timplace

Can't do 2800 meters of skinning, so I'll pass. But this -- if you want to ski backcountry alone, please don't come to Baker. After 6 people died in just over a year, we got smart about backcountry safety, and we try our best to educate (cajole) new bc users to get smart, also.

Deep pow ob: Jak BC long tours: Jak BC quick OB: Jak BC Spring corn: Jak BC Area skiing: Jak BC Icy days: Jak BC Unused in the garage: snowrangers, TMex, crossrangers, Elan SCX, plus a few hippy 3-pin rigs.

I used to van-camp in the Excaliber Base II parking lot. They want it cleared so they can plow at night, but if you will kindly get out of the bag and move over to an area they have just finished plowing when the plow is at your door, they don't seem to hassle you much. At least, they didn't used to. Advantage: you can hop on the goldola for Blackcomb or ski to the Whistler gondola base. Besides, they have a guest shower available in the Base II lodge.

We are still working the deposit zones, but it is knee sweet where you find it: http://media.admcs.wwu.edu/video/test/12-05.wmv

I have several friends that use that combination. It works fine, but they all use their downhill boots in area for more control. They are "crasher" skiers rather than finesse skiers, so it depends a bit on your skiing style. I use Lasers with low, light thermofit liners on Jak BC's -- same dimensions as Pocket Rockets -- and actually prefer the lighter boots to my downhill boots. I turn a whole lot more than my buds.

I'm surprised not to see Siver Star on any short list of PNW classics. Lowell's list looks about right, but maybe Silver Star should replace the Spearhead Traverse. After all, that is in the PSW, from the local point of view!

I ski mostly backcountry off 542, but still find a season's ticket worthwhile because: 1. It snows a lot. On bad visibility days, trees, known runs, and other tracks are nice. There are a few bc tree skiing areas around the ski area (Austin Trees, Herman Saddle), but most of the tree skiing is in area. 2. It snows a lot. On many days, the snow is just too unstable in the backcounrty to ski anything over 30 degrees, and some days you have to pole down 30 degree slopes. But these are not days to be missed!! Ski the area until things calm down. 3. It snows a lot. Unless you are up there every day, you will likrly see fresh snow and will need to know how well it is holding on to the underlayments on the various aspects and angles. We usually do a few runs in area, testing short, steep "test plots" to get some idea of what the sluff situation is. Then we will try a bit of lift served back-country (the Elbow, the Elf Chutes, The Hemis, The Arm to test on known conditions what we are suspecting. Then its off to the untracked goods. 4. It snows a lot. And it rains some, too. A season's pass gives you the opportunity to say "screw it" after a run or two on truely horrendous days without having to have wasted the price of a ticket. Plus, no waiting around at the ticket window in the morning on powder days. 5. Even on days where you are headed for the back country, a lift assist can save a half hour approach to Ptarmigan Ridge, Lake Anne etc. More if you are lugging in a pack for an overnighter. 6. ... and the final argument for a pass: The Arm!!

OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHH!! Did they really say that they want someone to ski free all day with a video camera?!!

Windows Media Player for the Mac is available ... free. Try Google or Microsoft. If you are running Linux ... well!! The thing is, MS's version of MPEG-4 (wmv9) is not only the best codec out there, it is free, as is the encoder. It is not going to go away, so learning to live with it is useful.