Is Earning Your Turns Overrated?

[JimG.]

I might be down... In all honesty, I don't like traveling in too large of a group though, it always presents issues. Not to rake on the commradery of AZ or an AZ backcountry group, as this would be more of enjoyable gathering than a superfoulous day in the mountains pushing for some high and mighty goal, so maybe group size wouldn't be an issue anyways.

Yeah, I tend to see a group BC gathering as a mellow deal like Mt. Greylock as opposed to something ambitious like trying to get a group of 10 down Dodge's Drop or something like that. That's something I'd feel more comfy taking on with a small group of skiers I know well.

 

[Marc]

No.

But calling something overrated depends on who is doing the rating.

I have little experience in earning turns, but the two times I've done it have been great and I'll be doing it again. It's not for everybody. Whatever blows your hair back.

 

[salida]

Austin, I think Cardigan might be a good AZ gathering spot. Closer to many population centers than the whites too!

 

[dmc]

You spend most of the day hiking and not skiing

Half of the fun is the climb..

 

[JimG.]

Half of the fun is the climb..

And to me most of the challenge.

 

[mattchuck2]

Yeah, earning your turns is overrated - given certain circumstances.

If we were all standing at the base of a huge open powder face and there was a helicopter sitting next to us ready to take us to the top, nobody would say "no thanks, I'm going to skin up instead - meet you guys up there." By the same token, on a powder day, I'm more inclined to ski at a resort because I can get more runs in per day.

After everything at the resort is tracked out, THEN it's time to hike. So, 5 days after a storm, when everything at a resort is tracked out, I would say that earning your turns is not overrated and is probably the better option.

However, if you are just out for the experience of it, and not the actual skiing, then by all means, a good day outside is better than any day at work . . . I still wouldn't suggest skipping out on the helicopter, though.

 

[kbroderick]

However, if you are just out for the experience of it, and not the actual skiing, then by all means, a good day outside is better than any day at work . . . I still wouldn't suggest skipping out on the helicopter, though.

...unless you're in a Holiday Inn Express commercial, in which case I'd go for the skinning option.

 

[riverc0il]

me and austin were taking about turn earning last week and both agreed on something very strange: a great many skiers are hikers but few skiers that hike earn ther turns. only difference between hiking and turn earning is you get to have fun on what i consider to be the worst part of every hike: the way down. quite frankly, i don't think it is over rated, i think it is under rated and a good many people would likely fall in love with it if they tried it. turn earning isn't just about skiing, it is about having an adventure, enjoying the outdoors, and getting away from the crowds. you can bet i will be at a resort the day after it snows riding a lift, untracked pow is likely the last reason to earn turns.

also, i don't think turn earning has a he-man or mountain-man thing associated with it. sure there are the occasional guys rando racing and doing 10k+ vert days. but most turn earners are more zen like than he-man like. it is an experience that is about way more than skiing. and as others mentioned, in a small group, it is an amazing journey.

for something to be over rated, it generally needs to have sufferred a lot of people billing it very highly. but not that many people do it and most would readily agree that it is not for everyone nor push it on folks that wouldn't enjoy it.

for a counter point, you sure won't hear me ever say that riding the lifts is over rated :lol:

 

[David Metsky]

If we were all standing at the base of a huge open powder face and there was a helicopter sitting next to us ready to take us to the top, nobody would say "no thanks, I'm going to skin up instead - meet you guys up there."

Actually, I know dozens of folks who would do just that, probably including me.

-dave-

 

[AHM]

Is any skiing over rated ???????

HPD: Interesting thread. Skiing is skiing, lifts are great, no question. So are copters, cats, and sleds. Skins and hiking are just another aspect of skiing, as is XC. I think for most skiers, if you can experience all types of skiing, your appreciation will be that much greater. No one type is any "holier" than the other, they all simply rock, whether its 250 verts at Mt Brighton Mich (a place I skied a lot as a kid, along with Alpine Valley, Mt Holly, and Boyne), the terrain park at any number of sub 1000 vert hills or, 7500 verts at La Grave (a place I also ski pretty often). Even XC, nothing like cruising through the woods under your own power in that deep woods setting, with pines loaded with snow.

For those who have not experienced hiking/touring, I would simply quote Peter Kray of Coulior in the 2006 - 2007 Destination Guide: "Why you need to go hut skiing right now". Whether that hut is Fairy Meadows, which is on the cover, or its Hermit Lake or Dolly Cop Campground, you should check out a multi day backcountry trip. You'll find the skiing great, the comraderie an all time best--be it with close buds, or simply adding to some group going to a cool destination--and the vibe better than any mechanized skiing you could ever do (even the ocean explorer).

So check it out, for those of you on the edge of adding backcountry skiing to your repetoire(sp), go buy the coulior destination guide and start planning the hut trips of a life time...........for me its Sorcerer for this April.

 

[mattchuck2]

Actually, I know dozens of folks who would do just that, probably including me.

-dave-

Really, dave? You'd be able to hike up the mountain and ski one run, even as the rest of us passed you 15-20 times with huge smiles on our snow covered faces? You must REALLY love climbing.

 

[awf170]

Seconded. Somewhere in the adks would be very niiiice.

Too far for me. Also, I think most stuff will be way to dangerous for a large group with not a ton of backcountry knowlegde. Though I really don't know much about the ADK's.

I might be down... In all honesty, I don't like traveling in too large of a group though, it always presents issues. Not to rake on the commradery of AZ or an AZ backcountry group, as this would be more of enjoyable gathering than a superfoulous day in the mountains pushing for some high and mighty goal, so maybe group size wouldn't be an issue anyways.

Yep, that is why I suggested going to hojo's and cardigan. Also, Tucks might be a fun idea too, as long as it is late in the season.

Yeah, I tend to see a group BC gathering as a mellow deal like Mt. Greylock as opposed to something ambitious like trying to get a group of 10 down Dodge's Drop or something like that. That's something I'd feel more comfy taking on with a small group of skiers I know well.

I was thinking more along the line of dead end chute, but hey I guess we can split the group up between that and Dodges. :wink::-o:lol:

Austin, I think Cardigan might be a good AZ gathering spot. Closer to many population centers than the whites too!

Yeah, it seems like the most center location to me. It is an easy drive for pretty much anyone in New England. Also if the snow is good those snowfields look like a lot of fun.

 

[Greg]

I've never earned turns (well, once I hiked halfway up a short bump run after the lifts closed) so I'm speaking from a completely lift-serviced skier perspective. I should mention that I love hiking/backpacking; although I haven't been in some time. My lack of a desire to earn 'em is more of a function of where I live. I would have had to drive at least 4 hours to get any decent skiing in so far this year. A 4 hour drive up and back and quite possibly burning a vacation day to do it is simply not worth a few runs. I normally take a few runs to get into my ski day so I'm not sure how well I'd ski anyway. I guess that's not really the point of earning them. So early season, I'll just wait for the lifts to spin.

I could more easily see myself earning turns in the spring. But even then, when the local areas shut down, there's usually a lift-serviced option up North. Once all the lift serviced options are done, I'm back in the same situation I am in the fall where the drive to satisfaction ratio is not there. Also, I often quit in the Spring before all the lifts close anyway so spring earning is kinda moot for me.

In any event, I can totally see the appeal and if I had more of an opportunity to do it, I probably would. I do foresee some earning turns in my future once life calms down a bit (in like 20 years...).

 

[riverc0il]

i respect where you are coming from, greg. for me personally, i do not see distance and drive to satisfaction ratios as an isue with turn earning. i used to drive from the boston area for turn earning before moving up here. 7 hours round trip for a single run, sure, no problem. granted i did not do it as often....

as far as satisfaction ratios, i have had some of my most satisfying days driving that amount of time for one run. austin can vouch, i think, having spent 8 hours round trip in a car on that day at jay in october from which the recent video was made.

we all have our own thresholds though. being closer opens more opportunity and more days, but being further away does not lessen the satisfaction.

 

[AdironRider]

Earning your turns is one of the more rewarding experiences you can have on snow. The mountains are just much more relazing, serene, and beautiful to me personally during the winter.

 

[awf170]

austin can vouch, i think, having spent 8 hours round trip in a car on that day at jay in october from which the recent video was made.

Yep, and for the conditions we had that day I would do it 10 more times. I really can't understand how someone wouldn't drive 4 hours for that, but would drive 4 hours for some human bowling and gaper slamons at K-mart opening weekend. (Greg, I'm not trying to be a jerk at all, but it just seems like madness to me. Obviously it isn't though because a ton of people here were going to do it, and wouldn't hike for turns when the snow was really good.)

 

[Greg]

Yep, and for the conditions we had that day I would do it 10 more times. I really can't understand how someone wouldn't drive 4 hours for that, but would drive 4 hours for some human bowling and gaper slamons at K-mart opening weekend. (Greg, I'm not trying to be a jerk at all, but it just seems like madness to me. Obviously it isn't though because a ton of people here were going to do it, and wouldn't hike for turns when the snow was really good.)

It's the old quantity vs. "quality" debate. Quantity is my quality. Different strokes for different folks. With a wife, 2 young children, house, job, etc., I have to pick days that I think are going to give me some decent skiing mileage. I would venture to guess that we are in vastly different situations as far as life outside of skiing goes, Austin...

I'm interested in honing skills right now. I am a firm believer that when the goal is to improve your technique, it's all about the miles you log, especially in the bumps. If I was more satisfied with my skill level, I might be content with earning turns or focusing on BC, touring, etc.

My goal this season is to continue to improve in the bumps which right now is my most rewarding skiing experience. Repition is the key and there are a lot of groomed trail drills I can do to work towards my personal goal. So if that's "madness", so be it.

 

[JD]

My experience was having a pass at Stowe for 5 years and gettign 80-100 days a year.
Getting there early and being in the first coupla chairs every day it was good.
Not buying a pass last year and just touring.
I'll never buy another pass again.
Take that for what it's worth.
I have NO interst in man made, groomed, or bumped snow.
I want natrual (perfect or crusty) untracked conditions in places no one else skis.
I can find that, and I'm satisfied.

 

[David Metsky]

Really, dave? You'd be able to hike up the mountain and ski one run, even as the rest of us passed you 15-20 times with huge smiles on our snow covered faces? You must REALLY love climbing.

Different squids for different kids. I might take a chopper into a backcountry hut, but once there I get much more enjoyment from exploring the way up and down by my own feet. I'd have just as big a smile on my face. It's really not that big a deal.

I certainly enjoy lift skiing on a powder day, but getting into the backcountry on via my own power and yo-yo'ing some runs, now that's special.

-dave-

 

[roark]

Yep, that is why I suggested going to hojo's and cardigan. Also, Tucks might be a fun idea too, as long as it is late in the season.

I'd be down for any of the above. 8)