at (970) 510-0450.