Hi Rssr, as a skiing woodworker this post gets my interest,toured on fishscale and waxed nordics in the 70s and 80s in Utah for 10 years as well as 1000 days frontside skiing as its now called,gave it away for 27 years but back at 69yo, last 3 years, switz , japan and now ski nirvana for me Dolomites Italy, what you are doing is most interesting but absorbing myself in ski and literature recently , the skiing backcountry millions seem well served with tech bindings , lightweight boots,skis and skins, you may be on the cuting edge of a new trend, good luck, Rossco