While climbing the north face of the Grand Teton earlier this month I took photographs of this beautiful, rare and unusual looking flower which I had never seen before, called Alpine Lantern, at about 11,900 – 12,000 feet, just below the Guano Chimney. After some searching and inquiring about it, this is what Dick Scott, author of The Alpine Flora of the Rocky Mountains: Volume 1, The Middle Rockies, wrote to me about it:
It’s an uncommon plant, often overlooked, of rocky places above timberline. We have it from cirque walls, moraines, fellfields, talus, scree, and other rocky places in many, but not all, alpine ranges of western Wyoming. It has sort of a disjunct distribution pattern, skipping from one range to another in western North America. I’ve seen it and collected it, here and there, from the Wrangells in Alaska to the Uintas in Utah. If you’d like to see a distribution map for the Middle Rockies you might check the Jackson Library for a copy of my book, The Alpine Flora of the Rocky Mountains: Volume 1, The Middle Rockies (I’m still plugging away on the Southern Rockies and the Northern Rockies). – Dick Scott
So it seems like this may be the first sighting and recording of it in the Tetons. Pretty exciting!
Help support StephenKoch.com with a sweet pair of Steiner Binoculars, to view alpine flowers on your next adventure, from Backcountry.com!
Water bladders are a wonderful invention and they work very well for many uses. There are times that I do not carry a bladder, yet still want water very accessible. My solution to this has been to make my own carrier using a few simple items and a used plastic water bottle. In this short climbing tips/how to video I demonstrate how you can make your own water bottle carrier using old water bottles, zip-ties, duct tape, athletic tape and string.
I like carrying water off of my harness to lower my center of gravity, especially during steep climbing. If the bottle leaks from my harness, my jacket or sleeping bag don’t get wet! Another reason I like drinking out of a bottle is so that I know how much water is left! It can be frustrating while using a hydration bladder to be half way up a climb thinking I have plenty of water left only to discover I am sucking the last of it down without knowing it.
Climbing the north face of the Grand Teton.
I reuse the bottles several times until they start to get funky or develop a leak, then recycle them. I also like the price of these water bottles and holders!
May you have a safe, fun and successful adventure!
Click on image to enlarge!
Rock climbing up the classic north face of the Grand Teton.
Hidden Falls is a beautiful 80-foot-high “waterfall” located near Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park. In the summer, park visitors can hike the trail leading up to the falls, one of the busiest in Grand Teton. The distance to Hidden Falls from the boat dock, where the shuttle boat drops you off, is a ½ mile with a vertical gain of about 150 feet.
Inspiration Point offers a magnificent view of Jenny Lake and Jackson Hole beyond and is 1 mile from the boat dock and about 400 feet above the lake. The hiking trail is dirt and strewn with imbedded boulders with several steps built into it. A hike to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point may not be for everyone, but those who venture there will be rewarded with a magnificent view of the falls and the cool, damp breeze emitted from the spray of the cascade. You can also hike right above the exciting rush of water that is Cascade Creek.
Begin your trip at the Jenny Lake Visitor Center, which has a large parking lot. Once at the Visitor Center, you can decide to follow the trail around the lake, 2 miles heading west or about 5 heading north, or take the shuttle boat to the other side.
SHUTTLE BOAT HOURS: The hours of operation for the shuttle boats, which depart about every 15 minutes are:
May 15 – 31 10am – 4pm
June 1 – July 5 8am – 6pm
July 6 – Aug 15 7am – 7pm
Aug 16 – Sept 7 8am – 6pm
Sept 8 – 30 10am – 4pm
The cost to ride the shuttle boat across Jenny Lake to Cascade Canyon trailhead is $10 round trip for adults and $5 for children.
When at the view point of Hidden Falls, make sure to look up at the great climbing and rappelling taking place on the rock walls above. There are several bolted climbs and rappel anchors for climbers of all abilities.
Learn to climb safely and correctly by finding a mentor, hiring a guide and buying this video.
Learning to rock climb in Grand Teton National Park.
Help support StephenKoch.com by heading to Backcountry.com for all the gear you need or covet for your next hiking or climbing adventure!
This beautiful note and video are from Amy McCarthy. They moved me. May they move you.
June 2010
Dearest Friends of Chuck Pratt,
Just about 9 years ago, we gathered on the summer solstice, that glorious long day of light, to celebrate another brightness in each of our lives, the grand and radiant spirit of Charles Marshall Pratt. The evening brought together friends from all over the world, including legendary Yosemite climbers, Thailand travelers, mountain mates from Exum, and bar buddies from Dornan’s.
It was a spectacular setting at the base of the Tetons and a fitting tribute to our dear friend Chuck, who passed without warning one December day in 2000, in the midst of a dream in a Thai bungalow.
December of this year will mark a decade since the world has been without Chuck’s earthly presence. But, he remains a bright light, a beacon of integrity. Even in death he has been the consummate guide, serving as a touchstone for a way of living that embraces simplicity, honor, intelligence, trust and friendship.
While Chuck probably would have eschewed the technological shifts and the frenetic life pace of the past ten years, some of that technology has given me this opportunity to reconnect with each of you, and propelled me to dust off the collection of materials accumulated at the time of Chuck’s memorial. With the help of my husband Forrest, we have woven some of those images together into a tapestry of tribute to a man we both loved and admired.
Sit back. Tune in. Embrace him. Remember. And, share in the journey that is….an Ode to Chuck.
With blessings and gratitude for still loving Chuck,
Amy
What is the better descent tool? Mountain tool in general? Read on...
Steve Romeo, skier and blogger of Tetonat.com, posed a question about skis vs. snowboard – which is a better mountain descent tool here. There are many excellent comments, so check out the link above for those!
Following are my responses from that discussion.
Randosteve: I think it might be a little easier for snowboarders than skiers to descend the Chevy Couloir with their boards on their feet…since the boards are probably much shorter than the skis most skiers are on. The shortest skies I have right now (not including my rando race skis) are 175cm. i wonder what size board you ride on when on the gt???
Stephen Koch: The size snowboard I usually ride on steeper, more technical terrain like on the Grand Teton has generally been between 155cm to 165cm. I have on occasion ridden even smaller boards, especially where weight is a major factor (high altitude). The small boards don’t hold an edge or float in powder as well as longer boards. That being said, they sure do come around quickly and one can squeak through some very narrow terrain!
Me snowboarding on the north face of Mount Everest. Photo - Copyright Jimmy Chin
I have a pair of 95cm Igneous skis (145/135/140 width) with adjustable Dynafit bindings that you are welcome to use.
I agree with you. A snowboard is the better tool for descending mountains (steep, snowy, icy, rocky) for the following reasons:
1. Snowboards are generally shorter than skis – less so nowadays with the continual flattening and shortening of the ski. Snowboards for an expert adult male rider are generally 155cm-165cm (the 195 cm Igneous Powder Gun is the exception!) and skis for an expert adult male skier are generally 170cm to 185cm. A competent rider (snowboard) can descend narrower terrain than a skier (skis) of equal ability. 2. Riders can completely face the mountain on their toe-side edge, which allows for increased security on steep terrain compared with skiers. It is arguably more secure to side-slip on a snowboard (especially with axes…see below) than to side-slip/step with skis because the rider can completely face the mountain with a toe-side edge. 3. Poles are not needed/used (except for RG!) to snowboard, which allows for practical and full use of ice axes (to provide an anchor point or control a slide), the main tool of mountaineers.
Let me know if you want to borrow those skis, or a snowboard! (me rubbing Romeo a little after he says that a snowboard might be “easier” to use than skis because they are generally shorter…here’s your opportunity!)
AND:
HARD BOOTS VS. SOFT BOOTS FOR SNOWBOARD MOUNTAINEERING –
Stephen Koch: Really great discussion. This spring I have gone back to hardboots after 7 years in softboots for snowboard mountaineering. I am still working out my stance with the hard boots. My hardboot stance was roughly 45 degrees on each foot compared to 15 and zero or minus 5 on back foot for soft boots. My stance now with the Scarpa F1 Rendonee boots (baffled toe for flex make these very comfortable to skin / hike / climb in) is about 35 degrees each foot. It has been a gradual process to get back to the steeper angles, but I like it and it brings back so many memories and feelings from years of descents and general riding in hard boots (1988 to 2003…’87 was in Sorels). I imagine that with the hard boot modifications mentioned above by Barrows, he is able to ride in a “softboot” type stance?
I stayed in soft boots for the past seven or so years because I liked the surfy feel. My ability to safely travel in the mountains (in my mind) was severely limited as I was unwilling to use traditional soft boots in the mountains for the obvious reasons mentioned above…lack of Vibram sole (some softies have them now) for rock climbing, too soft to safely kick into all snow conditions or sidestep on firm snow without crampons, don’t like the feel of soft boots in strap crampons on firm snow/ice…sloppy and insecure, so basically I stayed out of the mountains for any steep/firm descents during that time. I did guide in soft boots and splitboard and on skis during that time. So yes, I skied more and enjoyed my ability to more around the mountain going up or sideways with greater ease and security. But every time I was descending on skis, in less than ideal conditions or in powder, I was longing for my snowboard.
Backcountry Splitboard Setup
My splitboard setup now is a super light (no top sheet!) Rome board, Dynafit toes for the up with the Scarpa F1 boots, Voile Splitboard Binding Interface with Burton Race Plate Bindings – minus the base plates…custom drilled and mounted to the sliderplate, fat crampons from B and D Ski Gear that work with the Dynafit toes. B and D also has metal crampon holders to replace the weak plastic Dynafit crampon holders and crampon “locks”, to keep them down when in steep/lifter mode.
Skinning on a splitboard on firm terrain with hardboots is WAY safer and more comfortable and less taxing physically than with soft boots.
Holding an ice ax when riding coupled with the ability to completely face the slope is a huge advantage of snowboarding vs. skiing. Skiers have died from slipping on icy slopes without the ability to swing in an ice ax (Hans Saari for example) or not carrying one because it is awkward to swing in when standing with your feet perpendicular to the slope. A Black Diamond Whippet is not an ice ax!
SPLIT TRANSITION VS. SKI TRANSITION -
I am slower than most skier with the transition from splitboard to snowboard. That being said, the Scarpa F1’s sure help with their rear throw to tighten and lock in the forward lean all in one. I did a descent with AJ and he rips both up and down with his short skis and solid board/hard boots. I used that system for years but am super stoked to ride a splitboard to not carry the weight of an extra tool when one can do both!
IDEAL GRAND TETON DESCENT -
Sure – the GT descent we can all aspire to is a complete, ropeless one. A monstrous belief in ones ability to succeed, huge huevos or ovaries, willingness to try and exceptional conditions will be needed for that. I would love to shoot video if anyone wants to give it a try…and I will buy drinks after, so long as you survive…but will definitely be drinking either way. Wondering if, on the belayed descents of the Chevy, there was any sideslipping or if turns were made the entire way. If sideslipping is “OK” then all it will really take is for someone strong enough to lock off with one arm holding an ice ax and lower/sideslip through the crux. This is what I have done on numerous descents when conditions allowed or didn’t allow…depending on how you look at it! Have fun and come home. That is success.
AND:
Ptor (Spricenieks)…long time indeed. Enjoying writing with you here…turning on snow together better!
Regarding the Whippet, I have a KSO (Keen Sense of the Obvious) thanks to my mother…that being said though, I think many skiers who don’t have much alpine climbing (ice ax) experience may rely on it more than is safe. It is important to know the limitations of your tools. With ice axes, one is able to penetrate (with sharp picks and an experienced swing/s) the hardest snow and ice.
luke…I have popped open bindings/come out of the race plate binding ONLY while using the Dynafits that are not meant to take a bail…the ones with a shallow and rounded toe rand. Otherwise, with boots made with a DIN type toe I have NOT popped out of a plate binding.
Regarding climbing up the Exum Ridge on the Grand Teton to save weight on gear…not my thing as I love ice climbing and more importantly, like to climb what I ride to intimately know what I will be encountering and where during the descent – hidden or unexpected ice, barely covered rocks, etc. I think it is accurate to say that not climbing up what they descended significantly contributed to how most dead skiers/riders who died skiing or snowboarding extreme terrain met their end…Saari on Gervasutti, Siffredi on Everest, Gouvy on Aiguille Vert, among many others…
There are a few descents that I did not climb before descent for either laziness or safety…Black Ice Couloir (Laziness…took the short route to the upper saddle vs. the long route via the Valhalla Traverse and up the BI) and the Gervasutti Couloir (Safety…big hang fire) are a couple of examples.
It seems like most things in life are a balancing act. The risks inherent with going into the mountains are part of my balancing process. Personal responsibility! When I blame others (usually if I don’t like the way it turned out), I realize with hindsight, it is from my own fear and insecurity.
And it looks like Arne Backstrom died while skiing a route on Pisco (5752M), in the Cordillera Blanca of Peru, which he did not climb…
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Help support StephenKoch.com with an Osprey Kode Pack from Backcountry.com to help you carry your skis or snowboard up a mountain!
This is a short video of my partner hiking up from the lower saddle towards the Black Dike on the Grand Teton last week. We started out in the rain and knew the forecast was for storms but went for it anyway knowing we would turn around if conditions warranted it. The gusts were in the 55-60 mph range and it was challenging to keep our footing. The rhyme ice stung the face intensely, so we tried to keep our backs to the wind as much as possible, which was challenging as it was coming from our left (SW) as we were heading north. Fortunately there was some protection from the onslaught of wickedness the wind was once at the Black Dike.
This climbing trip was one of the more intense trips I have ever done. The combination of wind, snow, ice and whiteout conditions made for a special challenge that kept me intensely interested and in the moment. It is times like these that I love climbing! Nothing keeps me in the moment better than challenging climbing, except for possibly sex.
I did not snowboard the north face of the Aiguille du Midi while I lived in Chamonix in 1990, although I wanted to.
I did make some turns along the north side of the ridge traversing to the glacier on my way to ride the Gervasutti Couloir on Mont Blanc du Tacul. The “Gervasutti,” as it is known, is situated between a bergschrund at 3465 meters and the summit ridge at 4200 meters and was first climbed in 1934 by the Italian Giusto Gervasutti and his companion Renato Chabod. The steepness of the couloir averages 45° and is 55° at its steepest. The Gervasutti has seen a number of tragedies over the years, including that of my friend and occasional skiing and chess partner Hans Saari . Hans fell in the direct entrance to the couloir after losing his edge on ice. Check out the link above to know more about the Hans Saari Memorial Fund and the good work they are doing in Hans’ honor!
The Gervasutti was first skied by Sylvain Saudan on the 17th October 1968. Saudan is one of the great early pioneers of extreme skiing.
Here is a 1 minute video of Tobias Granath skiing the Gervasutti. The video shows the steepness of the couloir nicely.
I opted to break the golden rule of climbing what you ski/ride on this instance, and paid a small price…others have not been as fortunate as I. The Gervasutti has towering seracs menacing the slopes below. To minimize the risk of getting wiped out from an ice avalanche if the ’schrund calved, I walked up the back side instead of climbing directly up the couloir under the “hang fire,” before dropping in, as Hans had done. I slipped on ice towards the lower part of the Couloir but was able to self arrest with my ice ax and eventually able to force an old, dull Russian titanium ice screw into the ice and clip into the screw with a daisy chain (leash) attached to my harness just as my gloved hand slipped out of my ice ax leash. Phew! A quick change to crampons for a short climb to the snow, and soon I was riding again. I jumped the 15′ bergschrund at the bottom of the couloir and, upon landing, popped out of both bindings! My binding screws were loose!
Let’s just say, after this and a couple other near misses, I was fortunate to make it out of Chamonix alive and with many learning experiences to learn from moving forward!
I like the short video below…of a Frenchman skiing four routes on the north face of the Aiguille du Midi above Chamonix.
While reading a trip reporton TetonAT.com about a recent ski descent of the Grand Teton I experienced butterflies in my stomach reading about the slough avalanches and felt their vulnerability while viewing one of the rappelling photos in the middle of the Chevy.
Skiers on Grand Teton. Photo - Stephen Koch
Some of the comments about the trip report were about ropeless descents and downclimbing on the Grand Teton during ski and snowboard descents. In 1982 Rick Wyatt, on free heel gear, solo and without a rope, skied and downclimbed the Ford/Stettner route while making the first free heel / telemark gear descent. A bold outing for sure!
On one particular descent of the Grand Teton by way of the Ford/Stettner route on June 26, 1996 – specific date according toTom Turiano, who has thankfully kept meticulous record of my, and all who are willing to share with him their, Teton descents – Wes Bunch, Hans Johnstone, Mark Newcomb and I made up the group. After the climb, as we descended towards the abyss that is the bottom of the Ford Couloir, Mark and I partnered for the technical part of the descent. I chose to eschew the rappels through the Chevy (connects the Ford and Stettner Couloirs on the Grand Teton) and Stettner and descend by “downcliding.” “Downcliding” is a combination of downclimbing and sideslipping.
Knowing Mark, he probably could have descended the Chevy with his skis on. But instead of joining me in my morphing of styles, he waited before rappelling.
Mark Newcomb on Upper Saddle of Grand Teton. Photo - Stephen Koch
I “Downclided” by taking my back foot out of my snowboard binding (using hardboots and plate bindings) and attached a crampon, leaving the front foot with the board on to slide on snow and kick into the snow and ice as an edging tool. I used two ice axes. My idea was to make the “cleanest” descent I was comfortable with. As with most technically challenging ascents and descents, mountain surface (snow, ice and rock) conditions have to be relatively good. In this instance, the ice was soft enough for me to occasionally get a “bite” with the edge of my snowboard. My triceps received a good workout that day!
Bottom line: stay alive, have fun and be as accurate as possible if you tell.
Oh yea, if you do decide to tell, obviously, don’t put a video of your adventure on the web if your activities involve anything illegal.
The advantages of leaving the board on are:
1. Zero chance of dropping board
2. May be faster (debatable as I was more tentative than with two crampons but there was not the changeover from snowboard to crampons and snowboard on pack and back again to deal with)
3. One step closer to a clean descent
After our descent of the Grand, Mark and I went on to ride the Middle and South Tetons. The day began for me, Hans and Wes from the Lower Saddle, where we spent the night. Mark met us at dawn from the Valley floor, which he left a mere 2 hours earlier. ”Newc,” as I lovingly call him, is one of the most talented and beautiful skiers and climbers I have known, a true badass – and a humble one at that – who has been a fantastic partner I have been privileged to do many creative and fun (and scary as shit) climbs and descents with over the years!
Stephen Koch morphing styles by "downcliding" on the first descent of the Heim Glacier Route on Kilimanjaro. Photo - Wade McKoy
I feel my morphing of styles to try to accomplish a cleaner descent was somewhat contrived. Aren’t all descents somewhat contrived once we use means other than turning (straightlining is the exception!) on snow to get down a mountain on skis or a snowboard? Side stepping/slipping, jumping, downclimbing, downcliding, belaying, rappelling (now there is speed flying too)…they are all ways to get down a mountain when the mountain (steepness, etc.), surface conditions or our own physical or mental abilities may prevent us from making a clean descent.
Being in the mountains has been the best way to learn about myself – to momentarily strip away my fears and insecurities. I have seen what was thought impossible and made it possible. I have the mountains to thank for making me a better person. Being a proficient technical climber opened up the door for me to take descents from traditional, non-contrived to way contrived. Why not? I think it would be bitchin’ to make turns down the hanging snowfields of the north face of the Grand Teton! If you are not hurting anyone else, why not go nuts learning about yourself?
Point of View - SW Face, Denali, Alaska, 1993. Photo - Stephen Koch
Of course the ideal descent of the Grand Teton, or any mountain, is one with no downclimbing, sideslipping, belaying or rappelling. On the Grand, some jumps, or at least very creative jumpturns over extremely steep, technical terrain will need to be overcome. The steep nature of the Grand Teton does not lend itself to a “turn all the way from the summit down the mountain” (non-contrived?) descent, which is why it has not yet been done. I read that “travo,” a commenter on Teton.AT.com, skied the Grand with a belay through the steep and exposed Chevy section linking the Ford with the Stettner. The next logical step in the evolution of descent on the Grand is to take it one step further and do what has been done sans belay or with board/s on both feet! That being said, I believe someday a bold person will meet the right conditions and it will be done. The ability of humans to push boundaries is amazing!
Whatever you can do or even think you can do, do it now. Boldness had genius, power and magic in it. Begin it! – Johanne Wolfgang Von Goethe
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Help support StephenKoch.com with gear for your next adventure from my backcountry skiing and snowboarding gear listat Backcountry.com.
When I first saw the Opedix S1 Ski and Board Tights, as a sufferer of knee pain for the past several years, I was intrigued enough to call Opedix to inquire. The owner, Kim Gustafson, called me back and we spoke for a while. He was telling me all the technical reasons why his tights work. I kindly but firmly stopped him from continuing on with all the technical mumbo jumbo and said that the only thing of importance to me about the tights is if they work for me.
The following week I received two pairs of the Ski and Board Tights, size Large and X Large. I tried both on and sent the XL’s back. They are supposed to fit snugly. When I first tried them on they were a bit confining compared to what I am used to wearing for long underwear, which is I/O Bio thin merino. But it made sense that they needed to be snug and supportive to be able to benefit from them. After my first use I was amazed to feel good throughout the day of riding at the Village and especially at the end of the day, when I normally have knee pain (post exercise), there was none! I don’t know the exact science behind them, but they were developed with the Steadman Hawkins Clinic by Mr. Gustafson, a skier who wanted to reduce his knee pain after years of hard skiing. It is my opinion that with the development of the S1 Ski Tight and Board Tight, he succeeded – with flying colors!
Me, showing off my Opedix Ski and Board Tights on top of Albright Peak, Grand Teton National Park. Click on image to increase size.
For the past several weeks I put the tights to the test…snowboarding, skiing and ice climbing…from several trips into the Tetons (on the Middle, Albright, Nez Perce) all day skinning and riding to ripping multiple Tram laps (both skiing and snowboarding) at Jackson Hole to climbing hard ice and mixed routes in Highlight Canyon outside of Bozeman, MT, to “skiking” (skinning and hiking) Snow King, hiking and riding Glory Bowl on Teton Pass, I have put these tights to the test and they are AMAZING! They “Unload” the joint (read about it here), according to the website and research. All I know is that when I wear them I no longer experience knee pain, which I have been having for the past 5 or so years, especially in my left knee, which has had 2 ACL repairs and is missing a significant portion of the Meniscus. My knees have been through the ringer…six knee surgeries in total to repair and rerepair/replace most of the ligaments in both of my knees as well as the precious meniscus. Of all the issues from torn ligaments, it is the meniscus damage that causes the most pain. Keep that meniscus as in tact as possible. With our active lifestyles we do harm to our joints. Based on how well these tights have performed and actually eliminated my knee pain with extensive use over the past several weeks, I think that they will add years to my active lifestyle. I have a few clients who suffer from excruciating knee pain who I want to have try these. I bet that they will suffer less. Isn’t that what we all want? Less suffering? I sure do! And to have a lot less suffering for $190 is a deal!
The pain I was experiencing after a day of riding or skiing, especially resort riding (more vertical on generally firmer snow) was getting so bad that I was no longer enjoying riding unless it was untracked powder. So that basically eliminated the Village (Jackson Hole) and other resort riding. I am happy to say that I rode and skied the Village several full days this winter in the S1 Tights and had no knee pain. This is really remarkable. I highly recommend the Opedix Ski and Board tights and look forward to trying the running tights and also the posture shirt, which will hopefully cure my “climber’s” posture (overdeveloped lats and underdeveloped pecs).
Goats caught on film mating high in the Teton Mountains!
On one trip using the tights with Darrel Miller of Storm Show Studios on Nez Perce’s West Hourglass Couloir, I took this photograph of Goats Mating in the Tetons. The one on the bottom may even be a native big horn sheep. Word has it that the mountain goats, pictured mating in this rare image taken in Lupine Meadows, may threaten the native Big Horn Sheep. Story on goats invading the park here.
On this outing I was skeptical of Darrel’s mode of uphill transport, snowshoes. They do not glide and generally sink in more than skis or a splitboard. I met up with him as he was breaking trail up Garnet Canyon. I took the route on the Morain between Taggart and Bradley Lakes and contoured into Garnet after the initial steep section above the morain’s end. I was fortunate to find a couple of sneaks down into Garnet and was happy to have my new Scarpa F1’s, with their forward lean lock throw, which allowed quick transition from uphill to down without removing my skins. Up high, as we were entering the west hourglass couloir on Nez Perce, the snow became firm and steep and I was not comfortable skinning so removed my skis (splitboard) and began postholing through the crust. I watched with envy as Mills stomped up the couloir, with much less effort than I, on his snowshoes. I did not have a pair of splitboard crampons that fit, like these, from B and D Ski Gear, which I am soon to get. Crampons are vital for skinning in firm conditions!
Back to the Tights…There are a couple of minor annoinances: no zipper/pee hole and the waist closure is a simple shoe string type tie with elastic waistband. For $190 I would like to have a zipper to pee and a better waist closure, like an overlapping Velcro closure. At least reduce the size of the elastic where the knot is to be tied for ease of tying! I did have better results with the knot staying tight by using the surgeons knot, shown here on this fun shoe lace tying site.
Bottom line: if you want to reduce or eliminate knee pain during activities like snowboarding or skiing or want to prevent knee pain from developing in the first place, buy the Opedix S1 Ski and Board Tights.
