Backcountry Skiing - Interview with David Goodman

[billski]

A really interesting interview with David Goodman, who has written some great books about skiing and trails that are a bit more difficult to find, but can provide a really fun day. I've read his first book, and I find myself re-reading it every year.

 

[rubenkennedy]

The interview is nice, looking forward to read the book for myself sooner for s what you said it is worth to read.

 

[snowmonster]

Great to see the man whose ski tracks I've been following all these years. I would never have ventured into the New England backcountry without his books. They are easy to follow and very interesting to read. I have the latest edition of his book and the second edition (which comes in two volumes). Most of my tours have been confined to NH and MA. I hope to knock off a few in VT this year.

 

[bcski]

Glad to hear that my backcountry skiing guidebooks have led you to some great adventures over the years. My newest edition, Best Backcountry Skiing in the Northeast: 50 Classic Ski Tours in New England and New York New York, updates all the tours, adds some new ones, and deletes some that, um, haven't aged well (sorry if you found that out the hard way). See www.backcountryskiing.info for the details. And...go skiing! - David Goodman

 

[jimmywilson69]

Welcome to the forum and thanks for the books. I will be picking a copy up soon!

 

[snowmonster]

Glad to hear that my backcountry skiing guidebooks have led you to some great adventures over the years. My newest edition, Best Backcountry Skiing in the Northeast: 50 Classic Ski Tours in New England and New York New York, updates all the tours, adds some new ones, and deletes some that, um, haven't aged well (sorry if you found that out the hard way). See www.backcountryskiing.info for the details. And...go skiing! - David Goodman

Welcome to the board, Dave! I've been a fan for years.

I can understand why you removed certain trails (no need to apologize, it's all good). But, why did you remove the Rumford Whitecap and Camden Hills State Park? I don't think access is much of a problem in both cases.

See you at the trailhead!

 

[David Metsky]

Glad to hear that my backcountry skiing guidebooks have led you to some great adventures over the years. My newest edition, Best Backcountry Skiing in the Northeast: 50 Classic Ski Tours in New England and New York New York, updates all the tours, adds some new ones, and deletes some that, um, haven't aged well (sorry if you found that out the hard way). See www.backcountryskiing.info for the details. And...go skiing! - David Goodman

I still rate as one of my best achievements having that photo I took of you on Moosilauke in the previous version of the guidebook. My gang has spent a lot of time reading those books and planning trips.

 

[snowmonster]

^ So, you and Goodman are responsible for getting me to Moosilauke. Thanks for showing the way, guys! It was one of my best tours last year. Skied Gorge Brook trail up and down. Never broke out of the woods because of time and got as far as the part of the trail with a "clearing" on the right side of the trail. I'm planning to hit Moosilauke again this winter through the Carriage Road.

 

[bcski]

I still rate as one of my best achievements having that photo I took of you on Moosilauke in the previous version of the guidebook. My gang has spent a lot of time reading those books and planning trips.

Dave -- Your photo has withstood the test of time: I used it again in the new edition! Thanks (post facto) and glad to hear your copies are dog-eared. Keep exploring... - dg

 

[bcski]

I can understand why you removed certain trails (no need to apologize, it's all good). But, why did you remove the Rumford Whitecap and Camden Hills State Park?

I try to set the bar high for what qualifies as a "classic" ski tour. Both Rumford and Camden are nice tours, but in terms of quality of skiing/views/etc, they are just not in the same league as many of the tours in Vt and NH. And since the last edition of my book (a decade ago), there is now stiff competition for backcountry skiing in Maine: the two new hut tours (Maine Huts & Trails and the AMC hut system in the 100 Mile Wilderness) are first class. So the hut tours won out and made the book, displacing the other two. As you can see, tour selection is subjective and dictatorial -- bad as a form of government, but very effective for an author. - dg

 

[David Metsky]

Dave -- Your photo has withstood the test of time: I used it again in the new edition! Thanks (post facto) and glad to hear your copies are dog-eared. Keep exploring... - dg

Oh, I didn't know that! I thought I had checked the new edition for it. I guess I'll have to pick up a new copy.

 

[bcski]

Oh, I didn't know that! I thought I had checked the new edition for it. I guess I'll have to pick up a new copy.

You're on a roll Dave: that beautiful Moosilauke summit skiing photo (one of my faves) also appears in a profile of me that appears in the current Stowe Guide:
http://wordsandphotosbykate.com/Words/David_Goodman.pdf

 

[snowmonster]

^ Just saw the article in the Stowe magazine. The Moosilauke photo looks better in color. Congrats!

 

[David Metsky]

You're on a roll Dave: that beautiful Moosilauke summit skiing photo (one of my faves) also appears in a profile of me that appears in the current Stowe Guide:
http://wordsandphotosbykate.com/Words/David_Goodman.pdf

Excellent. My plan for world domination is coming to fruition....

 

[billski]

Excellent. My plan for world domination is coming to fruition....

Way to go dude. Ansel Adams today, tomorrow Transoceanic Emperor of all lands greater than 1500 meter. A logical career path for certain.

I'm presuming you'll handle this rain thing as soon as you are bestowed governance?

 

[skidmarks]

Black Mountain Ski Trail

Enjoy your books even though you leave out some of the most important details from time to time. I guess that's what makes it an Adventure!

Why is Black Mountain Ski Trail missing from Trails.com? They have most of your stuff online and I like to print an extra copy to take on the trail with me so I don't mess up your book.

Thanks


PS: Mass--Ghost Trail check it out!

 

[snowmonster]

Just to jump on skidmarks' post-script above, I was wondering if D. Goodman/bcski has any interest in a fourth edition of his book. Or a completely different book detailing most, if not all, the bc trails in the northeast -- and by state. There are many ski trails in the different NE states that deserve to be written up in a comprehensive guidebook. Backcountry/sidecountry skiing is growing as a sub-set of this sport and I am sure that many skiers/boarders will find this useful. Think of it as like the ski version for all those hiking books that AMC and others pump out.

I know that, inevitably, the "locals" argument will come up and people will pillory the author for revealing secret stashes, or worse, talking up terrain that may be too dangerous for the average skier. But, having guidebooks may actually mitigate this danger. Aside from a long fall or getting trapped in an avalanche, there's nothing more scary about being in the outback than getting lost. The route descriptions, maps and difficulty ratings definitely help. Not everyone among us is fortunate to have grown up in the northeast or have close friends who are locals who would like to lead the way. A guidebook like that would help point us in the right direction (or point out trails not to take). It's also interesting to know the history of a particular trail. That's also something that you don't necessarily get from some friend or local who just happens to know of the existence of a trail in their backyard.

I am sure that you will have a bigger audience than the 100 people whom you thought would buy your first book. I look forward to following in your tracks.

 

[riverc0il]

The argument against putting every single location into a guide book has nothing to do with "locals". Live a little, man! Pull up Google Earth or a topo map. Crane your neck out the side of the window as you are driving around. Study some maps, grab a friend, and hatch a plan. Goodman's book is great for getting some basics and starting out. But part of the real fun is discovering stuff on your own instead of having it handed to you on a silver platter.

If you want to compare it to hiking.... think of Goodman's book as the guide book and everything else as the bushwhacks. Not all peaks have trails and rightly so. Many "list" peaks don't have trails and are not found in guidebooks. Research stuff and write your own history. Leaving something for the imagination is important.

As far as getting lost in the BC, it seems like this more often than not happens in the most well known spots, not the least known...

 

[snowmonster]

To each his own, riv. The suggestion was directed at Goodman. If he decides to write this book then I'll be getting a copy. As I said, not all of us are privileged to live in NH and know the lay of the land. I'd rather know where to go and not be that guy that either needs to get rescued or made fun of in whatever local paper as the flatlander who got lost in the woods.

 

[riverc0il]

I know your comment was directed towards comment but you opened yourself up to reply regarding your locals comment. For what it is worth, I don't consider myself a "local" and quite frankly I spent a lot more time hiking and finding stuff out around this area before moving to NH. Lots of folks from the "flatlands" are more local than the locals when it comes to skiing. Some might think getting lost in the woods is the whole point. I don't think the protectionist agenda is a good point of view. But I also don't think the opposite perspective is very good either. It ain't us vs them. But it is important that people be able to enjoy "wilderness" and having something truly wild, remote, and investing left to those wanting to put forth the effort.

Look at Nor'Easter Backcountry. There's a guy that took three whacks at a remote drainage before finally finding it. His reports tell the tale of more punishment than good turns. And the dude is a guy from MA putting in the time to find remote stuff without a map and guide book. I think that is important. And for what it is worth, I probably only spend one or two days a season at most doing that type of skiing... so I am not speaking from a protectionist "local" agenda.