AlpineK

Since you ask DP I've done more backcountry skiing for more years than most people on this board. (look up my trip report on the Forbidden Tour last May) I've even telemarked for a couple years going on trips into the bc skiing powder. I've tried it and didn't like it. I've skied with plenty of tele skiers that broke their cable or ripped out their binding. Think about it all the force of a turn is on a 3" to 5" section of your ski. On AT gear the force is much more spread out. I've never broken my bindings. Lets talk tradition. I know a bunch of old timers that skied in the Cascades in the 40s to the 60s. They were all on a version of AT gear. Tele skiers only showed up in the 70's. So don't make me laugh by talking about history. EddyE I am heartbroken you don't want to ski with me this winter. I haven't stopped crying since I read your post.

The cheapest thing to do if your strapped for cash is to get a pair of Alpine Treckers. They fit in the downhill bindings you already have, and allow you to hike uphill. If you like it then you can start getting AT gear a bit at a time. You could start with just the bindings. If you haven't skied a lot in the BC learning to ski different snow conditions and avalanche prediction is hard enough without learning a new turn. Why spend time being a beginer when you can ski the same stuff you already do. Tele isn't anymore,"pure," than alpine. I've noted also that Tele gear is a lot more prone to break too. Telemark french for, "Hey guys wait for me."

Hey man I'm embarrassed to admit I've telemarked a little, but it was back in college and it was just a phase. I never bought tele gear though. We all have our moral failings. I'm just trying to help people in their moment of crisis.

Exactly!! Why telemark?! Oh wait you must want to be more in touch with nature.

I skied a couple runs up at Slate peak above Harts pass last weekend. It was kind of dumb, but it was fun to get out on the boards. The snow last weekend was on the Northeast side of the peak, but I bet there is a lot more now.

If you go anywhere in the backcountry you should know something about the snowpack and its risk. Avy conditions in the cascades aren't as tricky as the Colorado Rockies, but you should think about what you are doing.

I found an article for those of you thinking of taking up backcountry skiing. I'm sure it won't sway the radical tele faction, but I think you newbies to the sport should read it before you put your blinders on and buy tele gear. http://wildsnow.com/articles/at_article_big/at_article_big.html My view is that Tele skiing evolved in Norway, where there are lots of rolling hills. When the technique was brought to the Alps, where there are lots of big steep hills, people found that fixing you heel to go downhill was a major improvement. While you can find rolling hills in the Cascades, there are lots of steep stuff out there. I know a lot of the oldtimers who did the first skiing in the Cascades and they all skied on bindings with fixed heels for descent. So, in the Cascades, if you really want to ski in traditional style go get yourself some AT gear. I might also add some of you tele guys may not realize that a good AT skier can ski with their heels unlocked and skate along at the same rate of speed a free heel guy can on the low angle stuff at the bottom of the run. I've never had someone on tele gear leave me in the dust at the bottom of a ski run. I've skied with lots of people on tele gear. Some of them can really rip it up, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be abused for their anti-AT cliches and their purist attitude. Think Snow! [This message has been edited by AlpineK (edited 10-14-2001).]

quote: Originally posted by Erwin: All ya PNWesters on skis need to throw on a board. Been skiing all my life in the east coast. Tried a board one demo day with a fresh blanket and was hooked. In the east, you have an excuse to ski with the ice and moguls. Not out here. Those pot-head boarders sitting on their ass (wasting their money) watching riders rip the half-pipes give the sport a bad name. Boarding on virgin snow and in some trees will blow skiing away. So sold on the excitment for a real winter (not this rain i see in Portland, as well as the possibility of being laid off), is sending me to Steamboat. Here great things of it. Any beta out there? Erwin get out of the PNW Right Now! Have fun in Colorado where you can earn minimum wage and live in a trailer park 60 miles from the resort you work in. I ski with plenty of boarders, but I have no desire to switch. I only dislike boarders who sideslip down slopes they don't have the skill to ride. You can take your attitude about pot with you to Colorado too.

Beck, If you own AT gear why on earth would you want to do a tele turn. On the other hand I've seen lots of telemarkers skiing alpine style.

Tele Geek: "Free your heel and your mind will follow" Snowboarder and AT guy: "Fix your heel fix your problem" Telemark.. French for "Hey guys wait for me." If you telemarkers still skied on double camber skis with leather boots you might have a right to be stuck up. Modern tele gear is just poorly designed AT gear. I never hear an AT guy talk about ripping his bindings out. Come on guys get with it. The 60's are over. The Dead don't tour anymore. Nobody owns an 8 track player. Why should you ski on crappy gear.

Snow rules.

Aries is easy if you've got some technique. What about Easter Overhang rated 5.9. Now there is a climb that can kick a few asses.

You may want to do some research. If you are going into the N Face of W McM you should use the Stetattle Ridge approach. Chopping Block approach is for H Horn or Terror. You need 1.5 days on the ridge approach. [This message has been edited by AlpineK (edited 08-16-2001).]

A friend of mine has a couple pictures of Mark G in compromising positions. One involves a beer bottle and Mark's butt. You could use them for a discount.

You desk jockies all suck. I drop large logs on all of you from a considerable height. I could send all of you through my chipper. Watch Fargo and see your future. My chipper is 10 times bigger than the one in the film. [This message has been edited by AlpineK (edited 08-16-2001).]

Once in the mid 80's I saw Ron Kauk guiding David Lee Roth at J Tree.

Yo Beck, Too bad I was away from the computer all day. I would have loved to read your post before you edited it. As to the smell of my shit; after packing out a few blue bags last week I can tell you it does stink. I've been put down for personal behavior that was wrong. I was as upset as you at first, but apon reflection I found that there was merit to the complaint, and I was able to learn from it. [This message has been edited by AlpineK (edited 08-16-2001).]

Becky, Sorry I didn't make it to Tacoma. I didn't finish work until 7:30 this eve. Yes Nordic Patrol is a good thing in a bozo filled area like Paradise, and no I was not there durring the rescue you describe above. However, I have seen you interact with people at Paradise, and that led to my above comment. As a volunteer you have to tell people not to sled outside the designated areas and that dogs aren't allowed outside of the parking lot. Fair enough, but how you do that is what I was driving at. Instead of politely telling people the rules you start yelling at them like a cop. I found it embarassing to be associated with you and thus I only came to Nordic Patrol twice. My post above reflects my impression of your attitude on patrol. Perhaps you are trying too hard to do a good job, or maybe you are expressing your own insecurities durring your interactions with people at Paradise. One other possibility is that you are a lacky to the man. PS I also find it amusing that you have a Nordic Patrol patch on every piece of clothing you own.

There was an E on Challenger last year at this time, but I wasn't

I've seen some ski patrol guys that thought they were cops when in reality they were just volunteer ski patrol guys with no real authority. Perhaps lack of tact and poor communication skills influenced the situation. Of course I wasn't involved in the above rescue, but I've seen some Nordic Patrol guys start off a conversation on the wrong foot before. I've also read about some dumb behavior from RMI guys too i.e. having lunch under the Ingraham Ice Cliffs in the early 80's. I'm sure there is lots of blame to go around. Volunteering is a great, but don't forget you should be paid to be a cop.

I didn't know you were a climber Beck

The bugs sucked in the woods, but up high they were only bad at sunset.

Some friends and I just got back from a week in the Southern Picket range. We had excellent weather and managed to get in 3 summits. 8/7 We left the car at about noon and hiked up into Terror Creek basin. The trail is in good shape and obvious. We camped just above timberline. 8/8 We traversed under the ridge line past 2 lakes and hiked up under Inspiration Peak to an excellent campsite. After setting up camp we all scrambled up West McMillan via the west ridge. 8/9 We divided into two groups. My friend R and I climbed the South Face of Inspiration Peak. The rock quality is great and the route is impressive. We hung out on the summit and met up with E,M, and P who climbed the West Ridge. We then proceded to rappel the West Ridge. We set new webbing and rappel rings down to the notch and used existing rap anchors below the notch. In a better snow year I think the gully would be an easy scramble, but right now it sucks. 8/10 We hung out till noon at our camp and then packed up and crossed the Barrier. I had heard that crossing the Barrier really sucked and sure enough it did. Steep heather and grass with cliffs below and no place to anchor. We got across, but I wouldn't recommend the crossing to anyone. We set up camp just above the Chopping Block at a saddle. 8/11 P took the day off and the rest of us hiked over to the Himmelhorn. There is still lots of snow in the gully leading up to the west face of the Himmelhorn (crampons recommended). We climbed the Wild Hair Crack in two rope teams. The rock and climbing are both great. We set up rap anchors down to the notch. 8/12 We packed up and hike out the lower Barrier. It took us about 6 hours from the Chopping Block down to the car. The trail is only marked in a few places and the slope from Terror Creek to a saddle on the Barrier is very steep with no real trail. There's some great climbing in the Southern Pickets. I would like to go back for some of the north faces!

NW face kicks butt on the N ridge. I must say I like the looks of the traverse of the dirrect east ridge of Forbidden to Torment.

What did you do? Spit in my shoe.