Black Diamond for everything climbing and skiing.    Dynafit -- Speed Up!    Tracker beacons, Stash packs, shovels, more more more.    Terrific deals on randonnee AT rando backcountry skiing gear.    K2 has the skis that stay true to earning your turns.    Garmont boots -- excellent choice for backcountry skiing.

Giving Thanks

Bookmark and Share            By Lou

Had a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner last evening. A couple dozen relatives (lost count), three generations of family. In the high desert of SoCal, overlooking the Morongo Valley and Joshua Tree National Park. We gave thanks for the blessing of living in our wonderful country, with the freedom and opportunity it provides — a particularly poingnent concept as my father-in-law came here with nothing as a young man (off the boat with a suitcase and no English), worked hard, and achieved success in business and in family.

The week of rock climbing has been terrific. What a place. Having been heavily involved in rock back in the 1970s and 80s, when "modern" sport style climbing was gestated, I was interested to see what "mainstream" rock climbing looked like after being away from most of it for several decades. Wow! No wonder we have two major rock climbing magazines, hundreds of guidebooks, and so much more. It just makes me laugh to think back on how we used to diss top-roping as nearly the same thing as rappelling, and now it’s become a national pastime! And forget the “outlaw” image climbing used to have. A significant number of climbers we saw were parents with children. All good, so long as the smiles are broad and fun in the air…and the 5.7s are feeling easier.



Here is a little glimpse at the rock climbing mobs that descend
on Joshua Tree during any winter weekend or holiday. This is Short
Wall yesterday morning, at Indian Cove campground. Amazing. I’d
like to see backcountry skiing get more popular, but I’m not sure
I’m up for this kind of crowd on top of my favorite run. But then,
at least the avalanches would get poodled. Click image to enlarge.
Guidebooks for backcountry skiing or rock climbing are always an interesting thing.
This is the classic pose at J Tree. It’s hilarious
how many people you see wandering along the base of the cliffs,
guidebook in hand like you’d hold a Bible at a revival. Louie and
I did our fair share. The question is, which Caribbean island did
the guidebook writer retire to with his fortune? Or perhaps he
bought a mansion in Burbank, or Palm Springs (so he can still go
climbing)? Or, did his publisher keep all the coin and he’s still
living in a tent somewhere? Or perhaps he took up backcountry skiing?
Mental training for backcountry skiing.
Louie Dawson, 1st trad lead of his life. Dad heard shouting, "can you get anything good in!"

Posted by Lou on November 25, 2005 | Filed Under Backcountry Skiing, Trip Reports 

previous post: Desert Vacation – Backcountry Skiing?
next post: Dispatch from Andrew McLean

Comments

Comments are closed.

Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's backcountry skiing information and opinion website. Lou's passion for the past forty years has been alpinism, climbing, mountaineering and skiing -- along with all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about backcountry skiing and is well known as the first person to ski down all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, otherwise known as the Fourteeners! Books and free back country information here, and tons of Randonnee rando telemark info.

All material on this website is copyrighted. Permission required for reproduction, electronic or otherwise. That includes publication and display on other websites by whatever means. PLEASE SEE OUR COPYRIGHT INFORMATION.

Backcountry skiing is a dangerous sport. You may be killed or severely injured if you do any form of randone, randonnee and randonnée skiing. The information on this website is intended only as general information. While the authors and editors of the information on this website make every effort to present useful information, due to human error the information, text and images contained within this website may be inaccurate, false, or out-of-date. By using, reading or viewing the information provided on this website, you agree to absolve the owners of Wild Snow as well as content contributors of any liability for injuries or losses incurred while using such information. Furthermore, you agree to use any of this website's information, maps, photos, or binding mounting instructions or templates at your own risk, and waive Wild Snow its owners and contributors of any liability for use of said items for backcountry skiing or any other use.