What's Your Favorite PBRt (Portable Backcountry Rope tow)?

[powdork]

This appeared on my youtube feed. For some reason I took the bait.


Even afterward I wasn't sure what I just watched, so I looked at their site. seems super wonky but it also seems like their first iteration.
https://zoaeng.com/

[ey_allen]

Expected Vertical
Vertical per charge will vary based on slope,
snow, and other conditions. To get the most vertical optimal slopes are
between 10-20°.

I’m not sure I’d have much use for something like this, and I like getting a workout in as part of my ski adventure so I’m probably not the target market anyway.

Maybe when my kids are building backcountry booters and want to lap it this will be something I consider.

[SoVT Joey]

I like to just use my helicopter and pilot.

[halliday]

I like to just use my helicopter and pilot.

Its nice. Isn't it?

[powdork]

I like to just use my helicopter and pilot.

as the anchor?? The helicopter should be enough, I see no reason to bury the pilot too.

[SoVT Joey]

Its nice. Isn't it?

did you finally take delivery of your new one? I know you said Covid slowed up the production. If so, was the turbine upgrade worth it compared to the last one?!

[halliday]

did you finally take delivery of your new one? I know you said Covid slowed up the production. If so, was the turbine upgrade worth it compared to the last one?!

The fucking thing showed up in August. Better late than never. The turbine upgrade was 100% worth the money as was the hookah system upgrade.

[m2711c]

how much string you gonna carry? this is what 500 feet looks like...




you're gonna have to carry a bunch of that shit to do a run of any decent length... 500 feet at a maximum rise of 20° gives you a measly 181ft 11 & 3/4 inches of possible elevation gain.

seems to me that if this gadget were to become popular, there would also be a strong likelihood that shitloads of the paracord would up strung all over the damned place.






damned kids... get off my lawn.

[halliday]

Just bring some skins. And an alpine/touring binding set up.

[powdork]

how much string you gonna carry? this is what 500 feet looks like...




you're gonna have to carry a bunch of that shit to do a run of any decent length... 500 feet at a maximum rise of 20° gives you a measly 181ft 11 & 3/4 inches of possible elevation gain.

it comes with 1,000'.

and of course you need skins and touring gear to get out there anyway, and to get to wherever the top of your lift is gonna be. I could see it being pretty cool to bring along on a hut or camping trip if you had a way to charge it.
The biggest downside I see is that only one person gets to take a run at once.

[ey_allen]

The biggest downside I see is that only one person gets to take a run at once.

Group buy incoming?

[CaliBrit]

The biggest downside I see is that only one person gets to take a run at once.

How so? Maybe only 1 person on the rope at once but you can all still ski together

[halliday]

Id say the way to do it is to have an old 455 Oldsmobile on top of the hill pulling the rope. Just like the good old days.

[lemonhead]

I can see that being fun.

[halliday]

That's how it used to be done.

[m2711c]

no need to reinvent the wheel….


fact.

[powdork]

How so? Maybe only 1 person on the rope at once but you can all still ski together

The machine that pulls in rope is in your hands as you go up. You put it in your backpack to ski back down

[powdork]

Id say the way to do it is to have an old 455 Oldsmobile on top of the hill pulling the rope. Just like the good old days.

In the good ol days did you drive your olds 5 miles through a foot of powder with no roads, or did you miss the 'Portable Backcountry' part of the Title?

[m2711c]

so, what are the current options beyond this gizmo?

[sb]

Modified snowmobile engine, rope, a proper sized pulley and a come along.

Newbies get to carry the fuel on the way in.

[halliday]

so, what are the current options beyond this gizmo?

Some skins and a touring binding of your choice. This thing looks like a solution searching for a problem and at 10.8 pounds it would make a nice door stop.

[SoVT Joey]

I wonder what happened to the rope tow of death smuggs used to have on the race hill….

[Jason4]

It seems like a battery powered drill of choice could be adapted for climbing a fixed rope pretty easily. All of the individual pieces are already known, it just needs to be packaged all together. You could bring batteries to suit your intended day.

Nevermind, it's already been done but maybe not currently being sold?
https://backcountrywinch.com/

[SnowMachine]

This appeared on my youtube feed. For some reason I took the bait.


Even afterward I wasn't sure what I just watched, so I looked at their site. seems super wonky but it also seems like their first iteration.
https://zoaeng.com/

A solution searching for a problem. I like my own leg power for BC use.

I have been dreaming of a rope tow for the house. My kids want a mini park. I thought about an old lawn tractor. Now I'm thinking harbor freight engine with a go-cart centrifugal clutch hooked to some wheels top and bottom.

[stuckathuntermtn]

1,000' of rope at 10 to 20 degrees. Is he making a ski run for the cat? His cat seemed interested.