Ski Touring News Roundup — October 2018

Backcountry ski touring news.

Let the season kickoff shindigs commence. Our publishing partner Cripple Creek Backcountry, mere yards from WildSnow HQ, is throwing their hoedown this coming 6 October. If you are anywhere within a twelve hour drive, come on by. Van life? Music, best BBQ this side of the Colorado River, dance at the “feet” of the boot wall. Take home experiences you will be reciting to your grandchildren many years from now.

Also re WildSnow outer local: Cripple Creek will be presenting two ski swaps. You can find good deals at these things (or sell your own gear). They do a decent job of preventing weird over-priced stuff like 1999 tele setups. Though if you look carefully you can usually find something with amusement value —I can’t believe someone didn’t just stick that in a dumpster!. Carbondale Ski Swap October 13-14, Vail Ski Swap October 20-21.

If any of you backcountry skiing specific retailers out there are throwing season starter parties, please let our readers know in the comments.

In other retailing news specifically related to us here at WildSnow “Aspen,” Cripple Creek is making the move on the old mining town. They’re setting a new location in Aspen. Good to see that. Though I do have a tinge of disappointment, as I enjoyed a moment of illicit pleasure whenever I heard of someone from Aspen coming 35 miles “downvalley” to the best ski shop, when their own town has what, forty or fifty emporiums of the plank?

Need we mention you can go springtime ski touring, now? New Zealand and other such climes are there. Grist for the thinking quadriceps among us: Heli ski tour

I’m not understanding the endless fascination with a few shuttered ski resorts in Colorado (posters, books, etc.). Sure, “History is cool we like history.” Sure, you can sometimes find less vegetation on old resort run cuts. But really, what’s the point? Do golfers go around searching for decompressioned courses? Do bicycle riders search out former bike paths? In any case, the latest revival of the “abandoned resort experience” is a film by Road West Traveled. Perhaps they will answer my questions. If not, questions about history are good to keep afloat.

Whoa, what’s going on in Switzerland? From January to June of 2018, eighty people died doing mountain sports in Switzerland, the country I always picture as the place where alpinists are the most fanatical about not getting in a mess. Eighty is more than DOUBLE the fatalities during that same period last year. This is carnage, and of grave concern in my opinion. More here.

3 Responses to “Ski Touring News Roundup — October 2018”

1. Zeaphod Beeblbrox October 4th, 2018 11:51 am

   1018?

2. Chris October 4th, 2018 8:18 pm

   As someone who has spent a lot of time skiing in the East I can say that backcountry skiing in that region of the country almost always requires active forest management (i.e. thinning). Abandoned or lost ski areas can provide this as long as vegetation hasn’t been left to regenerate for too long. Similarly many side country lines take advantage of failed trail or lift expansions. In Colorado, I’m not sure what the fascination is… lamenting climate change and corporate ski industry takeover?

3. AH October 8th, 2018 3:14 pm

   “…and nearly half are foreign tourists.”