Ski Europe Now

Sony TX10 Camera Review.

Just before setting out for Italy last April, I got a new waterproof camera, a Sony TX10 camera.  I used it a lot in Italy and kept it in my pants pocket most of the time.  A lot of the photos on the Picturepush site are from this camera.  I also stuck it in my pocket or bike pack during the summer and used it all the time.  Sadly, I lost this camera while riding near Denver in late June.  It tooke a couple months before I replaced it but I am happy I did.  I'll be taking it to Switzerland this April and using it again.  The camera is easy to use, pretty abuseproof (it is waterproof, shockproof, dustproof, and freezeproof), takes really nice photos, is small and unobtrusive, and looks nice.  One issue is the touchscreen doesn't work very well with very dry or cold hands.  I have an earlier waterproof camera from Sony and the color is actually some sort of film which is now peeling off.  I use this older camera at ski patrol and for bike tours.  On the Sony website two newer models of this type of camera are available, the TX200V and the TX20.  I cannot tell what the difference between these three models are except GPS/compass marking of photos and dual record of video/still photos.  Again, when this model line breaks the 20 megapixel barrier, I will probably upgrade.  TX10 rating:  95 out of 100.

One larger beef with this camera: how the hell do you view the 3d photos?  It can take them (I often use this feature because the camera takes a 3d photo file and a normal JPEG) but I can't look at them.  Most newer cameras now have this feature but how the f*ck do you look at them?  I'm confused.

A Better De-stink Method?

After last week's sad news about Steve Romeo, I was looking through his blog, TetonAT, and found his post on de-stinking stinky boot liners.  While I certainly didn't ski, hike, or get out as much as Steve did, I can say my boot liners probably equaled (or surpassed :( his liners) in the stink department.  Holy crap they are manky.  So, I like his idea of squirting some Frebreeze in and on the liners.  I am going to try it and see.  Crossing fingers and all that.

I also am going to be extra careful while in Switzerland after hearing about Steve.  He was much more savvy and experienced in the backcountry that I ever will be, and if an avalanche can catch and kill him, Christ, I need to be REALLY careful.  Shitty news.  He was always so upbeat and happy at Skinny Skis.  I hope someone will take over TetonAT in his honor.

Sony HX100V Camera Review.

I have been playing around a lot with my new camera, a Sony HX100V and have been very happy with it thus far.  I really like the 30x zoom and the steady shot capabilities of the camera (especially when using the zoom); the video capabilities are great but I do wish you could record in 720 instead of 1080 only, plus the different settings in the 1080 catagory are a little confusing and Sony would do well to explain the differences a bit more; the camera has a lot of bells and whistles but the instruction manual is very limited on how to use them all (and I have been unsuccessful in finding the in-camera guide).  Using it as a video camera while skiing is difficult but may prove easier when using a gorilla tripod as a handle.  Sony improved the grip of the camera from the earlier HX10 with use of more tacky rubber for a better grip.  Overall a great camera for the price.  It does takes very good photos as you can see:

Top of the Kaiser looking north.

Grand Teton in clouds at 30x zoom from top of Snow King.

Moon photo taken while using car as a brace; no tripod.  Pretty impressive.

I did notice on the Sony website that a new model of this series is coming out: the HX200 with 18 megapixels.  I'll wait for 20 or 24 megapixels before I get another one.

I Don't Get It.

After playing around with the new camera for a few days, I am still perplexed by the difference in the video formats.  Nothing less than 1980 x 1080 on the new camera but four different settings:  HQ = 60i, FH = 60i widescreen, FX = 60i, and PS = 60p.  I am not sure which presents a better picture of live action; more experiments needed.  I do know the further up the scale you go the less you can take.  At the highest setting of PS, a 16 gigabite memory card has only 80 minutes of storage.  Christ.  A brief test of 30 seconds of video at each setting showed to me the limitations of storage capacity.  HQ captures 1 second of video at 1 megabyte second, FH at 2 megs, FX at 3 megs, and PS at four megs.  Guess I need to carry a lot of cards with me on a daily basis.  Plus my old Acer Aspire one netbook can't really play these larger files so I can't review at the hotel what I've recorded.  Guess I will have to be extra careful.

Digging Through the Piles.

Can't seem to find one or two items for the spring trip so I have finally been forced to clean my desk to see if the missing items were buried.  Fun and games.  Oh well, at least my desk will be a bit more organized.

One thing to whinge about today:  how different camera models from the SAME FUCKING COMPANY all have different charging systems.  WTF?  I understand cameras from different companies having different chargers but from the same company?  What f*cktard of an engineer came up with this idea?  Three different cameras (all Sony brand) and three different chargers.  Jesus.  You're not making it easy to continue to buy your shit Sony.  There is this new idea: standardization.  At least make your charging systems the same.

X-Shape MTX PR - X-SHAPE - Head Ski

via www.head.com

Merry Christmas to Me! Bought these bad boys on Wednesday as a Christmas gift to myself. Skis and bindings for $487.00, shipping included. Pretty turny too: turn radius is 12.9 meters for the 170 so I imagine it will be well under 14 meters for the 177s I got. Whee! New disco sticks!

Biting the Bullet.

I just bought a new avalanche transceiver, the Pieps DSP Tour, and hopefully it shows up soon, although with the snow scarcity this season thus far it probably isn't an issue.  I also bought a Pieps iProbe One, an electronic avalanche probe which has a receiver at it's end and it emits a tone when the end is within two meters of a transmitting avalanche transceiver.  It also has a special function which allows you to mark and turn off a compatible transceiver.  This is important in multiple burial circumstances where being able to turn off a found but still buried transceiver so you can focus on other buried transceivers.  I had also tried to buy a Pieps Backup transmitter but the distributor was out of stock.  I also bought a Vaude ski backpack to use as a bomb pack on avalanche reduction days.  Expect reviews of all of this stuff soon.

Thinning the Herd.

Yep, time to thin the ski herd out and sell a pair of skis:  Stoeckli Stormriders, size 184, from five years ago.  Selling them to a fellow patroller for $100.00.  A good deal for him: these skis are still lively and snappy with no real top end as I have found.  Hold an edge well on firm snow and ice, and still stiff lengthwise and torsionally.  I was just tired of the skis and will be getting a new pair this year so cull the herd.

Orthovox Free Rider 18 Pack Review.

I recently purchased the Orthovox Free Rider 18 pack to use as a bomb pack while doing avalanche reduction and use as simple pack for ski cutting.  It is a tad small.  It has a nicly thought out avalanche rescue gear compartment with pockets for your shovel handle and probe pole, and a smaller outer compartment with several small organizer pockets in it suitable for a few pens, small notepads, a small water bottle, a powerbar or other candy bars, safety emergency blanket, and maybe a spare pair of gloves.  Thats it.  I put in my pack my safety gear, and added a small digital camera, a small coffee thermos mug, spare gloves, half liter of water, and a Kindle Fire in a padded bag and almost couldn't close the backpack.  This would be a great resort and/or sidecountry pack with just enough room for a small lunch, water bottle, and ultra-compressible poofy layer.  It does have one ice axe or other gear loop on it but no real way to attach skis (and certainly not a snowboard).  The zippers are of the waterproof type, and the zipper pulls are large and easy to grab with gloves on.  The shoulder straps and waist strap are quite large and offer a lot of adjustment, easily fitting a fat bastard like me even with a lot of ski clothes on.  If it was 26 or 30 liters, this would be a perfect bomb pack but sadly I don't think it will do what I want it to so I guess I will have to peruse Liberty Mountain for something more appropriate.  Dang.

I also bought a Gemini emergency single bivy sack, a 240 economic probe pole, and a Beast shovel.  Haven't had a lot of time (or snow) to play with them but expect reviews later.

Holy Crap!

With the early season festivities on the Kaiser (ie: ski cutting) you need rock skis.  I have been using an old pair of Nordica Ultra Waves (way before most folks time) from around 2000.  At the time I thought they were the bees knees, the best ski I had ever been on, great.  Funny how things change.  I have been trying to ski them in the crud and shite on the lower mountain and they SUCK BALLS.  Holy crap old school skis are a lot of work and really are horrible to ski.  Perhaps if I repaired the bottoms and got rid of the nasty burrs on the edges things would be better but they're rock skis for christs sake.  Maybe time to put them on the old burn pile.  Good thing I have a new pair of rock skis: pair of Rossi Bandits from 2009.  Much easier to turn and a bit more flex.  Crimeny.