2011 Ski Review - Falling - Quivers - The NW Skier

Transcription

Priceless
2011 Ski Review - Falling - Quivers - The NW Skier - and more
Issue L
October 2011
Off-Piste
Volume XIII Issue L
Publisher/Editor
David Waag
Copy Editors
Karen Holt
Design Consultant
Ullr
Contributing Writers
Paul Butler, Brian Irwin, Don Pattison,
Andy Roof, Jeremy Rooper, Tom Walker, Dan Wilder
Contributing Photographers/Artists
Steve Barnett, Ryan Creary, Grant Gunderson, Brian Irwin,
Jason Leslie, Fred Marmsater, Andy Jacobsen,
Ben Weinstein
Web Tech
Karen Holt
Printing & Distribution
Oregon Litho, McMinnville, OR
Off-Piste PO Box 1626 Hood River, OR 97031
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The opinions expressed in Off-Piste do not necessarily represent those
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from Freeheel Press.
Contents
features
10
Mark Nelson
12
Snow Blind
14
2011 Ski Review
26
The Northwest Skier
A Body of Work - Andy Roof
A Tale of Retreat and Loss - Brian Irwin
The Best in Boards for Off-Piste Pursuits
An Interview - Don Pattison
departments
8
16
24
28
30
31
What’s Up
Gallery
Gear Talk - The Quiver Question
La Polenta - Wisdom, insight, opinion & more
Words & Images - Opinion on books and films
Letters
Warning: Backcountry skiing is inherently dangerous. It may well cause
disruption in your otherwise normal life. Off-Piste is no substitute for
honest field experience and sound judgement. Be careful out there.
Cover Photo: Grant Gunderson
Skier: Dean Collins, Mt Baker, WA
2 Off-Piste October 2011
Issue L Off-Piste 3
Zack Giffin | Carpenter | Pro Ski Bum | Glacier, WA & Boulder, CO
At OR we know it takes hard work to have serious fun. So does Zack Giffin, a Colorado carpenter who
stacks summer paychecks so he can spend winter charging burly backcountry lines. Based at Washington’s
Mt. Baker, Zack’s big-line pursuit has also taken him on dream trips from Japan to Argentina, launched
him on heli epics in BC, and landed him in the pages of every major ski publication, including the cover of
Powder. But it’s not all glory and face-shots, and without his off-season work ethic, he might still be living in
his van. Check out Zack’s footage, including a film of his super-deep Japan trip, at outdoorresearch.com.
The Penetrator lives up to his name in the Kootenays, Mt Carlyle Lodge, BC
Photo: Dave Waag
Issue L Off-Piste 5
First Tracks
T
wo weeks ago, it was hard to imagine the arrival of fall. Temps were
pushing 90-degrees, and life was all about t-shirts and when to fit in the
next mountain bike ride. But a recent shift in the weather is evidence that
our short summer has come to an end. The autumnal equinox has passed, and
fall is definitely in the air. Mornings are colder, and night comes earlier. T-shirts
are covered by hoodies, and sandals replaced by shoes. The leaves are changing,
and the mountains have received their first traces of snow. And nothing fuels the
stoke for winter like the first snowfall of the season.
There is no doubt that the snow will come and go a few more times before it settles
in for the season, but seeing the clouds part to reveal snow dusted mountains for
the first time each fall is a ritual in its own right. It is a ritual that plays out in ski
communities around the country. The level of ski chatter and town activity takes
on new energy when the mountains come to life with snow. Like a child who moves
onto the next distraction, the collective mood swings from one of melancholy
goodbyes for summer to vibrant anticipation for ski season. Snow is the universal
stimulant for the ski afflicted.
Most likely, if you are reading this, you understand the power of snow, the shift
in the psyche that a little dusting ignites. Sure, fresh snow at any time during
the season stimulates the skier’s brain, but the first snowfall of the season kick
starts the passion like nothing else. It sparks the memories of last season, the
lines skied, the epic days, the sensation of gliding through untracked powder and
the anticipation for what the season ahead will offer. Like an addict yearning for
a fix, snow realigns our priorities - tracking the weather, following storm cycles,
prepping gear and planning for another season of skiing takes over. The stoke
builds with each new snowfall, with each lowering of the snow level until the
mountains are ready, and we can get back on our skis, back to feeding our habit.
That’s right; winter is on its way.
Cheers,
Dave
Forrest Jones enjoys a little fix in the North Cascades, WA
Photo: Dave Waag
Issue L Off-Piste 7
What’s Up
What’s Up
ski news, access issues and more
ski news, access issues and more
Hankin-Evelyn
Backcountry Ski Area
reasonable access and no history of motorized use where we could
build this kind of facility.”
by Tom Walker
The project started when a local hiking group learned there was
grant money available for trail building. “I got together with members
of the “Back Packers,” recalls Hall. “We went to Kevin Eskelin from
the Ministry of Forest Lands and Natural Resource Operations. He
helped steer us through the application process and continually
supported us.” The group received 3770 hectares (over 9,000 acres)
for non-motorized use.
B
rian Hall has had a great weekend. Still wearing an apron from
cooking breakfast for guests at his Stork Nest Inn, in the northcentral British Columbia town of Smithers, Hall is wearing his usual
affable grin.
“On Saturday we got the siding up on the Hankin day use hut.” Hall
says enthusiastically. We had an awesome turnout on Sunday. Over
40 people showed up to help at our work bee. Seventeen of them
went up in the helicopter for $25 each. They got a fly-over of the
area and were able to get their tools and equipment up the hill.
We got well over half of the runs brushed and then we enjoyed a
barbeque at the trail head.”
“Our initial grant was for $612,000,” explains Hall. The funds were
allocated to employ displaced forestry workers. “We were able to hire
local people and bring money back into the community that had gone
out as stumpage fees and tax dollars.”
It was determined that a non-profit society was the best way to
handle the funds and the Bulkley Backcountry Ski Society was
formed.
Many of us would be working on our ski legs or throwing a fly into
the river on a fall weekend. Brian finds time for that too, but he is
happy to spend a good deal of his spare hours organizing work for
the Hankin-Evelyn backcountry ski area, a newly organized and nonmotorized recreation area near Smithers BC. Repleat with day-use
facilities, marked uptrack routes and gladed skiing, the area is a
unique concept.
Hall is listed as Project Coordinator, but he credits local support for
getting the project going. “We have had incredible support from
the community,” says Hall. A local forest company agreed to hire
and deploy the workers and organize compensation coverage and
insurance. People come up to Hall and donate money. “I’ve been
getting a donation of $500 from one person, or $1,000 a year for 3
years of maintenance from someone else,” beams Hall. Half of our
environmental assessment has been donated. All told we’ve raised
more than $40,000 locally. The group has received financial support
from the Credit Union and other local businesses, while other support
comes from materials, or equipment that is loaned.
“We think what we have started here is a first in North America,”
says Hall. “We have cut 11 treeline ski runs and three uptracks that
provide access to the runs and the extensive alpine terrain,” he
explains. “We’ve also built a day-use shelter with outhouse and are
converting an old fire lookout into an overnight cabin.” In the next
breath he mentions the improved parking lot, professional signage,
flagged snowshoe and cross-country ski trails and a solar powered
avalanche beacon tester. An upcoming environmental impact study,
fund raising for more ski runs and on-going maintenance are also on
the to-do list.
“We hope that what we are building here will serve as an example
for other communities,” muses Hall. “We have cooperation
between governments, community, backcountry users (including
snowmobilers) and environmental interests,” he notes. “Before we
started any work, we talked with residents, the company that holds
the timber license and the two First Nations that have traditional
territories in the area. We don’t want anyone associated with the
project to get a black eye,” Hall points out.
Hall talks about community spirit. “It’s helping to build a mountain
culture in the community. You sit around the fire in the hut and
talk about your day. You see someone on the street that you met
touring last weekend. We have such a variety of people come out
to our work parties. People with a range of backcountry skills just
getting out to enjoy a day of exercise in the sunshine.”
“We know that there will be economic benefits to the community”
says Hall. The counter recorded over 2000 visits to the HankinEvelyn area for the second half of last winter. “There is enough
varied terrain that it is a great area for an introduction to touring,”
points out Hall. “Those people buy touring gear and rescue
equipment.” More amenities will help attract visitors, residents and
often needed professionals to the valley.
On the safety side, the Canadian Avalanche Center is coming to
do a full ATES (Avalanche Terrain Evaluation System) mapping.
Several avalanche safety courses have already been held on site.
Later in the week, I hike up to the Hankin day use hut with Hall. He
is inspecting the final work of the contractor. After a week of sun,
we are back to the pattern of a record-breaking wet summer. But
there is a dusting of snow on a nearby peak that gives us hope for
an early winter.
“The funds only allowed us to cut the runs by hand,” explains Hall.
“But this was much better for the environment than mechanical
harvesting.” The timber was of no commercial value (they
eventually hope to buck up the trees) For now, they rely on the local
700-centimeter accumulated snowfall to cover the runs.
“I still love skiing lifts,” says Hall who worked at Lake Louise Resort
near Banff in the Canadian Rockies. He did avalanche control and
research and in the summers he built trails for Parks Canada. “But I
have been backcountry skiing for 30 years.”
In his spare time, Hall is all hard core. Known for setting a fast
pace that can last all day, his latest trip was a 20 day ski traverse
through the Coast Mountains from Bella Coola to Whistler. Recent
surgery has slowed him down a bit, but has not dampened his
enthusiasm and he expects to be back in full shape by next spring.
“I’ve waited for other people my whole life,” says Hall, in his
unembellished manner. “I’m hoping they will remember that when
they have to wait for me this winter, as we climb into Hankin.”
While Brian was selling real estate in Smithers, he was organizing
group deals for his touring friends through a local ski shop and
cutting “sneaky trails” for sidecountry access at the local ski hill. He
finally decided to open a “Valhalla” outdoor store franchise in town
with his daughter Jessica. If it wasn’t snowing on Saturday morning,
the shop would be filled with coffee swigging skiers talking snow.
Jessica (a former downhill racer) ran the shop for several years,
while Brian and his wife Kim moved on to running the Stork Nest Inn.
See maps and learn more at www.bbss.ca/hankin
“I have been skiing in the Hankin-Evelyn area for a long time,” says
Hall. “I’ve kept looking for an area that’s close to town, which has
Brian Hall in his element. Photo: Ben Weinstein
Hankin Shelter
Photo: Brian Hall
CROSSING
TRACKS
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MAESTRALE ALPINE TOURING BOOT
BECAUSE
IS
36
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POWER AND LIGHTNESS COMBINE TO CREATE THE PERFECT TOURING
BOOT. EVERY FEATURE IS DESIGNED FOR BACKCOUNTRY PERFORMANCE
WITHOUT SACRIFICING ANY OF THE CONTROL TO DRIVE MODERN SKIS
AT MODERN SPEEDS.
WWW.SCARPA.COM
Issue L Off-Piste 9
Left to right: Mark Nelson, South Rim Grand Canyon. Inner Basin, AZ. Glass Mountain, CA
Broken Top Crater Lake
Mt. Thielsen
Mark Nelson, Glass Mountain, CA
M
ark Nelson was never sponsored by a gear company. He rarely
kept a journal of his exploits, and he did not blog about any
one of his epic ski traverses. Instead, he quietly planned and
executed an incredible number and variety of mountain adventures
during his 58 years as a northern Oregon-based skier. When he
passed away on February 9, 2011, after a year-long battle with
leukemia, the Pacific Northwest ski community lost a friend and icon.
Mark lived, worked and played with a grace and presence that was a
by-product of a lifetime spent travelling and tapping into the energy of
the natural world. I was priviliged to spend time with Mark on several
ski outings, including a perfect May ascent and ski descent of Mt. St.
Helens. I quickly learned to keep my mouth shut and my eyes and
ears open in order to pick up on the wisdom that Mark shared from his
years of mountain travel.
Mt. Bourgeau
Snake Range
Canadian Rockies
Mt. Assiniboine Traverse
Mt. Moriah
Takakaw Falls Shelter
Dave Jay
N.W. Face
Stanley Mitchell Hut
In the weeks leading up to his death, Mark finally sat down with a
spiral notebook and compiled a list of his mountain adventures. When
I asked him for information for a long-awaited Off-Piste article, he
graciously offered his notes and various entries are included here in
italics. Headings in the notebook include “Peak Ascents,” “Peak Ski
Ascent/Descents,” “Multi-day and Week-long Ski Tours and Range
Traverses” and “Multi-day Ski Tours Using Huts.” Entries cover all of
the Cascade Volcanoes, the Olympics, Wallowas, Sawtooths, Tetons,
Wind Rivers, the Sierra, Steens . . . the list goes on and on and
includes the three highest Mexican volcanoes and an attempt on a
Chilean volcano.
Cordillera Volcanica
Andes
Pico de Orizaba Popocatepetl Iztaccihuatl Volcan Osorno Craig McCurdey
Solo
Solo
Attempt 1999
I stopped counting at over 200 individual entries. The shear volume
is astounding, and Mark was able to spin a worthy ski yarn from each
one. His meticulous notes include his travel partners on each trip. I
found these inclusions to be revealing: despite his passionate pursuit
of ski and peak objectives, his trips also served as an kiln to forge
lifelong friendships. Many names appear over and over including that
of his wife, Connie, who is an accomplished outdoorswoman in her
own right.
Ochoco Mts.
Mt. Adams
South Sister
Black Canyon Wilderness
Connie
SW Chutes
Pete Schmidt
South Side
many times/many friends
Mark spent his early years in Medford, Bend,The Dalles and Prineville,
Oregon. During his adolescence and early adulthood, he was into cars
and motorcycles, but at some point, his mother bought him a pair of
skis and a ski jacket. This began his forays into the mountains, and he
spent the mid to late 70’s and early 80’s delving into serious technical
rock climbing in the Tetons and Wind River Range. The exposure and
experience of finding a climber’s corpse in the Tetons began to affect
him, and he turned his focus to mountaineering exploits on snow. He
was also on the front end of the burgeoning windsurfing scene in the
Columbia River Gorge. By the late 80’s, he had taken up mountain
biking and was an expert practicioner of all forms of ski travel. In the
late 90’s, he delved into sea kayaking and spent five weeks paddling
and camping in Baja. For his 50th birthday in 2002, he completed a
grueling solo mountain bike journey down the roads and trails of the
Continental Divide from Canada to northern New Mexico. He simply
explored and mastered whatever mode of travel got him out there.
Pueblo Mts. Traverse
Strawberry Mtns
Mt. Hood
Fields to Denio
Strawberry Lake
SnowDome
Solo
Slide Mountain Loop
countless times
Nelson had a savant’s memory of every trail, peak and ridge that he
had ever explored and could pull up details of excursions that were
twenty five years distant. Once, when I was on the cusp of a family
summer the Canadian Rockies, I asked Mark what tips he could
give me about travel in those parts. Two hours later, I had a stack
of maps and a notebook full of directions that led me to incredible
hiking and scrambling in Jasper, Yoho, Kootenai and Bugaboo Parks.
Moreover, I was able to hear Mark’s inspiring tales of ski travels in
British Columbia and Alberta.
Selkirk Mts.
B.C. Coast Range
Little Yoho Valley: Kokanee Prov. Park
Slocan Chief Cabin
Mount Mathier
Anniversary Glacier
Kiwetinok Pass, Isolated Col, Emerald Col
Nelson’s body of work speaks to his particular brand of genius: the
ability to dream up, plan and execute outdoor adventures in areas
and in ways that were not the norm. This led to tours in the remote
ranges above the desert country of southern Oregon, New Mexico,
Arizona, Southern California and even Mexico. For example, Mark saw
Baja California as a ski destination. By carefully following Southern
California’s snowfall, he planned a ski adventure to the 10,000-foot
high plateau of the Sierra San Pedro Martir above the Sea of Cortes.
How many other skiers dream about skiing in Baja? My favorite
entries from his notes are his more obscure outings, and include
several set in Nevada.
Ruby Mts. Snake Range
Clan Alpine Range
Circumnavigation
Circumnavigation
West Face
Solo
Sandy Brown
Rob Holt
Mark embraced many ski set-ups over the years in his search for
maximium travel efficiency. His rigs included Tua touring skis with
Reva cable bindings, edged Madshus Pellestovas with SNS bindings,
and classic nordic skis expertly prepped with the appropriate klister
wax for optimal kick and glide. His gear was simple and well-cared
for. By limiting weight and maximizing stride efficiency, Mark covered
long distances quickly. He and Steve Barnett once started at Jacob
Lake, Arizona on lightweight, edgeless skis and covered fifty miles
across the Kaibab Plateau through aspen and fir forests to the North
Rim of the Grand Canyon. Mark described it as “easy travel due to
the glidability.” Upon reaching the rim, they descended 500 feet into
the canyon, hit bare soil, hiked to Phantom Ranch, crossed the river,
and hiked up the Bright Angel Trail to finish on the South Rim. Mark’s
memories of the trip revolve around the incredible extremes through
which they passed, from the 9000-foot elevation of the snow covered
plateau to the bottom of the canyon.
Yellowstone N.P.
Sierra High Route
Zion N.P. Witch Creek
Mt. Sheridan Loop
Shepherds Pass to Giant Grove Sequoia N.P.
Zion Canyon, Kolob Plateau, Kolob Canyon traverse
Tim Ambrey, with whom Mark completed the classic Sierra High
Route, shared the following insights about six months after Mark’s
death.
“Mark had a way of making aquaintances feel like they rated highly in
the sometimes competitive world of the testosterone-infused outdoor
scene. On several occasions, I eavesdropped while someone sprayed
mightily about this ski or that hike, oftentimes inflating the truth for
the sake of their own ego. I listened knowing full well that Mark had
been on the same terrain, multiple times, in every condition, and
was amazed that Mark didn’t feel compelled to call out the correct
altitude, the direction of the prevailling winds, the improbability that
the lake would be ice free in May, etc. Instead, he chose to listen
intently, asking questions that were easily answered, and closed
the dialogue with a heartfelt, ‘well, that sounds like a hell of an
adventure.’
I still, to this day, do not remember Mark ever interrupting anyone.
He had a way of making everyone feel important. He taught me how
to listen.”
Mt. Shuksan
Mt. Washington
Prussik Peak Fischer Chimneys
North Ridge
Burgner-Stanley Route
Sulfide Glacier
South Face
In May of 2009, I raced home from work on a Thursday afternoon,
eager to be off to Mount St. Helens for a ski summit with Mark. He
picked me up and drove his old VW Westfalia five miles per hour
under the speed limit the entire way, stopping at the overlook near
Old Man Pass to scope the volcano from the east and plan our
ascent. We stopped again where the road crosses the Lewis River to
hike along the banks and view the basalt-lined river canyon in the
evening light. By this point, my “hurry-up-and-get-there” attitude
that got me out of work had melted away, and I was firmly living in
Nelson’s dimension. Our return trip was similar with several stops
to admire the views and a travel speed suited to conversation as we
took turns spinning yarns about places we had been or would like to
go.
Long Range Mts.
Grand Teton
Long Mt. Bike Rides
Newfoundland: skiing Gros Morne National Parksolo
Exum Direct
David Jay
The Great Divide
2002 Solo
I learned a lot from Mark during our friendship. He was an
endless source of mountain wisdom, spanning the topics of gear,
orienteering, weather assessment and snow conditions. But I learned
more from Mark by just observing and seeing how he approached
his time in the mountains. On our St. Helens trip, for instance, the
summit was only one part of the experience. The cold growler of
local brew awaiting us in the van was as enjoyable and integral to the
experience as the ski crampons that Mark had reminded me to pack.
The time spent watching the canyon wrens dart along the Lewis River
in the strange and beautiful evening light was as fulfilling as the huge
arcing turns we made down the south side of the aging volcano. The
easy conversation and laughs that we shared during the climb were
as essential to the trip as standing on the summit. Mark had carefully
planned the trip so that emphasis could be placed on the grace and
care of the entire journey. After all, isn’t that what this life is about?
Andy would like to thank Steve Barnett, Tim Ambrey and Connie Nelson for
their help and support with this article. He couldn’t have done it without
‘em.
Wines Peak Connie
Mt. Moriah
N.W. Face
War Canyon to Cherry Cr. Loop Steve Barnett
Once, Mark and frequent expedition partner, Steve Barnett, set their
sights on a ski objective in Nevada’s Great Basin National Park. Four
feet of snow closed the access road, so they opted to climb and ski
Mount Moriah instead. Settling into an acceptable “Plan B,” the two
skinned for three days, passing through a memorable bristlecone
pine forest on their way to the summit. They then enjoyed a powder
filled descent. Before heading out on the tour, they received some
directions from the rancher who lived in a small house at the end
of the road near Mt Moriah. The weathered gentleman invited them
into his home to chat, and they made themselves comfortable in
his living room, which also housed an entire snowmobile in a state
of dissassembly, with parts scattered all over the coffee table. The
man’s wife was away, and he was using this period of domestic
solitude to work indoors without suffering the wrath of his spouse.
When Mark recounted this story, the summit and ski were secondary
to the beauty of the bristlecone forest and the absurdity of the living
room snowmobile mechanic.
Issue L Off-Piste 11
As we glided out of the basin the pitch steepened. The ceiling had fallen on us, annihilating any trace of tracks that could help guide us
through the miles of winding glacier, strewn with hundred-foot deep slots and pourovers that end in hanging cliffbands, striped with runnels
of thin ice and seeping grey water. Goggles made optics worse. Ski tips disappeared into the slabby snow, erupting to the surface with each
turn, yet still remaining elusive within the thick air to our cinched pupils and tired retinas. It was like skiing inside of a whiffle-ball. White up
and down, side to side, no landmarks and slots the size of school busses lurked under our skis, waiting to swallow us if we made one errant
turn.
We rounded Windy Corner, a precarious double-fall line bend in the upper Kahiltna that sits at the finish line of a shooting gallery where
rockfall sheds from the upper mountain. Sleds swung to our sides, pulling taut either our tow lines, our belay rope, or both. The terrain
eased onto the flats and then fell away to the notorious Motorcycle Hill, a fifty-degree slope that ended at the 11,000-foot camp and a final
cache we had there.
Visibility at the 11,000-foot camp was negligible. Sugar blew sideways as our planks plowed through the lower angled terrain below camp.
Deep turns in heavy snow stressed our tired bodies; the occasional knock on our tails from our sleds interrupted fluidity and begged for a
straight descent as we navigated the maze of deep crevasses on the lower glacier.
We eased our way down miles of winding ice until we coasted onto the flats seven thousand feet below where we had started. For the first
time that day, the precip melded from a shelling into a light flurry. The clouds hung low in the valley, casting their fury on the upper mountain
while spilling orange light onto the toes of Foraker and the great peaks of the range. I’d just skied through the floor of my first whiteout.
At base camp, the sun shone brightly. A ceiling of clouds obscured the upper half of the larger peaks. We rested and excavated a sixer of
tall boys and half a leftover pizza from a deep cache in the glacier. Skins and sleds steamed as they warmed in the alpine sun. As we rested,
waiting for our bushplane to arrive, the thunderous crash of distant avalanches echoed in the valley from which we had just descended. Nott
and McNeill were on Foraker, in the soup and trying to make history. As we watched, I felt a certain guilt. We were relaxing on the lower
glacier while our friends challenged the storm. The surrounding summits remained elusive, their caps torn apart by hurricane-force winds
while here in the valley, we drank and ate without shirts.
We loaded our kit into the blood-red twin Otter, its turbo props screaming at the storm that enveloped the range. Mount Foraker’s tip poked
through the clouds for an instant, revealing The Infinite Spur. From the air it was clear that this route could not be descended from high. As
committing as the Polar Star Couloir to a big-mountain skier, once on spur there was no easy way out.
Mt Foraker as seen from14,000 feet on Denali. Photo: Brian Irwin
I
t would have been irresponsible to go on. Eric Seifer and I had climbed fewer than a dozen pitches of Denali’s Thunder Ridge
and we were moving slowly. Our pace was limited by heavy packs laden with bivouac gear for a night on the 3,000 face and
the seemingly-endless cloak of sixty-degree ice and snow stretched to the milky horizon. Lenticular clouds were stacking on
the adjacent peaks and the pressure was dropping. We rapelled back to our skis and skinned back to the safety of the 14,000foot camp where warm bags and warmer Ramen awaited. On nearby Mt. Foraker, our friends Sue Nott and Karen McNeill were
attempting the first all-female ascent of The Infinite Spur. Its summit was obscured with a creamy glow, its glaciers humming with a
palate of pastels as the sun succumbed to gravity. In the morning we would follow suit.
We awoke to a foot of fresh Alaska powder on our shoulders. The tent bowed under the weight. We shoveled out and packed away
a crispy tent fly. The stove brewed up a final round of hot water for the 7,000-foot descent to the West Fork of the Kahiltna Glacier
landing strip, a compressed stripe of snow at the toe of Mount Hunter where bush planes touchdown to drop off climbers, skiers and
tourists for forays or photo opportunities in the Alaska Range.
When a person’s tracks are left in the snow, the substrate work-hardens under the pressure of their feet. If winds climb to a critical velocity,
all soft snow is swept away, leaving an elevated series of ski tracks or boot prints in the snow, like small pillars or stripes in the white. NSP
planes, searching for sign or arrest of Nott and McNeill’s passage, scoured Foraker when the storm cleared. In the wake of nature’s fury, a
lone set of tracks was spotted high on the mountain, above the technical portion of the route, but Nott and McNeill were never found.
Nine months after my return I received a call from Sue Nott’s mother. She came to tears quickly, recollecting her daughter’s
accomplishments in the Greater Ranges and wishing she could have said goodbye to her daughter. While we talked there was a knock on her
door. She lay down the phone and answered the door. It was UPS. They placed a long cardboard box on her doorstep, took her signature,
and left her to her mourning.
She lifted the phone, pressed it to her ear and peeled it open. She narrated her findings. Inside the box rested Nott’s skis, skins still
attached. The National Park Service had closed the investigation regarding her daughter’s accident. Nott’s skis were discovered at the base
of The Infinite Spur by an NSP helicopter. The bodies of her strong offspring and her partner have never been found.
One slip, one wrong turn, one miscalculation of my sled or myself and I could have been at the bottom of an icy tomb. I’m lucky. Nott and
McNeill were not. But I believe, as do many others, that these two women were the first to ascend one of the hardest climbs in Alaska. The
Infinite Spur.
Siefer and I were in the Range for three weeks attempting Thunder Ridge, a direct line up the huge West Buttress of Denali, the
peak’s namesake trade route and our planned route of descent. It took us two weeks to climb and acclimate to the 14,000-foot basin
that holds the upper mountain’s slough and dozens of antsy climbers awaiting a favorable climbing forecast. More than summiting,
our objective was to come down alive. The storm was building as we lashed down our sleds and clipped in for the convoluted slide to
base camp.
SCAN FOR MORE.
STOKER?
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Touring minded skis for the backcountry and beyond
J
umping on a new pair of skis is always fun. But it is rarely easy
to zero in on which ski to choose. There are so many questions
to ask: What is it for? What is your old ski? What is your style?
What are your needs? Where do you ski most often? Are you
building a quiver? Looking for a quiver of one? And this does not
even begin to bring the variables of all of the skis into the equation.
The bottom line is that the more skis you can sample, the easier it is
to choose a ski. Shops offer ski demos for a reason, take advantage
of the opportunity.
There is no shortage of fun skis on the market. Quiver builders can
get more specialized with their selections than ever before. Although
the thought of owning a single pair of skis may not be the driving
force behind most ski manufacturers R&D, the reality for many
skiers is they own two pairs of skis, the old skis and the new skis.
And except for some early season use, the old skis, more often than
not, simply gather dust in the corner of the garage. Fortunately,
despite the innovations at the extremes of ski design, most skis are
more versatile than any of their counterparts from ten years ago.
Nonetheless, if you are debating the luxury of a quiver, be sure to
check out the dueling opinions on the need for a quiver on page 24.
Rocker, early rise and reduced camber are all driving design these
days, especially in skis that excel off-piste, and for good reason. Not
only has the evolving tip rise improved soft snow performance, it
really does improve uphill travel, too. Rockered tips break trail better.
In the next few pages we offer our opinions on a variety of skis that
we believe deserve consideration in your search for your next ski.
Waist Width 121mm+
K2 Darkside - Dimensions: 156/128/144, Lengths: 174, 181,
188cm, Weight: 4.72kg/10lb 6oz. $800. The 2011 Darkside is
a carbon copy of last season’s board – big tip rocker matched
with camber and flat tails, what K2 calls powder rocker. This ski
encourages high-speed consumption of vertical. It is a fun downhill
tool, but at over 10 pounds a pair, it is less fun if you are earning
your turns with sweat. Our modest old school roots question the
merits of hauling this baby on human powered tours, but it is
definitely fun to ski and it smoothes out variable snow conditions
like a ski called the Darkside should. This is a ski for decadent
mechanized access and the strong of thigh. Big boots allow you to
experiences this ski to its fullest.
Voile Drifter – 145-121-133 (172cm), Lengths: 162, 172, 182,
192cm, Weight: 3.5kg/7.75lb. $625. Voile was an early adopter
of the wider is better program. Some might even say they led the
charge with the venerable 88mm waisted Mountain Surf. Today,
the Drifter stands out in the crowd as the lightest fat ski in its
category. Weighing less than four pounds per ski at a healthy 121mm
underfoot, the Drifter is the clear choice of gram counting powder
hounds. The Drifter performs beyond most people’s expectations
for a ski of its weight. If you were raised on heavy metal set-ups,
the Drifter will take some getting used to, but if you have any
experience with lighter skis, you will be pleased at its performance
in all snow. Nonetheless, its forte is still soft snow. Voile found the
right combination of rocker, camber and ski weight to create a trail
breaking friendly, deep snow loving ski.
Waist Width 111-120mm
Black Diamond Megawatt - Dimensions: 145/120/126, Lengths:
178, 188cm, Weight: 4.4 kg/10 lb. $799. We have skied the
Megawatt at ski tests for several years now, and it thrives on
big terrain and soft snow. The Megawatt feels limited by tight
terrain and, to some extent, mixed resort snow. Although the ski’s
construction and flex have evolved a little this season, the big picture
remains the same; this is a powder surfing tool. If you need a ski for
big, open runs through untracked snow, the unsinkable Megawatt will
serve you well. It is for the strong willed when it comes to walking
up the hill, but as modern ski media might lead you to believe, there
are plenty of skiers who don’t seem to mind. Treat yourself to new
school style with the Megawatt.
Black Diamond Amperage - Dimensions: 141/115/123, Lengths:
165, 175, 185cm, Weight: 3.84 kg/8lb 8oz. $669. Blending tip
and tail rocker with a cambered profile, the Amperage served
up decidedly new school style. Its definitive easy initiation and
tendency to smear over carve define its soft snow performance. The
Amperage encourages speed and manages it very well. Its firm snow
performance was less inspiring, but manageable. The Amperage is
a great example of a quiver ski. It is really fun for playing in deep
and manky snow. Some days are just best served with such a tool.
It would be hard to recommend it for all-around performance, but
if you are going to mount these up, you likely have a couple of
other options for the days and tours that beg for more all-mountain
versatility. Put on your big boots and slog away, or better yet, drop
them into the snowcat rack and get ready for another lap.
Black Diamond Element (women’s specific) - Dimensions:
141/115/123, Lengths: 165, 175cm, Weight: 3.86kg/8lb 8oz. $669.
Black Diamond adds to their women’s specific fleet with the fat,
soft snow centric Element. The big picture here is tip and tail rocker
matched with camber underfoot. Part of BD’s Freeride collection,
weight was not a primary construction concern, but it is still pretty
reasonable for the ski’s powder-centric size. The result is a damp ski
with friendly turnability in soft snow and forgivable touring mass for
the strong of thigh. Mixed conditions delivered less confidence or at
least a less lively personality. The Element was always there when
we needed it, but do yourself a favor and ski them in deep untracked
snow.
Voile Charger – Dimensions: 137/112/126, Lengths:171, 181,
191cm, Weight:3.28kg/7lb 2oz. $595.The Voile Charger is a standout
in the backcountry powder ski category. Like the Drifter, it is
unequivocally a touring ski. Tipping the scales at less than narrower
skis on the market, the Charger maintains a playful, new school
personality that keeps us picking it for the deeper touring days.
Sure, it is fun in less-epic snow depths too, but it really comes to life
when the going gets deep. It will hold onto a turn when asked, but
testers really enjoyed its agility. The Charger makes you feel like you
can do no wrong. It floats and turns with incredible ease, making
short work of any soft snow. Still, we see the Charger as a quiver
ski - a playful mid-winter powder board that handles the gamut of
backcountry snow conditions. Its moderate tip and tail rocker lend it
new school smearability and agile handling. Oh yeah, did we mention
that it breaks trail for you.
Black Diamond Justice - Dimensions: 138/111/123, Lengths: 175,
185cm, Weight: 3.64 kg/8lb 4oz. $699. Black Diamond redesigned
the Justice for this season shifting it to become the flagship fatty in
their Efficient Series. The new construction cuts a full pound from the
ski’s weight and opens up new personality traits. The Justice retains
its original heavily rockered tip and reduced camber design to offer a
reasonably light and surfy powder ski. The new Justice is noticeably
more responsive with its lighter swing weight. It is still best suited
to powder snow, but now it is far more fun in small terrain and trees
than its predecessor, not to mention more uphill friendly. Take this
stick touring in deep snow and you’ll be stoked. We still see it as a
quiver ski, but we will stop whining about its weight.
EVER BEEN
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The average avalanche
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By pulling air from the
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continued on p. 18
Gallery
Gallery
Tim Haggerty explores the Canadian Rockies
Photo: Ryan Creary
Duncan Adams enjoys a deep cycle in Myoko, Japan
Jake Saxon woops it up in the Wasatch
Photo: Grant Gunderson
It does not matter how slow you go, as long as you don’t stop.
- Confucius
Photo: Andy Jacobsen / Powderwhores
Shireen Marshall boots the south couloir of Pizza Rotondo, Swiss Alps,
Photo: Fred Marmsater
G3 Highball – Dimensions: 140/116/127, Lengths: 175, 180, 185,
190cm, Weight: 4.28kg/9lb 11.5oz. $769. The High Ball is G3’s new
flagship fatty. Obviously nodding toward the freeride, less weight
conscious skier, the High Ball is still weighs in at less than ten pounds.
On the performance front, they delivered predictably fun big radius arcs
in anything soft. Testers described it as the ideal Northwest powder sled.
The High Ball spread the dense spring test snow with ease and skiers
found it had an edge too, as long as you leaned on it with some gusto.
This is not a casual wiggler; rather it is a big ski that responds nicely to
aggressive skiing in a wide range of off-piste snows.
Prior Overlord (XTC construction) - Dimensions: 136/114/122, Lengths:
163, 175, 183, 188cm, Weight: 4.15kg/9lb 2oz. $1100. In the words
of one tester, “the Overlord rules at speed. It devours untracked snow,
push piles and unsavory crud with ease.” Like the Husume, the Prior
Overlord is available in two types of construction. We tested the new
lightweight XTC carbon lay-up that drops around a pound per pair off the
ski’s weight. Surprisingly, the ski still offers up the confidence inspiring
and maritime snow busting character for which Prior is famous. The
Overlord has a decidedly big radius flavor but not at the expense of
responsiveness. The ski has great energy and is an easy choice for big
mountain charging. Sure, you can find lighter, but they do not offer the
same crud busting and damp character as the Overlord.
Waist width 101-110mm
Dynafit Stoke- Dimensions: 129/105/119, Length: 164,173,182cm,
Weight: 3.2kg/7 lb. $800. The Stoke was released last season and
holds its own in the freeride mountaineering category. This year’s
model features a more forward binding location that results in a more
responsive feel and gives the Stoke more versatility in its turn shape. The
Stoke is a very capable ski, but rather than a playful powder board, it is
a do-it-all ski with soft snow dimensions. Its personality is more serious
and get-it-done oriented than pure hedonistic powder consumption. The
Stoke is very much at home in mixed alpine snow conditions. From the
wind hammered ridgelines to protected basins, the Stoke is ready for it
all. Its modest early rise tip does not have the easy initiation of a more
rockered ski, but it keeps the Stoke ready for the next turn in mixed and
firm conditions. The Stoke weighs in at an impressive 7 lbs 1 oz (173cm)
and is ideal for big tours and varied backcountry snow conditions. You
can find a more playful powder ski, but the Stoke stands alone as a light,
wide mountaineering ski. It mates well with a wide variety of boots from
lighter rando boots to full four-buckle designs.
Faction Agent 100 - Dimensions: 132/102/122, Length: 169, 174, 179,
188cm, Weight: 4.2kg /9lb 3oz (188cm). $799. The Faction Agent 100
raises the bar for all-mountain riding versatility. Moderate tip rocker is
matched with sandwich construction and camber to produce one of the
best carving skis in the 100mm+ waist class. The soft rockered tips ride
high and initiate when loaded. As fun and versatile as the Agent is, it is
not an auto-pilot cruiser. It needs to be engaged by the driver to bring
out its full, and very capable, personality. Our test ski weighed in at 4 lbs
10 oz., respectable for its 188cm length, but not exactly light. So grab
your big boots and get ready for some all-terrain fun.
livelier, while others found the Zen more stable. Everyone agreed that
the ZenOxide offered plenty of flotation and served up stable medium
to big radius turns in soft snow. The Tonic (and Saint) may well be
more versatile skis, but if you need deep snow specific touring ski, the
ZenOxide could be your ticket to enlightenment.
K2 Sidekick (women’s specific) – Dimensions: 139/108/127, Lengths:
153, 160, 167, 174cm, Weight: 3.68kg/8lb 4oz. $750. Based on the
successful Sidestash dimensions and all-terrain rocker profile, the new
Sidekick uses camber underfoot and tip rocker to give women a ski
to chase the boys with. Damp and dangerously fun were both used to
describe the new Sidekick. Sure its default radius is bigger than most
women’s skis, but unlike your last boyfriend it responds when you crack
the whip. Light it is not, but stable and confident at speed it is. Do we
recommend hauling it along for a few dedicated touring laps? You can
definitely find lighter skis, but if you are not afraid of an extra pound
underfoot, we promise not to whisper behind our backs. In fact, more
power to you. You’ll probably beat us back down.
K2 Coomback – Dimensions: 135/102/121,Lengths:167, 174, 181,
188cm, Weight: 3.54kg/7.8lb. $825. The Coomback has seen a fair
amount of competition in the 100+mm category, but it continues to put
smiles on testers’ faces. There are more playful powder skis and better
carving boards, but only a few skis rival the Coomback’s all-around
functionality. The width and the All-Terrain Rocker definitely give the
Coomback a soft snow bias. But its camber and flat tails mean it is there
for you in the windbuff and varied alpine snows too. Although not exactly
a lightweight ski, the Coomback walks a nice line between all-purpose
damp ride and backcountry friendly specs for earning your turns.
K2 Gotback (women’s specific) - Dimensions: 135/102/121, Lengths:
146, 153, 160, 167cm, Weight: 3.28kg/7.25lb. $650. The Gotback
channels your inner powder girl. K2 put together a supple, round flexing
ski that transitions from short swivels to bigger radius arcs without
complaint. Testers found it less lively on the firm, but still fun when there
was soft snow to push around. Matched with a light binder and three or
four buckle boots, the Gotback will serve your soft snow skiing ambitions
well.
Movement Trust – Dimensions: 141/108/129, Lengths: 178, 186,
194cm, Weight: 4.19kg/9lb 4oz. $930. The Movement Trust features
generous tip rocker, traditional tails and alpine camber underfoot. The
result is a ski with an affinity for big radius arcs and soft snow. Testers
report it was most comfortable holding onto wide turns in open terrain. It
was less impressive when it came time to carve more tightly or negotiate
firm, technical conditions. This ski is for the big booted driver who likes
to go for it and has the acreage to let it run.
Volkl Nunataq – Dimensions: 139/107/123, Lengths: 170,178, 186,
194cm, Weight: 3.5kg/7 lb 11oz. $825. Volkl steps into the backcountry
ski world with four new skis featuring lightweight construction. The
Nunataq is the widest of the new skis and matches the Gotama width
profile. It weighs in well under eight pounds. Volkl matches flat camber
with moderate tip and tail rocker. The Nunataq served up excellent
powder skiing. Few skis speak to a wide range of skiers as well as the
Nunataq did. It is a lively, wide powder that draws you into the turn of
your choice. And, of the skis in the 100+ category, the Nunataq really
performed relatively well on firmer, more difficult snow too. Bigger skiers
felt it reasonably soft, with a big sweet spot. Lighter skiers found the
same big sweet spot, but found it stiffer than expected. Regardless,
everyone found it fun to ski. The Nunataq serves up a blend of traditional
turning merged with the ability to smear and slide with new school style.
The proprietary climbing skin system was developed with Colltex skins.
The skins are a nice lightweight blend of mohair and synthetic plush with
good glide. The tip connection is specific to the Volkl ski tip, and although
a little fussy, they worked great. Sure, it is still a quiver ski, but we were
impressed with its all-condition reliability.
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Kästle FX104 - Dimensions: 133/104/123, Lengths: 174,184, Weight:
2.19kg/9lb 13oz. $1200. The FX104 follows the same construction
protocol as the FX94: Titanal sandwich and Kästle’s lightweight wood
core. There is no question that these boards deliver rockstar stability, but
they do so to the tune of nearly 10 pounds per pair, which is, by the way,
more than a couple of pounds lighter than their similarly dimensioned
alpine skis. They also hold the distinction of being the fattest ski in our
testing that does not feature any type of rocker or early rise. These are
big boards that deliver big if you can drive ‘em, but for what they offer in
bomber stability, they lose in soft snow playfulness. If you like a stable
arc and the feel of full camber, this is your ski.
G3 Manhattan – Dimensions: 139/108/128, Lengths: 175, 180, 185,
190cm, Weight: 4.08kg/9lb. $769 The Manhattan stands out among G3’s
more freeride focused skis as the point and shoot special. These skis had
loads of energy and preformed without any fuss. Find your line, point and
shoot. Although not exactly light, or perhaps because they’re not light, the
Manhattan delivered a smooth and responsive ride for varied skier types.
The Manhattan draws you into turns and releases whenever you ask. This
means that, although it definitely prefers big turns, it is more than a onetrick-pony. We’d be stoked if they could lose a few ounces, but they sure
performed great as is. These are one of the more versatile and responsive
skis over 100mm underfoot.
G3 ZenOxide - Dimensions: 136/105/124, Lengths: 170, 177, 185,
192cm, Weight: 3.6kg/7lb 14oz. $670. Another new design in the 2011
G3 fleet, the ZenOxide maintains its healthy dimensions and lightweight
wood core, but it now adds early rise to its quiver of features. Skiers
were split when asked to pick the Zen or the Tonic. Some found the Tonic
La Sportiva Hi5 - Dimensions: 135/105/125, Lengths: 168, 178,
188cm, Weight: 3.6kg/7lb 15oz. $799. La Sportiva, maker of fine
climbing gear, steps into the lightweight ski market with both feet and
several ski models, not to mention boots and bindings. The Hi5 is their
widest ski and considering that it comes from Europe, it is pretty radical
Black Diamond Drift - Dimensions: 138/100/123, Lengths: 166, 176,
186cm, Weight: 3.34kg / 7lb 6oz. $599. The Drift now takes a backseat
to the Justice in the Efficient Series line-up. Dimensions are quite close,
but the Drift has less rocker and more camber than the Justice. As a
result the Drift has a more traditional feel and is more versatile ski. The
modestly rockered tip moves into medium radius turns with ease, and
can be driven into short or long radius without much complaint. Although
overall feedback was positive, heavier skiers had more sparkle in their in
their reports than lighter skiers.
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Waist Width 91-100mm
Prior Husume (XTC construction) - Dimensions: 128/106/114, Lengths:
163, 175, 183, 188cm, Weight: 3.34kg/7lb 5oz. $1100. Prior refined the
tip shape of the Husume for 2011 and droped significant grams (600 on
average, depending on length) with their new XTC carbon construction
(original construction is still available). The tip and tail rocker profile
remains unchanged. We liked the regular construction Husume last
season and were anxious to try the new XTC construction. It turns out
that the Husume is still one of those unique skis that does it all with an
even tempered personality and still steps up to the plate when driven
hard. It is lively and fun in the pow and it charges around mixed resort
snow with great energy. In the words of one tester, “this ski loves crud.”
The Husume draws you into long radius arcs when the snow is soft,
but offers confident and agile performance in everything else. The ski
appeals to new school rippers and traditionalists alike. The lightweight
XTC construction means we can’t whine about the weight anymore. The
Husume now gets our full touring endorsement.
in its design and width. The Hi5 turns heads. Part of it is the ski’s green
top sheet and yellow accents and part of it is the ski’s aggressive tip
rocker and wide tip dimensions. The rockered tips are matched to
camber underfoot and straight, functional tails. La Sportiva calls it
25% rocker and 75% camber. The Hi5’s forte is soft and manky snow –
perfect here in the Northwest. The ski has a remarkably short turn radius
given its size, but once you consider the tip rocker, it all makes sense,
lean forward and the Hi5 engages. The Hi5 is impressively light and
responsive. Keep these puppies in the pow though and they’ll serve up a
fun responsive ride. Slide into firm conditions, and the Hi5 is predictably
less inspiring.
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Black Diamond Starlet (women’s specific) – Dimensions: 134/100/121,
Length: 156, 166, 176cm, Weight: 2.76 kg/6lb 6oz. $669. The Starlet
pleased a wide range of skiers. While it was fun and easy to manage in
soft snow, it showed its weakness in firm snow. A little chattery and less
lively on the firm was the general opinion. It is, after all, part of Black
Diamond’s touring line. So, we recommend it for just that. You will get by
with it in mixed resort snow, but it is downright fun in the backcountry.
The mild tip rocker and light construction are ideal for breaking trail and
taking lap after lap in your local stash.
Black Diamond Warrant - Dimensions: 130/95/118, Length: 168, 178,
188cm, Weight: 3.86 kg/8lb 8oz. $589. The Warrant represents a new
build and feel for Black Diamond skis. The 3D sandwich construction
and ABS sidewalls result in a damp and even flex. The damp ride comes
at the cost of added weight, but we found the ski remarkably lively,
nonetheless. Although it lacks rocker and could be called narrow in some
circles, the soft flexing tips faired reasonably well in our full-bodied
Northwest snow. The Warrant’s full-length camber translates to solid
carving ability. If you are a big booted skier looking to explore on and off
the piste, the Warrant fits your profile.
Black Diamond Ember (women’s specific) - Dimensions: 128/95/116,
Lengths: 158, 168cm, Weight: 3.4kg/7lb 8oz. $589. The Ember is a
women’s ski modeled on the new Warrant. It uses the same 3D sandwich
construction, ABS sidewalls and traditional tip and tail profile. All of this
delivers a damp, forgiving ride. Our short, 168cm, test ski weighed in
at less than 4lbs, not bad for a ski marketed under the freeride banner.
The Ember is a lively, turnable and carve worthy ski. It is not the fattest
ski on the block, but its all mountain dimensions and soft tips make for a
very capable ski.
Dynafit Manaslu - Dimensions: 122/95/108, Lengths:
169/178/187cm, Weight: 2.92kg/6 lb 7oz, $700. The Manaslu has
received high praise from our test crew for the past two seasons. This
year’s Manaslu sports new construction (same core construction as
the Stoke) and as result its character changes a bit. Everyone agreed
that the new Manaslu’s hard snow performance is improved, although
the improvement was in the form of less chatter not really better
edge hold. The Manaslu already had respectable edge hold, especially
considering its weight. Generally speaking, heavier testers (175 lb+)
preferred the new Manaslu, while lighter skiers noticed it took more
to drive it and felt it was less playful or skied a little longer in soft
snow.
Faction Agent 90 – Dimensions:126/92/116, Lengths:169, 174,
179, 188cm, Weight 3.58kg / 3lb 15oz. $729. Faction delivers a
supple, all ski flex in the versatile Agent 90. Obviously not as powder
centric as its big brother, the Agent 100, the 90 has its own distinct
and lively personality. It delivers confidence inspiring performance in
varied conditions; it’s just not as cush in the deep as the 100. The
soft, rockered tip delivers float while the sandwich construction and
camber combine to deliver great craving performance, too. The Agent
90 is a very respectable compromise between lively feel and new
school functionality.
G3 Tonic – Dimensions: 132/100/123, Lengths: 170,175, 185cm
Weight: 3.96kg /8 lb10oz. $670. The Tonic holds its own in the highly
competitive 100mm waist category. Early rise is mated with reduced
camber for an easy to initiate ski. Although testers were split on
some of the details, the big picture was described as perfectly even
tempered in soft snow. It maintained confidence in firm snow, but it
was less inspirational than in soft snow. Although its personality is
less defined than say the Saint or Manhattan, the Tonic packed plenty
of punch for mixed inbounds and out use.
G3 Saint – Dimensions: 122/93/112, Lengths: 175, 180, 185,
190cm, Weight: 3.25kg/6lb 14oz. $659. G3 hit a sweet spot with the
newly revamped Saint. It may not be a big fat powder gun, but it has
remarkable power and stability for a light, touring biased ski. The
new early rise tip and traditional camber come together for a smooth,
balanced and very capable ride that proved to be a crowd pleaser.
Testers hinted at a potential bias for round tele turns, but overall
found it settled into medium radius arcs without hesitation. The Saint
is a solid contender for your do-it-all touring biased quiver ski. The
freeheel contingent really liked this board.
G3 Zest (women’s specific) - Dimensions: 132/100/123, Lengths:
157, 166, 172, 177cm, Weight: 3.43kg/7lb 9oz. $560 The Zest
is built on the same platform as the Tonic, reduced camber and
early rise tips. The Zest has a couple seasons under its belt and
continues to serve up predictable medium to bigger radius soft
snow performance. Testers were less glowing about firm snow
performance, but this is, after all, a backcountry ski. The ski’s modest
weight pairs well with medium and lighter boots.
G3 Jam (women’s specific) - Dimensions: 126/91/114, Lengths: 157,
166, 172cm, Weight: 3.01kg/6lb 10oz. $540. G3 blends asymmetrical
sidecut with an early rise tip and reduced camber in the Jam to
deliver a user friendly ski that appealed to a wide variety of skiers.
The Jam managed variable and untracked snow with confidence. Our
modest length test ski was a big line charger, but it was right at home
in the trees and smaller terrain at our test hill. Testers found it solidly
set on medium radius turns, but no one was complaining. Reasonable
weight and soft snow performance make the Jam a good all-purpose
touring ski that performs with three buckle boots just fine.
Hagan Daemon – Dimensions: 126/93/114, Lengths: 170, 177,
184cm, Weight:3.02kg/6lb 10oz. $630. Hagan returns to the North
American market after a long absence. The Daemon, a lightweight
ski with traditional camber and tip profile, is their widest offering.
It is crazy how quickly we get used to skiing with early rise and
rockered ski designs. Stepping onto a traditional profile like the
Daemon requires a little adjustment in style but it proved to deliver.
The Daemon feels light underfoot, yet it was always there when
pressed into service on firm snow or in mixed conditions. It offers
good initiation for medium to big radius turns but was a little more
stubborn for shorter arcs. The absence of rocker was noted in pure
soft snow skiing. The Daemon is well suited to a big traverse, a
Haute Route style trip or mountaineering endeavors. Its dimensional
similarity to the G3 Reverend from a few years back did not go
unnoticed.
KästleFX94 – Dimensions: 128/94/117, Lengths: 166, 176,
186cm, Weight: 3.88kg/8lb 5oz. $1150. Kästle is well known for the
aggressive carving boards. We have skied a few Kästle skis in past
tests, and although they charge the resort with the best of ‘em, we
have refrained from including them in the review simply because they
were obviously resort minded skis. However, the FX series caught our
attention. Still not exactly what a purist would call lightweight, the FX
series is a departure from traditional Kästle heavy metal approach.
The FX 94 is the Chris Davenport signature model and is the ski with
which Davenport rips his impressive descents. Its do-it-all dimensions
serve it well. We did however miss the rocker, which is becoming so
ubiquitous in backcountry minded skis. You can definitely feel Kästle’s
roots and metal construction in the FX 94. It holds and edge and blasts
through mixed snow with confidence. It also skied long (must be our
affinity for rocker). Its stiffer flex definitely responds well to being
driven hard, but the FX94 still had personality while cruising, too.
K2 Sideshow - Dimensions: 132/90/115, Lengths: 167,174, 181,
188cm, Weight: 3.98kg/8lb 12oz. $650. It was not too long ago
that a ski with a 90mm waist was considered a powder ski. Well, times
change and K2’s Sideshow is living proof. This 90mm waisted ski is a
firm and mixed snow tool. With classic K2 feel and easy initiation, the
Sideshow steps up to the plate to deliver a fun carving ride with enough
damp agility to take on mixed and changing backcountry conditions.
Although not exactly a powder ski when compared to the bigger skis
available today, the Sideshow is still capable in soft snow. This is a burly
mountaineering board with classic backcountry utility. The high alpine
throws a variety of conditions your way and the Sideshow is a worthy
tool to slay your local hills. It is not the lightest, fattest or heaviest, but
it gets the job done with predictable and enjoyable K2 style.
K2 Brightside (women’s specific) – Dimensions: 132/90/115,
Lengths: 153, 160, 167, 174cm, Weight: 3.44kg/7lb 9oz. $650. Big
sidecut and versatile mixed condition abilities define the Brightside.
It picks up where the Payback left off last season, and depending
on what mountains you call home, is really K2’s do-it-all tool. K2’s
All-Terrain Rocker is matched with camber underfoot for a ski that
rides over mixed and soft snows with impressive ease and carves
the firm with lively authority. The metal lay-up delivers a damp and
supple feel that won the Brightside near universal appeal. You can
find a lighter, more touring focused ski and even a stouter and more
aggressive ski, but the Brightside is full of energy and able to tackle
just about anything that we call snow.
K2 Wayback – Dimensions: 124/88/108, Lengths: 160, 167, 174,
181cm, Weight: 3.1kg/6.8lb. $600. The Wayback is unchanged,
aside from graphics, for 2011. The ski received a redesign last
season with the addition of K2’s popular All-Terrain Rocker. It’s not
as light as some of the other touring specific skis on the market,
but the Wayback has K2’s damp ride. Although not Darkside damp,
the Wayback is still more supple and confident in mixed and difficult
snow than many touring specific skis. This a good start to building a
backcountry quiver, but most skiers will agree it should be paired with
a bigger board in the quiver for those special deep days.
K2 Talkback (women’s specific) – Dimensions: 124/88/108 Lengths:
153, 160, 167, 174cm, Weight: 2.86kg/6lb 5oz. $600. K2 puts their
lightweight construction and All-Terrain Rocker to work on the Talkback
and it serves up easy walking for the dedicated ski tourist. It is not a
hedonist powder tool, but a modest touring ski with an easy driving
personality and a big sweet spot. Although 88mm underfoot is plenty for
your average day of ski touring, we would love to see K2’s lightweight
construction applied to a wider ski. The Talkback received fine marks,
but it was definitely overshadowed by the selection of wider, more
playful skis that are available. Paired with a wider powder ski in the
quiver, the Talkback will set you up for just about every thing else.
K2 Backup – Dimensions: 124/82/105, Lengths: 160, 167, 174,
181cm, Weight: 2.8kg/6lb 3oz. $500. The Backup fills the spring ski
mountaineering slot in the quiver very well. You can find lighter skis in
this category, but you will be hard pressed to find a more responsive
and playful ski. The Backup has enough tip to rise above a little spring
mank and it carves an arc on command in the alpine. Ski you favorite
couloir, climb your neighborhood volcano, and then head backup for
more with this versatile mountaineering ski.
Kästle TX 87 – Dimensions: 122/87/110, Lengths: 157, 167, 177,
187cm, Weight: 2.96kg/6lb 8oz. $699. Kästle hit the mark on the TX87.
It is a lightweight ski designed with ski traverses and mountaineering
in mind. It is wide enough to handle the mixed conditions found above
treeline, and clearly nimble enough to meet technical skiing demands.
Volkl Nanuq – Dimensions: 131/96/114, Length: 163, 170, 177,
184cm, Weight: 3.18kg/7lbs $825. The Nanuq returns this season
with all new tip rocker and graphics. It is based on the popular
Mantra mold, but the Nanuq eliminates the metal topsheet and rigid
ride of the Mantra. This light construction, touring ski jumps off the
page as an ideal all-mountain board. On snow, it is indeed versatile,
but stiffer than it needs to be in the minds of some testers. Still, the
Nanuq offers a balanced snappy ride that is comfortable in anything
but the deepest snow.
Voile Vector - Dimensions: 118/94/107, Lengths: 160, 170,
180cm, Weight: 2.76kg/6lb 2oz. $550. Voile downsized their popular
rocker profile to create the Vector. Ninety to 100mm is the new allmountain waist and the Vector fits nicely right in the middle. Voile’s
light construction adds to the Vector’s responsive personality. Easy
initiation, and responsive handling define its character in soft snow.
In the words of one tester, “turn shape was users choice, and even
though light, it is quite stable at reasonable speeds.” The Vector is an
all-mountain ski capable of tackling all conditions, and it compliments
Voile’s more deep snow minded boards very well.
Waist Width 81-90mm
Black Diamond Aspect - Dimensions: 130/90/117, Length: 166,
176, 186cm, Weight: 2.88kg /6lb 6oz. $629. The lightweight Aspect
offers a reliable edge matched with mild rocker and traditional
camber. The result is a predictable, capable ski that can really take
on any condition or terrain. It was short on energy until pushed
reasonably hard, but it rises to the challenge with the right input. It
responds best when driven in technical terrain that demands your
attention. Cruising was a little lackluster. Given this feedback, we see
it as a mountaineering stick that is wide enough to manage whatever
Mother Nature delivers. It is definitely light enough for racking up the
vertical, and we also dig the climbing skin friendly tails.
Kästle pulled the metal out this one and it shows in its sub-seven pound
per pair weight. The TX 87 defaults to medium radius arcs and will
tighten it up on demand, all the while offering a confident edge and
reasonable to stiff overall flex. Grab this one for a classic European high
route or to pick off your local summits.
Waist Width 71-80mm
Black Diamond Guru – Dimensions: 120/75/105, Lengths:
158,167,176cm, Weight: 2.64kg/5.8lb. $500. The fact that you are
reading this review means that you understand there is a place for
a cambered ski that is narrower than 90mm in the waist, so I won’t
explain why less is sometimes more. The Guru delivers moderately
stiff flex and light, but not ultra-light, swing weight for confidence
underfoot in technical terrain. The side cut keeps it sporty, but
made us like it best is consistent snow conditions. To its credit, the
Guru delivers balanced full ski edge handling, something that is
elusive on many light skinnies. Add the Guru to your quiver for golight tours and technical descents.
Dynafit Broad Peak - Dimensions: 112/74/96, Lengths:
158,167,176cm, Weight: 2.15kg/4.8lb. $650. The Dynafit Broad
Peak delivers even tempered performance in a light package. Sure,
it skis light, but its relatively modest sidecut helps even out its
performance. You expect some compromises in a ski this light, but
the Broad Peak offers a good balance between edge hold, flex and
light weight feel. This is not a ski for a beginner, but the seasoned
mountaineer will appreciate its handling.
La Sportiva RST - Dimensions: 115/77/106, Lengths: 160,
167, 167cm, Weight: 2.25kg/4lb 15oz. $579. This superlight ski
impressed from the get go. After skiing fat, rockered skis all week,
picking up the La Sportiva RST was almost comical. Mounted with
Sportiva’s tech binder, the RST is the definition of fast and light.
The set-up literally weighs in at about 6 lbs a pair with bindings.
Nonetheless, the RST delivers impressive performance. Sure it is
hard to compare a 77mm waisted ski with the performance of a
100mm waisted ski, but the RST held an edge like no other ski
in the test and delivered foreign sports car performance - a little
temperamental, but flawless when maintained by a professional.
If you are looking to push the limits of long tours and technical
descents and want a minimalist ski that is there for you on firm and
steep snow, try the RST.
XCD – No-Wax Base Skis
Voile Vector BC - Dimensions: 118/94/107, Lengths: 160, 170,
180cm, Weight: 2.76kg/6lb 2oz. $550. It is a strecth to call the
Vector BC an XCD ski, but it definitely qualifies for the no-wax base.
Identical to the Voile Vector in shape and rocker (so be sure to read
that review above), the Vector BC simply adds a no-wax base for
backcountry versatility. Voile took the leap to add a no-wax base to
an otherwise downhill perfomrance oriented ski, and we really like
the results. The following tester comments really summarize the
experience, “The advantages of the no-wax base in the backcountry
are many, and the disadvantages? I am not really sure there are
any.” The no-wax base is a little slower gliding but not noticeably so
unless the slope is really low angle. Even then, it is only noticeable if
you are skiing next to a partner with smooth bases. Where the nowax base is a real advantage is when crossing flats, on short climbs,
reconnoitering at the top of a peak, climbing back up to retrieve a
dropped hat or pole or even climbing without skins in spring corn.
Without a doubt, Voile has created an incredibly versatile variation on
an already fun ski.
Rossignol BC125 - Dimensions: 123/95/120 (165cm), Lengths:
165, 175cm, Weight: 2.9kg/6lb 7oz $400. Think lightweight telemark
ski meets no-wax utility and you have the BC125. We are advocates
of wide, waxless based and metal edged ski. The BC124 fits the bill
nicely. The no-wax base climbs reasonably well, but if you aspire to
do any significant climbing you will want to add skins to your pack.
The effectiveness of the waxless base varies with snow type. The
BC125 is fun to ski and encourages making turns. Although not as
turn-focused as the Vector, it serves up traditional style tele turns
and is light enough to encourage covering flat ground too. We skied
with lightweight cable binders and two-buckle plastic boots. A threepin with no cable is also a viable option, but the plastic boots were
definitely nice for guiding it through turns.
Madshus Annum - Dimensions: 109/78/95, Lengths: 165, 175, 185,
195cm, Weight: 2.6kg/5lb 13oz (175cm). $340. If it works, why mess
with it, right. Well, the Annum returns unchanged this season, and
it still offers great performance in the waxless backcountry category.
Its single camber design delivers easy glide and classic telemark
performance on the descent. Although as wide underfoot as a couple
of the mountaineering skis in our review, the Annum is more of an
all-conditions adventurer for light booted aficionados. Its relatively
modest specs are the perfect match for three-pin adventure. When
your focus is covering terrain and making turns, the Annum is up for
the adventure. Its waxless base handles the kick and glide and makes
a pretty decent uptrack too, but you will want to throw a pair of skins
in your pack for all-condition climbing.
Rossignol BC110 – Dimensions: 110/78/95, Lengths: 169, 179,
189cm, Weight: 2.45kg/5lb 6oz. $320. Rossignol expands their nowax ski program this season with a narrower, all-terrain ski called
the BC110. The ski’s dimensions very closely resemble the Madshus
Annum, but the skis are distinctly different. The BC110 is a bit
lighter, but more significantly it has more camber in it. This gives
it good energy on the stride, but it was a little less turn friendly in
softer snow. Still, the BC110 felt great underfoot and its light weight
inspires covering ground, and relative to the BC125, covering ground
is the 110’s forte. We skied it with a basic cable binding and twobuckle tele boots. You could get away with a leather boot on these,
but if you prefer to chase turns, plastic boots definitely help. Like the
other no-wax bases, Rossignol’s PosiTrack has its limitations. Add
skins to your pack for a versatile day.
All ski weights and dimensions are listed for the middle size unless
otherwise noted.
Thanks to the Mountain Shop in Portland, Oregon for their support
in our ski testing.
Off-Piste Touring Picks
W
ith all of the ski options available
today, there are more skis that walk the
line between touring and resort performance
than ever before, and we like a lot of them. But in
an effort to stay true to our uphill roots, we thought
we would recognizes our top choices in touring boards,
skis that will make or compliment any backcountry skier’s
touring quiver. There are several more skis we could have
included here, but we tried to limit ourselves to a single model
per manufacturer.
S
kis are listed in order of waist width and weights are for middle
lenghths. Be sure to read their full write-ups in the main ski
review.
Voile Charger - 137/112/126, Weight: 3.28kg/7.lb 2oz
All-around powder skiing versatility in a light, playful package.
Black Diamond Justice - 138/111/123, Weight: 3.64 kg /8lb 4oz
Powder skiing versatility and Black Diamond stability, now lighter than ever
before.
Dynafit Stoke- 129/105/119, Weight: 3.2kg/7lb
Confidence inspiring in mixed alpine conditions in a light get-it-done personality.
Prior Husume (XTC construction) - 128/106/114, Weight: 3.34kg/7lb 5oz
Powder skiing versatility with playful, do-it-all dimensions, now in a lightweight, uphill-friendly
construction.
Volkl Nunataq –139/107/123, Weight: 3.5kg/7 lb 11oz
Playful powder dimensions that perform in variable conditions with signature Volkl feel.
G3 Saint – 122/93/112, Weight: 3.25kg/6lb 14oz
Round flex meets new school rocker for a versatile all-conditions ride.
K2 Wayback – 124/88/108, Weight: 3.1kg/6lb 12oz
Responsive and capable do-it-all personality with K2’s signature full ski flex and feel.
Kästle TX 87 – 122/87/110, Weight: 2.96kg/6lb 8oz
Austrian power served up in a light package for your mountaineering endeavors.
La Sportiva RST - 115/77/106, Weight: 2.25kg/4lb 15oz.
Superlight mountaineering tool with sure-footed sports-car-like handling for you go-light adventures.
All specs listed for middle length.
Gear Talk
reviews, innovation and chatter
In Defense of a Quiver
continued
terrain and snow conditions. And it is these varied conditions and
terrain that beg for a ski quiver. Long, flat approaches, go light.
Steep north facing couloir, go mid-fat with tip rocker. Epic powder
day, go fat and rockered.
Through years of trying out skis and listening to feedback from
friends and customers, I have come up with some general rules
regarding how different ski designs affect the energy used to manage
different terrain and conditions. I have no charts, and I haven’t run
a logarithm to back up my theories, so if you disagree, please don’t
hold Off-Piste libel.
1.A lightweight set-up equals less energy used going uphill, this
energy can then be transferred to the downhill or into getting
more vertical during the day.
2.In soft snow, more width underfoot floats better and takes less
energy to turn. Adding rocker to a ski enhances flotation and
shortens your turn radius.
3.In firm snow conditions, a narrower, straighter ski takes less
energy and effort to edge. Rocker may enhance flotation on a
narrower ski, but it also reduces the effective edge on firm snow.
4.Added weight equals stability and helps keep a ski in contact
with the snow through rough conditions. In choppy, mixed
conditions (resort snow) and in wind affected alpine areas, added
ski weight reduces the energy needed to hold an edge and keep a
ski tracking where you want it to go.
In Defense of a Quiver
You Don’t Need a Stinking Quiver!
A
N
typical quiver of skis circa 1989: You walk into a shop, plunk
down your hard-earned wages on a new pair of skis and bindings
(usually the latest version of whatever skis you currently own), and
voila, you had a quiver. Your brand new skis and your old skis, now
considered your rock skis. Sure, at the ski area, season pass holders
cherished a pair of long GS skis or maybe even a super G or downhill
ski that they bought off a ski racer buddy. These skis would come out
on bulletproof groomer days. Maybe they even bought a shorter pair
of soft slalom skis for the bumps. But in the backcountry, it was good
skis and rock skis. This all changed for me sometime in the mid 90’s
when I mounted up my first pair of “fat” skis (dimensions 110-85100). Being a telemark skier, these “fat” skis gave me a new ability
to actually turn in all the conditions Mother Nature threw my way.
Wow, this backcountry thing became even more fun. My skis floated
in the deep snow and they broke trail easier because I stayed higher
in the snow. I was converted. That spring, as the corn season came
on, I found myself going back to my older, narrower skis. They were
lighter, they held an edge better, and I really didn’t need the extra
float. Ever since that season, I have come to rely on a quiver. Sure,
there were a few times that I thought I could get by with one ski.
Goode came out with carbon fiber skis that were as light and stiff
as my narrower skis, but still had the width underfoot to float. But
that same season, I also test drove my first ski with a 100mm waist.
Not only could I turn in deep snow (of any kind), I actually ripped in
it. But a few tours in not-so-soft snow had me reaching for the ski
crampons and my narrower skis again. I was hooked on the quiver.
Throw in some new generation, wide waxless skis, add AT gear for
mountaineering pursuits, even fatter skis with rocker for big pow
days and I might need to buy a second roof box for my Subaru.
The evolution of ski design has moved towards creating skis that
are not only focused on skier style and ability but also on certain
conditions and terrain. The guys designing, building and selling skis
can’t fathom the idea of only owning and skiing on a single pair of
skis. Today’s backcountry skier is best served by pondering at least
a two ski quiver if not more. Look at the big picture. You’ve got
basic touring days, lift-served sidecountry days, hut trips and ski
mountaineering trips. Face it; you’re going to need more than one
pair of skis. While there are many skis that bridge the gap between
pursuits, skis for the ends of the spectrum have developed to the
point that it is hard to ignore their benefits. A wide ski (115mm+
underfoot) with tip and tail rocker is a hoot on the days the avy
danger is high and you are confined to low angled trees, while
a dedicated lightweight set-up gives you the energy to enjoy a
3000-vertical-foot run at the end of a long day of touring. Heck,
modern ski design has expanded what we can call skiable snow and
terrain.
If you are an incredibly fit, highly skilled skier and not really that into
your gear, read no further. For everybody else, read on. The more
you explore the backcountry, the more you begin to encounter varied
ow let’s get one thing straight. I am not railing against modern
skis. I like modern skis. I recommend a modern ski. I ski a
new, wide-bodied ski. But I recommend owning one pair, not three.
What is the secret to success in a monogamous ski relationship?
First of all, you have to be honest with yourself and your skis. What
conditions are you really going to be skiing on a regular basis? Face
this reality and pick a ski with the personality and handling that
serves your region, conditions and style, and ski it.
Why make life complicated? Today’s skis do so much, and they do
it so much better than skis did 15 or even 10 years ago. We all
managed to ski the pow and even the crud back then on 70-80mm
waists. And, as I recall, it was still super fun to go skiing. Or am
I not remembering that correctly? Now, I am not advocating for
skinny skis, I really like 100mm underfoot. What I am saying is that
what you don’t know won’t diminish your experience. Fatter skis do
not equal more fun. If your skis are 90mm underfoot, you will have
just as much fun as your pals on the 100+ skis. You will ski hard
and have a blast, regardless of what ski you use. This statement is
especially true if you are not constantly comparing the experience to
how it could be if only you were on a different ski. The experience is
about skiing not about what you ski.
My quiver toting pals are always talking about the merits of one ski
over another. How you need 110 underfoot for this and a light ski
for that, blah, blah, blah. I say hold your breath and get the ski that
speaks to the majority of your skiing. If you like to bop out short
radius turns down the fall line, get a responsive short radius turner.
If you prefer to let your skis open up and run in big radius arcs, get
a ski that feels good doing so. Sure, a big wide-bodied, rockered
board handles quite differently from a narrower, more traditionally
shaped ski. The difference in shape does not mean you can’t ski
a given ski in one situation and not in another. If you pick one ski
and learn how it handles, you will be able to handle it in whatever
conditions and terrain come your way. Get one ski and become an
expert on using it for everything.
When saddled with a quiver of skis, you are constantly readjusting
to the handling of the ski of the day. You may even be limiting your
ski agenda for the day. I can hear it now, “sure, I’d go ski that chute
if I was on my other skis.” Or, “I am worked, if only I had used my
other skis today, I wouldn’t be so tired.” Get a grip, pick a pair of
skis and use them for everything. You do not need another excuse
as to why you did this or why that happened, you should be skiing,
not worrying about what your day could have been like.
Advocates of the quiver are always praising how easy a given ski
makes skiing certain snow or terrain. “A fat, rockered ski is the
only way to ski the pow,” they’ll say. “It is so much easier,” they
claim. Meanwhile, the fast and light crowd sings the praises of light
construction for big days and long tours. “Your uphill experience
When these four ski design characteristics are matched with the
different backcountry scenarios we see in a season of skiing, you
can see how choosing one ski for everything leads to compromise.
A quiver of skis, however, opens up the possibilities and maximizes
energy efficiency. A light, wide rockered ski makes your winter
powder days fun, but rules three and four are compromised. Trying
to make one ski work at the ski area and in the backcountry will
compromise rule one or rule four, or both. For ski mountaineering, a
straighter, narrower ski makes sense, but compromises rule two. You
get the idea. With only one ski you need to compromise some part of
your experience, be it the up, the down, the resort performance or
certain snow conditions.
Why compromise when you don’t have to. Backcountry conditions
can vary greatly based on aspect, objective and time of year, each
demanding a different ski to maximizes the efficiency and fun factor.
A quiver sets you up with the right tool for the job. A carpenter has
many saws, a golfer has many clubs and a backcountry skier can
benefit from many skis.
Is a quiver really for you? When looking at new skis this season,
factor in your trip plans, your preferred terrain choices and regional
snow conditions, as well as your expectations for ski performance.
Are you already wondering how to explains another pair of skis to
your wife? Do your kids really need to go to college? Think about
rental and demo programs as a way to supplement the quiver for
those special days or trips. Look at your old skis, too. What are their
strengths? Can they play a role in the quiver alongside something
new? Regardless of what anyone tells you, contemplating a quiver is
OK. Sure, you might max out your credit card or be forced to join a
12-step gearaholic program. It’s OK, we’ve all been there. Who cares
if the rocket boxes and skis out value the four wheels that carry
them? It will all be worth it when you have the right tool for the job
on your next backcountry day.
You Don’t Need a Stinking Quiver
continued
is so much better with a light ski,” I am told. Hey that’s great, but
why not just split the difference and get a little of everything from
your ski? Buy the ski that serves it up in the middle. Trust me, you
will still enjoy the blower days, and the five minutes you lose on the
uptrack aren’t going to change your life, or that of your ski partners
despite what they may like you to believe.
Why dumb down the experience? Since when was the point of skiing
to make it as easy as possible? Skiing is about having fun in the
mountains, bonding with friends. If we took the easy road every time
the opportunity it presented itself, life would get boring fast. Modern
skis are awesome. You should own a pair, one pair. There’s no need
to be tempted by every sexy ride to the hit the street. Like a one
night stand, there is no doubt that it could be fun, but you’re better
off with a versatile board that will be there for you through the
thick and the thin, a board with which you can develop a meaningful
relationship. Find a ski that suits your needs, get out the door, and
go skiing. You will be glad you did.
shots. I caught Joanie at a microbrewery on a misty P-town night and
we jawed about backcountry skiing and her Match.com prospects.
She stuck around since Off-Piste was buying.
Off-Piste: Word on the street is that we are due for another La Niña
winter. Are you ready for another full-bore storm cycle season?
Joanie: Definitely. Better cool and wet than warm and wet, I say.
We deserve some kind of reward for enduring the gray skies and
perpetual mist down here in town. A nice extended fall season of blue
skies would sure be nice though. Summer was a bit late to arrive
here this year, if you hadn’t noticed.
OP: I noticed. Speaking of storms, do you wear your gaiters over
your shell pants?
J: Real funny. My shell pants have built-in gaiters, thank you.
OP: How about long johns? Do you wear them under your shorts for
spring climbs?
A
I
f collectively we are like cats, how do backcountry skiers break
down by region? There are certainly some regional stereotypes out
there. Well, this four part series explores various backcountry skier
composites. We present regional backcountry personalities including
ur series begins here, on our home turf, in the Northwest:
eet Joanie (not her real name, but it could be). She has been
backcountry skiing in the Pacific Northwest for 20 years, ever
since she moved to Portland, OR, from Michigan when she landed a
human resource job with a big shoe company. She has spent every
winter weekend hitting those Cascade volcanoes with mustard and
relish ever since. Joanie packs up her 10-year-old Subaru on rainy
Saturday mornings, balances a cup of coffee in her lap, rendevous
with various ski partners and heads up find whatever Mother Nature
serves up that day. She is in the unofficial WTR (Women That Rip)
club and is not prone to waiting at the top or bottom of powder
OP: Snow camping or fully catered hut skiing?
J: Totally different hits, duh! I like the full meal hut deal in those
interior British Columbia ranges in winter. Especially, if it’s blower all
week and then the chopper is weather delayed and I get a couple
extra days of those steep BC trees. Best skiing in the world that is .
. . screw Utah! And if it’s catered and you can slide up at dark with
cold ones, hors d’oeuvres and a hot sauna awaiting, all the better.
But that starts to put a dent in my pocketbook.
J: They’ve tried, but I bend the knee, squat to pee and still wait for
them at the bottom. There might come a day, when I’m your age,
that I’ll lock that heel but it’s a ways off.
OP: Cascade crud, coastal powder, fracture-in-the-making, redi-mix
or morning oatmeal - how do you deal with the moisture content of
PNW snow?
OP: Ouch! You seem kind of defensive about your old school
telemark stance despite the upside argument to the contrary?
J: Modern ski technology has taken the sting out of it. I can float
above the badness like never before, but being a storm rider is the
best. If you are not willing to endure the blizzard, then you won’t
receive the prize that is only given out when your neck gator, hat and
goggles look like a snowy tree, and you haven’t seen your ski tips all
afternoon.
OP: Ok, that’s way too deep for my dim bulb. How about where you
ride. Do you have a ski pass or are you backcountry purist?
O
M
J: Maybe, back when I was loading butts on weekends at the local
resort my first year here. But I was generously compensated for the
privilege by that corporation. I’m too old to ski in the rain now. Those
days are for movies, books and other stuff that requires a dirty mind.
OP: Are you still skiing fat telemark skis or has your boy posse talked
you into an Alpine Touring rig, so you can keep up?
J: It’s not what or how you ride, but why you’re riding.
the Northwest, California, the Rockies and the East by interviewing
a stereotypical skier, albeit a fictitious one, from each of the four
regions.
OP: Ever worn a garbage bag on a rain day?
But who doesn’t like a high camp on a volcano and a sunny, mid-day
filled with plowing corn run after corn run. Best feeling of all time
is tipping off a summit and hitting, hopefully not missing, that first
turn and knowing that there is nothing but a good time and a bunch
of turns between you and your car parked down by the creek, where
cold shining cans bob in the eddy. Doesn’t suck.
J: Hell no! I’ve had soft-shell pants all this century. And I’m not
telling you what’s under those.
friend once observed while climbing a skin track in a popular
touring area that backcountry skiers are like cats: they tolerate,
but rarely embrace one another’s presence. I’d never really thought
about it like this before. Sure, everyone is a little protective of their
ski line, especially after working a skin track to reach it. But given
our situation, Northwest-based skiers out for a tour in the Wasatch
Mountains, his remarks hit home. Arguably, we were out of our
element and unlikely to know any of the people touring in our little
slice of the range. Regardless, we had very little interest in trying to
meet the other skiers we saw, nor did it appear anyone was too keen
on getting to know us. We simply coexisted with as little overlap as
possible, like cats.
if it gets in my way on the down-track we’ve got a problem, Houston.
Next question?
J: I like the easy access of a ski pass, but I spend plenty of days
earning my turns, too. Around here, especially given a La Niña year,
there are plenty of days when you‘re better off at the ski hill, but I
rarely mix the two, except maybe at Crystal, but it all gets tracked so
fast nowadays.
OP: How about dogs or no dogs in the backcountry?
J: Depends on the dog…I don’t care what it does on the up-track, but
OP: What’s your dream ski trip?
Joanie: We kind of covered that under hut trips. Interior British
Columbia is the place I dream about. Just when you think the season
is winding down around here, and you’ve got your ski legs under
you, I dream about heading north for some powder skiing in March
and April. The dream is back-to-back fly-in hut trips, bookended by a
little roadside touring at Rogers Pass. Long days, deep snow and big
mountains, could it get any better than that?
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coming soon:
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH at OMC
call store for details
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www.e-omc.com
La Polenta
wisdom, insight, opinion and more
If you Ain’t Flying . . .
Paul Butler
I can see it now: “You never fall.
What’s your problem?”
… there’s no success like failure
and failure’s no success at all.
- Bob Dylan
Love Minus Zero/No Limit
4.875” x 5”
I
n the realm of backcountry skiing, much attention
is paid to skiing the untracked pow, as well as, and
rightfully so, considering the effort and time spent,
the ascent. Dropping a nice line, touring upward –
these are the big focus, along with the gear used, the
places to go and a myriad of other factors and concerns
like avalanche conditions, weather, access and all the
endless opinion in between.
But what about falling? Not much is said or focused
on wiping out, though it can be a big part of any
backcountry ski outing, whether you are skiing the
steep and gnarly (serious physical consequences) or
cruising the mellow butt-wiggle terrain (serious mental
consequences). There aren’t many photos of skiers
eating it gracing the cover or innards of ski mags, except
for the occasional humor shot. (Has Off-Piste ever in
its decade-long existence had a picture in the Gallery
of a skier crashing or having crashed? Maybe, but not
many.) In fact, it is hard to recall much of anything
ever said about falling in any mag aside from the rare,
lame instructional article in some national ski rag titled
something like, Falling: How To Do It Right.
The fine line between going for it and falling.
the trees or right at that precarious and all-important first turn.
And who wants to mar a nice-looking set of tracks, especially if
they are someone else’s? Or if the video is running.
Yet, falling often indicates boldness, taking a chance, pushing
the envelope. We all know skiers who never fall. Are they that
good? Or perhaps they are too tame, the same bouncing, short
radius turns through the untracked, regardless of the conditions
or terrain - like having sex in the same position year after year.
Yawn.
Of course, the lack of focus on falling makes perfect
sense. There isn’t much that is alluring about crashing
aside from perhaps watching another person’s
spectacular spillage. Take the annual big ski flicks;
usually the most entertaining part is the crash segment
in the bonus features. How do we react when watching
someone fall in the backcountry? The responses can
run the gamut from concern, dread, nonchalance,
annoyance, pity, and, perhaps more commonly,
uncontrollable laughter.
Falling is mostly considered unglamorous and
embarrassing. Think about how quickly one tries to get
up after crashing – “Hey, maybe no one saw that” Or how
about the tactic of trying to remove all evidence of the wipeout,
hoping your look matches the powder shots everyone else is
wearing.
Few skiers revel in the moment.
Yes, unflattering and often a blow to the self-esteem, biffing on
the boards has little appeal, and therefore, little mention in the
big picture of backcountry skiing. Aside from the grim potential
for death, injury or losing expensive equipment, falling can result
in having snow jammed in all sorts of crevices and orifices. How
about getting snow packed in your ear? Now that is a weird
sensation. Falling can mean fogged goggles, having to retrieve
clothing and gear strewn across the slope and getting cold. Talk
about an unpleasant situation. Someone may even have to help
you find your stuff, or even worse, lend a hand pulling you up. It
can be exhausting trying to straighten your body out, let alone
stand up. Remember, falling is easy, getting up is the hard part.
But the latter cannot happen without the former.
How about back when folks used to telemark a bunch? Talk about
some wild crashes. It’s often easier from a distance to tell if
someone is telemarking by how they fall as opposed to when they
are dropping a knee. I once could roll so quickly crashing head
first on the pins that it almost looked like it was part of the turn.
Photo D. Waag
I can see it now: “You never fall. What’s your problem?” It could
be a whole new mindset. Then we can forget the excuses for
falling, and as we all know, especially in backcountry skiing, there
is no shortage of excuses for going down:
“Um, I’m not sure what happened there.” “I hit that buried crust
only found on this aspect at this elevation.” “I must not have
been in my binding all the way.” “There was a chunk of snow.”
“The light was really flat in that one spot.” “These bindings are
mounted too far forward.” “These skis are planks.”
The art of falling.
Photo D. Waag
We all know skiers who never fall. Are they
that good? Or perhaps they are too tame, the
same bouncing, short radius turns through
the untracked, regardless of the conditions or
terrain - like having sex in the same position
year after year. Yawn.
But, regardless of the dangers and unpleasant aspects, falling is to
be expected. It is part of the sport. Maybe it should receive more
attention, and a more positive take, than ever before. I can see
the headlines: The Art of Falling or Why You Should Fall More.
Falling could mean, and certainly does at times, that one is going
for it. Clearly that is what is happening in the ski movies. With
backcountry skiing, the onus not to crash is particularly high due
partially to all the effort it takes to ascend for a run in the first
place – all that way just to crater in the snow. A fall can really
mess with one’s line (and one’s head), especially at high speed, in
We have more than 150
backcountry skiing routes
to share this year (don’t worry—no secret
stashes). Across BC and Alberta, you can
read up on everything from classic tours
to 1/2 day trips from the coffee shop.
And with the forums and current info, you can make an
even better informed decision on where to earn your turns.
Videos and gear reviews round it all out. We bad.
www.backcountryskiingcanada.com
Or the worst of all: “I guess I was distracted. I have a lot on my
mind these days.” At least in the backcountry, there’s a lot of time
to chat on the way up.
The excuse list is a
long one, and finding
new excuses can be
quite inventive. Next
time try one like, “I
was laying it all on
the line” or “That’s
what happens when
you really push the
edge. You should try it
sometime.”
Falling in the
backcountry. It’s a bad
thing, but don’t feel
bad about it, just as
long as you went for it
good.
Paul Butler lives in
Mazama, WA and has
never fallen backcountry
skiing, really, that is just
face shot debris . . .
g
Celebratin
f
o
rs
a
Ye
5
2
der
w
o
P
g
Bringin
ple
to the Peo
cozy lodge • great terrain • deep snow
Words and Images
Letters
the Good, the Bad, the Ugly
opinion on books and films
Breaking Trail, 64 minutes – DVD
$28, www.powderwhores.com
The Powderwhore crew is thankfully back at it again this year with another film that
could be problematic to watch if you had a bad day at the office. They just look
like they are having so much fun, it makes you want to pack up all the effort of
responsibility in a box, light it on fire and go skiing. The scenes, locations, talent and
music are all what I think we can now safely call, Classic Powderwhore. Knowing I was
going to be able to see this film on a recent Friday evening helped pull me through my
week. It is adventure eye-candy of the sweetest sort. I recommend a large bowl of
popcorn, cold beverages of your choice and a collection of your adventure partners.
In late night style, this film inspired me to make a top ten list. So here are the top ten
reasons you should see Powderwhore’s Breaking Trail:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
They offer sage advice for getting out of work.
They offer amazing parenting tips.
You have to love their “go for it” attitude.
You will have cabin envy!
Adolescent trigger-happy, explosion fantasies play out.
They still carry burley ass packs.
The film offers geology lessons.
Is it skiing or is it controlled falling?
“If you’ve got skis on, you’re skiing”
Why bother turning?
Bonus elements for the over-40 crowd:
11.
I’m officially a curmudgeon, I though turns were the goal.
12.
Finally a rap song I like!
You know what to expect from Powderwhore Productions, but it will be even more fun than you remember. Be warned, latent wandering
tendencies will rise to the surface, and making rash decisions after watching this film with your buddies and drinking your favorite
beverages may lead to dysfunctional relationships and the abandonment of rat-race
goal setting. - MB
Solitaire, 52 minutes – DVD
$28, www.sweetgrass-productions.com
Sweetgrass productions’ new film, Solitaire, continues with their thematic driven
story-telling backdrop to showcase some absolutely amazing backcountry skiing. It
is not so much a ski film as it is an incredible nature film with skiing. The pattern
language of the landscape is beautifully captured in every mood and nuance of light
imaginable.
If their last film, Signatures, represented the incredible lightness of the human spirit
in the realm of mountain life and skiing, then Solitaire definitely evokes the heavier
and darker side of the experience. The film has a certain grit to it that keeps you on
the edge of your seat and never quite lets you relax into the typical ski porn euphoria.
The film pushes any seasoned backcountry skier to examine their own relationship
with the sport. It’s an engaging experience for sure, and the film quality is absolutely
top notch.
Director Nick Waggoner’s ability to catch light on film and to set up the perfect
backdrop reaches true art form in Solitaire. The film is visually engrossing and with
a soundtrack tempo that is lively but not overly aggressive, the overall experience
is very contemplative. Cultural immersion plays a significant role in the film, this
time South America culture. A Joseph Conrad inspired narrator leads us through the
film in a gravelly Spanish that conveys a message of struggle with the elements and
ourselves. “Time is the fire in which we burn,” the old man tells us.
Solitaire engages the viewer with far more than remarkable skiing; there is an
emotional pull that asks us all to examine our own relationship with the mountains.
Certainly, some of this theme comes from the struggles encountered while making
the movie. From the horrendous weather to the loss of skiers Arne Backstrom and Kip Garre, to whom the film is dedicated, making
Solitaire was no doubt and emotional project. Amazing athletes, incredible cinematography, a stunning setting and a bit of a gut check
for skiers offers a truly visceral experience that is highly recommended and worth the two year wait. -MB (Check out our July 2011
interview with Sweetgrass Productions Director, Nick Waggoner, online at www.offpistemag.com)
The Cantebury Trail by Angie Abdou, 277 pages – book
$20, www.brindleandglass.com
Author Angie Abdou mixes contemporary ski town culture, a small backcountry cabin
and an avalanche of historic scale in her fictional tale, The Canterbury Trail. The
stereotypical small town characters descend upon a remote cabin for a final weekend
of skiing, riding and partying. Playing on Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Abdou uses the
stories of each character to paint a picture of modern ski town living and the ensuing
tale of tragedy as the characters’ fates collide for one last big weekend of season.
Abdou casts a broad net in her selection of mountain town personalities. From
the quintessential dope smoking ski bum, real-estate developer, and beer swilling
snowmobilers to the budding neophyte journalist, she paints a vivid picture of ski
town stereotypes. Abdou is herself a resident of Fernie British Columbia, so she
knows the scene well, and offers an interesting behind-the-scenes take on the clash
of personalities and cultures that could easily represent any growing ski community.
Taking on the culture of one’s backyard is a difficult prospect, but Abdou maintains a
level of humor within each caricature to soften the scene.
THINGS WE CARRY
OP,
Just got back from the a trip to a top secret backcountry
hut . . . excellent conditions. Despite the added weight,
I carried in the March issue of Off-Piste Mag for a
little evening reading pleasure. Appropriately enough,
I thoroughly enjoyed the “Things We Carry” article. I
have never read the piece by Tim O’Brien that the author
mentions, but his words regarding the things we carry
beyond our physical gear resonated with me. I too carry
a touch of survivor’s guilt and the psychological weight
of my experience in the mountains. In fact, it is these
intangible things to which I credit my own safety. Sure I
carry all of the requisite safety gear too, but it is the
memory of lost friends that keeps safety in the forefront
for me. Returning home safely should always be our top
priority.
PS: had to use the mag to start the sauna. Can you send a
new copy for the archives?
Steven Murray.
Boise, ID
MORTIMER
OP,
I am a longtime subscriber to the magazine. I have really
enjoyed the evolution over the years. Off-Piste has grown
but not lost its grassroots feel. My compliments. I
found “Mortimer’s Last Run” in the March issue to be very
entertaining. I had no idea where the story was headed,
and I must say that I never expected the random body parts
that materialized. Nonetheless, where else would I read
such an off-the-wall tale? I can’t imagine something like
that running in the big glossy mags. One of these days, I
will make it out to ski a volcano, and I will forever be
thinking about Mortimer’s last run while doing so. Keep up
the good work.
Anne Strong
Colorado
WEIGHING IN
Just a quick note. I wanted to weigh in on the banter that
resulted from the “Silenced” story that ran in December
2010. I happened to enjoy “Silenced” as well as the
author’s subsequent story, “Mortimer’s Last Run”. Calling
the author self-rightous, as one letter noted, and meanspirited as noted by a second letter was as entertaining
as the story itself.
I know plenty of skiers who like to curse the ski resort
and helicopter ski operations in the area. Cursing or even
writing fictional tales of monkey wrenching is by no means
self-rightous or mean spirited, it is called having a
little fun. Acting on these ideas is a different story, but
keeping it fictional is obviously just spirited expression.
We all appreciate and use the ski resorts at some level. A
professionally run avalanche control program is a valuable
asset, as is a sense of humor.
Scott Peters
SLC, UT
express yourself
If we print your letter, you’ll get a one year subscription - FREE!
off-piste letters - po box 1626 hood river, or 97031
[email protected]
The Canterbury Trail offers enough twists and turns to keep you reading, and
ultimately the big picture story is a cautionary tale about bridging personalities and
priorities. At times, I found myself being critical of technical snow and weather details,
but it is fiction after all. It is the rare novel that delves into ski town culture, let alone
backcountry skiing, and The Canterbury Trail is an entertaining portrayal of ski town
culture to which any backcountry skier or small town resident can relate. -DW

2011 Ski Review - Falling - Quivers - The NW Skier

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