Grip wax on Telemark skiis?

I do a lot ski backcountry skiing on waxless skis and have no experience with waxing cross country skis.  Is it possible to use grip wax on telemark skiis and get the same results as waxless backcountry skis?  I would use my telemark skiis more often if I didn't always have to use skins.

Yes it works.   

Two things to consider:

1) Kick/grip wax works best on "double cambered" XC skis -- these skis have softer tips and tails but a stiffer mid-section.   The wax grips during the "kick" when pressed into the snow, but slides during the glide phase where most of the skiers wieght is carried on the tips and tails.  Telemark and alpine skis are "single cambered" -- which makes turning much easier -- but results in more drag from kick wax applied to the base.

2) Look carefully at a waxing chart.  Notice that right around the freezing point (0 C) there are lot's of waxes.   In the PNW we often have temps the hover close to freezing.  So as you climb and descend there is often frequent fiddling with the wax.  In generally colder temps (below -4C) wax works much more easily.

One product I've been trying out is Start Grip Tape    -- this is a fairly new klister based grip wax that is supposed to have a very wide temperature range.   I've tried it out a bit and found that it had good grip -- but glide was lacking -- I've reduced the amount of tape on my bases -- but I haven't been out to try them again.

Randy are you using full on tele skis ? please keep us updated .
.on your wax tests

I've used grip wax over here on the eastside with great results. I like "special blue" for the conditions I'm most likely to ski. My single camber Boundless Tour waxed tip to tail climbs better than any waxless ski I've tried and turns better too. I have not noticed any significant drag, certainly less than any of the waxless skis.

Randy are you using full on tele skis ? please keep us updated .
.on your wax tests

Currently I'm trying it out on a pair of Madshus Glittertind skis. These are old-skool tele's, long skinny and double cambered. I use these skis for ungroomed XC type skiing -- where covering distance is more the goal than making turns.

I'm going to give it a try on a pair TM:EX that I have -- for improved sidecountry skiing -- like "Bowl 4" at Mission or the south backcounty at Crystal. For this I'll use just a foot of tape centered under the toe piece.

Thanks for the info! I've been using Fisher Outtabounds (camber and a half waxless skiis) to ski into firelookout rentals and for backcountry excursions. I recently bought some used K2 World Piste skiis to try on lift served runs. I think I'll experiment with the special blue wax and see if I can get enough grip without too much drag. I'd love to take my K2's to some of the fire lookouts I've rented.