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10 Tips for Spring Backcountry Skiing, Sean Crossen Backcountry Skiing Fourteeners

By Lou

Sean Crossen – Backcountry Skiing the FourteenersI spoke with Sean yesterday. He skied North Maroon peak March 10, with Pete Sowar and Chris Webster. After a warming trend, temps in the Elks had dropped substantially by the time Sean and his crew were backcountry skiing on the peak, freezing the previously dangerous lower elevation snowpack as tight as a drum. Upper elevations were the usual steep winter powder that Sean has a knack for finding when he’s backcountry skiing, “1,000 vertical feet of steep sluffing powder – incredible,” is how he described conditions from the summit down their backcountry skiing route on the West Face.

Sean is doing an excellent job of backcountry skiing “re-dos” on peaks he’s skied before, but didn’t feel comfortable claiming as ski descents so he can be the second person to ski all the Fourteeners, and do it in just 3 seasons. As of this report, he’s got six re-dos to go, including Pyramid Peak and Capitol — two of the hardest to find in condition for safe and complete ski descents — but knowing Sean and his friends, they’ll nail it, and might even find more powder!

10 Tips for Spring Backcountry SkiingToday’s Tip: #4 – Eye Protection

4. Most people know high altitude sun can damage your eyes as well as your skin. Short term, you can sunburn your eyes and become “snow blind.” Long term, it cause cataracts. As with your skin, protection is the key, and sunglasses are the method. But not just any sunglasses work for backcountry skiing. Be sure your glasses are rated to filter 100% of UV and IR rays, and are large enough to adequately cover your eyes and block light coming in from the sides. More, during bright spring days in snow country, you’ll want fairly dark glasses, so evaluate at the store when you’re buying. To test, hold them up at arms length and compare side-by-side, and get the ones that dim the light substantially. (Be aware, however, that just because a pair of sunglasses is “dark” doesn’t mean they absorb enough of the UV and IR, hence the reason to buy name brand, rated sunglasses.)

Always carry spare eye protection. If you’ve got name-brand goggles they’ll work in a pinch if you loose your sun glasses (even storm lenses usually filter UV and IR, and you can add duct tape to create a “slit” gogglee if they seem too bright). For an ultra light weight spare, go to a vision care center and get their small disposable sunglasses (they’ll usually give you a pair for free). These roll up the size of a film canister, weigh nothing, and are plenty dark for high altitude protection. Keep ‘em in your emergency kit along with your fire starting items and duct tape stash.

Posted by Lou on March 16, 2005 | Filed Under Fourteeners, Technique