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.
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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?
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.