Backcountry Skiing - Interview with David Goodman

[David Metsky]

Or a completely different book detailing most, if not all, the bc trails in the northeast -- and by state.

As someone who has contributed in a small way to the current books, I contend that the backcountry skiing community would not be appreciative of that kind of guide. IMO, it goes against the culture of backcountry skiing in New England. Trails that are already popular and listed in guidebooks are fair game. Non-official trails and private stashes are not. There is a middle ground between following published turn by turn descriptions and wandering aimlessly in the woods.

 

[snowmonster]

^ And the middle ground is precisely what I am talking about.

These books serve the purpose of popularizing the sport and providing a margin of safety to those who choose to participate in them through maps and directions and tips on how to prepare. I don't think a book should be revealing secret stashes or non-official trails. However, there are a lot of places out there that are on the map somewhere (e.g., the Ghost Trail mentioned by skidmarks) or may have been in an earlier edition of the book but left out of this edition because of selection criteria that are nonetheless good tours (e.g., the Rumford Whitecap, Camden State Park). A guidebook may be a handy place to compile them.

As to the merits of being a trailblazer or adventurer, I agree that there is greater virtue in that. This is why bloggers like Nor'east Backcountry, D. Metsky and the FIS crew, and authors like Goodman deserve the glory. For myself, I am content for now to follow in the footsteps of my betters. I advocate for guidebooks because I know that I would not have taken the first step into the backcountry without Goodman's book -- which, depending on your perspective, is probably a terrible thing since another touron has been unleashed into the woods.

In closing, if you assume that backcountry skiing will only grow over time given the improvement and availability of AT and telemark gear, it's only a matter of time before such a book is written. I believe that there is a market out there.

 

[billski]

I'm a subscriber to the "I won't tell you, but I'll show you." philosophy.

 

[bcski]

Re: writing an exhaustive BC ski guide -- sounds exhausting, both the writing and the researching! As for my motivation for writing these books, I quote from the intro:

"I hope that this book inspires you to have your own adventures. I doesn't matter where you go, just that you go. May these snowy summits entice you to venture into the rarefied mountain air, embrace you with powder and feed your soul, as they have done for me"

 

[snowmonster]

^ If you need help on the researching, I'm happy to volunteer. Thanks for writing those books, bcski. See you on the trail someday.

 

[bcski]

^ If you need help on the researching, I'm happy to volunteer.

Careful what you wish for snowmonster... I have gone in search of "classic" tours only to be suspended from my armpits in krummholz lost on the side of the mtn. I would be glad to subcontract some of the more exploratory research...

 

[snowmonster]

^ I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't serious.

IIRC, based on what you've written, you were suspended from your armpits either on the ART or the Monroe Trail.