Comments on: Backcountry Skiing News Roundup – And Fourteener Skiing Ethics http://www.wildsnow.com/120/backcountry-skiing-news-roundup-3/ Backcountry Skiing Weblog Blog, FAQs, more, links and info about randonnee, telemark and backcountry ski mountaineering. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:30:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jason McGowin http://www.wildsnow.com/120/backcountry-skiing-news-roundup-3/comment-page-1/#comment-153 Jason McGowin Fri, 27 Jan 2006 20:53:51 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=120#comment-153 The thing that I find interesting is that in my ski mountaineering pursuits I look for the "best" line on a mountain to ski whether it is from the summit or not. If there's 2 possible routes from a peak, one being from the direct summit, but not continuous, aesthetic or of high quality, and the other not being from the summit but that is an awesome line, I would say that the true ski mountaineer would choose the latter every time. The Cable Route versus the Trough on Longs might be good examples. The thing that I find interesting is that in my ski mountaineering pursuits I look for the “best” line on a mountain to ski whether it is from the summit or not. If there’s 2 possible routes from a peak, one being from the direct summit, but not continuous, aesthetic or of high quality, and the other not being from the summit but that is an awesome line, I would say that the true ski mountaineer would choose the latter every time. The Cable Route versus the Trough on Longs might be good examples.

]]> By: Jarrett Luttrell http://www.wildsnow.com/120/backcountry-skiing-news-roundup-3/comment-page-1/#comment-152 Jarrett Luttrell Fri, 27 Jan 2006 19:18:41 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=120#comment-152 I believe that the issue of firsts has always been, and will forever be, a prevalent issue in the mountaineering world simply because storytelling is an integral part of adventure, as evidenced by the huge amount of literature on the subject. It is how we track the history of our craft. I remember some good discussion on the issue of first as they apply to the climbing world in the book "The Games Climbers Play". Essentially, those whoe preceeded set the precedent, while those who follow are challenged to meet those standards. I have done my best to uphold those standards, not only to get more turns, but because I want to bring snowboaring to that level in solid style. If you want the whole enchelada, you gotta be patient. I believe that the issue of firsts has always been, and will forever be, a prevalent issue in the mountaineering world simply because storytelling is an integral part of adventure, as evidenced by the huge amount of literature on the subject. It is how we track the history of our craft. I remember some good discussion on the issue of first as they apply to the climbing world in the book “The Games Climbers Play”. Essentially, those whoe preceeded set the precedent, while those who follow are challenged to meet those standards. I have done my best to uphold those standards, not only to get more turns, but because I want to bring snowboaring to that level in solid style. If you want the whole enchelada, you gotta be patient.

]]> By: Lou http://www.wildsnow.com/120/backcountry-skiing-news-roundup-3/comment-page-1/#comment-148 Lou Fri, 27 Jan 2006 03:17:31 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=120#comment-148 And as I've said before, I'm indeed interested in who does what up on the fourteeners, and I do keep notes since I'm a writer, but the ethic should be the result of consensus on the part of the mountaineering community. If I give the impression of being too bombastic about that, please realize I'm just writing opinion. If the opinion matches the feelings of the community, then great, if not, I'm listening. And as I’ve said before, I’m indeed interested in who does what up on the fourteeners, and I do keep notes since I’m a writer, but the ethic should be the result of consensus on the part of the mountaineering community. If I give the impression of being too bombastic about that, please realize I’m just writing opinion. If the opinion matches the feelings of the community, then great, if not, I’m listening.

]]> By: John Rosendahl http://www.wildsnow.com/120/backcountry-skiing-news-roundup-3/comment-page-1/#comment-147 John Rosendahl Thu, 26 Jan 2006 22:29:44 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=120#comment-147 I used to want to do something for the books, maybe a first decent somewhere. It would not have to be the hardest, or most amazing decent, just some route on some mountain I could point to and say, “I was the first person down that.� Reading your blog and about this whole 14er saga has made one thing clear. I have no desire to be involved in such an ego driven and petty community. Instead, I am going to be skining up, looking for a perfect line, and skiing down - while smiling. I'll leave the record books for you to maintain. I used to want to do something for the books, maybe a first decent somewhere. It would not have to be the hardest, or most amazing decent, just some route on some mountain I could point to and say, “I was the first person down that.�

Reading your blog and about this whole 14er saga has made one thing clear. I have no desire to be involved in such an ego driven and petty community. Instead, I am going to be skining up, looking for a perfect line, and skiing down – while smiling. I’ll leave the record books for you to maintain.

]]> By: Andrew Kennett http://www.wildsnow.com/120/backcountry-skiing-news-roundup-3/comment-page-1/#comment-143 Andrew Kennett Thu, 26 Jan 2006 21:03:23 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=120#comment-143 My opinion and feeling regarding this discussion is - I used to care what other people were accomplishing and also, I cared and counted my accomplishments. After becoming a father and my time in the backcountry becoming extremely reduced in the past few years, although I do still get excited and happy for people doing things like "skiing" all of the 14ers in colorado - my thoughts are simply, if they really make the attempt to get to the top and ski the mtn right on for them - but on the other hand, if the CAN climb to 14+ and ski the mtn but only choose to climb to 12 and ski it while still claiming to ski a 14er as in the attempt to say "I summited and skiied a 14er" they are short changing themselves and no one else... I guess my point it - while its cool for people to publish their works, those publishings no longer drive me to be who I am. Mountaineering is extremely personal for me as it should be for most - if the drive to go to the mountains is to be on a poster and impress people, go find something else that actually drives you... My opinion and feeling regarding this discussion is – I used to care what other people were accomplishing and also, I cared and counted my accomplishments. After becoming a father and my time in the backcountry becoming extremely reduced in the past few years, although I do still get excited and happy for people doing things like “skiing” all of the 14ers in colorado – my thoughts are simply, if they really make the attempt to get to the top and ski the mtn right on for them – but on the other hand, if the CAN climb to 14+ and ski the mtn but only choose to climb to 12 and ski it while still claiming to ski a 14er as in the attempt to say “I summited and skiied a 14er” they are short changing themselves and no one else… I guess my point it – while its cool for people to publish their works, those publishings no longer drive me to be who I am. Mountaineering is extremely personal for me as it should be for most – if the drive to go to the mountains is to be on a poster and impress people, go find something else that actually drives you…

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