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Priceless
Chic Scott - Rites of Passage - Eastern Manifesto - Ski Shrine- Softshells & more
Issue LII
January 2012
2 Off-Piste January 2012
Off-Piste
Volume XIII Issue LII
Publisher/Editor
David Waag
Copy Editors
Michael Becker, Karen Holt, Simon McDowell
Design Consultant
Ullr
Contributing Writers
Michael Becker, Paul Butler, Brooke Edwards,
Jason Leslie, Conor Hurley, Don Pattison,
Andy Roof, Jeff Slack, Lance Waring, Tim Weed
Contributing Photographers/Artists
Ryan Creary, Don Gardner, Garret Grove, Grant
Gunderson,
Conor Hurley, Jerry King, Ryan Krueger, Jason Leslie,
Chris Miller, Brian Mohr, Chic Scott, Jeff Slack
Web Tech
Karen Holt
Printing & Distribution
Oregon Litho, McMinnville, OR
Off-Piste PO Box 1626 Hood River, OR 97031
509-999-2208 info@offpistemag.com
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All Content Copyright 2012 Freeheel Press
Contents
features
10
An Evening with Chic Scott
12
Backcountry Manifesto
14
Rites of Passage
19
Ski Shrine
20
Rocky Mountain Skier
Reflections on an evening with a Canadian Ski Pioneer - Conor Hurley
An Eastern Skier’s Perspective - Tim Weed
From Ski Bum to Mentor - Lance Waring
Set Yourself Up for a Successful Season - Jason Leslie
Part III of IV - An Interview by Don Pattison
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The opinions expressed in Off-Piste do not necessarily represent those
of the publisher or editorial staff. Closed minds are dangerous. No part
of Off-Piste may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent
from Freeheel Press..
Warning: Backcountry skiing is inherently dangerous. It may well cause
disruption to your otherwise normal life. Off-Piste is no substitute for
experience or sound judgement. Be careful out there.
Cover Photo: Garrett Grove
Location: Central Cascades, WA
Skier: Forrest Coots
8
16
22
24
28
30
What’s Up
Gallery
La Polenta - Wisdom, insight, opinion & more
Gear Talk - Softshell Jackets and Pants
Words & Images - Opinion on books and films
Letters
Contents illustration: Chris Miller
ospreypacks.com
LIFT SERVED & SIDECOUNTRY SKIING
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KARVE 16
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SCAN FOR TODAY’S
SNOW REPORT.
PHOTO CREDIT: Henry Georgi
Issue LII Off-Piste 3
The Penetrator lives up to his name in the Kootenays, Mt Carlyle Lodge, BC
4 Off-Piste January 2012
Photo: Dave Waag
Issue LII Off-Piste 5
First Tracks
T
he sixteen inches of
new snow almost doubles
the snowpack down where I park my
truck. The trail breaking is easy, but the
skiing will be a bit sporty as the snowpack is
thinner than I’d like to see it. It’s New Year’s Eve,
there’s a good coat of new snow and the day dawned
clear and blue - a great way to start the New Year, really.
It’s just not off to the record start that some forecasts suggested,
and that I’d hoped for. It could be worse, at least I’m skiing, but the
promise of an epic La Niña-fueled ski season has yet to deliver the goods
as advertised for most of the Northwest and beyond.
So far, it has been one of those seasons where it’s not all about the down, rather it’s
about being happy to get out and slide on snow. Hardly a day goes by when the topic of the
weather, specifically the incredibly dry December and now early January we are experiencing,
does not feature in multiple conversations a day. Skiers love to talk about the weather. It’s part
of being a junkie. We talk, we read, we talk some more. Sometimes, I have to remind myself not
everyone is as obsessed with the weather as I am. The internet is the limitless source of weather
data and opinion. And I’ll be the first to admit, I love having access to so much weather information.
When it’s not snowing, like the past month around here, I can find out where it is snowing. Or better yet, I
can appease my snow deprived mind by finding out how many other places it’s not snowing, too. Turns out,
the current dry spell is pretty widespread, at least south of the Canadian border. Much of British Columbia,
living up to its reputation as the Great White North, appears to be having a reasonably good season thus far.
Even parts of Washington and Montana are doing OK. And Alaska is off to a killer start.
I like to think it’s still early. A month ago I was hardly concerned by the lack of snow, and in a month from now, it could
all be a distant memory, erased by cold smoke billowing past my waist. The bottom line is there is nothing I can do about
it. The weather is beyond my control. That is part of the fascination. We (humans) are always trying to stay one step ahead
and understand everything, the weather included. The reality is I think the weather has us beat. Nonetheless, I love weather
forecasts - short range, long range, you name it; I love to read them, analyze them and talk about them. There just aren’t
that many surprises in life anymore. But the weather, there’s a surprise you can count on. Remember, it’s always a powder day
somewhere. Hopefully, your turn and mine arrives sooner than later.
Cheers
Dave
Josh Hummel in the tree pow stash, White Pass, WA
6 Off-Piste January 2012
Photo: Jason Hummel
Photo: Jay Beyer
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Issue LII Off-Piste 7
What’s Up
ski news, access issues and more
Skiers are dwarfed amidst a landscape dominated by the Fitzsimmons Icefall, flowing down from Mount Fitzsimmons (left) and Overlord Mountain (center). The Spearhead Huts Project: Peak-to-Peak On Your Own Two Feet
W
hen it comes to backcountry ambitions most of us prefer
something a little more civilized than emerging from rimeencrusted tents or half-buried bivy sacks. For those who cherish
the comfort, convenience and even sociability of backcountry huts
to support their adventures, some of the most revered backcountry
terrain on the planet is about to get a whole lot better.
Key figures in the Whistler backcountry community are pushing forward
with plans to construct a series of mountain huts along the Spearhead
Traverse, the 20-mile horseshoe of high-alpine terrain linking Whistler
and Blackcomb Mountains.
Weaving through dramatic summits and technical, glaciated terrain
that should not be underestimated, the Spearhead Traverse entails
surprisingly moderate effort. By linking up low cols with high traverses,
the standard route requires a mere 6,000 feet of elevation gain. Even
when burdened by the overnight gear that huts would render obsolete,
only a couple of climbs can rightfully be described as slogs.
Several north-facing drainages provide long descents through sheltered
8 Off-Piste January 2012
Photo: Jeff Slack
by Jeff Slack
powder, while those with an appetite for steeps find a vast buffet of
big, aesthetic lines. A generous marinade of coastal powder, kept cold
and dry by the range’s extensive glaciers, means good conditions can
be found from December through June in most years.
The Spearhead is no secret stash. Legendary mountaineers like Pip
Brock and Don & Phyllis Munday began exploring the range on skis
more than 75 years ago. In the spring of 1964, two years before ski
operations began on Whistler Mountain, a group of university students
from Vancouver spent nine days completing the first full traverse of the
range, summiting several peaks along the way. Since then, the region
has seen a steady increase in skiers looking for adventure.
Today, the traverse is frequently done as a long single-day outing,
although super-athlete Greg “Two-Mill” Hill set the speed record when
he sprinted from the Blackcomb backcountry gate to Whistler Village
in under five hours. Those more intent on taking in the scenery, or
actually skiing, usually take two to four days and set up a couple of
camps to explore beyond the well-worn skin track.
What’s Up
ski news, access issues and more
The idea of a nonprofit hut-serviced route has been floating around for decades,
but recently gained momentum as two foundations came together along with local
mountaineering groups to form the Spearhead Huts Committee. The current plan
calls for three evenly spaced huts—two in new locations, with a third replacing the
Himmelsbach Hut, the Spearhead’s only existing structure (a supremely located
but spartan shelter built in 1968).
All portions of the traverse beyond Whistler-Blackcomb boundaries lie within
Garibaldi Provincial Park, adding layers of red tape to the project. The most likely
timeline sees construction begin in summer 2013. Hopefully, allowing ample time
to ensure the project is done right.
While three huts along this relatively short route may seem like overkill, crucial to
BC Parks’ approval is ensuring the hut system be as accessible to summer hikers
as it is skiers. Without skis to glide over the deep winter snowpack, three days to
complete the traverse is standard for hikers.
Inevitably, some complain that more huts will increase traffic and compromise the
wildness of the range’s more remote corners. Ultimately, the key change for skiers
is this: dozens of rarely skied, would-be “classic” descents—from the 4,000 vertical
foot Shudder Glacier to the north face of Cheakamus Mountain—used to entail an
alpine start and a heavy load. When the huts are complete, virtually every corner
of the Spearhead will be accessible with a comfortable night’s sleep, a day pack
and a modest approach.
Tracks will certainly become more prevalent but, making this spectacular range
accessible to a broader group is precisely the point. As Jayson Faulkner, Chair of
the Spearhead Committee, puts it: “Translating the backcountry experience for
others is the key to expanding consciousness of sustainable economy models and
environmental stewardship.” Besides, with 50,000 acres of mostly alpine terrain,
there will still be plenty to go around.
For those in search of solitude, the Spearhead is just the tip of the icefield. The
farthest hut will offer a perfect staging area for ventures deeper into Garibaldi
Park’s virtually limitless and untouched expanses.
Most Whistlerites support the Spearhead Huts as a forward-looking way of
developing a low-impact economy, while harkening back to the town’s roots as
a mountain town in the purest sense. Faulkner adds, “backcountry skiing is the
original form of skiing and its most sustainable form for the future.” In contrast
to Whistler’s glitzy hotels, the Spearhead Huts promise five-star accommodations
for the discriminating skier—those for whom dry boots on day three represent the
height of luxury.
Illustration by Jason Leslie
Further details, including maps of the terrain and potential building sites, can be found at www.accwhistler.ca and www.SpearheadHuts.org.
Issue LII Off-Piste 9
An Evening with C hic S cott
Skier, Alpinist, Historian and Author
by
C onor H urley
Photo: Conor Hurley
I
t was 8:30 p.m. when I parked my van in front of Chic Scott’s house in Banff, Alberta. The dark sky could not hide
the fact I was late; I’d said I would arrive at 6 p.m. My only hope was that Scott would be an understanding guy –
after all, who’s going to close the door on a guy holding a bottle of scotch?
As I knocked on the door, I noticed a crate of MSR fuel bottles
sitting beside the door; it had to be the right house. Promptly, the
guy who literally wrote the book on ski touring in Western Canada
opened the door. “Hi guys, come on in. Did you say you needed a
place to stay tonight? If that’s the case, get your stuff and bring it
in, so we can get down to it,” he said with a warm smile.
I had, in fact, asked Scott if my ski partner Ty Mills and I could
crash on his floor after we conducted our interview with him.
Dirtbag is as dirtbag does, and Scott was sympathetic. My gut told
me it wasn’t the first time he had a couple of skiers crash in his
living room.
The front door opened into the kitchen, which doubled as the office.
The counters had piles of papers stacked neatly over them, and at
the head of the table was Scott’s laptop. It was HQ for Summits
and Icefields, the ski touring bible for anyone interested in British
Columbia and Alberta backcountry skiing. Hanging on the wall
above the table were mountain photos from the Selkirks, Rockies,
Alps and Himalaya. The dude’s been around. As I eased past his
“office” and moved into the living room, Clint Eastwood clad in a
climbing helmet and tied into a belay on the Eiger Norwand, glared
from a photo on the wall. Scott later explained he’d spent seven
weeks working side by side with Eastwood in 1974 while filming The
Eiger Sanction. It was just one of a number of summers he spent
climbing and working as a mountain guide in the Alps during the
late sixties and early seventies.
“Make yourselves comfortable guys, I’ve got to wrap a couple of
things up, and I’ll be right in,” said Scott. The melodic tones of
Pink Floyd’s “Darkside of the Moon” eased us deep into our chairs
and Scott’s mountain memorabilia coupled with bookshelves and
comfortable couches made for a cozy living room.
Scott entered the room, scotch glasses in hand.
“Singleton, eh? I’ve never heard of it,” he mused.
The conversation moved quickly from the origin of the scotch to
Canada’s railroad, the men who created it, the state of the world
and ultimately skiing.
Scott, along with Don Gardner, Charlie Locke and Neil Liske were
the first to complete a traverse of Canada’s icefield-laden Great
Divide - from Jasper to Lake Louise - almost 45 years ago. Their
21-day journey in 1967 might be unimaginable for a modern
skier given their equipment and wool clothing. They used low-cut
leather boots and cross-country skis. The only avalanche gear they
carried was a single shovel, which doubled as their frying pan. The
traverse was a mighty accomplishment for the time and set the bar
for many trips to come.
“Our skis were meant for travelling. We didn’t even have skins;
we used kick wax. There wasn’t much turning, but that wasn’t
the point, our goal was to traverse vast distances through the
mountains,” said Scott.
Scott scoffs at the size of today’s skis and the amount of gear
most of us carry around. He understands the focus of the sport has
changed and that the descent now takes priority over the route
for many. However, he maintains it’s ridiculous to see someone
sporting a pair of 110mm-waisted skis on a flat walk into an alpine
hut. Today’s equipment may be lightweight, but according to Scott,
he and his ski partners didn’t have to carry a lot of the stuff a
modern day ski tourist considers compulsory because it simply
didn’t exist at the time. Their packs only weighed about 45 lbs on
the Great Divide traverse. Imagine setting out on a big traverse
without a GPS unit, a probe, a shovel, a transceiver, glacier travel
gear, a radio or a satellite phone - not only would it cut weight,
but it would also sever the safety network upon which we now
commonly rely. At the time, Parks Canada made Scott’s party sign
a waiver stating they would be responsible for the cost of their
rescue. Their safety plan was if they didn’t show up in Lake Louise
35 days after they departed Jasper, Parks Canada should come look
for them.
Imagine what a group of twenty-year-olds must have learned
when they completed the first traverse of Great Divide in 1967.
Meticulous planning combined with teamwork culminated in a
success even the experienced Hans Gmoser could not match—he’d
tried to traverse the divide and failed in 1960. It became a trip
amongst many in the mountains for Scott and his friends. The
execution of the traverse marked a major accomplishment in the
mountains by Canadians; no longer were the mountains exclusively
for Europeans, Canadians too, had earned their place.
Today, Scott’s views range from counter-culture to old school. He
doesn’t own a car, and he gets around Banff by bike. He’s an ardent
recycler and tries to do his part to respect the integrity of the
natural world. His opinions are as strong as the list of his mountain
accomplishments is long. To him the idea of a heli-ski company
trying to run a green business is laughable; “How can they burn
thousands of liters of Jet B in a season and think that recycling
their sardine tins will green up their act?” said Scott when asked
what he thought of heli-skiing.
****
The next day, Ty and I set out to the Peyto Hut on the Wapta
continued on p. 31
10 Off-Piste January 2012
The 1967 Grand Divide Traverse Crew: Don Gardner, Chic Scott, Charlie Locke and Neil Liske.
Photo: Don Gardner
Chic Scott geared up on the Rogers Pass to Bugaboos Traverse in 1973.
Photo: Don Gardner
Weathering a storm on Sugarloaf Mountain during the Rogers Pass to Bugaboos Traverse in 1973. Photo by Chic Scott
Issue LII Off-Piste 11
An Eastern Skier’s
Backcountry
Manifesto
By Tim Weed
Photos by Brian Mohr
I
f you close your eyes and think “backcountry skiing,” you probably see corniced couloirs hiding between
fins of vertical granite, or face-shot powder on a western mountainside covered in aspen or spruce. I’ll
admit such scenes get my blood pumping, too.
I’ve spent many seasons skiing the west. With a family home near Red Mountain Pass in Colorado, and a generous host of a brother who
works as an avalanche forecaster in northern Utah, I’m lucky enough to get my share of western powder every year.
But when it comes to my daily bread of winter I must look closer to home. The Great Northern Forest is my backyard, and in order to make
the most of it, I find myself stretching the definition of backcountry skiing beyond that of the typical Western mountainscape.
Don’t get me wrong, there are opportunities in northern New England for quality big-mountain adventures. I’ve had bluebird days on Mount
Washington’s world-class steeps and uncrowded powder days on Mansfield’s vintage Teardrop trail that would make any western skier weep
with envy. Even on those all-too-frequent days when the snow conditions aren’t exactly perfect for carving turns in untracked snow, what
doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. The mountains of New England possess their own subtle, severe beauty.
Here’s the unvarnished New England truth. If I were to limit myself to the typical definition of backcountry skiing -- fat boards on steep, open
terrain -- only a handful of days per season would really shine. For me, a handful of days per season is not enough. So I’ve adapted and
evolved. I’ve learned to branch out and broaden my definition of “backcountry.” As a result, nearly every day I spend on skis from December
to April is a backcountry adventure.
I have a pair of light tele skis with fish scales underfoot that I use with light three-pin boots. This equipment is ideal for the low-angle
wooded hillsides that make up much of the New England topography. The truth is I actually prefer touring on classic Nordic racing skis with
some temperature appropriate wax in the kick pocket. Opportunities for skinny ski touring abound in New England.
Try making tele turns on double-cambered 41-millimeter wide skis. Even a low-angle pasture can evoke the challenge and thrill of a
38-degree chute on your fat boards. It’s all about touch and balance, and it’s not easy to master. When it clicks, especially when conditions
are right, nothing can beat it. Fresh powder is great, but a few inches on top of grass is all you need; four to six inches of light-and-fluffy on
top of a carvable New England crust is paradise.
This kind of skiing usually comes as an interlude in a longer tour, and if the conditions aren’t right for tele turns, striding at full speed through
the mixed hardwoods on light and limber skis is joy enough.
Get into the rhythm. Revel in the air filling your lungs and the blood coursing through your veins. It’s pure freedom, flying through the
sleeping forest, as graceful as a deer, as precise and silent as an owl on the wing. You may have doubts about expanding the definition of
backcountry to include a set track, but really, why not? If there’s already a skin track up the bowl, won’t you use it? If I’m on skis and seeing
more deer or turkey than humans, it’s a backcountry experience.
Then there’s spring corn. On March mornings, the sun warms the upper layers of weight-supporting granular crust just enough to make for
the most delicate skinny-ski tele turns imaginable. Later in the spring, north-facing slopes can be ideal for skate skiing. I keep a pair of rock
skis just for this purpose. These slopes often retain their cover for weeks after it’s melted elsewhere. While others bemoan mud season and
long for powder, you can be out weaving through the hemlocks, skipping over bare patches and exulting in the freedom of unencumbered
movement.
Now, I’ll admit it. To fully enjoy this smorgasbord of backcountry treats, you must keep a full quiver of skis. At last count I owned around ten
pair, seven or eight of which I use with some regularity. But most of my quiver comes from discards I’ve bought used at local ski swaps, and
if you consider the hours of pleasure they’ve provided, it’s hard to imagine a better bargain.
If you live anywhere east of the Rockies, think about it. Traveling is fun, as is dreaming about that remote first descent or that heroic bigmountain line. But on a day-to-day basis, especially as we come to terms with the limits of our carbon-based lifestyle, we sometimes need
to look closer to home. What really matters is getting out into the backcountry, however we may define it, and making the contact between
snow and ski that allows us to fly and feel the terrain roll and plunge under our feet.
12 Off-Piste January 2012
Here’s the unvarnished New England truth. If I were to limit myself to the typical definition of backcountry
skiing -- fat boards on steep, open terrain -- only a handful of days per season would really shine. ... So
I’ve adapted and evolved. I’ve learned to branch out and broaden my definition of “backcountry.” ... If I’m
on skis and seeing more deer or turkey than humans, it’s a backcountry experience.
Issue LII Off-Piste 13
W
hen I first arrived in Telluride, I was a 19-year-old punk who thought the only way to prove myself was by ticking off the
local test pieces. After a decade or so, I’d managed to skitter down most of the established routes—often in ugly conditions
because bragging rights were more important than quality. Eventually, my puerile fixation with the gnar waned. I’d survived the
skier’s first rite of passage: a testosterone-based test of ability, courage and luck. Nowadays, I’ll still ski a consequential line
when conditions are right, but more often than not, I’m content to keep the pitch below 40 degrees.
My next rite of passage involved traveling for turns. I contracted a bad
case of ski wanderlust, laying tracks in the mountains of South America,
Alaska, New Zealand, Canada, Europe, and Nepal. No matter how good it
was back home, it seemed the snow was always softer on the other side
of the planet. Gradually, my pocketbook and my environmental conscience
put the kibosh on this profligate nomadic lifestyle. While I still like to travel
for novelty turns, these days the company and the style of the trip are
more important than just checking out another exotic ski destination.
So where did that leave me as a forty-year-old ski bum? Was I destined to
spend my golden years close to home powder-puffing through low-angle
tree shots? Thanks to my godson, Max Walker-Silverman, the answer was a
resounding no.
Max and I first skied together when he was an infant in a pack on my
back, but it was more fun when he grew enough for his own pair of sticks.
I remember a late spring powder day when Max was maybe four years
old. At the time, his ski boots attached with two velcro pull-tabs. This
soft-flexing system was good for his technique. But that day, he buried
his tips and cartwheeled in the thick snow. His skis—both boots still in
the bindings—were buried in the wet spring cement. Lower lip trembling,
Max held his stocking feet up in the air while I cleaned the snow out of his
packed boots. Once he was back on his skis, Max announced it was time to
go down because he was “outperforming those boots.” We finished the day
with his damp socks buckled firmly inside a new pair of Nordicas.
Over the years, Max and I have had some excellent adventures. One day at
the summit of 14,150-foot Mt. Sneffels, another climber asked Max, “How
old are you, young man?” “Five,” he answered, holding up his fingers. “How
old are you?”
Shortly after Max turned six, we went for a spring tour with his new
telemark gear. Max skinned up 1,000 vert and ripped back down the soft
corn, linking parallel turns because he was too light to flex the bellows of his new boots in a deep tele turn.
Once Max gained enough weight to master the telemark turn, he wanted to try snowboarding. His old-school father was
horrified, but wise enough to know that forbidden fruit is the sweetest. He called me for help. Determined not to lose Max as a
ski partner, I discovered that he was a goofy foot and deliberately set up the bindings on his borrowed board in regular stance.
Max struggled mightily that day and hasn’t ridden a snowboard ever since. Years later, I confessed my duplicity. He still claims I
stole his shot at an Olympic medal in the half-pipe.
Max’s ski technique continued to blossom. At age nine, I swore him to secrecy and showed him my favorite powder stash on the
local ski mountain. He thanked me for “the best turns of his life—so far.”
The next winter, we were lucky enough to travel south to ski in Portillo and Las Lenas. I’ll never forget Chris Davenport—always
the consummate gentleman—shaking Max’s hand and congratulating him on leaving a nice set of tracks in a south-facing
powder-filled couloir above the Portillo Lodge.
Max and I began ski touring together at home in Colorado’s San Juans. The first couple years, we went in the spring when the
snowpack was most stable. We had some memorable days, including one when I chastised Max for taking unnecessary risks
when he blindly hucked off a 30-foot cliff. His response, “Relax, I stuck it,” was a classic cocky kid’s comeback, but he must
have heard the concern in my voice because he’s asked me to scout his landings ever since.
14 Off-Piste January 2012
So where did that leave me as a forty-year-old ski bum? Was I destined to spend my
golden years close to home powder-puffing through low-angle tree shots?
As a teenager, Max developed a hunger for untracked snow. With his
parent’s blessing, we slipped off into the sidecountry for a series of
powder forays off the top of the ski hill. By the end of the season,
Max had achieved a Level 1 Avalanche Certification and completed
a Wilderness First Responder course. I wish some of my adult ski
partners were as eager to build their skill sets.
Max’s high-school years slipped by quickly. We still managed to get
out a few times each winter, but he began competing in Big Mountain
events, which required training and travel. During his sophomore
year, we bumped into each other at the ski resort. He was training
with friends who dropped me after three turns, but Max was waiting
at the chair when I arrived. “Thanks buddy,” I said sadly, for I
realized this was the pivotal moment when mentor and mentee
reversed roles. “No worries,” he grinned. “You should get some
heelpieces if you want to keep up. Anyways, I wanted to ask if you’d
edit my application to the Hans Saari Memorial Steep Skiing Camp in
the Tetons this spring.”
That night, I read the application. To the question, Who are your
skiing mentors? Max had written the following:
Lance Waring, who would perhaps be regarded by the unknowing
as a local ski bum, is a man who I have been privileged enough to
know beyond the tattered skis and vibrant smile. As a good friend
of my father, he took me under-wing as soon as I started skiing. He
has shaped and inspired my life as a skier, from buying me my first
avalanche shovel to—when I wanted to try snowboarding—setting
up my bindings backwards so I would hate it. Lance does not huck
or point ‘em. His preferred style is nice-n-easy tele-turns. But it is
this man, more than any other, that showed me skiing is not about
what most ski-porns would suggest. It is about the mountains, snow,
control and one’s connection with each of those elements. Lance is
the man who has etched that into my life.
Reading those words, I realized my most important skier’s rite of
passage has been sharing the love of the mountains with Max. And
now it’s time to start training, so I can keep up with Max when he
returns home for winter break from his freshman year at college.
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Issue LII Off-Piste 15
Gallery
Perspective check. The Fairweather Range, Glacier Bay, Alaska. Kyle Christenson, Chad Klein, Gabe Kelley
Photo: Rya
Jeff Campb
Tim Haggerty enjoys the Selkirk’s finest, Golden BC
16 Off-Piste January 2012
Photo: Ryan Creary
Gallery
an Kreuger
Noah Howell flies the freeheel flag in Silver Fork, UT
bell and the ghost trees, the Kootenays, BC
Photo: Powder Whore / Andy Jacobsen
Garrett Grove
Issue LII Off-Piste 17
Gallery
Becoming Fluent
Aspiration quests
Grasping to learn mountain’s language.
Is it love’s language you claim
Or do spires call your name?
Peaks’ confidantes
Whisper in powder’s breath.
Moonlight tugs on glacier’s sleeve
Passing notes under cover of night.
Longing earns their trust…
Seduces stories from their slopes
Slips love letters under the folds
Of their skin…
Contours traced,
Skins gliding slowly
Up the tingle of spines
The symphony of yes.
Putting the fluid back in fluent,
Turn by sexy turn.
Cascading down white tongues,
The time is now to get lost in translation…
~ Brooke Elizabeth Edwards
Zach Griffin lays it down on Mt Baker, Washington.
18 Off-Piste January 2012
Photo: Grant Gunderson
Issue LII Off-Piste 19
A
friend once observed while climbing a skin track in a popular
touring area that backcountry skiers are like cats: they
tolerate, but rarely embrace one another’s presence. I’d never
really thought about it like this before. Sure, everyone is a little
protective of their ski line, especially after working a skin track
to reach it. But given our situation, Northwest-based skiers
out for a tour in the Wasatch Mountains, his remarks hit home.
Arguably, we were out of our element and unlikely to know any of
the people touring in our little slice of the range. Regardless, we
had very little interest in trying to meet the other skiers we saw,
nor did it appear anyone was too keen on getting to know us. We
simply coexisted with as little overlap as possible, like cats.
If collectively we are like cats, how do backcountry skiers
break down by region? Well, this four- part series explores
various backcountry skier composites. We present backcountry
personalities of the Northwest, California, the Rockies and the
East by interviewing a stereotypical skier, albeit a fictitious one,
from each of the four regions.
Our series continues with a skier from the Rocky Mountain state
of Colorado:
M
eet Ann (not her real name, but it could be). Ann grew up
in a tidy Denver suburb, was a Breckenridge ski bus kid and
pays for her Boulder life as a nurse. Judiciously fit, with short
dishwater-blond hair, Ann is hitting her stride in her mid-40’s and
has been in and out of bounds all of her outdoor life. She is single
with a gaggle of friends, makes time for yoga, has stacked-up a
pile of thoughtful adventure travel trips and is, in her own words,
“complicated.” She agreed to meet me for an interview following
her evening yoga session, and we are having our first margarita
at a high-dollar taco joint in Boulder.
Off-Piste: How was yoga? Feeling refreshed?
Ann: Refreshed? It’s Bikram Yoga. It’s more of a workout than a
refresher. But it was great; thanks for asking.
OP: Do you spend a bunch of money on outdoor clothes, because
you look good? Those are some pretty nice outdoor duds. Do
you consider yourself a gear head?
Ann: A gear head, compared to whom? Where the necessary
outdoor clothes stop and fashion starts is hard to gauge,
especially here in Boulder. I always have the 10 essentials stowed
in my pack, and I like updating my clothes just about every
season. Hey, I have to keep up with my girlfriends, and they have
to try and keep up with me! Actually, I’m due for some new skis.
It’s time for this girl to get some rocker – got anything in the OffPiste test fleet I can try?
20 Off-Piste January 2012
OP: If only. I don’t hold those keys; I’m just the interview guy.
What’s your preference freeheel or fixed?
Ann: I got my start on alpine skis as a kid and love the feel of
the heavy metal gear at the resort. Of course, I had my love
affair with the telemark turn and the requisite pinner boy in my
twenties. I matured out of the boyfriend, but kept my heel free
until I hit 40. I still like to tele, but all my time skiing bumps at
Mary Jane over the years has taken its toll, and I fix the heel
more often than not now.
OP: You know what they say: “AT is short for Already
Telemarked.” OK, on to the tough questions … How about
motorized vehicles in the backcountry? You are a member of
the Backcountry Snowsports Alliance (BSA) and were around the
conflict on Vail Pass in the 1990’s, what’s the update?
Ann: The posted division of motorized and non-motorized access
has eased the conflict, and I can get away from the buzzing
noise, but it takes some slogging. Nobody ever gets all they want
in a fight like that, but it was the best deal available.
OP: How do you feel about the growth of snowmobile use for
skiing in the backcountry? Would you ever do a snowmobileassisted trip? Even if the sled delivered better food and
beverage to a 10th Mountain Hut?
Ann: No, I prefer the silence of human power, even if it comes
with a sore back. Besides, snow machines breakdown and then
you’re left standing around in the cold, scratching your head. I’d
just as soon be self-contained. You know, one less variable.
OP: That is kind of an apt metaphor for you, “self-contained.”
Ann: I guess I am, but satisfactory backcountry skiing usually
means joining a like-minded crew to be safe in the steeps and
that justifies being a team player. If I want to ski a shot and
everyone else thinks it’s unsafe, then I’m out-voted, and we don’t
ski it. It’s spared my life, and I know it’s true.
OP: Do you think guys are more prone to skiing risky stuff
because of ego, especially in a “dog pack” group?
Ann: Sure, I’ve had to talk a few off the barking boys off
the ledge…definitely seen the human factor lead to team
testosterone decision making. Fortunately, I’ve never been
involved in any bad situations. Are you looking at my crossed
finger nails?
OP: Jeez, who wouldn’t? How many 14ers have you climbed?
Ann: A majority, but I’ve stopped tracking that kind of thing.
I’ve definitely returned to the ones with good skiing multiple
times. Climbing the 14ers is a nerdy badge of honor around
here, more for transplants and one-uppers than this home girl.
But yeah, skiing them all doesn’t interest me. Just give me Holy
Cross on a nervous sunny morning; I run it from the cornice to
the creek, and that’s way more than enough for me!
OP: How about dogs or no dogs in the backcountry?
Ann: I don’t have a problem with well-behaved dogs. I’ve got
several friends who bring their dogs, and I want to be with
them, so I just deal. I’m not shy. I’ll let the dog owner know if
they need to reign in their pet.
OP: In the Northwest, we like to joke that they call it Rockies
[not the Snowies] for a reason. Is Rocky Mountain snow the best
on earth?
Ann: Not so far, this season, ha ha. But on a good day, standing
on top of your shot with that cold, crisp air, untracked fluff below
and unreal blue sky above … yes, it beats out most everywhere
else. I guess what we lack in snow volume, we get in snow
quality. Quality over quantity, there’s another metaphor to live
by.
OP: Favorite ski destination?
Ann: CB [Crested Butte] is my preferred locale when I have
the time to get away for multiple days. The resort has great
terrain, and there are plenty of touring opportunities, too. The
quick-fix from the Front Range is more complicated than it used
to be. Summit County is an obvious choice, but it is just so
overrun these days, and with Breckenridge looking to span the
full Tenmile Range with lifts, the day trip access is shrinking. I
haven’t been to Silverton but plan to load the van up for that
trip if the snow picks up this winter.
OP: What’s your dream ski trip?
Ann: The Haute Route, no question. Europe is one of the few
places I have not skied, and I love the thought of cappuccino
and pastries while parked on a bench outside a stone-built
European hut, sun shining and surrounded by tempting ski
shots. I’ve been saving my pennies and working to put together
an all-star crew.
OP: Best song? John Denver “Rocky Mountain High” or Joe
Walsh “Rocky Mountain Way?”
Ann: Hand me that air guitar, buy me another drink and get
outta my way!
Issue LII Off-Piste 21
La Polenta
wisdom, insight, opinion and more
Precipitation, which side are you on?
Are you on the rise? Are you falling down?
Lemme know, c’mon let’s go yeah!
– Got Some, Pearl Jam
T
he weather is such a fickle puppeteer, with strings intrinsically attached to the hearts and minds of
backcountry skiers and riders alike, swaying our thoughts, feelings and actions with patterns and whims
that are, of course, far beyond our control.
If you’re at all like me and many other backcountry powder junkies, then you follow the weather obsessively in the winter, more
so compared to any other season. In the spring, summer and fall, I’ll periodically log into the NOAA forecast for my area. By the
winter, starting around the end of October, time spent monitoring the weather ramps up. My kids will knowingly inquire and answer
themselves their inevitable question with a sigh: “What are you doing on the computer, Papa? Let me guess; checking the weather.”
As the winter solstice looms NOAA, NWAC (Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center), and other weather related websites begin to
see a heavy view count from my terminal. I’ll even wade through some Cliff Mass blog posts to see what is going on in the Pacific
Northwest world of weather (Cliff Mass is a University of Washington Professor of Atmospheric Sciences).
One favorite, required wintertime read is that by Weatherwatch columnist, Bill Biddle, who has penned his monthly forecast in the
Methow Valley News for decades, blending poetry and bold (remarkably spot on at times) predictions for our local weather. From
his December column Bill remarked: “We will have some intense cold at the end of the first week of December with even more cold
in the middle with New Years bringing snow and (believe it or not) some rain. La Niña has many tricks in her bag and she may try
them all in December.”
Bill always delivers a great take on the local weather, especially in the winter, but his December forecast didn’t quite foretell the
dismal dry spell our valley and a huge section of the western states would have to endure during the Christmas month. The
weather strings were pulled hard in December.
With rapturous promises of another raging La Niña, much of the West smugly embraced the storms of late November. Ah, how the
weather can elevate one’s pride and hopes: Here it comes!
Then, the dreaded ridge, like some beast far off in the Pacific, set up shop and sent all the moisture to New Mexico and Alaska.
Good for them. Girdwood has seen over 300 inches since the first of October. Taos deserves every snowflake they get. But this was
a punch to the gut for everyone else. What the hell just happened? We were on a roll in late November.
Around where I live, the skiing was good, but it was brief. The wind came out and the bucket went dry: High pressure, inversions
and no significant precipitation for weeks. There were pockets of okay snow that got older and less in number as the drought
22 Off-Piste January 2012
OREGON MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY
YOUR BACKCOUNTRY RESOURCE FOR OVER 30 YEARS
SKI PACKAGES • AVALANCHE EQUIPMENT • APPAREL • PACKS • ACCESSORIES
continued. Wind board was an illustrative term to describe our
conditions locally. The anticipatory frenzy wilted. Folks even got
a bit grouchy. But there were some (you have to seek them out)
silver linings locally: There was enough snow on the valley floor for
decent Nordic skiing, and the hockey and ice-skating were superb.
Oh, there were some nice days for touring. Nothing like being in
the mountains in the sun, you know, but you weren’t out there for
the skiing. It was depressing to glance at the ten-day forecast.
I guess our faith was being tested, as it always is when it comes to
winter weather and the desire for untracked powder.
There’s something about living near the North Cascades and
experiencing its many renditions of winter. I guess you could say
that about anywhere. But it’s all been seen before: The dry spells,
the cold snaps, the inches of rain beating down the snowpack, the
deep, hard snows, the wind storms that lick the slopes far into the
trees, plus the Chinooks and the Pineapples – the vagrancies of
Cascade weather that cast the fate of days to come far beyond the
ephemeral tracking of snow. So much is hitched to the success of a
deepening snowpack.
Finally, the ridge broke down, and the snow came in hard. It was
going to be a white Christmas after all. Yes, Virginia, life is good,
and if you want to believe there is a Santa Claus, well, go right
ahead.
The snowpack quickly doubled and spirits rose. Snow in the trees.
A slight smile grows across the face. It rained some too for good
measure. Even if you couldn’t get out, just knowing it was getting
continued on page 27
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Issue LII Off-Piste 23
Gear Talk
reviews, innovation and chatter
Arc’teryx Acto MX Hoody
Weight: Weight: 508 g, 1 lb 2 oz; Cost: $299
After what seemed like months of
skiing a thin snowpack and trying
to appreciate the sun filled glory of
monster high pressure, I finally had
the chance to bring Arc’teryx’s new
Acto MX Hoody out for some good
old fashioned storm skiing. While
exploring the edges of the Three
Sister’s Wilderness in an onslaught
of snow, 30 mph wind and 26
degree temperatures the jacket
performed admirably. In fact, it has
shined in all conditions, and I’m
not just talking about the blindingly
bright lichen green color I received
for testing (Arc’teryx calls it
brimstone). Made of what Arcteryx
calls Grid Loft or “hard fleece,”
the Acto MX Hoody is impressive and unique because of its low bulk,
lightweight and breathability. I’m using it as I do any other softshell.
Upon initial inspection, three features struck me: it’s light (around 500
grams), has a slightly longer cut, and besides a very well designed
hood, is completely no-frills. On the no-frills account, I am impressed,
but admit I like more pockets. In addition to the hood, the jacket has
two vertical-zipped chest pockets (mesh lined so they double as vents
and are large enough to fit skins), and that’s it. While I do like an
interior pocket (there is none), I appreciate the less-is-more approach
to gear. I also enjoy the cut of the jacket. It felt a bit long at first
(possibly due to my troll-like dimensions), but I have gotten used to it.
In fact, I appreciate it seeing as I do occasionally fall down, bend over,
or find myself in any number of compromising positions while in deep
snow. The jacket’s fit is trim enough that it does not feel bulky or
baggy, yet it still accomodates a thin layer or vest underneath. I also
like the elastic cuffs that remain in place, fit under gloves and can be
easily pushed up the forearm to shed heat. Softshells are touted for
their breathability and the Acto MX pushes breathability to a new level.
The fleeced grid pattern of the Acto MX has kept me from overheating
on all but the warmest uphill grinds. All the while its exterior sheds
precipitation like a freshly oiled duck. On a recent ski tour I subjected
the coat to a couple hours of steady rain (at least we’re getting some
precipitation). I stayed dry throughout the excursion.
There are some compromises though. With its lightweight, the Acto
MX does not block wind quite as well as a heavier coat. But with its
trim fit, additional layers easily fit overtop if needed. As for durability,
I like to see a jacket last atleast a couple of seasons before calling it
durable. Yet given the Northwest’s low-snow conditions thus far, I have
subjected the Acto MX to an unusually high amount of bush thwacking.
24 Off-Piste January 2012
On a few occasions, I was certain a direct stab
from the pointy end of a manzanita stick
would puncture the high-tech material. Not a
scratch. Call me impressed. -JL
Outdoor Research Centrifuge Jacket
Weight 397 g, 14 oz; Cost: $125
Breathability in your layering
system is mandatory for a day of
ski touring. Skinning up the hill, the
bulk of any day spent ski touring,
is an aerobic pursuit, and if your
outerwear does not breathe, you
will eventually become damp
and cold. The Outdoor Research
Centrifuge Jacket is a lightweight
and extremely breathable, zippered
and hooded piece designed for cold
weather aerobic output. Somewhere
between a softshell jacket and
lightweight fleece layer in feel and
function (OR calls it a technical layer),
the Centrifuge uses a wind- and weather-resistant hard-faced fleece
front matched to an ultra-breathable, lightweight, gridded fleece
back. Although it doesn’t offer true storm protection, the Centrifuge
works well as an outerlayer for breaking trail and uphill travel in most
weather conditions. It also serves as a great mid-layer under a more
storm-worthy shell on descent, leaving you ready for the next lap by
shedding your shell.
With a slow start to the ski season, I found myself looking to the
Centrifuge for cold weather mountain biking before I was able to ski
in it this fall. The jacket’s close fitting cut and wind resistant face
fabric are well suited to biking, and it definitely helped to motivate
me for a ride knowing I could count on the Centrifuge as a highly
breathable outerlayer that could also take the bite out of a cold
descent. It even has thumbloops in the cuffs to help keep the arms
in place and tucked into glove cuffs. On snow, the jacket has proven
very functional on the uptrack, too. Layered over a lightweight
baselayer, the Centrifuge’s unique wind-resistant front offers better
protection than a basic fleece layer, but it still offers breathability
to regulate body temp. Outdoor Research maximizes air flow with
lightweight gridded fleece on the back, side panels and the underside
of the arms. The Centrifuge is not, however, a replacement for a shell
or more significant jacket on cold ridgtops and descents. For me, it
became the layer I stripped down to for the uptrack, but I always
threw on a puffy or shell for the descent. The Centrifuge’s close
fitting cut makes for easy layering, and its balaclava-style hood adds
an extra layer of storm protection.
The Centrifuge is an ideal uphill jacket. It takes the bite out of the
wind and still lets your body vent and regulate its temp. I found I
could wear it all day in average and cold conditions and only needed
to slip on a warmer jacket for breaks and descents. In harsher
storm conditions or bitter cold, it worked best worn as a layer under
another jacket as it does not provide the weather protection that
a hard- or even softshell jacket offers. My only
complaint is how it fit my five-foot-six frame.
The cut is long when compared with other
jackets I have. -DW
Rab Fusion Jacket
Weight: 454g, 1 lb; Cost: $265
Although I have been a softshell
jacket user for some time, there are
days when the added protection
of a waterproof/breathable fabric
can increase your comfort. I was
excited to see the Rab Fusion
jacket, which uses Polartec’s most
breathable waterproof fabric,
called Neo Shell, in tandem with a
lightweight softshell material. The
Neo Shell covers the shoulders,
upper arms and hood, while the
remaining areas, body, back and
forearms, use a nice lightweight and
breathable softshell. The Neo Shell
really breaks the stereotype of the rigid
waterproof and breathable shell material. It is soft and supple, even
when new.
Right from the start, the Fusion had a lightweight and supple feel to
it. The stretch-woven softshell material is as light as any I have used,
and the Neo Shell fabric is equally as soft and light. It takes a close
inspection to distinguish the difference between the two materials.
In action, the Fusion performs great and has little in common with
shells made entirely from waterproof, breathable materials. It is
hard to quantify any loss in breathability with the Neo Shell over the
rest of the jacket, so I’ll just say it breathes well, overall. Rab has
paid attention to the details on this jacket. From the lightweight,
low-profile velcro cuffs to the easy-adjust hood and generous inside
pockets, the Fusion is designed with mountain function and minimal
weight in mind. The whole jacket has a nice stretch feel to it, and the
fit is athletic without being snug. The feel and breathability remind
me of my well worn Patagonia Mix Master shell, but with the addition
of the high-tech Neo Shell in hood and shoulders.
Next to the great breathability, I really like the weight and feel of
the jacket. I found I could wear this jacket while climbing in all but
the warmest of conditions. Once on the ridge or summit, I like to
throw an insulated layer over top to stay warm for the descent, but
the Fusion helped me keep clothing changes to a minimum, which
is something I strive to achieve. The Fusion jacket suits my keepit-moving style nicely. The two large chest pockets are obviously
designed with access while wearing a pack or harness in mind, and
although I also like handwarmer pockets, I’m quickly learning to live
without them. -DW
Mountain Equipment Shield Jacket
Weight: 565 g, 1 lb 4oz; Cost: $350
The Northwest is well known for its
often wet and windy weather. Still, I
find the breathability of a softshell
jacket preferable to marinating in a
three-layer waterproof, breathable
shell in most conditions. When I first
received the Mountain Equipment
Shield jacket I saw a clean and well
designed softshell that resembled
others I have worn over the years.
Upon closer inspection and with
some wear, I realized that the Shield
jacket represents the high-end of
the softshell spectrum.
Using Gore Windstopper and
Polartec Powershield stretch-woven
fabrics, the Shield is an all-around
storm-worthy mountain jacket.
Sure, it still doesn’t offer full rain
protection, but it holds off a biting wind and shed every type of snow
that I encountered with ease. And it did so with good breathability.
It is not as breathable as a straight-up softshell, but the Polartec
side panels help maintain a good level of breathability. Of course, the
Windstopper breathes too, just not quite as well as a less windproof
fabric. Mountain Equipment has been a fixture in the UK outdoor
continued on page 26
Issue LII Off-Piste 25
Softshells
clothing world for 50 years, and the Shield jacket reflects their level of
experience.
I’d qualify the Shield as a midweight softshell. It’s well suited to a full
range of winter temps when matched with an appropriate baselayer.
Given its windproof nature and good snow shedding qualities, I happily
packed it as my only shell layer on both fair and stormy days. It worked
well on the uptrack and on descent in cold storm conditions. Really, it
breathed well enough to keep me from overheating on all but the mildest
days. It’s got handwarmer and chest pockets, all with nice waterproof
zips, but no inside pockets. One feature I missed is having adjustable cuffs.
The jacket’s fixed cuffs are low bulk and fit under glove gauntlets well, but I
like to be able to tighten a cuff on storm days.
I could have easily overlooked the Shield jacket in favor of lighter weight
(seamingly more breathable) jacket. But after wearing it for a while, I
have come to appreciate the value of the slightly stouter Windstopper
fabric. The Shield could easily be my go-to jacket for ski touring and all
around mountain use. The workmanship is top
notch and the design very functional. -DW
Brooks Range Mountaineering
Black Mountain Jacket
Weight: 680 g, 1 lb 8 oz; Cost: $240
I have an old Arcteryx softshell jacket
that I have worn 200 days a year for
the past seven years. I love this old
jacket, but it’s just not warm enough
to ski in on extremely cold or windy
days without adding some type of
beefy mid-layer. Enter the Brooks
Range Mountaineering Black
Mountain softshell. Made from
their Protector Softshell, a heavyduty four-way stretch fabric with
a lightweight fleece backing, the
Black Mountain jacket eliminates
the need for a big mid-layer on
most days. The Black Mountain
is heavier and thicker than other
softshells I have worn, and it’s
definitely warmer. That said, the
four-way stretch fabric moves with you as you reach and twist, resulting
in a comfortable low-bulk feel while offering the added insulation and
protection.
The Black Mountain jacket does not breathe as well as other soft shells I
have worn, and I found I was sweating soon after getting my heart rate up.
It works great as an initial outer layer, but I warmed up quickly and found
myself storing the jacket in my pack until it was time to descend on mild
days. In colder, windy weather and resort days however, it kept me plenty
warm, even while getting blasted by winds on exposed ridgelines or the
chairlift. The jacket suits me best for cold weather touring. The softshell
material is by no means waterproof, but light precip quickly beads up on
the fabric’s surface. The hood, which is billed as “helmet compatible” was
not quite big enough to accommodate my ski helmet without making my
neck motion feel limited while skiing. There are two zippered pockets
located low on the front of the garment, great for keeping your hands
warm; not so great for access while wearing a backpack. There are also
two large pockets sewn into the interior of the jacket
that are big enough to hold goggles, gloves, hats
or skins (one in each pocket). My favorite feature
is the zipper chin guard: essentially, the front
of the jacket extends high enough to reach
my bottom lip and effectively cover my entire
neck and chin. This is great for storm-day
protection. Bottom line, I think this is a great
softshell for cold, stormy weather touring
and skiing. -AR
Outdoor Research Trailbreaker Pant
Weight: 520 g, 1 lb 2 oz; Cost: $195
I have been wearing an Outdoor Research
ski touring pant of one variety or another
for the past several seasons, so I was
excited to try their newest model, the
Trailbreaker Pant. Although I’d still call the
Trailbreaker a softshell pant, it is a hybrid
with waterproof/breathable Ventia fabric
from the knee down and breathable stretchwoven softshell above the knee. The result
is a lightweight, breathable ski pant with
added snow protection below the knee.
Despite the Trailbreaker’s relatively clean
appearance, the pants are full of features
including: removable mesh gaiters, long side
vents, velcro-adjustable waist, knee pad
slots and a dedicated beacon pocket with clip
attachment.
26 Off-Piste January 2012
a perfect match for ski touring
The Trailbreaker pant’s fit is modestly loose. They fit great with
lightweight long underwear, but I did find them a little low waisted
relative to the pants I have been using. Nonetheless, they’re comfortable
and well suited to ski touring. What really sets these pants apart from
the other softshell touring pants I’ve used is the addition of waterproof/
breathable lowers and and the big side vents. The Trailbreaker is the first
softshell pant I have used that incorporates a generous side zip vent,
and it’s a nice feature. The waterproof Ventia fabric did not impact the
pant’s overall breathability for me, so the added protection is a plus, too.
Together, the vents and Ventia lowers extend the weather range of the
Trailbreaker. I also happened to really like the Velcro waist adjusters. Of
course you can add a belt to really keep them in place, but the Velcro
tabs are nice for field adjustments. The removable gaiters are a nice idea,
but given the cuff’s snug fit over my boots, I am not sure why you need
them; I took them out. If I can gripe about one thing, it is the location of
the side or hip pockets. I have come to rely on a side cargo-style pocket
over the years, and the Trailbreaker’s side pockets don’t really cut it for
me. They are located just around the hip from the hand pockets, right in
prime hip-check territory if you happen to fall. I am guessing they have
done this because the side vents limit cargo pocket placement. Although
I like the side vents, I miss having a larger cargo pocket along the side of
the thigh.
Aside from griping about the pocket layout, the Trailbreaker is a really
nice dedicated ski touring pant. They are highly breathable, have an
awesome vent program and shed snow nicely. Outdoor Research put
some thought into these and it shows. The addition of the beaconcompatible pocket is a nice touch. Although not widespread, there is a
growing group of users who are keeping their beacons in a pant pocket,
and the Trailbreaker has a mesh pocket within the right side hand pocket
that has a clip to secure your beacon (without its full harness). According
to the pros, this is acceptable, provided the pocket is an integral part of
the pant, not just a sewn-on addition. The same mesh slot could easily
accommodate any variety of other items if you prefer to wear your
beacon in its harness. The bottom line is that the Trailbreaker is obviously
designed with backcountry skiing in mind and is well suited to a wide
range of ski conditions. -DW
Arcteryx Gamma SK Pants
Weight: 635 g, 1 lb 6 oz; Cost: $225
A good ski touring pant needs to breathe,
offer protection from the snow and promote a
good range of motion. The Gamma SK does all
of the above. The fabric is a mid-weight, tightly
woven softshell material that offers a nice blend
of breathability and shelter from the elements. The
pants are a shade lighter weight than some of their
competitors, but still stout enough for mid-winter wear.
The fit is athletic but still loose, and I really like the
suspenders and belt combo for keeping them in place;
although the built-in webbing belt does a fine job if
you prefer to roll without suspenders.
I liked these pants right out of the box, so
to speak. They are clean and simple in their
design and really feel like they were designed
with ski touring in mind versus being an allmountain adventure pant. I took them on a
week-long hut trip as soon as they arrived,
along with my old standards, and wore them
every day without giving the old pants a single
thought. Subsequently, they have become my
go-to pants for ski touring. They perform great
in everything from modest sunny days to full
storm cycle skiing. The twin cargo pockets are
low profile, yet generously roomy. The boot
cuffs are cut wide to accommodate ski boots,
and there is a low-profile built-in internal
gaiter/powder cuff that can be cinched tight
if required, but is otherwise unobtrusive. The
slight articulation to the knee and comfortable
waist are simply icing on the cake. These pants
are great.
I can’t think of a single significant thing to
change on the Gamma SK. The pockets are
well located, the cuffs don’t bind around
your boots and the size small fits like it was
designed for my specs. They are durable, have
nice reinforced instep cuffs, shed precip damn
well for a non-waterproof pant and come with
nice low-profile (and removable) suspenders.
If I could make one improvement, it would be to add a zipper closure
or maybe just a longer velcro strip to the cargo pocket closure. The
Gamma SK is a great dedicated touring pant. Throw a pair of long johns
under them for cold, mid-winter days or wear them with briefs on milder
days. Although they’re not designed for riding cold and damp chairlifts,
they’ll do fine at the resort on fair weather days. They are even casual
enough to weather a trip to the bar or restaurant après tour without
feeling terribly conspicuous. The Arcteryx Gamma SK Pant is everything I
could ask for in a touring pant. -DW
continued
continued
Patagonia Backcountry Guide Pant
Weight: 822 g, 1 lb 13 oz; Cost: $175
good was all that mattered. Your turns would come. We’re back in
the cycle. The way it should be, right?
Softshell pants have become standard issue
for backcountry skiing over the last decade.
With their increased breathability over
waterproof hardshells, amazing weather
shedding capabilities, abrasion resistance,
stretchy fit and near silent travel, they
have all but replaced the hardshell pant
for me in most touring situations. Despite
being less than fully waterproof, their
overall breathability leaves me drier in
every condition short a full-on monsoon.
As a dedicated softshell user, I was excited
to test the latest version of the Patagonia
Backcountry Guide Pant.
Dance for Ullr, all ye puppets.
Sporting a new hybrid design, Patagonia
adds waterproof panels on the seat and
below the knee to the Backcountry Guide
Pant this year. The new H2No panels
extend the range of these pants in less
than ideal weather. The pants also have
a variety of ski specific qualities that
set them apart from Patagonia’s more
general-use mountain pants. Among the
ski-centric details are internal gaiters and
expandable cuffs that fit over big AT and tele boots and burly instep scuff
guards. Add a fleece-lined waistband, adjustable suspenders and these
pants really span the continuum of lightweight and breathable to stormworthy touring gear. The seat panel makes them far more comfortable
for chairlift use than my other touring pants. Another innovative feature
is the addition of hip-to-knee zippered thigh vents for increased venting.
A boon for the “sweaty Vikings” out there, my skinny little legs actually
found the vents unnecessary and the zips a bit cold against my leg during
a brisk and windy New Year’s Eve tour at on Mt. Hood. The other hitch for
me with the thigh vent is it eliminates having a good sized cargo pocket
on the thigh, something I have gotten used to having. If you know you
want more ventilation in a pant, taking the vents over a cargo pocket is a
reasonable trade off, but I’d prefer a smaller vent and a cargo pocket.
Of course, I am just referring to our neck of the woods and slightly
beyond. It’s still dry in a lot of places throughout the West, and back
East doesn’t look good at this point either. Bummer. But then again,
you never know when things could turn around… just a bit of new
could do the job!
Why do we pin our emotions to something we have absolutely no
control over whatsoever? It’s probably just that: We have no choice.
We can only react. And hope factors in heavily. The elements
puppeteer us all, and we hold out for the best dance, the finest
performance, where it all comes together. The satisfaction erases the
heartbreak. Who is really in control? The weather is, but we respond
– there is always a response.
“Precipitation, which side are you on? Are you drying up, are you a
big drop? Are you a puddle full of detrimental?” (Got Some, Pearl
Jam)
The stage is set, and the snow continues to fall in our slice of the
mountains. Sure, it’s a bit heavy but it isn’t rain, and at least it’s
precipitation; can’t have snow without moisture.
There must be some puppets dancing around here. And surely they
are smiling. Hopefully, the dance spreads your way too.
The fit and finish is standard Patagonia: clean lines, excellent materials
and workmanship and great fit - my size 34’s fit perfectly in every
way. After two weeks of putting these to the test touring, skate skiing,
lift riding, cutting firewood and even riding my bike to the store on a
cold rainy night, they look brand new, kept me dry and warm and are
definitely long-term relationship worthy. - MB
Issue LII Off-Piste 27
Words and Images
opinion on books and films
DVD - All I Can
www.sherpascinema.com, $24.95
Sherpas Cinema set a high standard for ski productions with their 2008 release
The Fine Line, perhaps the best avalanche education film produced to date. Their
newest project, All I Can, follows with similar time-lapse and digital production
techniques. The results of their vision and approach are more than just cool to
watch, they help set a unique and creative tone to the movie. Add top-name pro
skiers (Petersen, Pettit, Heim, Abma, etc) and footage from one of the deepest
North American winters in recent memory, plus exotic locales around the world
(Morocco, Chile, Greenland, Alaska and Canada) to Sherpa’s creative flow and you
get a seriously stoke-filled film. The skiers in All I Can (many of the same athletes
that wow in MSP’s Attack of La Niña) set the bar for ski athleticism, which at times
takes controlled falling to new heights.
Now, praise for the production work, creative energy and skiing aside, I am dubious
of any ski film that purports to be taking on the challenge of global climate change.
I follow that a dedicated skier’s love of the snow and mountains should help fuel
concern and efforts to come to grips with the human impact on our global climate.
And I, like any skier who gives it any thought, am torn between my love for skiing
and the hedonistic consumption of resources that are needed to literally fuel my
passion. What I struggle with is how you can build a film around this paradox that
goes on to fuel the fire with gratuitous consumption of Jet B and two-stroke snow
machine use. Perhaps that is the point of the film, illustrating the conflict. But, in
my opinion, it’s a slippery slope, so to speak.
Nonetheless, All I can is a worthy addition to any ski film library. From mindblowing deep powder to rowdy urban jibbing, Sherpas Cinema delivers with style.
DVD - Modern Telemark: Art and Technique
www.skiwithurmas.com, $32.25
Urmas Franosch has 20 years of telemark ski instruction under his belt. Currently a
telemark instructor at Mammoth Mountain in California, he also holds the Western
Region PSIA Nordic Chair and has recently distilled his two decades of freeheel ski
experience into the instructional DVD titled Modern Telemark: Art and Technique.
The 70-minute video is pure technical instruction broken into a series of step-bystep lessons. Franosch starts with the basics: telemark gear and the all-important
stance. He then progresses through a sequence of beginner training activities that
move from stance, straight runs and traversing to J-turns, and finally, to linking
turns. His simple, on-snow drills and instructive dialogue are representative of his
years of telemark instruction.
The video’s combination of ski footage and technical discussion sets the stage to
improve the novice’s comfort with the telemark position and allow for learning
subtle body position nuances to stay on edge and to link turns with power. Given
the level of detail provided, novices will do well to watch two or three segments,
and then head out to practice the outlined drills for a day, before moving on to
subsequent techniques.
The DVD is not just for beginners. The middle and end segments target
intermediate telemark skiers looking to advance their skills, with helpful hints
on proper use of poles and higher level trunk and lower body mechanics and
angulation. Even expert telemark skiers will find tips to help fine tune body position
for more powerful carving and ballistic hop turning in the steeps.
Franosch has a solid teaching style with clear demonstrations of the drills, while the
frequent reviews of key concepts delve into the technical details of the telemark
turn and body position. If you can get past the cheesy synthesized-reggae
soundtrack, you’ll find a solid instructional video for telemark skiers of all levels.
DVD -Attack of La Niña
Matchstick Productions www.skimovie.com, $27.95
You want big air, pull my finger could be used to summarize my attitude toward big
name ski films. In fact, it’s been a couple of years since I actually sat and really
watched one. I just felt I’d seen enough gravity defying lines down Alaskan faces
and high-flying hucks filmed from the seat of an A-Star – not to mention it’s all
far beyond the scope of any skiing I might ever enjoy. Plus, there’s been a steady
stream of quality smaller budget films to satisfy my ski porn yearnings. When
Attack of La Niña came my way, it was without great anticipation that I set up to
view the movie.
Well, apparently I stayed away from the pro-caliber films long enough, because
Attack of La Niña definitely got my attention. Or perhaps I should say Sean Pettit,
Mark Abma and James Heim (to name only a few of the incredible skiers featured)
got my attention. The pure athleticism of the skiing in this film is admirable if
not downright jaw-dropping in its performance. If, like me, you have favored the
smaller production, independent films over the past few years, it’s time to take a
look at what the pros are up to.
Of course, it’s still all about skiing sick lines and aerial moves that I will only
manage in my dreams. Nonetheless, it’s impressive and, more importantly,
entertaining. The level at which these guys (and Ingrid Backstrom) rip it up is
incredible. Talk about full throttle, the skiers in this film are up to the usual tricks,
but they perform them at a level that you need to see to believe. It doesn’t hurt
that last season served up some of the finest powder snow conditions in recent
memory either. Do yourself a favor, and check this one out.
28 Off-Piste January 2012
Words and Images
opinion on books and films
Book - Summits & Icefields 1
Alpine Ski Tours in the Canadian Rockies
by Chic Scott with Mark Klassen
344 pages, www.rmbooks.com, $29.95
If you’ve spent any time ski touring in Western Canada, or even day dreaming about
the prospect of touring in the Great White North, you likely have a copy or at least have
heard of Summits and Icefields by Chic Scott. Literally the ski mountaineer’s bible for
Western Canada’s vast snow-covered ranges, the well-used guidebook is now in its third
edition. Researched and written by legendary alpinist Chic Scott and mountain guide
Mark Klassen, the latest edition, now titled Summits and Icefields I, adds tours, expands
existing descriptions and features great full-color, digitally-created maps for all areas
covered. Of note is that the new edition is now fully dedicated to the Canadian Rockies.
The tours and traverses of the Columbia Mountains to the west, originally included in
earlier editions, are to be part of the forthcoming Summits and Icefields II (due fall
2012).
Still focused on the classics, Summits and Icefields I adds significant content to the
original editions including an expanded section on easy access roadside attraction skiing,
tours in and around the Southern Rockies and expanded detail on extended traverses and
icefield tours. Of course, you can still count on Summits and Icefields I for complete beta
on ski mountaineering classics like the Wapta and Columbia Icefield traverses, and you
will now find precise hut location coordinates included where applicable.
The new addition still includes the great historical details about classic tours and grand
traverses as well as information on iconic alpine huts that help define it as more than just
a basic ski guide. A consultation with Summits and Icefields I is a prerequisite for any ski
touring adventure in the Canadian Rockies.
Issue LII Off-Piste 29
Letters
the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
express yourself
That’s Dr. Gaffney to You
If we print your letter, you’ll get a one year subscription - FREE!
Thanks for getting my subscription and stickers out so
fast. Slapped those puppies all over my skis, helmet, and
my home on wheels “back of the pickup truck cap.”
Got the issue from the mail box last night and started
to peer at it right away while fitting in all the other
duties of a single parent. Anyhoo read your write-up on
GNAR and noticed you said Robb is not an actual doctor.
I don’t know him, never had the pleasure of meeting him,
or even been so lucky as to ski there (rather ski Alpine
Meadows if I ever get the chance to be honest), but it’s
my understanding that he finished his residency down at
U.C. Davis and now has a practice up in the Squaw Valley
area. Just passing that on.
Thanks again for the mag and keep up the amazing work.
Ed Turner,
CA
Dig Less, Ski More
I look forward to every issue of Off-Piste. It gets read
cover to cover by multiple people in our household.
I found the December 2011 Avy 101, Knowing When to Dig,
offered an excellent balance between playing it safe and
the reality that we all just want to go skiing. Less
digging equals more skiing is spoken like a true ski bum
but the article goes on to point out the caveat that if
you are uncertain about the stability, no single test is
the answer. When in doubt, choose safe terrain and ski
another day.
Any Chance you have a collection of all the Avy 101
articles from all of the past issue? Maybe that is
something you could put togther as a downloadable item?
Just an idea to spread the word.
Thanks for the mag.
Scott Butler, MT
Desperate for Snow
It’s almost Christmas and the closest I have gotten to
powder snow skiing this winter is the images in Off-Piste,
which have been great, by the way. I especially liked the
shadow skiers by Jason Hummel on the December cover. And,
oh yeah, the October Gunderson cover shot was awesome too.
What happened to the epic La Niña winter for the Northwest
and beyond? It’s nearly 50 degrees at the ski resort! It
must be tough looking at sick ski images and reading about
skiing every day at Off-Piste HQ when the local resort is
reporting dust on crust for the third consecutive week.
30 Off-Piste January 2012
off-piste letters - po box 1626 hood river, or 97031
freeheel@offpistemag.com
We need to burn some skis or maybe back issues of the mag!
At the rate the snow is stacking up, we need all the help
we can get. At least we have it better than California.
Mike R, Portland
An Evening with Chic Scott
Icefield. As I plodded up the steep moraine leading to
the glaciology huts at the toe of the Peyto Glacier in my
“lightweight” four-buckle ski touring boots and 95mm-waisted
skis strapped to my back, I was reminded of Scott extolling
the virtues of skinny skis and leather boots. Perhaps, he was
onto something. The Wapta Icefield can be lean on snow in
the best of times and that day in November the blue grey ice
of the Peyto Glacier was more apparent than the thin ribbons
of snow covering it. I was glad it was 2011 and both Ty and I
had harnesses, ice screws and a dynamic rope with us as we
approached the glacier.
Over forty years ago, Scott and partners cruised through this
very place; however, the mountain scene that greeted them was
quite different than the one we see today.
“There was a lot more ice and snow back then,” said Scott. “The
ice is melting and the winters aren’t as big as they used to be,”
he lamented.
Last spring, I spent eight days skiing along the Great Divide with
Ty and three other friends. Descending from the Mons Icefield
into Forbes Creek required a 60m vertical rappel. In 1967, Scott
and his group were able to face forward and kick step down the
same col because there was so much snow.
Scott believes the environment is not the only thing that has
changed for skiers. Technology, coupled with a new mentality,
has made the sport evolve. In his opinion, sport as theatre
is a result - a forum where high-level athletes and corporate
marketing meet.
“No longer are people doing this stuff just for themselves,”
claims Scott. “The purpose for some has changed from
adventure and exploration to creating a marketable persona and
performance that sells.” For example, (insert your favorite pro
skier’s name here).
Scott has stayed out of the limelight, though he has worked as
continued
a guide and presents slideshows about his adventures. His ethic
has made for some rough financial times. There were multiple
years in the 1990s when he lived in his car or tent. His material
life was bare-bones, but he was rich in his passion for mountains
and writing. Western Canada, a land wrought by mountains,
had very few guidebooks prior to Scott’s publications. He saw
the lack of guidebooks as an opportunity to turn his passion
into something that could support him financially and open the
mountains to like-minded people. Scott’s writing goes beyond
guidebooks with titles like Powder Pioneers and Pushing the
Limits, two books documenting and exploring the mountain
experience and evolving history of skiing and climbing in
Canada.
***
Late in the evening and deeper into our bottle of scotch, Scott
began to talk about peoples’ desire for something more genuine
than what consumer culture has to offer. The beauty of the
sunrise and the sunset, the majesty of the mountains, and how
the sense of adventure will always offer more than a box can
hold. Scott cut to the chase. “Too many people these days eat,
shit, fuck and collect toys. And that’s what they do.”
Scott’s life has never revolved around the consumer culture that
consumes so many of us. He has followed his bliss and it has
taken him into the mountains and onto the page.
“You see, it’s easy for me; my passion is my work. After my
afternoon ski, I like to come home, make some dinner and write.
It’s always been that way. When we finished the Great Divide
traverse, all I wanted to do was to clean up, put on a white
shirt, sit down with a coffee, a cigarette and write about my
experience,” he explained. “I am an explorer, so to speak, my
mountain travels satisfy my physical side, but books and reading
complete me—they satisfy my mental and spiritual need for
exploration.”
Luckily for us, 40-plus years later, he is still skiing and writing.
Issue LII Off-Piste 31