Dan's Outside

2003.01.22

After almost 30 years as a XC skier, a couple weeks ago I tried telemark skiing for the first time – the modern type of tele’ skiing, with wide metal-edged skis and heavy boots. For the first time in my life I skied a downhill resort – twice actually. The first was Northstar a couple weeks ago and then I skied at Squaw Valley earlier this week.

The plan is to use this downhill skiing as practice so that I can develop enough competence on tele gear to try some backcountry skiing.

And, no, I have no plans to give up XC skiing…

***Wilderness skiers seek perfect powder – Trips are costly, dangerous … and addictive, fans say
“To stand on a mountaintop deep in the backcountry of British Columbia and look out over thousands and thousands of acres of wilderness and know there are no more than 40 or 50 people in the whole area — that’s a feeling you can’t get any other way,” said John Wagnon, vice president of marketing for Heavenly Ski Resort at Lake Tahoe, who has gone heli-skiing in British Columbia seven times. [SFGate]

Well, actually there is another way. Put on backcountry gear and ski into the backcountry.
—–

January 22, 2003 - Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary