The short answer is that skis are great… when the conditions are just right, you have all the right expensive gear, and you have the skills. If conditions (like lack of snow) force you to carry your skis, they are a HUGE pain in the ass, and you have to hike in your very heavy, clumsy ski boots.
I’ve skied from the Whitney summit to the “ROAD CLOSED” sign, but it wasn’t much fun navigating breakable crust in the moonlight with a 50-pound pack. On the other hand, I once made it from Red Banks on Mt. Shasta to the car in thirty-something minutes, and I carried my skis the last ¼ mile.
