If any backcountry skiing binding of the 1970s was a Jekyll and Hyde it was the Ramer model R. Lighter than just about anything else of the time. The first binding with a heel lift. Totally field maintainable. But in real-world the Ramer R had little if any effective safety release, required messy greasing, and if it did release the binding exploded apart and you needed a strong heart and hands of steel to snap it back together. Check out the museum display.
Ramer model R was good in concept, but lacked an effective release mechanism. Click image to enlarge.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
