So, I'm a reasonably experienced downhill skier. Id like a pair of ski's that i can do both some resort skiing and some alpine downhill. im 6'1" and 145lb's, are these a good pair of ski's for me?

(if it helps, i have a less aggressive style and tend to take a longer curving turn rather than sharp repetitive turns, but given local terrain im need to be able to do both)

Ok, its decided, i AM going to purchase SOME cams. But what i need to know now is, if I were to buy 3 cams, and a set of nuts + a set of hexes, which three cams should i buy to best (and most flexibly) diversify my rack?

PS: I live in Central California and most routes will probably be straightforward granite cracks (e.g. Dome Rock; "The Tree Route").

Are cams really a must do for first time trad climbers. Im looking at building up a basic rack over time and on a pretty low budget and would like to know if cam's in general are worth the extra dough? Im looking right now at a balance between nuts and cams, but if i can cut costs i'd love to. Any help would be much appreciated.

I would like to know if being squished around in a backpack and getting soaked will have compromised the long term effectiveness of this harness. Basically, is it still safe to catch falls?

Are these good for semi steep mountaineering (only snow)? Im looking for an inexpensive pair that will not fail me on my 3-season hiking boots.

I would like to know if this is a good pad for onsight bouldering 20 ft and under and how durable is it? is the lower price worth it?

I have just purchased this harness and the fit seems to be reasonable. The waist is perfect but the legs are semi-loose. Is this still safe or should i go a size lower?