Mags
01-09-2006, 15:00
As mentioned, I am lousy skiier. But, does not stop me from doing it. :-)
I have been doing backcountry skiing since I moved out to Colorado. What is backcoutnry skiing? Basically it is cross country skiing beefed up. The skis have edges for basic turns, the skis have "fish scales" (grooves) on them for climbs up moderate slopes.
However, if you are going up steeper terrain and going down steeper slopes (I think Colorado may have one or two of those areas that fit the bill. :D), you need skis that are wider and allow more control. Being able to put on skins (used to be real fur..now it is artificial) for going up hill. You can free heel it for climbing. (Unlike downhill skiing, which you are locked in, you use chair lifts). Randonee/Alpine touring looks like what most people think of as ski boots. You can lock in for down hill turning. Made for wide, gorgeous bowls. Think the Alps (where randonee is very popular).
Telemark (invented in Norway) you free heel it on the way down. It is great for thickly wooded areas. An excellent telemark skiier looks so graceful going downhiil. I am not that type of skiier. :)
That's backcountry skiing at a very basic form. Some may quibble with the details..but you get the idea.
I took my backcoutnry skiis last week to a small cabin. It was steep going up. Barely made it with the fishscales. Even wax (really old school) would not have helped. Going down was esp. interesting as well!
I've had tele boots for years as I got a good deal on them. Hardly tele skiied, though. Well, after last week, went to the used sporting good store below my office. Picked up some used skis, bindings and skins ($55 total. Woo hoo!). This past Saturday, took the gear out.
Beautiful Colorado day. The continental divide was stark white against the sky. The day was sunny. Man..life is good. CLimbing up is easy for me. Heck, I am in good cardio shape. No problem.
Going down is another story. :) I became one with the snow..as in doing face plants. Made it back to the trail....yay! No more "Tree skiing". Well, the day was warm. But does melted snow do when the weather gets a little colder and is out of the sun? It freezes! So I was able to go down an icy trail. :D Once on the trail, though, made good time.
Got back to the car where two of my friends already were. Drove to the little mountain town called Nederland (Ned) and went to the Katmandu and CHOWED on some of the best nepalli/indian food around. Hot chai, naturally.
What a great day..beautiful scenery, good company and was able to practice my skiing for a hut trip next weekend (Two days and nights in a backcountry hut...oh yeah!). Even bumping into my former girlfiend at the restaurant could not dampen the day. ;) (Think my friends were more worried than I !)
Yep..life is good.
Pics: http://gallery.backcountry.net/cowint06?&page=5
800x600. If you need higher res, e-mail me.
I have been doing backcountry skiing since I moved out to Colorado. What is backcoutnry skiing? Basically it is cross country skiing beefed up. The skis have edges for basic turns, the skis have "fish scales" (grooves) on them for climbs up moderate slopes.
However, if you are going up steeper terrain and going down steeper slopes (I think Colorado may have one or two of those areas that fit the bill. :D), you need skis that are wider and allow more control. Being able to put on skins (used to be real fur..now it is artificial) for going up hill. You can free heel it for climbing. (Unlike downhill skiing, which you are locked in, you use chair lifts). Randonee/Alpine touring looks like what most people think of as ski boots. You can lock in for down hill turning. Made for wide, gorgeous bowls. Think the Alps (where randonee is very popular).
Telemark (invented in Norway) you free heel it on the way down. It is great for thickly wooded areas. An excellent telemark skiier looks so graceful going downhiil. I am not that type of skiier. :)
That's backcountry skiing at a very basic form. Some may quibble with the details..but you get the idea.
I took my backcoutnry skiis last week to a small cabin. It was steep going up. Barely made it with the fishscales. Even wax (really old school) would not have helped. Going down was esp. interesting as well!
I've had tele boots for years as I got a good deal on them. Hardly tele skiied, though. Well, after last week, went to the used sporting good store below my office. Picked up some used skis, bindings and skins ($55 total. Woo hoo!). This past Saturday, took the gear out.
Beautiful Colorado day. The continental divide was stark white against the sky. The day was sunny. Man..life is good. CLimbing up is easy for me. Heck, I am in good cardio shape. No problem.
Going down is another story. :) I became one with the snow..as in doing face plants. Made it back to the trail....yay! No more "Tree skiing". Well, the day was warm. But does melted snow do when the weather gets a little colder and is out of the sun? It freezes! So I was able to go down an icy trail. :D Once on the trail, though, made good time.
Got back to the car where two of my friends already were. Drove to the little mountain town called Nederland (Ned) and went to the Katmandu and CHOWED on some of the best nepalli/indian food around. Hot chai, naturally.
What a great day..beautiful scenery, good company and was able to practice my skiing for a hut trip next weekend (Two days and nights in a backcountry hut...oh yeah!). Even bumping into my former girlfiend at the restaurant could not dampen the day. ;) (Think my friends were more worried than I !)
Yep..life is good.
Pics: http://gallery.backcountry.net/cowint06?&page=5
800x600. If you need higher res, e-mail me.