A text and email thread began last night about skiing this week. It took most of us by surprise since this group lives in the lower 48, but the Kootenay Boundary Forecast by Avalanche Canada has just started to forecast and apparently there is 72cm (approx 30in) of snow to slide upon. They say the conditions are green/safe, it has a supportive crust ankle deep, and there are loads of items to watch for (e.g. stumps, unfrozen creeks, etc).
Thus, I went to bed starting to think through my calendar and dream about turns, which that is just what happened. I had a skiing dream!
Another email thread began this week and asked the question if I/we were going to participate in any ski races or events. There isn’t a lot offered at the hills closest to where I live, but there sure are some great ones in the region, and I figured I should plug a few…
- The United States Ski Mountaineering Association has a great calendar, and from what I can ascertain two of the closer events happen at Loup Loup and Whitefish.
- If a traditional skimo isn’t your style and you’re more interested in a long grind like The Grand Traverse, we have one regionally called the Patrol Race put on by the Seattle Mountaineers in the snoqualmie pass area.
The Patrol Race is a lottery so if you are even considering it, I’d encourage you to sign-up on a whim and see if you could get in with your two closest touring buddies (it’s a three person race). A group of friends had entered the lottery for a couple of years and finally got a bid to enter last year. It’s an amazing event that caters to all types of backcountry saavy folks from your elite racers to casual groups of friends old and young. Check it out BC ski friends, and to quote the wise Warren Miller, “If you don’t do it this year, you will be one year older when you do.”
BC SKI LINKS ROUND UP!
THE GRAND TRAVERSE
Speaking of races, if you don’t have a visual for what I’m talking about check this out!
WHAT ARE YOU PLUGGED INTO?
A challenge and call to unplug from tech and plug-in to the mountains.
DO YOU SWERVE?
If I’m honest I’ve never even heard of such a thing in skiing, but this video made an impression on me regarding how they approach the mountains (the smoking aside).
STEP IT UP PARENTS AND GET YOUR KIDS STEPPING
Apparently it’s time to step it up parents. Get a bungee and some mini gear… this guy was able to outfit his kid for under $50! And our skimo.co friends have some good tips too.