A bit of the backcountry, and a poll for everyone-

[Greg]

Slack country for me too. I don't know if DMC coined that term or not, but I first read it in one of his posts and I use it all the time. I think it's the perfect 2 word defination for lift serviced natural terrain skiing.

Whenever someone at WF refers to the Slides as back country, I correct them with Slack country. No further explanation required, I always get a smile and nod of understanding.

"Side-country" is another term I've heard for this.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

I hope I haven't in any way given the impression of denigrating on piste skiing, or somehow implied backcountry is better or makes one more of a skier.

I believe you didn’t, but I often get the sense that some of those who do BC do infer an air of superiority about it. I’m all for anything anyone wants to do in the mountains. If hiking for one or two runs a day is your thing then God bless you. I personally like to hike a lot in the off season, but during ski season I want to get as many runs in as I can.

I don’t mean to imply that all BC skiers are snobs, quite the opposite, most of the ones I know are great guys, FreeHeelWilly from WF, for example does both BC and Lift serviced and he doesn’t have a snobbish bone in his body.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

"Side-country" is another term I've heard for this.

I like Slack the best cause it's kinda funny.

 

[dmc]

Slack country for me too. I don't know if DMC coined that term or not, but I first read it in one of his posts and I use it all the time. I think it's the perfect 2 word defination for lift serviced natural terrain skiing.

Whenever someone at WF refers to the Slides as back country, I correct them with Slack country. No further explanation required, I always get a smile and nod of understanding.

The term has been around for a while... I like to stress it - because - sure it's easy to walk off a lift - sneek into the woods and ride some untracked trees.

But it's SO different to have to plan routes, bring extra equipment, read topos, choose skiing routes, dealing with water and food, etc....

 

[JimG.]

Holy sh*t!

I don't think this much about where or how I ski. I love lift served terrain. I love skiing with crowds or on empty slopes. I love powder, and I love ice too. I ski in the rain, when it's sunny, or if it's dumping snow. Big turns are fun, so are small ones. I love skiing with friends, or alone. I love backcountry, slackcountry, or walking up an ice patch on a f*cking landfill.

You all need to get out there and ski more and think less.

Now, back to your usual JimG. programming...I love to ski. Period. It's all good to me. This intense hairsplitting is what I go skiing to get away from.

And Marc, I voted affirmative to the BC question.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Holy sh*t!

f*cking
.

Hmmm...... I wonder what the *s stand for. JimmyG is turning this forum into a toilet bowl. How can I let my kids use this vulgar site? The mods better start modding the mods.








:wink: :wink: Only kidding:wink: ;-)

 

[JimG.]

Hmmm...... I wonder what the *s stand for. JimmyG is turning this forum into a toilet bowl. How can I let my kids use this vulgar site? The mods better start modding the mods.








:wink: :wink: Only kidding:wink: ;-)

Sorry HPD...I know you're sensitive.

I was simply amazed and it just came out.

 

[Greg]

I consider the site PG-13. Jim - you've used up your F-bomb for the year...

 

[atkinson]

As defined by the guy (CDostie, one of my bosses) that claims to have coined the term "earn your turns", it applies to hiking up and skiing down. No sense of superiority, just a distinction between this and lift-serviced skiing. (BTW, Dostie usually gets a pass at one of the Tahoe resorts each year. Even he likes a little help sometimes.) The line blurs pretty quickly though, especially when mixing the two disciplines. Hence terms like slackcountry and sidecountry.

I would argue that hiking at a closed ski area is backcountry skiing, in the sense that you are responsible for your safety and actions. If you were to get hurt on Rumble in November, you'd find out just how long it takes to get help up there. There are certainly off-piste places where it would take much longer to get help, but it is a matter of degree. Even some open resorts are very far from help and should be skied with this in mind. Take Crested Butte for instance. It took six hours to get EJ Poplawski to a Level 1 Trauma Center after his fall in the recent Telemark Extremes. Remoteness is just one facet of backcountry skiing.

As an advocate of backcountry skiing in all its forms, I am always trying find new ways to introduce folks to its joys. Nothing pretentious about it. The most memorable days of skiing I've ever had, all included some turn-earning, why wouldn't I want to share?

Back in the day, there was no such thing as "backcountry" or "turn-earning", because there were no lifts. You just went skiing. All the labels are becoming meaningless again as more people start hiking and reconnecting with the roots of skiing. Even the gear is coming full circle. Lightweight AT-gear weighs less than many XC set-ups. The beefiest telemark stuff is burlier than some alpine gear. Snowboards split for skinning uphill.

We are lucky to be living in a Skiing Renaisance. Have fun whatever way you want.

John
www.catamounttrail.org
www.earnyourturns.com

 

[JimG.]

I consider the site PG-13. Jim - you've used up your F-bomb for the year...

Sorry boss.

Hairsplitting makes me crazy.

 

[ChileMass]

Sorry boss.

Hairsplitting makes me crazy.

Amen, brother.....

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Some areas let people skin up up trails early in the morning. Once the lifts start turning they have to turn around and ski down. Anybody ever do that?

 

[jackstraw]

Some areas let people skin up up trails early in the morning. Once the lifts start turning they have to turn around and ski down. Anybody ever do that?

yes i have.

 

[dmc]

Some areas let people skin up up trails early in the morning. Once the lifts start turning they have to turn around and ski down. Anybody ever do that?

We skin up Hunter all the time... We try to beat patrol up... just because we can.. But if they see us - they razz us pretty bad

Normal rules apply - stay out of the way of the groomers, etc...

 

[ski_adk]

After traveling around this past year and talking to people on lifts and trails, it seems as though there is quite a bit of great backcountry skiing going on in the northeast. I've gotten some great tips and suggestions as to where to go, but when I look online, I find NOTHING. The backcountry scene here in the northeast is so secretive and private. But I can ceratainly understand...if people knew what was out there, it wouldn't remain so special I guess.

 

[SkiDog]

After traveling around this past year and talking to people on lifts and trails, it seems as though there is quite a bit of great backcountry skiing going on in the northeast. I've gotten some great tips and suggestions as to where to go, but when I look online, I find NOTHING. The backcountry scene here in the northeast is so secretive and private. But I can ceratainly understand...if people knew what was out there, it wouldn't remain so special I guess.

THREE TEXTS TO BUY...if you'd like to do some New England/NY State backcountry..

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/s...words=Goodman+backcountry&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go

Enjoy

M

 

[Grassi21]

neg - but really interested in giving it a try when my skill level is appropriate.

 

[dmc]

Sorry boss.

Hairsplitting makes me crazy.

Thats what this website is all about...
Whats the best this and why...
Whats the worst that and why...

 

[andyzee]

I consider the site PG-13. Jim - you've used up your F-bomb for the year...

What is the F-bomb per year quota?

 

[riverc0il]

I believe you didn’t, but I often get the sense that some of those who do BC do infer an air of superiority about it. I’m all for anything anyone wants to do in the mountains.

i am also one that says everyone should enjoy skiing their own way and there is no one best way to ski. i hope people don't get a sense of superiority from my earned turn posts and comments. i speak from the point of view of genuine and hopefully infectious excitement, not from the point of view of superiority. though i honestly believe if more people tried it, especially with a few good pals, they would really enjoy it.