Now - Off

Hop Turns
Hut Dinner
Ode to the Turn
Soft Shell Pant Review
Gandalf of the Freeheels
and more . . .
Issue XVI
January 2003
II N
Off-Piste
iste
N S
S II D
D E
E Off-P
Volume V - Issue XVI
A
s a young child I would lay awake at night watching the
snow fall outside my window dreaming about how I would
spend the following day in the snow. I would lay in bed in the
early morning hours before sunrise conscious enough only to
hear the sound of the street plow; hoping the plow would arrive.
You see, the sound of the plow was my cue that there had been
enough new snow to warrant the clearing of the streets. And, if I
was lucky, there would be enough snow to close school or
maybe it was the weekend and I would have all day to go
outside and play in the wonderful white blanket that fell in the
night.
I still savor the stillness of a snowy morning and I must admit
that the feeling I enjoy when I take my first breath of cold
morning air during or right after a good storm cycle is hard to
replicate. Although the emotions that a good snowy day evokes
are more complex now than they were when I was younger,
they remain rooted in the same anticipation of fun. I still battle
with the responsibilities that keep us all from the snow but I am
a firm believer that playing hooky for a day is truly good for the
soul. It is the energy and renewed spirit that follow a day in the
snow that allow me to do all the other things I need to do in life.
And it is with this concept in mind, the idea that a day in the
snow, a life spent following one’s passions is healthy, that I like
to think fuels the writing and photography that fill the pages of
this publication. The idea behind Off-Piste is to offer a ski rag
that speaks to the spirit of ski touring. We are all drawn to the
lifts now and then, some years more than others, but there is
nothing like a day in the backcountry skiing fresh snow with
good friends. So with that in mind enjoy the mag and get your
boots on ‘cause it’s time to go skiing.
Cheers, Dave
Cover
Skier: Dean Collins
Location: North Cascades, WA
Photographer: Carl Skoog
Contents Location: Mt. Hood
(above) Photographer: D. Waag
Contents Location: Eyes of Buddha
(top right) Photographer: D. Waag
Warning: Backcountry skiing, boarding, and climbing are inherently dangerous. People die
in the backcountry. The information in Off-Piste is no substitute for experience or sound
judgement; be careful out there, use your heads, stay out of trouble, ski to live, eat well,
brush and floss regularly, be kind to your neighbors, and above all else ENJOY LIFE.
The opinions in Off-Piste do not necessarily represent those of the publisher or
editorial staff. Closed minds are dangerous. No part of Off-Piste may be reproduced
in any form without prior written consent from Free Heel Press.
Publisher/Editor
Free Heel Press/David Waag
Contributing Editors
Hans Adomeit, Roger Alfred,
Karen Holt, Jeff Schuh, Etienne Scott
Contributing Writers
Steve Barnett, Eric Burr, Renee Casterline, Tom Diegel,
Scott Johnston, Nils Larsen, Andrew Mattox,
David Waag, Leighton White
Contributing Photographers/Artists
Eric Burr, Myles Berney, Daniel Duford, David Glunns,
Karen Holt, Chase Jarvis, Heath A. Korvola, Jason Laramie,
Don Portman, Eric Sanford, Mathew Scholl, Carl Skoog, David Waag
Web Slave
Karen Holt
Printing & Distribution
Oregon Litho, McMinnville, OR
Off-Piste - PO Box 1626
Hood River, OR 97031
509-999-2208
[email protected]
www.offpistemag.com
All Content Copyright 2003 Free Heel Press
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Issue XVI Off-Piste 3
FIRST
F E AT U R E S
T
TR
RAC
ACK
KS
S
GANDALF OF THE FREEHEELS 8
DR. SEBASTIAN RIMESKULL’S POST DOCTORAL THESIS - ANDREW MATTOX
ODE TO THE TURN
10
A TRIBUTE TO THE TURN - LEIGHTON WHITE
HOP TURNS 12
TECHNIQUE TIPS - NILS LARSEN
THE OPEN CHRISTIE
17
A NATURALIST VIEW OF BACKCOUNTRY SKIING - ERIC BURR
D E P A R T M E N T S
WHAT’S UP 4
NEWS, EVENTS, ISSUES
LETTERS
6
READER INPUT
GALLERY
14
WORDS & IMAGES
GEAR TALK
20
SOFT SHELL PANTS BY SCOTT JOHNSTON
BACKCOUNTRY BETA
22
HUT TRIP DINNER BY MARIANNE ABRAHAM
AVY 101 24
THE IMPORTANCE OF TERRAIN BY NIKO WEIS
CALENDAR
SHOP DIRECTORY
4 Off-Piste January 2003
27
27
MT. SHASTA AVALANCHE CENTER
Mount Shasta, at the southern end of the Cascades, is one of the
top ski mountaineering spots in North America if not the world. It’s
also home to regular avalanche activity. Those traveling to Mount
Shasta via Interstate 5 can see obvious evidence of the power of
avalanches where three avalanche paths reach well down past
tree-line. The 1995 Alien Footprint avalanche took out 40 acres of
mature trees in its three-pronged charge.
While large avalanche paths are impressive, it’s the small
avalanches that backcountry travelers need to watch out for.
Participants at the 2001 Glisse Fest on Mount Shasta witnessed
White and Matt Hill, lead climbing rangers and avalanche
forecasters for the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, put up daily
advisories for the south side of Mount Shasta during
the peak season. These daily postings make it the
only level II avalanche center in California.
Advisories include snowpack conditions, terrain
evaluations, and current weather information. The
center also forecasts for parts of the Eddys and the
popular area around Castle Lake, where the glacier
carved bowl is home to avalanche terrain.
Advisories can be accessed through the website at
www.shastaavalanche.org or by calling 530-926-9613 at
the USFS Mount Shasta Ranger Station. Hill and White, in
partnership with Shasta Mountain Guides, Friends of The Mt.
Shasta Avalanche Center and The Fifth Season, also offer
education to the community through avalanche awareness
presentation and avalanche transceiver clinics.
The website includes a schedule of classes being offered in the
Mount Shasta area, links to local guide services that offer
avalanche awareness training and further educational resources.
-Renee Casterline, Shasta, CA
WASATCH POWDER
an avalanche in Sun Bowl that flowed toward a group having
lunch at the bottom of the run-out zone. No one was injured, but
three people were partially buried.
“People think about these big avalanches that can take out a
village,” said Eric White of the Mt. Shasta Avalanche Center. “The
ones that people are involved in are usually much, much smaller
just big enough to knock you over and get your head buried.”
Skiers and snowboarders heading for the hills in the Shasta
Trinity National Forest can now get local information about
avalanche conditions from the Mt. Shasta Avalanche Center.
The Wasatch mountains outside of Salt Lake City, Utah are worldrenowned for powder snow, steep terrain, and easy access. As a
result the Wasatch is one of the premier backcountry ski ranges
in North America. Salt Lake locals comb the mountains looking for
untracked snow. For the past twenty five years local skiers have
competed
with
Wasatch Powderbirds
Guides (WPG) and
their two helicopters
that fly the small
central
Wasatch
Range searching for
the
same
highlysought after snow and
terrain
with
their
clients. WPG operates
under a special permit
Issue XVI Off-Piste 5
from the Wasatch/Cache National Forest and, although their
permit was renewed in 2000, WPG is looking to increase the
scope of their operations beginning in 2005.
Under the most recent permitting agreement WPG was granted
license to fly only one helicopter in the Tri-Canyon (Mill Creek, Big
Cottonwood, and Little Cottonwood) area Monday through Friday.
The new request proposes two machines in the Tri-Canyon area
seven days a week. WPG is also asking for more fly days outside
the current Dec 15-April 15 season. In addition, WPG is proposing
to conduct avalanche control work with explosives throughout
their permit area during and immediately following storm cycles
(instead of waiting for the snowpack to stabilize as is the typical
backcountry skier practice). Further, WPG is requesting a permit
to guide clients into Wilderness areas after landing adjacent to
the Wilderness boundaries. Last but not least, they are asking for
a dramatic increase in “home runs” at the end of the day through
Grizzly Gulch, the single most popular “backcountry” area in the
Wasatch that is accessible via a short hike from Alta.
This is not the first time that WPG has requested relatively
unlimited access to the popular central Wasatch. At each relicensing milestone, a strong local backcountry ski community
has risen up to protect their terrain from the use of heli-skiers.
Previous public comment periods have demonstrated opposition
to central Wasatch heli-skiing by a 10:1 ratio. The issues of
wealthy, mostly out-of-town helicopter clients poaching the
valuable resource of untracked powder snow, safety issues
related to WPG skiing and bombing above touring skiers, wildlife
impacts, low altitude Wilderness over-flights, the noise of
helicopters, and the already-crowded mountains have been
debated at length.
However, with the recent federal administration changes, WPG is
taking the opportunity to request essentially unfettered use in
order to maximize their efficiency and profits at the expense of
backcountry skiers, riders, and snowshoers. Despite a dramatic
growth in outdoor activities and backcountry users, it has been
over 12 years since any study on the number of backcountry
users in the Wasatch has been conducted. Any change to current
WPG permitting needs to include careful analysis of current
backcountry use and deserves thorough review and input from
the local ski touring community.
Although the official Wasatch/Cache National Forest comment
period regarding the WPG proposal ended on December 13,
comments are still being accepted. Comments will be used to
develop alternate plans to the current and proposed permit
plans. If you’d like to comment send an email to Steve Scheid at
[email protected], call 801-733-2660, or write to Salt Lake
Ranger District, 6944 South 3000 East, Salt Lake City, Utah
84121.
- Tom Diegel, Salt Lake City, UT
The 1999 permit renewal EIS can be viewed here:
www.fs.fed.us/wcnf/projects/decisions.htm
The current scoping notice is available here:
www.fs.fed.us/wcnf/projects/proposed.htm
MOUNTAIN CULTURE
Beaver Creek Slopeside Development
Photo: Carl Skoog
Downhill Slide, a new book exploring the impetus and impact of
ski resort development, by Hal Clifford, takes aim at the ski
business and makes a direct hit. Clifford, a lifelong skier, former
Aspen Times Journalist and Ski Magazine contributor, argues that
modern resort development has corrupted North America’s
mountain towns and sold skiings’ soul in the name of capitalism.
The book, akin to Fast Food Nation for the ski industry, describes
how resort developers (primarily the big three, Vail Resorts,
continued on page 7
6 Off-Piste January 2003
EXPRESS
YOURSELF
SNOWMOBILES
THERMOFIT LINERS
A note on the Yellowstone
piece: Snowmobile access
in Canadian National Parks
just doesn’t happen, with
a small exception being use
by Park Wardens for remote
access/patrols and for
emergency concerns (This
is very limited and I don’t
really know the extent but
it is very small judging
by what I’ve seen). The
public has no access, nor
should they in my opinion,
to bring noisy, polluting
snowmobiles into our
Parks. I find it hard to
imagine what it would be
like. Anyways thanks for
a
very
informative
shocking piece, that opened
my awareness to an issue
we don’t really have in
Canada.
Snowmobiling here is big
business; thankfully we
have vast tracts of land
and are able to provide a
diverse
range
of
opportunities for all
backcountry users without
spoiling our protected
areas.
I am planning on a return
trip to Denali this
January, and plan on
taking A/T equipment mated
to my Koflach’s. Garmont
offers a thermoflex
aveoliteliner adequately
named the Denali, that I
was considering upgrading
for warmth/lightening the
load on my feet.
These
seem like the holy
grail... Will these liners
actually hold up to the
rigors
of
such
an
expedition especially when
abused by the abnormal
stresses brought on by
survival skiing? All the
shops state that these
liners are the greatest
thing since the tikka, but
flub when asked about such
use!
Thank
you
my
backcountry friends!
-Robert
Cheers to all at Off-Piste
Myles Berney, BC
Robert - Between several
different folks here, we have
used thermo-molded liners for
climbing and skiing from AK
to the Himalaya and none of
us would do it without such
liners.
The liners, especially the
newer ones, take all the abuse
Correction
The article, Common Mistakes in Avalanche Accidents, appearing
in the December issue (OP-XV) should have included a statement
referencing both Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce
Tremper and Snow Sense by Jill Fredstone and Doug Fesler. Both
books were used in researching the article and are excellent
resources for all winter backcountry users.
that a stock liner can yet
are far lighter, warmer, and
more comfortable.
The key is having them
professionally fit/molded. A
poor molding job will render
their comfort less than it
should be, so take the extra
time to do it right.
Once you switch, you will not
look back. -Ed.
GOOD WORK
I really enjoyed the
December issue of Off-Piste.
I have been a reader for
several years and I must
say that the mag looks
better than ever.
I truly look forward to
seeing each issue of OffPiste more than any of the
other ski mags. I have
intended to subscribe for
close to a year so enclosed
is
a
check
for
my
subscription. I hope it
helps you keep up the good
work and I look forward
to the next issue!
J. Thompson - Boulder, CO
J- We appreciate the kind words
and received many positive
comments regarding the
December issue. We too look
forward to every issue because
when they go out we get a few
days away from the computer!
People often ask why they
should subscribe to a free
magazine. Well, like you said,
it helps us keep up the good
work. Many people see Off-Piste
as advertiser supported and
yes the industry is our primary
supporter. However, we like
to think that Off-Piste is
supported by the backcountry
community, including users .
So in short, thanks for the
subscription and tell your
friends to subscribe too!
-Ed.
Issue XVI Off-Piste 7
WHAT’S UP
CONTINUED
MOUNTAIN CULTURE
Intrawest, and American Skiing) have marketed mountain and
ski culture to the point that the model upon which the quaint
dream is based, no longer exists.
People once moved to the mountains to step out of the flow of
everyday American culture in favor of following their passion to
ski and dodge American pop culture, or more simply to live a
how Intrawest sees each skier in its economic plan. In addition,
the book examines how our public lands have been used to
line the pockets the few.
Downhill Slide is an intense look at the industry behind ski
resort development and more often than not, it reveals an ugly
image. The book is a worthy read and can only help to prove
that if we do not change the direction we are headed, we are
likely to end up where we are going.
AVALANCHE FUND
The American Avalanche Advisory Fund has reorganized as The
Avalanche Fund. The first meeting will be on Saturday, February
1st at the Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City.
The Avalanche Fund is dedicated to providing support and
pursuing stable future funding for backcountry avalanche
centers. The Avalanche Fund will carry out its mission through
creating, encouraging and supporting regional Friends of the
Avalanche Center groups; serving as a national voice on
avalanche center issues; and providing national advocacy at the
state, and federal level.
The Avalanche Fund’s board of directors will be comprised of
representatives of the backcountry skiing and boarding
community, outdoors industry, avalanche professionals, ski area
industry, climbing community and retailers.
New Development at Big Mountain in Montana Photo: Heath A. Korvola
mountain life. The very same places that were once out of the
jet stream of modern America now represent everything that
those very people hoped to live without. Quoting from the
book, “the towns are losing what it was that made them special
in the first place, and so becoming more like the rest of
America. Such a fate will ultimately undermine the appeal, the
quality of life and the economic success of these places.”
Downhill Slide looks inside the engine of resort development.
Clifford shares financial numbers regarding real estate deals
and commercial development around the resorts as well as
8 Off-Piste January 2003
Peter Metcalf , CEO of Black Diamond and Bruce Greenstein,
President of the Friends of the Northwest Avalanche Center, will
co-chair the Avalanche Fund and Patagonia, Burton, the
American Mountain Guides Association, Backcountry Access,
Backbone Media, REI, the Outdoor Industries Association have
been invited to serve on the board of directors. The Avalanche
Fund is seeking a broad representation of the mountain
recreation community who value the role that avalanche centers
play.
For more information, contact Bruce Greenstein
[email protected] or 206-484-1360
at
A
n excerpt from the
Post-Doctoral Thesis
of Dr. Sebastian
Rimeskull, professor of
English Literature and
Comparative
Alpine
Studies:
...and clearly, my reader will
see that the Lord of the Rings,
while appearing to be a
somewhat trite children’s tale
about good, evil, life, death,
and the nature of power, is in
fact a deeply philosophical and
relevant commentary upon the
role of snow sports in the postWWI era. By inviting us into this
rich tapestry of existence,
where whole peoples and
characters come to embody
these powerful recreational
principles, we truly find the
themes of our own lives
brought
into
the
light.
Historically, rather half-hearted
and peripheral commentaries
have examined this notion
piecemeal. Nordica & Jackson
(1961) were first, attempting to
draw parallels between The
Hobbit and early urban snow
sports, with their paper “Gollum
Rode an Inner Tube,” but their
disc-sled elitism was plain to
see.
Bolder forays were made by
Breckenridge,
Vale,
and
Alpenstock (1973, “Trolls: the
Bobsled Connection”) and Mito
(1977, “Bilbo Baggins and Luge
Mythology.”) However, it was
not until Klister & Karhu
(sometimes known as “K2”)
published their 1985 analytic
masterpiece, “Smaug the
Dragon: Literary traditions and
contemporary folklore of the
diesel-fired snowcat,” that truly
probing analyses of Tolkien’s
work gained their rightful place
in academia.
After poring through Tolkien’s
original notes on the Lord of the
Rings, I am proud to present
you
with
this
carefully
reconstructed
segment,
unfortunately removed by
biased publishers, which
Tolkien placed at a pivotal point
of the Lord of the Rings. Its
ramifications
to
literary
scholarship are nothing short of
swishingly radical. And now,
without further ado, the restored
manuscript:
...upon the arctic slopes of
Caradras, that cruel, terrible
mountain above the Mines of
Moria, Saruman’s fell wizardry
blasted the Fellowship of the
Ring with terrible hardships of
wind and snow. All hope was
lost, and Strider cried:
“we must go back!”
But lo, Gandalf the Gray Wizard
was not beholden to this
course. “We must go on!” he
roared back above the driving
blizzard. Lightning danced
among the peaks, loosing
avalanches about them.
“No, we must flee Gandalf!”
them firmly by Elven three-pin
bindings to his low-cut
leathern boots. Thereupon he
raised his staff, and a fierce
wind smote his hair, casting
banners of flying snow-dust
from the lofty peaks and
cornices, howling amidst
standing stones, and nicely
wind-loading slopes of an
approximately northeast by
east aspect, making for a nasty
slab structure but also radically
phat pow-pow.
“I seldom
showeth my technique,” he
declared in a voice terrible to
behold, “that the Dark Lord
might thereby discover my
choice slopes. In these sweet
turns, I shall declare my
Gandalf stood broodsome and
torn. “Let the Ring-Bearer
decide,” he intoned.
presence within a hundred
leagues to all who care to
look.”
Frodo looked fearfully about, in
the wastes of ice and fatal rock.
He shivered. “W-we,” he said
hesitantly,
“c-could
get
freshies...”
“But Gandalf,” hollered Boromir
of Gondor, “cannot Saruman
assail us on skis?”
Thereupon Gandalf didst draw
twin skis of age-worn spruce
from under his robe, and bolt
Gandalf roared, vying with the
thunder: “SARUMAN DON’T
SKI!”
Thereupon Gandalf, with his
bright-shining sword Glamdring
Issue XVI Off-Piste 9
in one hand and his oaken staff in
the other, hucked majestically off
the rock, and carved a somber,
elegant series of telemark turns
down the slope.
Strider was not such a man as
Gandalf, not so ancient or
wizened of technique, but he was
reared amid the hardships of men
in the wild and the fighting of
fierce foes. The shards of his
smithen avi shovel, CorniceCleaver, he carried somberly in
the flap of his pack, awaiting the
master smith who would reforge
it. He though, was of Elven
tutelage, and had harkened to
the Elder ways, and the mysteries
of the free-heel turn. He lifted his
ragged cloak, and below his
ragged pants all saw that he wore
not common leather, but artfully
crafted hard-shell boots, bound
with springy steel and shaped of
stiff ox-hide, laced with heavy
buckles and so contrived as to be
both rigid and supple (rendering
them excellent for steep
telemarking and passable for
touring), with the cryptic Elven
runes “Scarpa” graven on one,
and “Garmont” on the other.
Gimli, the stout and surly dwarf,
eyed this with a skeptical gaze.
“Y’ trust yer life to those almighty
fickle sticks? Bah! I’ve a mind ta’
wonder why ye sour-bellied liverlips kind survived as long as ye
have, with them damned
contraptions – and I’ve a mind ta
strip ye corpses, when ye all
tumble o’er cliffs.” And here he
bent, and firmly lashed his furry
galoshes to the broad, strong,
dwarven girth of a fair and
resplendent snowboard. “After,
mind ye, I hit yon kicker.”
And at this elf Legolas laughed,
and all saw that he wore not
boots but light touring shoes, and
upon them he had tied with mere
twine
a
slender,
almost
ephemeral set of skating skis, so
fragile they seemed ready to
crack. Yet with a light push, he
glid out over the very crust of the
powder, zipping fairly along with
tremulous kicks, and followed
after Gandalf, his silver Elven
10 Off-Piste January 2003
avalanche probe carried jauntily
across his back like a bow.
shivered. “Come Sam – let’s after
him.”
Gimli the dwarf, with a terrible
grunt, lashed his other foot in, and
floated off in hot pursuit of
Legolas. “Damned long-ears!”
(Merry and Pippin here piped
something
unintelligible,
apparently about Orcs, or maybe
the Dark Lord, or perhaps
regarding the atrociously slabby
depth hoar at twenty-four inches.)
“Gandalf, with his bright-shining
sword glamdring in one hand and his
oaken staff in the other, hucked
majestically off the rock, and carved
a somber, elegant series of telemark
turns down the slope.”
“Mr. Baggins!” Samwise Gamgee
opined.
“Oh, lookit lordly
Gandalf, gliding away – shall we
ever have such wondrous things?
I fear, Mr. Frodo, we shan’t ever
catch up, on our wee stubbies!”
“Now, now,” sighed Frodo. “Our
Hobbitish snowblades may be
humble, Sam, but I shan’t aspire
to be like Gandalf and execute
nekular brilliant super-rad GS
turns.”
“Might queer he looks, lifting his
heels,” Sam piped. “How fares
the One Ring, Mr. Frodo?”
“The One Ring is a great weight,”
Frodo sighed, “and I fear it shall
upset my balance so. Forged in
the fires of Mt. Doom as it was, I
am afraid to carry it, for Sauron’s
All-Seeing Eye seeks it always.
It’s terrible, Sam – every time I slip
it on it’s...it’s...it’s like it goes into
‘transmit’ mode. And...and when I
offered it to Gandalf, he was
terribly tempted, and whispered
such strange things: Frodo, tempt
me not, for I would wear the ring
out of a desire to do great touring,
but the Ring ever lures one to ski
steeper and more perilous
snowpack. Beware, Frodo – the
Ringwraiths took Rings from
Sauron, thinking to ski safe and
well, but in the end were
corrupted, and are locked in an
eternal grid search.” Frodo
“Worry not,” Strider said,
crouching near the hobbits and
binding his finely waxed, 235cm
skis. “Swift are the men of
Numenor on their tall boards, and
skilled is Gandalf the Gray, but
the simple stubbies of Hobbits do
my heart good to see, though
they shred not with the same fell
audacity as the skis of mightier
folk.” And then Strider leapt nobly
off the cornice, gliding like a shark
through the layered powder in his
heavy telemark gear, and the
hobbits zipped quickly behind in
his tracks.
Lastly, Boromir stood on the
cornice alone, brooding and
silent, gazing upon the broad
bowl leading down to Moria.
Boromir son of Denethor, warrior
of Gondor, darkly set his solid
boots in rigid alpine bindings: stiff,
reassuring, strong, and swift as a
gale, but inflexible. He leapt
heroically from the ridgeline, and
tore down a dangerous route,
racing over slabs that broke away
under his ski cuts, flying over
rocky drops. O, the slopes, he
thought, I could ski with the One
Ring. All I ask is the power to
defend my people in choice
terrain.
At the bottom of the bowl, they all
came upon Gandalf. The wizard
crouched on his skis, amid clunky
snowshoe prints. His face was
dark with foreboding. “Orcs,” he
declared, “hath passed this way.”
Then he rose, and looked
around. “I have an ill feeling
about... Nazgul!” he thundered.
“Ringwraiths, upon the high
ridges! Fly, fly damn you – carve
ye all away, and I shall stay, and
blunt their well-tuned edges!”
Indeed, nine dark figures moved
along the ridge high above,
gliding upon black skis forged
and waxed in the infernal
dungeons of the Dark Tower, for
no fair-wrought ski would consent
to carry them. Their black robes
whipped in the wind like batwings, and their ice-bright ski
poles gleamed evilly in the sun.
“How know thee, O Gandalf?”
Strider barked fearfully. “How
know thee the powder-spoilers of
Mordor, land of glare ice and
wormholes?”
Gandalf’s commanding reply was
both majestic and terrible:
“Randonnée!”
Andrew Mattox is a Wildland
Firefighter. He has been skiing
the North Cascades since the
advanced age of two and a half.
Ode
to
the
Turn
by Leighton White
skiing with a good friend of mine and three sweet and
pretty telemark ladies. We had just scrambled to the
top of a peak in the Kokanee Range, after skinning
almost to its summit. As we started down, the visibility
was less than stellar, but no matter. Like I said, we
were in an amazing mountain range, I was with a good
friend of mine, and in the company of three of the best
and yummiest tele girls you’d ever want to meet. But
no matter.
F
amily lore
has it that
my parents
tried to start me
skiing at age three.
I was grumpy,
threw a fit, and they
shelved the idea
for another two
years.
And none of it did. The best feeling that day, was the
sensation that came from the sweet supple arcing of
my skis. Not even turn after turn, but each single,
glorious, energy building turn. Your legs and skis
caress the slope back and forth, but it all starts with the
effortless guiding of skis out to the side, your body
down the fall line. You slowly roll your ankles to the
inside as you settle onto your skis, and a deliciously
At age five I took to it
like a senator to
pork and haven’t
looked back. They
may
now
feel
introducing me to
skiing was the
biggest mistake of
their lives. Fancy
college - going to
waste. Career - ha!
Relationships - they never last too long when you tell your
significant other that they’re a close second to skiing. Oh
well. But the places I’ve been, the things I’ve seen, and the
sensations I’ve felt.
Fancy college - going to waste.
Career - ha. Relationships - they
never last too long when you tell
your significant other that they’re a
close second to skiing. Oh well. But
the places I’ve been, the things I’ve
seen, and the sensations I’ve felt.
I know that there are others out there like me. The solo blue
jacket you see disappearing into the trees on an awesome
powder day. The skier punching a traverse line just a little
farther; the hiker going just a little higher. All in search of one
more turn, one more bath of frozen life, one more drop of
epinephrine. I used to think it odd, my addict’s need for
stimulation. But now I accept it, revel in it. As I hope you do if
you are similarly afflicted.
But I don’t need, nor want, much; no mountain ranges, no
perfect powder, not even sunshine, just the puissant
sensations of a single turn. Not too long ago this presented
itself to me in unprecedented clarity. I happened to be hut
Issue XVI Off-Piste 11
slow pressure begins to build. Knees flex.
Your quadriceps tighten, imperceptibly at first.
The powder that you flew through so easily
straight down the fall line begins to push back
in a turn. Crystals join arms, sacrificing
themselves to build a wall that destines you to
change direction.
The skis, now on edge, succumb to the flakes
straining against them. They begin to flex, just
as they were designed to do since the
beginning of time. Energy builds. The long
muscle running down the outside of your shin
strains gently against the increasing ankle
flexion. Your toes make microadjustments to
keep your center between your feet. The long,
powerful, and hopefully sculpted muscle on
the outside of your quad, and the bubble of
muscle fibers above your knee to the inside,
so prominent on cyclists, feel the load more
acutely now. If you’ve made lots of turns, they
burn with the hot sweetness of masochistic
delight. The heat, a delectable searing,
reaffirms your being. Your head is up, eyes
scanning and assessing the slope before you.
The skis are almost coming under you now,
their stored explosiveness waiting for your
okay to be released. With a subtle retraction
you are weightless, the skis having given back
to you all that you gave them, and more.
Center flying down the hill your skis float
across the fall line. Your muscles get a
seconds reprieve. And then it starts all over
again.
Such a simple thing, a turn. Yet thousands,
millions, of neurons fired as you flowed
smoothly through that arc. The processing
going on in your brain would put the latest
Intel Pentium chip to shame with its constant
analysis of the input your skis, feet, legs and
eyes were providing. You could feel the ski
flex as the snow stiffened, feel the tip give and
then rebound as it hit a clump of denser snow.
Feel your weight on the ball of your foot, your
heel, and even on your arch as it pressured
the footbed. All of this was merely sensed
— you felt everything, yet focused on
nothing — aware of the most minute detail,
but considering none of it. It flowed.
And that, my friends, is all I need. Not the big
house in the suburbs, not the pseudoimportant career, not even a sweet telemark
girlfriend.
12 Off-Piste January 2003
PHOTOS BY CARL SKOOG
The need to dump speed and maintain a tight reign
is often a reality in the backcountry and hop turns
are an elegant way to do this.
b)Take off your skis and posthole your
way down.
c)Do precise turns that DUMP speed at
every opportunity, giving you a favorable
chance of getting out in one piece.
The need to dump speed and maintain a
tight reign is often a reality in the
backcountry and hop turns are an
elegant way to do this. In steep, tight
terrain, especially on firm snow, control
equals getting your skis in and past the
fall-line ASAP. Hop turns (as well as their
close cousins, step turns and hippity hop
turns) dump speed and work in cramped
quarters better then any other turn. They
are the antithesis to a carved turn and
utilize a strong edge set on
which to start and end that can
literally stop you in your tracks if
need be. At their most extreme
you can hop from one set of
edges to the next with virtually
no carve or glide in the turn.
Think of a 180 degree radius –
the radius of a full turn on steep
terrain. Subtract the amount of
that radius you use up in the
hop and what you have left is
the amount of glide/carve you
have in the turn. The tighter and
more controlled you want the
turns to be, the less of the
radius you leave to the glide/
carve. This is the extreme end
of hop turns.
For most of us, the hop is simply
the initiation of the turn, it is what
gets our skis into the fall-line
quickly so that we can steer and
carve our skis to finish the turn.
This action still tightens our
turns up quite nicely. Here’s
why.
I
f you watch ski films
these days, you would
think hop turns have
gone the way of the Dodo
Bird. It’s lucky for all those
guys doing 40mph GS
turns and machschnell
straightliners that they have
nice snow, lots of room, and
a clear exit route.
A)You are not accelerating into
the fall-line.
B)When you land on your skis in
the fall-line you put a lot of
energy into them which, if
Unfortunately, where most of us
ski nature has a way of putting
things like trees, rocks, the
occasional
fur
bearing
mammal, or heaven forbid,
less
than
perfect
snow
conditions in our way of that
kind of glory. These realities
engender the need for a little
control
and
precision,
something most of us find
unavailable at 40mph locked
into a GS turn.
For example, there’s breakable
crust condition. Yes, a light
breakable crust is carvable and
really wide skis can even help
lower the bar, but there will
come a time in the backcountry
when
you
find
yourself
redefining
your
idea
of
breakable crust. It will be an
epiphany; you only thought you
had skied bad breakable. It will
be the kind of breakable that
hurts. It hurts your shins to ski
through and it DEFINITELY hurts
to fall in and the last thing you
want to do is carry a lot of speed
because you quickly realize you will fall
and falling will hurt even more at high
speed.
Now, imagine yourself in one of these
conditions, tight, steep, bad snow, hard
snow, excess obstacles, or maybe all of
them thrown together into one gloriously
worst case scenario.
Do you;
a)Try really hard to carve your turns,
creating a series of ever accelerating
beautifully round arcs.
Issue XVI Off-Piste 13
channeled correctly, will finish
your turn quickly.
C)You are in a much stronger
position on your skis starting at
the fall-line and continuing past
it. This is especially handy for
the breakable crust mentioned
earlier. Landing in or past the
fall-line is landing in a position of
power, with your center inside
and uphill of your skis and no
tricky changeover of edges is
needed to finish the turn.
Apart from the obvious uses for
a hop turn out in the wilds of the
backcountry, it’s also a great
developer of skills. Being
centered
and
balanced,
developing a platform, upper
body position, poling, and
center movement are all skills
that come with a good hop turn.
You will find they are easier to
practice (and do) on steep
terrain but as an exercise start
with them on moderate terrain.
Here are some basics on how to
develop a useful hop turn.
Start with the platform. With (or
without) your skis jump up and
down. Jump off both skis and
land on both skis without
turning. Do this enough so that
you
are
comfortable
unweighting both skis at the
same time and landing on both
skis. As an added element to
this try landing as softly as you
can. Figure out what you’re
doing to land softly (hint – it has
to do with flexion) and add that
to your skiing, hop turns and all.
Now, plant your downhill pole
down the hill, unweight off both
14 Off-Piste January 2003
skis, and turn your unweighted
skis down the hill. Wherever
they land, finish the turn as you
would any turn, steering and
carving your skis out of the fallline. Try single turns in both
directions. As you get the feel of
getting your skis up and around,
start feeling what your upper
body is doing. Experiment with
keeping your body (and your
center/bellybutton) facing down
the hill. Notice what happens
when it rotates and follows your
skis.
Try using your hands/pole plant
to instigate good behavior in
your upper body. A great trick
for pole planting is to land on
your pole plant; no, not on your
pole, your plant. As your skis
land so does the touch of your
pole tip. There is a lot of
confusion about upper body
movement and things like
“counter rotation”. In short
radius turns, of which hop turns
are the extreme, the upper
body does not rotate or counter
rotate. In short, to rotate is to be
late. Think of it as just not
letting your upper body follow
your skis out of the fall-line. It
remains focused down the hill
and as your skis turn out of the
fall-line tension is created,
making your skis WANT to
come back into alignment.
We need a good platform off
which to hop, good flexibility
when we land (absorbsion), an
upper body that stays focused
down the fall-line, and pole
plants that happen as we land
our skis. Practice hop turns in
both parallel and tele positions;
it will improve your stances in
both.
Perhaps the most common
ailment to hop turns has to do
with unweighting. As slopes
steepen a lot of skiers unweight
plumb – straight up and down –
rather then perpendicular to the
slope. Unweighting plumb puts
you farther back on your tails
the steeper it gets. If you can
bring yourself to unweight
perpendicular you will find hop
turns get easier the steeper the
slope. I like to focus on
unweighting with my center.
Feel yourself unweight from the
middle of your skis and you’ll
have it. If your pole plant is
pulling you around as you
finish the turn, try pushing your
hand through the plant so it
continues down the hill with the
rest of your body.
Is there anything else? Of
course, there are lots of
nuances that you must feel
your way through and as you
discover them it will help all
your skiing. Concentrate on
feeling what is going on, and if
you get stuck, break it up into
smaller more digestible pieces.
You can do this by trying it on
easier terrain, going back to
one turn at a time, or breaking
that one turn into two parts, the
hop (entering the fall-line), and
the finish, the glide or carve out
of the fall-line.
Good hop turns are a mix of
discipline, skill, and power.
Sloppy upper bodies screw up
hop turns, as do wide, out-ofbalance stances and spread
out or stiff-legged lower bodies.
Up-hill pole plants are out too.
Use hop turns as a way to
improve your skiing as well as
adding a very useful turn to your
bag of tricks. If one imagines the
perfect carved turn, consistent
speed throughout, round as a
ball, and continuously flowing
like water down the hill, the hop
turn is the opposite end of
continuum of how we turn our
skis. Between hop turns and the
perfect carve there is lots of
room to play and this is where
most of us ski. The perfect carve
may be illusory but we can all
hop turn and the lessons
learned will make us able to ski
a wider range of snow and
terrain and give us skills and
awareness that’s needed for
any skiing style.
Nils Larsen is a regular contributor
to Off-Piste. He produces freeheel
videos and teaches freeheel clinics
around North America.
Photo: David Gluns
Skier: Blake Osmundson
Location: Mount St. Helens, WA
Photographer: Michael G. Halle
He who knows others is wise.
He who knows himself is enlightened.
-Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching
Skier: Mitchell Scott
Location: Kootenays, BC
Photographer: Mathew Scholl
Issue XVI Off-Piste 15
You must be the change you wish
to see in the world.
- Mahatma Gandhi
Skier: Dean Collins
Location: North Cascades, WA
Photographer: Carl Skoog
Skiers: Christian Denckla, Cory Dolberry, Greg Franson
Location: Canadian Rockies
Photographer: Heath A. Korvola
16 Off-Piste January 2003
Issue XVI Off-Piste 17
In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
-Desiderius Erasmus, Adages
Skier: Scotty R.
Location: First, Switzerland
Photographer: Chase Jarvis
Eric Burr and the open christie Photo:Eric Sanford
L
ong Ago, but not very far
from my current home in
the North Cascades, I
used to be an AT skier. Head
Deep Powder (DP) skis, Marker
toe pieces, and touring
attachments with Kandahar
cables that adjusted to my
leather ski mountaineering
boots. This equipment was the
pinnacle of Randonee gear.
From what I see of today’s
clunky plastic boots and
bindings, modern Randonee
gear is designed for extreme
steeps, rather than simply
traveling in the mountains. My
Head DP’s made one of the
earliest Trans-Sierra tours ever
done. I still remember the
ranger’s disbelief on our arrival
in Yosemite Valley after a fourday crossing from Mammoth,
over Mt. Lyell, back in 1965.
A couple of years later I landed
in Olympic National Park to
work as a snow ranger under
Jack Hughes, who traveled all
over the park on light wooden
cross country skis. We did the
monthly
snow
courses,
checked avalanches up the
Hurricane Ridge road, and
scouted places like Seven
Lakes Basin for ski touring
possibilities.
I was young and fit then and
had no trouble keeping up with
Jack’s light touring skis, but I
could see he wasn’t working
nearly as hard as I was on the
up-hills
and
flats.
My
enlightenment started by
borrowing his kick wax so that I
did not have to fuss with my
climbing skins on rolling terrain.
Next, I started leaving my heels
18 Off-Piste January 2003
free for the descents because stopping to
insert the cable in my heel guides took
enough time that Jack would gain quite a
lead as he started downhill. Keep in mind
that we were not out to make fancy tracks
for a ski magazine, we simply had a job in
snow country. Jack was very patient with
me. The only time I had a hint that he was
bothered by my ignorance was a
discussion about side-cut, where he kept
insisting the best shape for a ski was “like a
javelin”. It was his way of telling me that all
the alpine skiing fixation on itsy bitsy turns
was useless if your need was to travel in
the mountains, the way the Norwegian
underground did in WWII, running circles
around the occupying Nazi Troops on their
AT skis.
Jack’s patience eventually wore out.
Luckily for me, I was able to learn enough
about the basics of Scandinavian ski
touring from Jack to be accepted by two
Norwegians I met at Mammoth Mountain in
1971.
Axel and Knut had started one of the first
commercial ski touring centers in North
America and were looking for the next
place to develop. I told them about
Kirkwood where my brother was helping to
build an alpine resort. Knut surprised the
Kirkwood developers by joining their
snowcat assisted preview of the downhill
runs on his light touring skis and low cut
leather boots. He skied 10 miles up the
unplowed road from the east in Hope
Valley to the Kirkwood base area in order to
meet up with the snowcat trip. To the alpine
developers, he appeared like a ghost out
of the wilderness. Knut skied several runs
with them on his light gear and agreed that
they needed a touring center as part of the
resort.
A year later, Axel convinced me to ski on a
pair of factory defective Asnes Trysils, a
partial metal edged wood touring ski. I
alpine patrolled on them and thereby
Skiing near Hurricane Ridge Photo:Eric Burr
brought more business to the Kirkwood
touring center, where I instructed part time
and helped Axel and Knut lay out touring
trails.
Meanwhile, various Randonee type skiers
were attempting to ski between the Bear
Valley and Kirkwood resorts and having to
be rescued from various mishaps. Axel
asked me what their problem was;
ignorance was my reply. How would you
make the trip, was his next question. And
so, following my successful completion of
the tour, I bought dinner for a friend at the
Bear Valley Lodge in return for a ride back
to Kirkwood.
Fifteen miles, 4,000 foot vertical loss, 5000
vertical foot gain (because avalanches forced
me to ski over rather than across, Mt Reba),
made for a nice 7 hour tour on light
continued on page 18
centers and ski touring remains a
minority sport. Honestly, we did
not plan it this way it was just sort
of evolved. in hindsight, I am
grateful the Open Christie turn
never caught on.
All of the plastic boots and big
boards of today are helping to
use our fossil fuels faster, directly
and indirectly, by encouraging us
to drive larger SUV’s to haul
around our sliding toys. The
sooner we use the oil up, the
sooner we’ll get clean air to
breath and stop the acid rain that
is poisoning our water sources.
So you see it has really all
worked out for the best.
Wilderness permits remain a
summer nuisance, those crazy
Norwegians have the remote
backcountry to themselves, all
the telemarkers and boarders
get to have their pictures taken
skiing rad terrain, and the toy
makers get to spring new
gadgets on us every year.
Eric Burr Photo: Don Portman
Norwegian skis. Axel, Knut, and I
helped revive the telemark turn
but we paralleled most of the
time because in most conditions
it was easier.
Our technique was and is the
Open Christie, with tips slightly
splayed or open, and the turn
steered with the outside edge of
the inside ski, leading the turn in
what some call a reverse
telemark or a telemark with an
early lead change. How early is
an important detail, but
somewhere straight down the
fall-line – earlier for breakable
crust, later for deep powder. We
must have done a lousy job of
teaching this to Americans
however, because telemarking
has become something more
akin to snowboarding than ski
touring. Skating, of course,
captured much of North America
market so we now have crosscountry, (i.e. groomed trail),
centers rather than touring
But what about the Naturalist you
ask? Well, they are happy too,
because all of those new toys
keep most of the winter
hedonists out of the key wildlife
habitat. Lynx prefer boreal
forests too gentle to attract
anyone except snowmobilers,
and
increasingly,
the
snowmobilers too prefer to be
high-marking
with
the
telemarkers
and
getting
avalanched with snowboarders.
They all wear high-tech
beacons, avalungs, tell stories
about hairy-scary rescues, and
argue about which is better; fixed
heel or free, snowshoe or
snowmobile, etc, ad nausea, and
they love it. Adversity is the key
to winters fun. In more ways than
one, you gotta earn those turns.
Eric Burr earns his turns in the
North Cascades.
Who is Eric Burr
by
Steve
Barnett
In the mid ‘70’s I was trying
hard to find all the information
that I could about freeheel
skiing in mountain terrain. Eric
Burr was one the very few living
authors I could find on the
subject. Making things easy for
me, he was then living on
Washington’s
Olympic
Peninsula, away from his usual
haunts in the Sierra Nevada.
His approach was different than
the telemark centered one I
was following – and thus all the
more interesting.
Eric became the “token
paralleler” at our Trak Telemark
Ski Camps in the early ‘80’s.
His approach, however, was not
the standard Alpine turn.
Probably it owed more to the
Arlbergers of the ‘30’s than to
the great racers of the ‘60’s and
‘70’s. Eric could take any ski,
including ones worse than
anyone has seen in decades,
including skis without any sidecut at all, and with as much as
a foot of camber, and reverse
camber them, tilt them on edge,
and carve a turn in almost any
snow. Instead of a telemark he
often used a curious forking
position of the skis with the
inside ski well ahead of the
outside one, and pointed
inwards of the other one as
well.
I had written about a similar
maneuver “the open turn”,
using a term from the
prehistoric days of skiing, but I
never understood or used it as
well as Eric. We instructors of
the Trak camps tried hard to
learn Eric’s secrets and to
teach them as well. But more
than the telemark, Eric’s
techniques depend on great
strength, great balance, and
Issue XVI Off-Piste 19
great experience on skis. I can
safely say that skiing with Eric
strongly influenced my parallel
skiing, but I’m always surprised
if a former student tells me that
he has mastered the open turn.
Could we really have taught
enough to enable that?
Eric is almost completely antimodern in approach. He has
no interest in fat skis, since he
can make skinny light ones do
what he wants, and he has no
interest in the fat boots needed
to drive fat skis. The best
characteristics of a ski to Eric
are that it be cheap and made
in Norway. Skiing powder to
him means not primarily a
chance to make beautiful
floating turns but, even better, a
chance to knock cornices down
till a slide starts. He is a
patroller and snow student
through and through. Though
he is on skinny unsuitable skis,
using flimsy boots, and old Troll
bindings mounted without risers
he does not get flustered in any
mountain skiing situation. He
has a large enough arsenal of
tricks to see him through. For
20 Off-Piste January 2003
instance, faced with a cornice
entry to a steep face at the top
of a chute he will not launch off
the top, nor make a couple of
short turns on a 60 degree
surface. Instead he will drop in
with a pole arrested ski
glissade, a most useful
maneuver that most of us never
learn well and one he does so
quickly, with so little fuss, that
you will miss it if you’re not
paying attention.
Most important to his ski
partners, Eric has a patroller’s
experience and a continuing
interest in snow safety. His
knowledge of snow safety is
completely up to date. He is
someone whose judgment I
trust completely in avalanche
terrain and someone from
whom I try to learn what I can.
He’s just the person you want
around if there’s an accident, or
if there’s a scared and tired
skier who needs shepherding
back to safety and comfort.
That’s worth much more than
his unique approach to
backcountry skiing.
SOFT SHELL PANT TEST
I
f you’ve opened any skiing or
climbing gear catalog
in the last year you’ve no
doubt noted the industry buzz
about “soft shell” clothing. This
tag line appears often in the
technical world of outdoor
clothing makers and vendors.
What’s the deal? What the
heck is a hard shell anyway?
Let’s be clear about something
right off: it is very easy to
become
jaded
by
the
marketing hype that is
shoveled onto unsuspecting
end users like bovine fecal
matter by manufacturers
touting
the
next
“breakthrough”. Often, these
leading edge garments and
fabrics that promise to make us
leap tall buildings, quietly
disappear from the line in a
season or two leaving us, the
user, feeling like a jilted lover.
You know the drill; say what
ever it takes to get into the
sack and then slink off with a
feeble “I’ll call you”. Well, take
heart, a product worthy of a
long term relationship would
like a date on your next ski
tour.
Soft shell clothes are soft; they
are comfortable to wear, even
right next to your skin. The
various fabrics are truly
remarkable in their ability to
shed moisture, dry quickly,
block wind, stretch with your
movements, and breathe far
better than any of the so called
waterproof breathable hard
shells.
Hard shell clothes are made
from nylon fabric laminated to
a semi-permeable membrane
(Gore-Tex etc). These fabrics
feel stiff, are generally bulky,
and are often restrictive. Their
redeeming feature is that they
are very waterproof and do, to
some
extent,
breathe.
However, given strenuous ski
touring and climbing, hard
shells generally do not
breathe well enough to keep
you dry. Cost is another
significant disadvantage to
most hard shell garments as
anyone who as ever shopped
for a new shell can attest.
Most hard shell garments use
Gore-Tex fabric or some
version thereof and are
(over)loaded with features that
drive up the price. Hard shells
definitely have a place in your
gear
quiver
(in
nasty
conditions they are the ticket)
but you will be surprised at the
functionality of soft shell
garments.
users) drenched and requires
opening the side zips for
venting. Once you crest the
ridge or summit, wind quickly
chills your legs and zipping up
the pants, for all intents and
purposes, traps the moisture
and continues to cool your skin
as it slowly evaporates from
the long underwear especially
during a de-skinning/snack
break. In marked contrast, soft
shell pants keep you pretty dry
on the skin up and when
breaking onto the ridge or
summit cut the wind well
enough to keep you warm.
Even given moderate winter
storm cycle conditions, the soft
shell clothing performs well
enough to leave the hard
shells at home on a routine
tour.
Soft shell outdoor clothes
have been around for years in
Europe. I bought a pair of
Mammut pants made from
Schoeller fabric in Chamonix
in 1992 after noticing the
To my continuing dismay I
guides and the other climbers
regularly see skiers touring in
attired in these functional
the backcountry wearing hard
climbing pants. That winter I
shell pants with zippers open,
used them for every
looking like cowboys in
ski tour and was so
chaps. I proposed this
pleased with their
review to our illustrious
performance that I
publisher in the hope of
took them on an
winning converts from
extended trip into the
the “full metal jacket”
Wrangell / St. Elias
mentality to a kinder
Range in Alaska that
gentler type of clothing.
spring.
I
was
In recent years, several
immediately struck by
US clothing makers
their versatility for
have introduced pants
winter skiing and
and jackets fitting the
climbing. I have
soft shell definition to the
never worn (or even
US market. We’ve been
carried) my hard
wearing and using all
shell pants again
the pants in this article
while skiing except
for both skiing and ice
when riding a chairlift.
climbing. If there was
Black Diamond
What struck me most
ever a way to get cold
Alpine Pant
strongly was the
and wet it is ice climbing
contrast in comfort compared
so the pants have gotten a
to my old hard shell pants
workout. Let’s take a look
over long underwear vs. the
model by model.
soft shell pants without long
BLACK DIAMOND ALPINE
underwear. Even down to low
P ANT $ 2 1 0 : These are the
single digit temps I toured in
simplist, no frills pant of the
comfort!
Both uphill and
test. Unfortunately, they are
down! Breaking trail uphill in
also at the high end of the cost
hard shells, by contrast,
range and did not offer the best
leaves me (and most other
PANT SPECS
PANT
CUFF DIAMETER*
relaxed
stretched open
Solstice
115
Patagonia Guide
118
Cloudveil
131
Black Diamond Alpine Pant
121
Outdoor Research Granite Pant 82
Ibex Backcountry Pant
146/115***
150
127
143
146
130
na/178***
BOOTS
CUFF DIAMETER****
Scarpa - T1
Scarpa - T2
Scarpa - Laser
Scarpa - Denali
Crispi - CXR
Crispi - CXP
Garmont - Synergy
Garmont - Gara
Dynafit - TLT 700/500
Dynafit - TLT 4
Lowa - Struktura
130
120
138
130
132
132
135
130
130
130
128
191
159
172
na
147
178/na***
STRETCH** FIT
FABRIC WT
COST
30%
45%
30%
35%
heavy
medium
heavy
medium
medium
heavy
$169
$169
$195
$210
$220
$235
B
A
A
C
B
A
*Dimensions in millimeters.
**Stretch refers to fabric stretch.
***Second number is internal gaiter.
****Boots measured just below top buckle.
by Scott Johnston
fit. These pants works best as a
climbing pant since the cuff,
which doesn’t have and zipper
or gusseted opening, is dificult
to fit over the top of a big ski
boot. The cuff does have a
nice grippy elastic band to hold
it in place, which would be a
nice feature to see on all these
pants. Small but tough scuff
guards help protect the cuffs
from ski edges and crampon
wear. The side seam and
cargo pockets are functional,
but there is no hip pocket. not
a big problem but it makes it
tough to treat the gang at the
local watering hole after a
gnarly day out when you don’t
have
your
wallet.
The
Schoeller Dynamic fabric is
light enough for summer use
so the pants have year round
use appeal yet they still work
in temps down to the teens or
colder in conjunction with a
long underwear layer. The
fabric dries fast and offers
good stretch. The doubled
knees are a thoughtful feature
that add warmth and durability.
A full elastic waist with belt
loops keeps the waist snug but
we have to wonder who BD
used as a model for the cut of
these pants. The legs blouse
o
u
t
noticeably
below the
waist and
while this
loose
fit
i s n ’ t
functionally
a problem it
isn’t very
flattering
everyone.
The Alpine
pant is a
g o o d
multisport
garment but
not
the best
Cloudveil
choice
for a
Symmetry Pant
ski specific use.
Cloudveil
Symmetry
Pant $ 1 9 5 : Made from
Schoeller Dryskin Extreme
3XDRY these are a toasty
warm pant designed for winter
use. Along with the Patagonia
Guide pants these had the
best fit of the pants tested.
Good fit is achieved by the
nicest tailoring of all the pants
we tested. A broad waist band
with elastic across the back
and sides gives these pants a
firm hold and a belt was almost
optional. The belt loops are
overly wide however and will
take a full 2.5" wide belt. The
front hip pockets fit along the
seam are a nice touch;
however, the cargo pocket on
the right thigh is not as
Issue XVI Off-Piste 21
Schoeller
Climawool,
a
functional as a side pocket can
Schoeller and Merino wool
be. While I really like this feature
blend that makes for a very
in general, the forward angle of
Schoeller Dynamic - A single
warm yet breathable ski/winter
the zipper makes the pocket
weave stretch fabric composed of lycra,
pant. They are also the only
totally inaccessible when
and nylon. Excellent durability, good
pant to include a fully
wearing a harness. The pocket
weather resistance, quick to dry, and
highly breathable.
integrated gaiter. Between the
opening is also too small for my
Climawool and the gaiter these
big hands and even my wife had
Schoeller Dryskin - A double
pants are full on winter
a hard time fitting her hand into it
weave fabric using nylon, Lycra, and
mountain wear worthy of the
Coolmax. Results in a brushed Coolmax
(don’t ask why she was reaching
next to the skin for warmth and increased
coldest
conditions.
in there). The cuff design is nice
moisture wicking properties.
Unfortunately, we
as it utilizes a zipper on
did not receive the
the outside seam and
Schoeller Climawool - Similar to
Dryskin, Climawool uses merino wool in
pants in time to
a snap closure, which
place of Coolmax. The result is a warmer
thoroughly field test
adjusts through 3
fabric with the natural moisture
them.
Fit
and
different
snap
management qualities of wool.
construction quality
p o s i t i o n s .
Schoeller Extreme - Extreme refers
receive high marks
Unfortunately, even
to the presence of abrasion resistant
as
does
the
with the snap in its
Cordura fibers within the fabric weave.
Climawool fabric for
tightest position it was
breathability and
just
barely
snug
Schoeller 3XDRY - 3XDRY, is a
moisture-management treatment
cold weather use.
enough on AT boots.
improving any Schoeller fabrics’ ability to
The
standard
Cloudveil
has
wick moisture away from the body.
pocket assortment
thoughtfully provided
includes the
small loops sewn into
flap on the
the inside of the cuffs
the lighter pants from
cargo pocket
so you can attach a
BD, Patagonia, and
similar to the
small string or bungee
Ibex
OR, the Ibex pants
S o l s t i c e
Backcountry Pant
cord to make the cuff
are a solid winter
pocket while
into a gaiter which
mountain garment.
the front slash pockets
takes care of the aforementioned
O u t d o o r
are well tailored. The
loose cuff problem. The pants
pant cuffs are larger
R e s e a r c h
are also available in women’s
than
they
need
to
be
but
specific sizing. Large scuff pads
Granite
Pant
any snow access issues
on the inside of the cuffs will
$ 2 1 0 : The Granite
associated with the
protect from ski edges and
pant uses Spandura
larger cuff is solved by
finish off a very well designed
fabric and are light
the integrated gaiter.
and made piece of mountain
enough to be used
The cuffs are protected
clothing.
year round as a multi
by generous scuff pads
sport pant. The fabric
Ibex Backcountry Pant
to reduce wear issues.
is similar to the
$235 : The Ibex pants are the
Although
not
as Outdoor Research
Schoeller Dynamic
Granite Pant
only pants in the test to use
versatile year round as
fabric and proved
FABRIC GLOSSARY
22 Off-Piste January 2003
Patagonia 7-oz. This stretch woven
fabric is 95% nylon and 5% spandex. A
DWR (durable water repellent) finish is
added for weather resistance. Excellent
durability, good weather resistance, good
stretch, quick drying, and highly
breathable.
Spandura - This fabric consists of
Cordura filaments arranged around a
Lycra core. The result is stretch Cordura.
Excellent abrasion resistance, highly
breathable, quick to dry, and wind
resistant.
To Read more about fabrics and
pants visit:
www.schoeller-textiles.com
www.patagonia.com
www.bdel.com
www.cloudveil.com
www.ibexwear.com
www.outdoorresearch.com
www.solsticegear.com
equally as versatile during our
testing. The pants offer the
standard pocket routine with
the addition of two rear pockets
and a side cargo pocket. Like
the Solstice and Ibex pants,
the side pocket includes a flap
over the zipper. Although the
pocket placement is good, we
felt the zippered openings
could all grow an inch or so to
accommodate bigger hands.
The fit was good but take note
that OR’s sizing runs small we found their size medium
equal to most companies’ size
small. This pant has the
continued on page 26
Hut Trip Dinner - Vegitarian Enchiladas - Corn, Black Bean, & Red Pepper Salad - Capuccino Truffles
A Step by Step Recipe for Your Next Hut Trip
by Marianne Abraham
C
hances are if you have ever been on a hut trip, you have
debated the semantics of food preparation. Unless the
trip is catered, food planning can be a big job. The ever
popular, assign each member a dinner meal, works well. On
larger trips (10-12 people), it works out nicely to pair up and
assign one dinner per two people. This method spreads out
the responsibility, allows everyone in the group the opportunity
to show off his/her cooking expertise (or lack thereof), and
maximizes ski time for everyone.
Obviously, there are countless options when it is your night to
perform. However, even an experienced kitchen user runs into
questions when faced with preparing dinner for twelve hungry
skiers. Several pieces become very important when your ski
touring partners are relying on your efforts for the evening’s
fare; quantity – you do not want to see anyone go hungry,
quality – you need a simple yet unique and tasty dish, and
ease of preparation - you would not want to miss any more
skiing than necessary on your day of dinner duty.
To rest any concerns, we contacted our favorite backcountry
lodge chef, Marianne Abraham, in Nelson BC and asked her to
outline a straightforward meal for a group of twelve. Marianne
provides us with a Vegetarian Enchilada meal ncluding salad,
dessert, and a full shopping list to ensure you get your
quantities correct. Given a two person team, you have can
have this meal cooked and on the table in about two hours
time. Here’s what Marianne has to say:
Inevitably, there are going to be vegetarians in a group of 12
healthy, robust backcountry types, so I just make the whole
meal vegetarian for ease of ingredient schlepping. This meal is
a welcome departure from the usual pasta fare that shows up
in most group situations.
Representing all the food groups abundantly, including the
beer group, which should ideally accompany this dinner, this
dish is a bit more work than a rudimentary pasta dish, but well
worth the effort.
A Meal for 12
Salad:
Corn, Blackbean, and Red
Pepper Salad
Dinner:
Vegetarian Enchiladas with
Black Bean and Corn
Salsa
Dessert:
Cappuccino Truffles
Make first:Polenta
1 1/2 cup cornmeal
1 1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cup milk (made from
powdered milk works - if you
want, you can use water
instead, but it’s not as creamy)
Mix all ingredients in a heavy
bottomed pot and keep stirring
over med. high heat until the
mixture starts to thicken and
bubble. Keep stirring vigorously
with a flat bottomed wooden
spoon until the mix is lifting off
the bottom of the pot. (About 3
minutes after it has completely
thickened). Pour into a greased
bowl and allow to set.
Veggie
Mix:
Saute together in pan in order
listed below.
4 cloves garlic - chopped
finely
1 med. onion - chopped finely
1 cup finely chopped celery
1 med. anaheim pepper finely chopped (or one small
can if you can’t get fresh)
1/2 sweet pepper - finely
chopped
1 cup finely chopped zucchini
1/2 chopped tomato (save
other half for serving)
Add:
1 small can of corn niblets
1/2 can of sliced black olives
(save the other half for
serving)
1 small can of refried beans
Spice
with:
2 tsp. cumin
2 tsp. coriander
2 Tbsp. fresh chopped cilantro
(or dried if you can’t get fresh)
1 tsp. chili powder
1 Tbsp. chopped canned
chipotle peppers plus some of
the sauce (use more if you
Photo: David Gluns
want more heat)
juice and zest (peel) of 1/2
lime
salt to taste
Crumble cooled polenta into
your spiced veg mix and
gently mix it all together, being
careful not to squish things up
too much.
Enchilada
Sauce:
2-10 oz. cans regular tomato
sauce
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. coriander
Lay out a stack of burrito size
tortillas. Working with one
tortilla at a time, spread a thin
layer of enchilada sauce on
tortilla.
Lay a generous
spoonful (about the equivalent
of a small handful)of veggie
and polenta mix in the middle
of the tortilla and roll up burrito
style. Line up closely together
in a greased pan and when
full, spread enchilada sauce
over top of rolled enchiladas.
Spread with grated monterey
jack cheese, cover with
greased foil (to keep the foil
from pulling the cheese off)
and bake at 350 degrees for
30 minutes.
Serve topped with sour cream,
chopped
green
onion,
remaining 1/2 can of sliced
black olives, remaining 1/2
chopped tomato and salsa
verde - the delicious green
tomatillo salsa. If you can’t
find this, use regular tomato
based salsa.
This dish is best accompanied
with cornbread and a corn,
black bean and red pepper
salad (recipe follows)
Corn, Black Bean and
Red Pepper Salad
2 cans corn niblets ( or 3 cups
frozen corn niblets)
1 can black beans – rinsed
well
1 red pepper – finely chopped
½ cup finely chopped cilantro
A Dash of cumin
Issue XVI Off-Piste 23
Juice and zest of one fresh
lime
salt and chili flakes to taste
Drain corn and black beans
well. Mix in med. size bowl.
Chop pepper and cilantro and
add lime, and spices. Stir just
till mixed and serve.
Dessert:
Cappuccino
Truffles
(makes 24 small truffles)
12 oz. good quality semi-sweet
chocolate
5 Tbsp. Butter
3 tsp. Instant coffee
¼ cup evaporated milk
1 cup good quality
unsweetened cocoa
Melt butter and chocolate
together on low heat or
double boiler. Beat together
until blended. Add instant
coffee and evaporated milk
and beat together. Chill until
set. Roll into balls and chill
again. Roll in cocoa to give a
light coating.Serve with coffee
and fruit.
Marianne
Abraham
has
cooked for several of the finer
lodges in the mountains of
British Columbia and she has
a new cook book in the works.
S HOPPING L IST
PRODUCE
Garlic - 1 head
Onions - 1
Green Onion - 1 bunch
Cilantro - 1 bunch
Red or Sweet Pepper - 2
Anaheim Pepper - 1
Zucchini - 1
Tomato - 1
Celery - 1 sm. bunch
Lime - 2
CANNED
GOODS
Corn Niblets - 3 sm. cans
Black Beans - 1 can
Black Olives - 1 can
Tomato Sauce - 2 10oz cans
Evaporated Milk - 1 sm. can
Chipolte Peppers - 1 sm can
Salsa verde or red - 1 750ml jar
24 Off-Piste January 2003
DRY GOODS BULK
CornMeal -1.5 cups
Cumin - small bag
Corriander - small bag
Chili Powder - small bag
Chili Flakes - small bag
Salt - small bag
Semi Sweet Chocolate - 12 oz
Instant Coffee - 3tsp
Unsweetened Cocoa 1 cup
Powdered Milk - 1/4 cup
Foil - 1 roll
Olive Oil - small bottle
DAIRY
Milk (if no powder) - 1.5 cups
Monterey Jack Cheese - 3/4 lb
Sour Cream - 500ml
Butter - 1/2 lb
The Importance of Terrain
B
ackcountry skiers spend more
time in avalanche terrain than
most winter recreationists; this
is rooted in the terrain to which most
backcountry skiers are attracted. To
suggest that terrain lays the
foundation for the snowpack is an
understatement. Studying avalanche
accident reports indicates that
specific terrain factors arise
repeatedly in avalanche incidents,
forming deadly trends.
In this perspective I lump these key terrain
factors into one of two groups. Group one
factors are terrain features that promote
tension, cause weakness, and promote
loading of the snow-pack thus increasing
the likely hood of triggering avalanches.
Group two factors are those that increase
the risk of injury or death in the event of an
avalanche.
GROUP I
T ENSION /S TRESS - Snow is like a blanket
stretched over the terrain. Gravity’s
steady pull creates tension in the
snowpack stressing this blanket. Slope
angle plays a critical role in avalanche
activity and is directly connected to
tension and stress on the snow-pack. The
greater the tension, the greater chance
there is for movement in the snowpack.
Common high-tension areas are found in
convex shapes and shapes that are
steep and ‘unsupportive’. Slope angles
above 25 degrees are sufficient for slide
activity. Statistically, 38 degrees is a key
angle for activity but slides are common
between 30 and 45 degrees. The stairs in
by Niko Weis
Photos by Don Svela
an average western house are about 32
degrees. Imagine a tug-of-war between
the base of the slope pulling from the
bottom, and the upper reaches being
anchored and holding firm. Smooth,
anchorless ground cover may intensify
the tug-of-war.
by stormy weather is hard to miss but
snow deposited by wind can form wind
slabs during otherwise clear and sunny
weather. Think like the wind and consider
each twist and curve of the mountain as a
potential terrain break that could
encourage slope loading.
W EAKNESS - The formation of weak areas in
the snowpack is often associated with
ground cover features such as rock
outcroppings, boulders, or a single tree
on the slope that interrupts the continuity
of the blanket. Features on the slope are
especially suspect during a season with a
shallow
snowpack
and
colder
temperatures (a thin or dry Rocky
Mountain like snow-pack). Terrain
features promote intense localized
temperature gradients (differences in
temperature between snow layers and or
the ground or air), which lead to the
weakening of the snow through the
formation of faceted, or weakly bonded
snow crystals. Often undetectable from
above, these weak layers may collapse
and propagate a fracture across an entire
slab within seconds.
GROUP II
LOADING - A snowpack is loaded any time a
new stress is added to the slope. Loading
can be terrain dependent and a primary
factor in loading is the wind. Leeward
terrain is prone to rapid loading by windtransported snow. Ridge tops, terrain
breaks, and cliffs above snow slopes are
all prime terrain features that encourage
loading. Snow transported to these areas
is prone to slabbing and increases the
load to avalanche start zones. The
loading patterns creating the bulk of the
unexpected avalanche incidents are
often cross loaded by wind, localized,
and tricky to asses. Widespread loading
CONSEQUENCES - The biggest question I ask
myself when evaluating risk on a given
slope is; could I survive an avalanche
here? While most slides are triggered in
the start zone, it is the features in the path
below - terrain traps such as rock bands,
tree islands, and gullies - that amplify the
deadly potential of the avalanche. Does
your line of choice have features that
create potential for deeper burials, force a
sudden stop or send you air-born without
your consent? Trauma sustained in the
avalanche kills nearly 30% of avalanche
victims and deep snow burials of more
than 6 feet have a terrible survival rate.
In addition to terrain traps, slope size
matters too. Bigger slopes produce bigger
avalanches. Bigger avalanches are harder
to survive. However, the size picture in
North America is paradoxical; small slides
on small slopes account for a majority of
recreational avalanche deaths. Do not
underestimate the power and deadly
nature of a “small” size two avalanche.
Just because the slope is small does not
mean it is safe.
The nature of terrain is that it either
amplifies or reduces local trends in the
snow pack. Learning to read the terrain
and its influences on the snowpack helps
us to make informed route decisions.
Terrain traps such as tree islands, rock
Issue XVI Off-Piste 25
terrain characteristics into your
choice for snow pit locations
and hazard assessments.
Moderate danger on a slope
with deadly terrain traps
should raise your hazard
hackles.
bands, and gullies in the
avalanche track make for a
deadly combination. Complex
slopes featuring many shapes,
aspects, and attributes are
difficult to read and often defy
local trends and hazard
forecasts. Always consider
your terrain choice in your
hazard equation.
Snow is not the same from day
to day and place to place. The
spatial variability effects of
terrain on snow are huge and
put the results of most snow pit
tests into question. If you want
to understand the snow better,
start by understanding the
many effects terrain has on the
snow cover and incorporate
26 Off-Piste January 2003
The best off-piste trip starts at
home with good planning. Get
the best possible large-scale
topographic maps. Find air
photos or photographs so you
can get to know the area
before it gets to show you.
Once in the field, be observant.
Know when you are in
avalanche terrain and identify
and avoid the slopes and
factors
that
aggravate
avalanche hazard. When
faced with the ultimate
decision: to ride the slope or
not? Start your assessment
from the ground up.
Niko Weis is an avalanche safety
consultant for Adventure
Management Service and Survival
on Snow.
References:
The Snowy Torrents, Williams and
Armstrong; Teton Bookshop
Avalanche Accidents in Canada
Volume Four, Jamieson and
Geldsetzer; Canadian Avalanche
Association.
Staying Alive In Avalanche Terrain,
Tremper; Mountaineers.
Patterns in Unexpected Skier
Triggered Avalanches, Jamieson and
Geldsetzer; University of Calgary.
Think Like An Avalanche
Think Like An
Avalanche, is a
new avalanche
safety video
produced by
Doug Abromeit
at the USDA
Forest Service
N a t i o n a l
Avalanche
Center in Sun Valley, ID with
help from the American
Avalanche Association and
the Avalanche Fund.
At just short of an hour, the
video is filled with informative
dialog from some of North
America’s leading snow
professionals
including,
Doug
Fessler,
Bruce
Tremper, Jill Fredstone and
Janet Kellam.
Beginning with fundamental
snowpack development, the
video walks viewers through
basic characteristics of
snowpack instability. The
video follows the snow
science with quality footage
of
backcountry
users
studying the snow pack and
develops a routine around
which all users can model
their snow analysis. A variety
of sheer and stability tests are
described as is the standard
cautionary scale that all
users should follow.
In addition to snow science
and pit test basics, Think Like
An Avalanche, consults with
snow safety experts ranging
from Valdez Heli-Ski Guides
to USFS forecasters to offer
valuable information on the
logistics and human factors
related to snow safety. The
video is a valuable tool for
novice and experienced
backcountry travelers alike,
as
well
as
a
great
educational tool for anyone
working in the snow safety
education world.
Currently, the video is
available in VHS and DVD
formats for $14.95 and can
be purchased through Black
Diamond’s online store ar
www.bdel.com.
Support your local avalanche center:
www.avalanche.org
www.avalanche.ca
www.fsavalanche.org
SOFT SHELL PANTS
smallest cuff openings of the
pants tested but OR utilizes a
zippered
gusset
to
accommodate bigger boots.
Nice features include the built
in webbing belt and the
double layer knees. The
Granite pant does not have
any cuff protection, so expect
some wear over the
years from ski edges or
crampons.
The
OR
Granite pant makes for a
versatile year round
mountain wear.
CONTINUED
thought out design features
include the on seam zipper,
hip, and cargo pockets. All of
these pockets function well in
or out of a harness. The waist
is elasticized only over the hip
bones which, although it
makes for a less snug fit than
the Cloudveil pant, is an
intentional omission.
Elastic dries slowly
and so was left out of
the area between pack
pad and back. The
main compromise in
the Guide pant is in the
Patagonia
Guide
cuff area. Trying to
Pant $169 : Using their
offer a year round
own fabric woven in
mountain pant, the cuff
Japan, Patagonia has
compromises when it
created
the
most
comes to the interface
versatile of all the pants
with big plastic boots
tested. I have beaten a
and smaller mountain
couple pair of these into
boots.
Patagonia’s
oblivion over the years
solution is to have a
with both summer and
zippered gusset that
winter use. The fabric Patagonia
expands to fit snugly
has
been
greatly Guide Pant
over big ski boots but
improved in the past year
doesn’t have anyway
so it no longer pills badly
to cinch in place once
and offers a commendable
expanded. Normally, this isn’t
impersonation of the Schoeller
a big deal but take off your
Dynamic. What sets it apart
skis to posthole up the last
from the Swiss Schoeller cloth
300’ of a chute and the cuffs
is better stretch, which allows
can get pushed up, letting
the pants to move with the
snow into your boots. These
wearer, almost like tights. Well
cuffs could greatly benefit
from the grippy elastic of the
BD’s or the gaiter tie in loops
of the Cloudveil pants. Finally,
there are no scuff guards so
the pants taken a beating from
ski edges and crampons with
time. The pants are also
available in women’s specific
sizing. The Guide pant is
another good tool for the
mountain traveler.
Solstice
Alpenglow
Pant $ 1 6 9 : Utilizing the
rated fair among our testers in
the fit category but try them for
yourself and see if how they
match your body type. The
cargo pocket includes a large
flap that velcros over the
zipper. The value of this flap is
up for debate amongst our
testers. I felt it slowed access
while other testers felt it
offered security if you forget to
zip the pocket. This pant has
the second largest cuff of the
pants reviewed (biggest is the
Ibex Backcountry Pant).
Although the large cuff
definitely covers the biggest of
boots, they were
bigger than they
need to be and would
benefit from a handy
gaiter loop to keep
the cuff from rising
above the boot. A
small Cordura patch
on the cuff offers
protection from ski
edges and crampon
abuse. These are a
well made functional
pant but could benefit
from
a
couple
refinements.
Schoeller Dryskin Extreme
fabric, the Alpenglow, like the
Cloudveil and Ibex pants, is a
ski/winter specific
pant. This fabric is
amazingly warm yet
offers good stretch
and breathability. I
was a bit concerned
when my left leg got
soaked at an ice
climbing belay. But to
this fabric’s credit,
my body heat totally
dried the leg out by
the next belay. Like
the Patagonia Guide
pant, the Solstice
waist is elasticized
only around the hip
bones, leaving the
Solstice
back clean and quick
Alpenglow Pant
drying. These pants
Scott Johnston is a ski
guide based in Mazama,
WA.
Issue XVI Off-Piste 27
January
February
1/7, 14, 21, 28 Stevens Pass, WA Tele TuesDaze
www.stevenspass.com
1/7,21 Mt Hood Ski Bowl Tele Tuesday
503-288-6768
1/7 Twisp, WA Lowell Skoog Presentation on North
Cascades Mountaineering History 509-996-2870
1/11 Whistler, BC Life-Link Randonee Rally
www.life-link.com
1/11 - Sunday River, ME Telemark Festival
[email protected]
1/18 - Cain Mt, BC Telemark Festival
www.island.net/~cain
1/24 Crested Butte, CO Winter Carnival 10 days
970-349-5430 [email protected]
February
2/1-2 Big Mountain, MT Telemark Open races
406-862-2900
2/4, 25 Mt Hood Ski Bowl Tele Tuesday
503-288-6768
2/16 Crested Butte, CO Life-Link Randonee Rally
www.life-link.com
2/22 Hoodoo Ski Area, OR Tele Festival
866-754-2374 [email protected]
2/23 Alpental, WA Life-Link Randonee Rally
www.life-link.com
2/26-3/2 Crested Butte, CO Tele-X Festival
www.skicb.com/telemark
2/28-3/2 Mazama, WA Freeheel Festival
509-996-3194
March
3/1-3 Grand Targhee, WY Teton Telephoria
www.freeheels.com
3/9 Stevens Pass, WA Life-Link Randonee Rally
www.life-link.com
3/15 Alta, UT Black Diamond / Patagonia Powder
Keg Backcountry Race www.bdel.com
3/15-16 Mad River, VT NATO Telemark Festival
www.telemarknato.com
3/20-24 Big Mountain, MT World
Championship Telemark Open 406-862-2900
3/22 Jackson, WY Life-Link Randonee Rally
www.life-link.com
OFF-PISTE SHOP DIRECTORY
ALBERTA
Freewheel Jasper
618 Patricia st.
Jasper, AB T0E 1E0
www.freewheeljasper.com
COLORADO
Backcountry Experience
1205 Camino Del Rio
Durango, CO 81301
www.bcexp.com
World Cycle
180 N 8th St
Boise, ID 83702
www.worldcycleboise.com
Pine Mountain Sports
133 SW Century Drive
Bend, OR 97702
www.pinemountainsports.com
Pro Ski Service
8954 Aurora Ave N.
Seattle, WA 98103
proguiding.com
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Patagonia Outlet Store
333 Baker Street
Nelson, BC
877.669.7225
Mountain Recreation Company
PO Box 756
Clark, CO 80428
www.mtnrec.com
MAINE
Aardvark Outfitters
108 Fairbanks Road
Farmington, ME 04938
www.aardvarkoutfitters.com
Redpoint Climber’s Supply
639 NW Franklin
Bend, OR 97701
www.goclimbing.com
Second Ascent
5209 Ballard Avenue NW
Seattle, WA 98107
www.secondascent.com
Nordicskiis.com
PO Box 969 313 Elk Ave
Crested Butte, CO 81224
www.nordicskiis.com
Allspeed Bicysle and Ski
1041 Washington Ave
Portland, ME 04103
www.allspeed.com
Storm Warning
112 Oak Street
Hood River, OR 97031
www.stormwarning.biz
Summit Haus
PO Box W
Ashford, WA 98304
www.summithaus.com
Pine Needle Mountaineering
835 Main St. #112
Durango, CO 81301
800.607.0364
Mahoosuc Sports
PO Box 70 Rte 26
Locke Mills, ME 04255
www.teleskis.com
WASHINGTON
Backpackers Supply
5206 South Tacoma Way
Tacoma, WA 98409
www.marmotmountain.com
The North Face
1023 1st Ave
Seattle, WA 98104
206.622.4111
Icebox Mountain Sports
505 Zerex
Fraser, CO 80442
970.722.7780
MONTANA
Barrel Mountaineering
240 East Main
Bozeman, MT 59715
800.779.7364
Rip Curl Factory Outlet
1365A Dalhousie Drive
Kamloops, BC V2C 5P6
250.377.8899
CALIFORNIA
The Backcountry
2 stores - Tahoe City &Truckee
888.625.8444
www.thebackcountry.net
Bear Valley Cross Country
#1 Bear Valley Road
Bear Valley, CA 95223
www.bearvalleyxc.com
The Fifth Season
300 N Mt. Shasta Blvd
Mt. Shasta, CA 96067
www.thefifthseason.com
Mammoth Mountaineering Supply
3189 Main Street
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
www.mammothgear.com
Marmot Mountain Works
3049 Adeline St.
Berkeley, CA 94703
www.marmotmountain.com
Mountain Sports
176 E 3rd Street
Chico, CA 95928
530.345.5011
Sierra Nevada Adventure Co./SNAC
2293 Hwy 4 - Arnold, CA
173 S. Washington St., Sonora, CA
www.snacattack.com
Wolf Creek Wilderness
595 East Main Street
Grass Valley, CA 95945
www.wolfcreekwilderness.com
28 Off-Piste January 2003
Switchback Mountain Gear
468 Pagosa St.
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147
970.264.2225
IDAHO
Alpine Designs Bike and Ski
312 Fifth Ave
SandPoint, ID 83864
208.263.9373
Backwoods Mountain Sports
711 N. Main St.
Ketchum, ID 83340
208.726.8818
Hyperbud Sports
907 S. First St. / 402 S. Main
Yakima, WA 98901 / Moscow, ID 83843
509.248.2093 / 208.883.1150
Idaho Mountain Touring
1310 Main Street
Boise, ID 83702
www.idahomountaintouring.com
Rendezvous Sports
408 Main St.
Salmon, ID 83467
www.rendezvoussports.com
The Trail Head
110 East Pine Street
Missoula, MT 59802
www.trailheadmontana.net
NEVADA
Reno Mountain Sports
155 E Moana Ln
Reno, NV 89502
www.renomountainsports.com
NEW MEXICO
Wild Mountain Outfitters
541 W. Cordova
Santa Fe, NM 87505
www.wildmountainoutfitters.com
OREGON
Doug Sports
101 Oak Street
Hood River, OR 97031
hoodriverwindsurfing.com
Mountain Shop
628 NE Broadway
Portland, OR 97232
www.mountainshop.net
Mountain Tracks Ski and Board
Huckleberry Inn
Government Camp, OR 97028
www.mtntracks.com
Cascade Crags
2820 Rucker Ave
Everett, WA 98201
www.cascadecrags.com
Enumclaw Ski & Mountain Sports
240 Roosevelt E.
Enumclaw, WA 98022
www.snowways.com
WEST VIRGINIA
White Grass Touring Center
Canaan Valley, WV 26260
www.whitegrass.com
WYOMING
Skinny Skis
65 W. Deloney
Jackson, WY 83001
www.skinnyskis.com
Feathered Friends
119 Yale Ave N.
Seattle, WA 98109
www.featheredfriends.com
UTAH
Wasatch Mountain Touring
702 E. 100 S.
SLC, UT 84102
www.wasatchtouring.com
Marmot Mountain Works
827 Bellevue Way NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
www.marmotmountain.com
Wild Rose
Mountain Goat Outfitters
915 W. Broadway
Spokane, WA 99201
www.mountaingoatoutfitters.com
Mountain High Sports
105 E. 4th
Ellensberg, WA 98926
509.925.4626
Northwest Snowboards
2805 Bridgeport Way
Tacoma, WA 98466
253.564.5974
Olympic Mountaineering
140 W. Front St.
Port Angeles, WA 98362
360.452.0240
702 Third Ave
SLC, UT 84108
AVALANCHE / WEATHER RESOURCES
General
www.avalanche.org
www.avalanche.ca
www.fsavalanche.org
nimbo.wrh.noaa.gov
www.winterwildlands.com
www.wildwilderness.org
Canada
www.weatheroffice.com
Vancouver 604-290-9333
Western Canada 800-667-1105
Rockies 403-243-7253 x7669
Banff 403-762-1460
Colorado
www.geosurvey.state.co.us/avalanche
Alaska
www.fs.fed.us/r10/chugach/glacier/snow.html Boulder 303-275-5360
http://www.avalanche.org/~seaac/
Summit Cty 970-668-0600
Southern CO 970-247-8187
California
Durango - 970-247-8187
www.r5.fs.fed.us/tahoe/avalanche
Fort Collins - 970-482-0457
www.shastaavalanche.org
Vail - 970-827-5687
Mt. Shasta 530-926-9613
Aspen - 970-920-1664
Tahoe 530-587-2158
CO Springs 719-520-0020
Mammoth/Bishop 760-924-5500
Idaho
www.avalanche.org/~svavctr
Sun Valley 208-622-8027
Panhandle National Forest
www.fs.fed.us/ipnf/visit/conditions/backcountry/index.html
208-765-7323, 208-752-1221
Payette - 208-634-0409
www.fs.fed.us/r4/payette/main.html
Montana
www.mtavalanche.com
www.glacieravalanche.org
www.fs.fed.us/r1/lolo/avalanche/advisory.htm
NW MT -406-257-8402 - 800-526-5329
Bozeman-406-587-6981
Cook City-406-838-2259
New Hampshire
www.tuckerman.org
Oregon
www.nwac.noaa.gov
Southern WA / Mt. Hood
503-808-2400
Utah
www.avalanche.org/~uac
Tri-Canyon 801-364-1581
Alta - 801-742-0830
Park City - 435-658-5512
Provo - 801-378-4333
Ogden - 801-626-8600
Logan - 435-797-4146
LaSal - 800-648-7433
Washington
www.nwac.noaa.gov
www.avalanchenw.org
Cascades 206-526-6677
Olympics 206-526-6677
Wyoming
www.jhavalanche.org
Bridger-Teton - 307-733-2664
Europe
www.lawine.org
New Zealand
www.avalanche.net.nz