Ski Touring with the SCARPA Maestrales: Kaiser Wilderness

On New Year's Day 2020, The Mountain Air staff members Josh Simas, Brandon O'Rourke, and Nick Weirman went ski touring near Huntington Lake.

As recorded on a Garmin Fenix 5, this was their almost six mile, just over four hour ascent from Huntington Lake:

Their hard-earned descent only took a half hour.

Nick and Josh both used the SCARPA Maestrales on Armada Tracers with the Armada Shift 13 bindings, so as to be able to skin uphill and have a safe release if needed downhill. Brandon used the stiffer SCARPA Maestrale RS.

(An aside: This year's Maestrales ARE stamped with ISO 9523, so ski mounting should be much less of an issue than in years past.)

Both Nick and Josh sized down from their regular Alpine boot sizing for a comfortable fit in the Maestrales. They intend to use the Maestrales and Armada Tracers as one-boot and one-ski quivers to do almost anything they may want to do both inbounds at resorts, or in the backcountry. They both found the boots last appropriate to their feet.

Brandon, Nick, and Josh all learned on their quick trip above Huntington Lake in the Sierra Nevada. Brandon learned the importance of checking snow conditions before heading into the mountains. Nick learned he needed the appropriate skins for his skis. And Josh learned to push his skiing ability.

Hopefully this season, winter 2020 to 2021, they'll all be able to take more backcountry thanks to their SCARPA Maestrales, which you can purchase from The Mountain Air. We also carry the SCARPA Gea, the women's model of the Maestrales.