Our trip this weekend was awesome. I tossed in a few experiments because I am really, really, really familiar with the route. Most of them panned out as expected, some were worse, some were better. My main experiments were:

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• Using a splitboard. (about what I expected - good, but AT skis are better)
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• Towing a toboggan. (not quite what I expected - definitely worse than a pack)
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• Lining the groundsheet and fly with space blankets. (better than expected - soooo much warmer!)
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Nancy is a Bum

Nancy snuck a fast one on me and did her facebook album with each photo caption as a lesson from our trip...So I'm going to steal back the good ones, or the the ones I learned/relearned/should have learned and post them here. I've color coded the lessons for entertainment value.

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• Green is what I learned the hard way.
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• Pink is what Jen, Nancy, Ali, or Maria learned the hard way.
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• Red is what we saw someone else do.
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• Silver is for the 'well duh, that's common sense' momments.
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The Lessons

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1. Fire roads make horrible AT tracks.
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2. AT Skis into Lake O'Hara SUCK.
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3. You CAN wax AT skis...In fact it's recommended cause skinning for any length of time SUCKS.
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4. When skiing on a splitboard the points go out (ie board looks inside-out).
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5. Ski poles are amazingly useful and infinitely better than skating on a snowboard if its flat!
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6. Snowboard boots are not meant for 10km trips.
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7. The Lake O'Hara campground has cook shelters!!!
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8. When I say in the email 'bring a -20 or colder sleeping bag', I really do mean -20 or colder.
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9. Quinzee's are warmer times ∞ than tents.
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10. Skins on groomed snow suck.
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11. Skins in powder are amazing.
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12. Splitboards make bad (but entertaining) skis.
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13. If you break trail all day, people will complain about your ass in front of them and never thank you for the work you did.
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14. There is a lot of skiing for very little snowboarding.
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15. When you finish a run and are asked about the conditions, don't be a jack-ass.
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16. Splitboards suck to assemble in the outdoors.
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17. Don't fall in flat powder you will never be able to get up.
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18. Skin savers are NOT a waste of time and weight.
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19. Never mock the down booties.
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20. People who enjoy the backcountry have short memories.
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21. Always take your skins off before you go to bed.
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22. XC skiing with a toboggan is NOT easier.
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23. Snowboarding with a toboggan is amusing but also not a good idea.
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24. Toboggans do not make the same sharp turns you do.
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25. If you have AT skis, DON'T RUIN THE TRACKSET by trying to use it.
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26. Putting boiling water into a nalgene at night for a hot water bottle is great.
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27. Your hot water bottle only lasts about 5-6 hours however.
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