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That rig will save you on energy forsure.
I notice a huge difference with all my gear AND yes a longer rope also makes a huge difference. You are not pulling the weight on each side/left right, but rather as one source of drag behind you. The rope becomes one long piece/source of drag rather than two.
I also used to use an old backpack, until I purchased a proper harness, and attached it to that. This way you can get a proper walking motion and again made a huge difference.
Also, have a spare rope handy for when you have a buddy with you.
i was contemplating snow shoes this year, but am now probably going to wait...but they have a great set a Costco for like $70.
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Thanks Tailfin, I considered that except not a lot of width at the tips so I didn't want to make a large hole. I will see how it goes and if problems arise I will try your suggestion. 👍
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NS Fisher. That looks great, but were still no match for the caller and his poles. The harness I use is from my deer gear, works great, but leave it loose enough to get off in an emergency. We getting out together this year?
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QUOTE (mydogbites @ Dec 31, 2015 - 11:30 am)
NS Fisher. That looks great, but were still no match for the caller and his poles. The harness I use is from my deer gear, works great, but leave it loose enough to get off in an emergency. We getting out together this year?
Hey bud, you are correct no keeping up with SD he is the Iron man of the ice.🏅😀 It was on one of those occasions following him out 3 Kms that I thought I was going to yell "Ester I am having the big one!" I did consider a harness but as you noted I don't like being tethered either. Once I see how it pulls I will look at my options if I still find it a chore. Hope to see you out on the ice this year if we get any. Happy New Year to you and the family🎉🍻
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QUOTE (sdcaller @ Dec 31, 2015 - 11:49 am)
QUOTE (mydogbites @ Dec 31, 2015 - 11:30 am)
, but were still no match for the caller and his poles.
You may be a match in 2016. In the last year I have developed some osteo- arthritis in my left hip as well as the heel spur on my right foot.
Ah yes, the joys of getting older.
Hey Craig nice job on the Smitty
Ralph
Hey thanks Ralph, I am sure you could slow to half speed and I would still have trouble keeping up. Remember I have to take 2 steps to one of your strides. 😉
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Ok with the suggestions of tying the rope directly to the skis I have to ask how strong are the skis. I have never owned any and am concerned making a hole large enough to get the rope through will weaken the tips to the point they will break under load, especially with any side pulling or twisting.
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QUOTE (nsfisher @ Dec 31, 2015 - 12:11 pm)
Ok with the suggestions of tying the rope directly to the skis I have to ask how strong are the skis. I have never owned any and am concerned making a hole large enough to get the rope through will weaken the tips to the point they will break under load, especially with any side pulling or twisting.
I did a lot of serious cross country skiing in the 70s/80s/90s and I don't ever recall seeing a broken ski. While the XC skis are quite flexible, they are quite strong, but not necessarily designed for side pulling or twisting.
When I built my Smitty last year I had both downhill and XC skis to choose from and I went with downhill. They are heavier than XC, but are stronger and as some one pointed out earlier, they "float" better in deeper snow.
"Furlong" has a Smitty he made using XC skis and it seems to work OK for him.
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QUOTE (Knuguy @ Dec 31, 2015 - 05:17 pm)
Nice job, Craig. With that you should be able to keep Ralph in sight for the first few kms anyway!!
How easy is it to assemble and disassemble? Do the bolts thru the crossbars just sit in holes in the wood that's attached to the skis?
Lol, yah maybe the 1st km but then he's gone. I have no plans to do any 3 km walks anymore. Rather spend an extra hour driving and short walk to deep water than an hour walking pulling gear. Assembly and disassembly takes like 30 secs. Yes the bolts from the cross pieces go into holes but I have also made counter sink holes that the nuts on the bottom of the bolts rest into. I am going to find some small copper pipe to insert as sleeves for the bolts to easily drop into.
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[QUOTE=nsfisher,Dec 31, 2015 - 07:08 pm] [QUOTE=Knuguy,Dec 31, 2015 - 05:17 pm] attached to the skis? . Yes the bolts from the cross pieces go into holes but I have also made counter sink holes that the nuts on the bottom of the bolts rest into. I am going to find some small copper pipe to insert as sleeves for the bolts to easily drop into. [/QUOTE] Now I'm a bit puzzled. Do you have a T nut or similar at the bottom of the holes?
As far as drilling holes in the ski tips, there are many ways to skin that proverbial cat. For e.g. you could drill 2 fairly small dia holes in each tip, then run a loop of strong but small dia rope(or even string) thru it----then attach your tow rope to the loops.
Smitty Sled, Hope this makes things easier!
