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Skiing the NearCountry

Bookmark and Share            By Lou

Latest issue of “Ski Press” magazine just arrived in the mail. As always their somewhat eclectic content mix is worth a gander. Ever heard the term “frontcountry” used for skiing the near backcountry, perhaps accessed from a ski lift? How about the term “nearcountry” instead? As writer G.D. Maxwell says in his article “Skiing the Nearcountry,” it’s a place with “…fresh powder days after the last storm, plus the comfort of knowing I’ll be back in time for a well-deserved apres pint.”

I like the nearcounty, but have to admit that nearcountry to backcountry is like a pint of Coors Light compared to a stein of weis beer.

Snip from Ski Press magazine.

Department of editorial amusement: Knowing the incredible variety of telemark bindings on the market, it’s no surprise that the folks at Ski Press called a Black Diamond binding a Karhu. Nonetheless it’s a chuckle, and more so since even my son (who’s not a telemarker) saw the gaff. Question is, who gets the kudos for editorial product placement? The folks who work for BD, or those striving for Karhu press coverage? Both?

On the same page, we also smiled at the backcountry skier posing with a rather large G3 Bonesaw strapped to the waist belt of his Black Diamond Avalung pack. The question being, is the saw mounted there so he can cut his way out of an avalanche burial (while breathing easy with his ‘Lung), or cut up a moose for dinner?

Posted by Lou on February 22, 2007 | Filed Under Backcountry Skiing 

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Comments

8 Responses to “Skiing the NearCountry”

  1. nick February 22nd, 2007 1:54 pm

    ha! I spotted that error this morning over breakfast! I also thought the bonesaw looked a little funny on his waist like a sword… makes you wonder who writes these articles.

  2. Mark Worley February 22nd, 2007 3:01 pm

    The Bonesaw looks pretty multi-task capable. Bring on the roadkill moose indeed!

  3. David Aldous February 22nd, 2007 6:11 pm

    They also messed up on the pricing. From what I can tell that price shown is the price of the Power binding not the power tour. They succeded in getting a description of the 7TM Powertour, the price of a 7TM Power and the picture of a BD O1.

  4. steve romeo February 22nd, 2007 6:16 pm

    I’m assuming ‘near-country’ and ’side-country’ are the same?

  5. pete anzalone February 22nd, 2007 9:49 pm

    Reminds me of a Skiing Magazine cover headline some time back, “Back Country Tools” which begged the question “are they talking about products or people?”

  6. Lou February 22nd, 2007 9:57 pm

    I’ve felt like a fool, but not sure I ever felt like a tool (grin).

  7. telemyk February 22nd, 2007 11:18 pm

    I think Pedro owes everyone a beer. Make that a stein of weiss beer.

  8. Rich February 23rd, 2007 8:14 am

    A noteworthy patroller at Alta uses a different term that I have since adopted: “slackcountry”

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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.

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