Why do tele/rando skiers boot up mountains?

I pretty much agree with everything markharf just said: I prefer skinning, but if booting conditions are better/faster I boot.

always try to push skinning as much as humanly possible

<br>That strikes me to be as intelligent as postholing through chest deep powder, trying to push bootpacking as much as humanly possible.    Suit the tools to the task. <br><br>Jeff, I would like to humbly suggest that Hood above the lifts simply isn't steep enough for booting to be more efficient than skinning. <br>

<br>Jeff, I would like to humbly suggest that Hood above the lifts simply isn't steep enough for booting to be more efficient than skinning. <br>

<br><br>I agree, I think you're right. St Helens has about the same pitch though

<br>That strikes me to be as intelligent as postholing through chest deep powder, trying to push bootpacking as much as humanly possible.    Suit the tools to the task. <br><br>

<br><br>Obviously, I was exaggerating and when skinning becomes slower and more work, I boot.  Booting can be faster, but I usually get more worked.  Like I said it all depends on what you want and like to do.  If the slope isn't too steep, it is just as fast for me to keep the skis on, even when icy. <br>

<br><br>I agree, I think you're right. St Helens has about the same pitch though

<br>I dunno, I think that several sections might be steeper. But I haven't been on Hood for a few years, so I know nothing.<br><br>Ned: of course, I was exaggerating, but it made my point nicely. Personal preference. But I still maintain the right to laugh at Dave and Amar when they skin up rock-hard late summer snow. <br>

As a card carrying representative of the geriatric crowd, my nod would go to Ned and Markharf. My tendency is to prefer to stand on one ski and drag the other, rather than carry them both on my pack. I usually load up when the slope gets so steep that the traversing is slowing me way down by making me cover too much ground. 'Course loading up is a lot more complicated for me 'cause I usually already have my walker loaded up too.