Just saw your list
Two things struck me. Forget the hippers. Take the simms. Trust me.
And.. 50# of salt?? Jeeez. Im hoping that was supposed to be 5#???
The photo. Pictures like that can go either way. It could be someone who has no clue about C&R techniques.. who flopped a nice fish up on the muddy bank using dry hands, and left it there for 3 minutes while they fiddled with their camera. Or it could be a nice photo taken by somebody who...
Larry pretty much got it. Generally folks use a shorter and fatter ski than they would at the resort. You use a "touring" binding, in which the heel moves fore and aft. allowing your heels to be free, or to be locked in for the down. The bindings normally incorporate heel lifters for ease of...