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...
Just post up on here or some other hunting websites. I'm sure there is somebody close to you who will let you fingerbang their pack. I know I've let several people take mine for a spin.