In Nordmarken, near Christiania.
Photo by H. Abel.
Dipping part of the ski into water is also recommended by some in order to help climbing, the idea being to form a lump of ice on the bottom, which may be removed when the summit is reached. But this, too, is open to much the same objections as the rope, and is scarcely worth while. If it is to be adopted, it is well to be provided with a metal paper-knife, or something of the kind, to scrape off the ice, and, incidentally, it may be here mentioned that some sort of scraping appliance will always be found useful; for cleaning one’s ski with the stick or an ordinary knife takes a long time, besides being apt to injure both the wood and the blade.
COMMON FAULTS AND FAILINGS
(Mostly dealt with already, but repeated here to impress the beginner).
I.—Kit.
(1) Too heavy clothes. Woolly clothes. Have light, wind-proof, smooth materials.
(2) Tight boots with thin soles. Have large strong boots which won’t pinch the toes, even with three pairs of socks on, and which won’t buckle in the middle of the sole.
(3) Ski brittle, of bad shape, or of great weight. Get some one who knows good ski to choose for you, or, if this is impossible, send to a good maker for his best.
(4) Too short gloves. Have long gloves to draw over the sleeves of your coat.
II.—Condition of the snow.