Comments on: Colorado Backcountry Ski Report – Terrific and Terrifying http://www.wildsnow.com/9483/colorado-backcounry-skiing-avalanches/ Backcountry Skiing Weblog Blog, FAQs, more, links and info about randonnee, telemark and backcountry ski mountaineering. Sat, 25 May 2013 01:54:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Samuel Savard http://www.wildsnow.com/9483/colorado-backcounry-skiing-avalanches/#comment-51125 Samuel Savard Wed, 13 Feb 2013 19:13:19 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=9483#comment-51125 I think the question «how risk averse are you, and are your companions in the same place as you are with that?» is a very important one. It happened to me a few times in the last years to go powder skiing with people on different levels of «carefulness», and it got scary (me being of the more careful type) at some points. Some people, more often than not younger than me, tend to be careless and have a death wish. Before you go on a snowpack skiing trip, the matter should be openly discussed amongst the group.... I think the question «how risk averse are you, and are your companions in the same place as you are with that?» is a very important one. It happened to me a few times in the last years to go powder skiing with people on different levels of «carefulness», and it got scary (me being of the more careful type) at some points. Some people, more often than not younger than me, tend to be careless and have a death wish. Before you go on a snowpack skiing trip, the matter should be openly discussed amongst the group….

]]> By: Lou Dawson http://www.wildsnow.com/9483/colorado-backcounry-skiing-avalanches/#comment-51117 Lou Dawson Wed, 13 Feb 2013 17:16:18 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=9483#comment-51117 So long as it's better than Vail, I'm good. Cory, it's been slightly difficult to achieve and subsequently write about much Colorado backcountry skiing as the past two seasons have been a bit limited, to make the understatement of the century. But we try. More importantly, WildSnow.com is not a Colorado website anymore, even if it ever was. That's something we all have to just roll with. As for the gear reviews, they're important. Though I totally agree that the balance of gear reviews to everything else should always be tweaked. On the other hand, anyone familiar with this website should know by now that we have somewhat of a pattern. During and after trade shows we file a lot of gear stuff. If a press trip happens, it's gear combined with trip reports. Come late winter and spring, we do a lot more days out and a lot more trip reports. We also have periods where an interesting project takes the lead, such as Denali, or Portahut. There will be more of those. Then in summer it's just a mix of whatever we feel relates -- which has actually been pretty fun. Lou So long as it’s better than Vail, I’m good.

Cory, it’s been slightly difficult to achieve and subsequently write about much Colorado backcountry skiing as the past two seasons have been a bit limited, to make the understatement of the century. But we try.

More importantly, WildSnow.com is not a Colorado website anymore, even if it ever was. That’s something we all have to just roll with. As for the gear reviews, they’re important. Though I totally agree that the balance of gear reviews to everything else should always be tweaked.

On the other hand, anyone familiar with this website should know by now that we have somewhat of a pattern. During and after trade shows we file a lot of gear stuff. If a press trip happens, it’s gear combined with trip reports. Come late winter and spring, we do a lot more days out and a lot more trip reports.
We also have periods where an interesting project takes the lead, such as Denali, or Portahut. There will be more of those.

Then in summer it’s just a mix of whatever we feel relates — which has actually been pretty fun.

Lou

]]> By: cory http://www.wildsnow.com/9483/colorado-backcounry-skiing-avalanches/#comment-51116 cory Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:56:31 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=9483#comment-51116 I gotta say, it has been a long time since I've seen a write up on BC skiing in Colorado on this site. I am thankful to see a bit of the old days return to Wildsnow, where it isn't all focused on spending $ or the latest controversy, but rather a simple look at what we all enjoy. I gotta say, it has been a long time since I’ve seen a write up on BC skiing in Colorado on this site. I am thankful to see a bit of the old days return to Wildsnow, where it isn’t all focused on spending $ or the latest controversy, but rather a simple look at what we all enjoy.

]]> By: Matt Kinney http://www.wildsnow.com/9483/colorado-backcounry-skiing-avalanches/#comment-51115 Matt Kinney Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:15:32 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=9483#comment-51115 The last thing I want to think is that my snowpack is more stable than anywhere else. It depends. Some who think that perhaps are only familiar with steep ski movies filmed during 6 tropical weeks in April/May, which is kinda/sorta winter in Alaska. Ahhhh,..Beware the deadly world of false positives Try skiing here in Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, March with your "chugach super stability theories" and see how that works out for you. As far as powder skiing, its off the charts, better than Vail, at least we think so. The last thing I want to think is that my snowpack is more stable than anywhere else. It depends.

Some who think that perhaps are only familiar with steep ski movies filmed during 6 tropical weeks in April/May, which is kinda/sorta winter in Alaska. Ahhhh,..Beware the deadly world of false positives

Try skiing here in Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, March with your “chugach super stability theories” and see how that works out for you.

As far as powder skiing, its off the charts, better than Vail, at least we think so.

]]> By: Lou Dawson http://www.wildsnow.com/9483/colorado-backcounry-skiing-avalanches/#comment-51114 Lou Dawson Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:52:56 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=9483#comment-51114 Chase, indeed, it's really really hard to play the backcountry powder game in Colorado, compared to many other places. Things do often get better starting in March or April and on through June, but some of these weak layers can persist till the snow actually melts away so it's not all roses. Sigh. Makes a man out of you, anyway (grin). Chase, indeed, it’s really really hard to play the backcountry powder game in Colorado, compared to many other places. Things do often get better starting in March or April and on through June, but some of these weak layers can persist till the snow actually melts away so it’s not all roses. Sigh. Makes a man out of you, anyway (grin).

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