backcountry riding logistics

What's the best way to carry a board on your back? (no splitboard)

Tombstone-style seems to result in either clipping trees above or your heels below.
Horizontal seems too wide.
Diagonal? Would suck if traversing the wrong way?

Also, my girlfriend's snowboard boots seem to have a pressure point where the lateral distal part of the boot's tongue meets the toe of the boot (not sure I can describe it better. One boot is worse than the other. Not much an issue when riding, but definitely when snowshoeing. Is this fixable? (and who can fix it?) Sorry, don't know make of boots right now, though can find out.

I usually pack it vertically. If you do so, make sure that the board is high enough so as not to interfere with your stride (usually only a problem on flat ground or hiking downhill). I've never figured out a diagonal carry that works.

Are the boots plastic-shelled like ski boots, or soft like typical snowboard boots? If the former, first consider replacing the liner with a thermo-formable one, or heat-molding the plastic in the area with a heat-gun. If the latter, maybe get creative with the lacing, or replace them with plastics. Also see if you can adjust the boot position on the snowshoe (forward/back) to balance out the torque.

I have found the vertical carry to snag way less than horizontal, even though I am 6'5". I would only use anything other than a vertical carry if a snowmobile ride was invovled.

Definitely vertical. Two tips: have the board higher than lower, so it doesn't clip your legs, but more inportant is to angle it forward by having more stuff in the bottom of your pack and less in the top and keep bottom pack straps on the loose side and the upper straps tight. This way the top of the board should be up above your head. This keeps the center weight more forward for less shoulder strain and allows you to grab the board above you and pull it down as you lean down/forward to duck under trees/branches. Sounds like she needs a new boot!

Horizontal is wide but for whatever reason I always found that the weight rode better that way for me. You just learn to maneuver with it best in which ever orientation works for you. If your gf prefers horizontal Dakine makes packs that have features meant to make this easily allowable and comfortable. (osprey says it does....they reinforce the straps so they won't get cut by the metal edges but there is no padding so it isn't super comfortable for long distances.)

I think it is best if she uses the orientation that is most comfortable for her.

*zoom*

Thanks for the feedback.

Her boots are plastic outers and old-fashioned standard inners, so hopefully some heat treatment can work. Though new boots may be the ultimate answer.

We don't have an ideal snowboarding pack... she's using my WildThings Ice Pack along with an assortment of biners and cord.

Right now we're in the phase of "get her hooked on the BC with minimal suffering and monetary investment," and are trying to find a viable snowshoe/carry setup that would work for a long day or an overnight (the boots right now have too much suffer-factor for a full day).