Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's backcountry skiing information & opinion website. Lou's passion for the past 50 years has been alpinism, climbing, mountaineering and skiing -- along with all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about
ski touring 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 ski touring news and information here.
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Greg went with feet cause they are smaller, and thusly 2 million sounds more impressive than 600,000. So it says on his blog.
Reasonable, really, as it was an arbitrary goal anyway. I wonder what all the metric chauvinists think about a Canadian going with feet instead of meters.
Next up, a million meters in a year?
This Canadian still talks feet for a lot of backcountry skiing. But a ski partner of mine has made it his goal to make us think in metres by the end of the season.
The fun meter has both feet and meters on it, or at least mine does (grin).
Pretty fantastic feat, Greg. Way to go.
i use meters…but 2 million feet sounds way radder than 609,000 meters.
big round numbers…just like we all like our paychecks, right!?
Amazing accomplishment. Nice one Greg. We Canadians tend to be a little inconsistent when it comes to the metric system. People younger than 30 use it more often and it really depends on what it is one is measuring. For skiing/climbing I use feet to describe what I have climbed and meters when discussing elevation. No one ever said it had to make a sense, right?
as andrew c says, no ever said it had to make sense.
as a brit who’s lived, worked, travelled in europe for several years now metres do make sense. my dad still uses ‘yards’ over here, yards….!?!?!?!
2mill sounds much better, and its a hell of achievement whatever! its inspired me just not just for skinning and powder descents, but just to try and reach my goals in life.
well done greg!
I’m as psyched as ever on the uphill, and the “rise” of Greg since his 24 Hours of Sunlight record has a lot to do with that. Never thought much of that phrase “it’s all about the down.” Seems weird for a bunch of climbers to come up with that, no less… Like meters and feet, it’s all about… both.
2 million vert is like 10,000 feet/day for 200 days, or, in Greg’s case, 5495 vertical feet per day for 364 days! Unreal!
Oh, come on, Lou. “It’s all about the down” is what sells bigger and badder skis and boots. Show me the money! Not that lighter and faster is cheap, just not as sexy. When TGR starts making movies about rando racing we’ll know that the tide is turning. Don’t hold yer breath.
You’ll appreciate this:
http://getstrongergolonger.squarespace.com/journal/2011/1/3/light-and-fast-introduction.html
As far as TGR is concerned, no problem with holding breath. They’re good, but just a niche.
i got DEEPER on dvd for christmas from my bro. really good for a TGR film.
Greg Hill on his site says he uses a jetboil for longer tours or 2L bottle water for short. Lou mentioned using a thermos on Denali. Can experienced folk advise benefits cons of jetboil (15oz ) v thermos (15oz) for one day midwinter tour with 2 people? I have trouble with water freezing.
Inspiring! Greg Hill seems humble and low key. He gives the impression that he loves to tour and loves the mountains, bravo! On his blog he mentions his three ski choices and two boots. Those skis are the Dynafit Stoke, Manaslu, and Seven Summit Superlight. That is the heart of my personal ski quiver! Don’t think I will get a million or two feet, however, ever!