New Skis advice

Last year was my first season skiing. I bought what the shop recommended for a beginner quiver ski: Voile V6. I have no performance complaints, but I'd like a lighter ski. Many of my objectives are big, and climbing-related. I hated dragging my V6's up Baker N. Ridge last year. Also wasn't fun dragging them up Rainier.

Anyhow, since I don't have any experience on other skis, I don't know where V6's land in terms of weight-performance ratio. I'm looking at the Cho Oyo and Hannibal 94's as options. Both would save me 2lbs.

On top of Ski-mo, I enjoy the few powder days to be had, and spring volcano corn. I do some days at the lifts, but mainly just for training, so I can be stronger in the backcountry.

Does anyone have experience with the Hannibal 94 in particular and how it may compare to the V6 as a quiver ski? Any recommendations for other skis worth checking out. Will these 5-ish LB skis ski poorer than the V6 for my intended uses?

And if this isn't the right forum to post this, are there any other good touring forums to check out on the internet?

Thanks everybody!

No experience with the Hannibal 94's but since you asked for other recommendations I would suggest the DPS Cassiar 95 Tour1.

The Cassiar is not a DPS ski you see much of in the PNW with the more powder orientated 112's or 99's being more prevalent out here in the land of deep cruddy snow.
A much overlooked ski IMHO.

I have just started skiing the Cassiar 95 and it holds an  edge and has grip like shit on an army blanket. It also has a flat tail which is I think desirable in a mountaineering ski.

I skied them on spring volcano corn last season and really like them. They also rip the groomers.

The tour 1 version is the lightweight  cap construction specifically made for touring and has had great reviews.

1460 g weight .

www.dpsskis.com/en/cassiar-977.html


www.backcountry.com/dps-skis-cassiar-95-tour1-ski
Expensive but I'm an unabashed DPS fan boy!!!

Last year was my first season skiing.
And if this isn't the right forum to post this, are there any other good touring forums to check out on the internet?

Thanks everybody!

Greg @Alpinezone.com

Just from personal (more limited admittedly) experience, I like how my K2 Waybacks ski (resort and touring). New models are in the 5+lb range.

Maybe the larger selling point is their relative low cost (last year's on sale for $375).

Different skis for different conditions and objectives. 

The North Ridge of Baker is serious ski mountaineering descent-- rated as a extreme descent here:

www.skimountaineer.com/CascadeSki/CascadeSki.php?name=Baker

The Voile V6 wouldn't be the ideal ski under most conditions for that route -- Many people would choose a narrower ski with less sidecut for that steep of a descent for stronger edging on steep firm snow (if the snow was soft, the North Ridge of Baker would have very high avalanche risk IMO)

A 94 mm waisted ski vs a 99mm waisted ski alone won't make that big a difference in edging -- However Voile skis also tend to be on the soft side (Voile is based in Utah -- home of fluffy powder, not Cascade Concrete)

Here is one guide's advice list for ski gear for clients doing the Haute Route in Europe. HTH

www.cosleyhouston.com/haute-route-eq-list.htm

Let me clarify. I skied the Coleman Demming, but climbed the North Ridge. I didn't enjoy having my Voile's strapped to my back while climbing two pitches of alpine ice.

Anyone have experience with the Black Diamond Helio 95? It seems like a similar ski to the Fischer.