The decent into winter has begun

First Backcountry issue has arrived...reading through the gear guide, starting to feel like I might as well be wearing leather boots with 230cm nordic skis bound to my feet. I'm starting to think I need to give these rockered puppies a try one of these days. Another omen of things to come, first snows of the season are falling in Montana tonight, whitening up passes & the mountains...the decent into winter now officially underway (at least in my mind).