drool

Ski Press Canada/USA
Feb. 02
Jeb Wallace-Brodeur

The first time I saw a pair of Alpine Trekkers—made by Backcountry Access of Boulder, Colorado—they were in their full functional glory. Headed into the Fernie backcountry on snowshoes with skis bungee-corded precariously to my pack, I watched a group of locals, outfitted with Alpine Trekkers, climb effortlessly past me. I was so impressed by the Alpine Trekkers’ compact simplicity, that I vowed to give them a try before my next slog into the backcountry.

Alpine Trekkers are elegantly simple in their design. They have a rigid bar that snaps into your bindings, and a hinged plate that clips to your boot bottom, allowing you to lift your heel like a touring boot. A pair of Trekkers takes up about as much room in your pack as a pair of crampons.

After an initial adjustment, using the Trekkers is as easy as using telemark gear. Add a pair of Backcountry Access Low-Fat Climbing Skins and you’re good to go. Though not as light as true touring gear, Alpine Trekkers are a must for the occasional backcountry enthusiast who doesn’t want to shell out big bucks for an entire touring outfit. Price: About $180 in the US, roughly $240 in Canada.