Backcountry Skiing

Sierra spring skiing with friends

Stuart Wilkinson skiing off the Wheeler Crest

Yesterday was a classic spring day in California’s Sierra Nevada. Even though it was my countless day skiing in conditions like this, I still marvel at these amazing days of warmth, abundant corn snow, and the fact that here one can drop to the car from a wintry landscape and slip on shorts and flip flops. It is a great time of the year. But this may have been the last day like this for awhile, a winter storm is steaming towards us. Here are some photos of friends from yesterday as we did some skiing and even a little USGS work.

: With Rock Creek Canyon and the Sierra Crest behind, we’re skinning up to the Wheeler Crest

: Mike Calla connecting strips of snow to keep the skis on

: The packs were heavy with scientific instruments to measure the height of summits. The good news, the Sierra are rising at the same rate as they are eroding. Don’t worry, they’ll be around for awhile

: Janine in classic Eastern Sierra spring skiing weather

: Mike Calla descending to the Owen’s Valley

: It’s always a game to see how long you can keep your skis on

: Flip flops and shorts time

Rating: 5.0/5 (2 votes cast)

Backcountry Skiing Alone

Mar 24th, 2010

by dolomitesport.

2 comments

The line is obvious, a quick snap, commence turns.

My friend John Dittli just posted his thoughts on this same subject over at his Blog – it got me thinking, while I was out backcountry skiing alone today…

Why would you ski without a partner? I too am challenged with the same questions as John as I often venture out on my own program – isn’t it just so dangerous? For me, personally, I love skiing alone, just as I love to go trail run in the mountains by myself, train alone on my road bike, or climb an easy route solo. It is an entirely different experience to do these things alone.

The rewards are sky high while the risk, in my opinion, is fairly low. I feel good about skiing alone. Compared to being in a group it puts me more in tune with the environment, I think more about conditions and what the terrain is doing by being on high alert. I also do not push it. The entire “group thinking” factor is non-existent – and this is what I believe to be one of the most dangerous elements for backcountry skiers. Alone, I have backed off many a climb and opted to ski much safer lines in stellar looking bowls. These decisions do not come as a result of stopping to dig pits, study crystals or any other methodical thinking, it is just a sense based on experience and a little probing around. Will I ever get into trouble? Maybe, but I’ll take my chances. With 20 years skiing in the mountains, I feel I make good choices, probably even better ones when I am solo. Crossing my tips and hearing tearing sounds concerns me far more than avalanches or falls. This is part of the risk, I get it and so too does Janine.

For me, there are few greater feelings than being in the mountains on skis in the winter. And so to have the experience to myself, to choose my line, drop into what I want to drop into, feel acceleration and begin turning – is freedom. And at the end of the run… back in safer terrain, hearing the swishing sound the skis make, playing like a kid as I pass through the forest or the brush, making turns here and there, feels perfect.

Rating: 4.5/5 (2 votes cast)

Skiing Hatcher Pass Lodge Alaska

Mar 18th, 2010

by dolomitesport.

1 comment

Every now and then you stumble upon some very cool little scene, some nugget that just feels right. During our stay in Anchorage, we kept hearing people suggest that we try skiing up at Hatcher Pass, about 90 minutes north of Anchorage above the town of Palmer. Finally, we loaded up the Dodge Ram rental truck and headed for the hills.

Hatcher Pass is in the Alaska front range and like much of the surrounding landscape is a craggy, snow covered part of the state’s endless mountains. As soon as we drove in we were immediately reminded of a combo of Austria’s Silvretta Group and the Sierra Nevada. It just looked like a great place to ski lots of peaks, and better, there is a small lodge sitting all alone at the end of the road with small private cabins.

We parked at the lodge to see if there was room available and were soon unpacking ski gear in our own small cabin. The owner of the place, Hap Wurlitzer, checked in on us to make sure we were all comfortable and also to make it clear that he is a great character. Eyeing my unusual skin color, he remarked, “What the hell happened to you? How did you get so dark in Alaska?” Our kind of guy.

We told him we would be skiing until late but he assured us salmon burgers and beer would be waiting. The evening was shaping up to be perfect, and it was, we climbed to the top of the peak above the lodge, dropped into a steep couloir at sunset, skied that remarkably good Alaskan powder all the way down and then hung a left and made one last turn at the lodge’s door.

The mountains hanging above the lodge are not huge, but they are ski peaks, with big, open bowls, couloirs, and plenty of options. Get up high and Denali becomes the dominant landmark to the north while south stretch endless layers of mountain peaks.

The Hatcher Pass Lodge

Some good beers in Alaska

Later that night we had dinner with Hap and he told us the story of the area. Originally a mining town, the mountain has some varied history of mountain activities. There had at one time been a rope tow for the old gold miners to ski, later it became the spot to backcountry ski, so popular in fact that backcountry races were held in the early 80′s from the lodge up to summits and back down (maybe ski mountaineering was invented in Alaska?), but then the snow machines took over until recent seasonal closures has caused their numbers to drop. Finally, today there is a big mix of users, from backcountry skiers, lots of nordic skiers, snowboarders and of course people playing on sleds.

We felt right at home staying in the lodge, loved the friendly people we ran into and thought Hap was the ultimate hut keeper. All on its own, Hatcher Pass is probably not a reason to go to Alaska, but with all the other draws Alaska is obviously a must visit for every mountain sport lover. Just remember, when you do go schedule in some Hatcher Pass Lodge time. For more info, visit Hatcher Pass Lodge

The Hatcher Pass Lodge Sauna

Hap Wurlitzer, Hatcher Pass Lodge's owner in the kitchen

YES, sun in Alaska

Dan Oberlatz and friends bootpacking

Climbing rocks to ski powder

Interior of the Hatcher Pass Lodge

Hatcher Pass Lodge views

Dan Patitucci skinning to Marmot Peak

Janine Patitucci skiing above Hatcher Pass

Alaskan sunset

Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast)

Dolomites and Zillertal Backcountry Skiing

Feb 19th, 2010

by dolomitesport.

No comments yet

DolomiteSport has dropped off the radar a bit this last week due to a super busy schedule. A friend from the US, Brandyn Roark Gray, is here enjoying the Dolomites and Zillertal Region and we are of course shooting backcountry skiing each day. The usual list of comments are coming from her about this area, the primary of which is, “Wow, this place is amazing, why don’t more Americans know about it?” …….I am doing my best to share.

I had the great pleasure of discovering that my close friend and Mountain Guide, Alberto De Giuli, was booked for five days of work with two North Americans who discovered the opportunity of a Dolomite trip after finding this website and getting inspired to have a look at the Dolomites. Alberto was with them at a nearby hut so Brandyn and I set off to meet them for a ski and dinner at the Fanes Hut. For me, huge rewards come from showing the Dolomites and Zillertal Mountains to people – and especially to see them marvel as I have at what I feel is the most beautiful and culturally perfect place I have seen on this earth.

Brandyn Roark Gray climbing the Zillertal Alpen's Hörnspitze

Ski touring the Dolomites Cresta Bianca

Alberto De Giuli scores a 10 with his Ski Roll

Dolomites Ski Touring with the Tre Cime di Lavaredo behind

The Fanes Hut, Italian Dolomites

Interior of the Fanes Hut. Yes, it is in the backcountry

The Fanes Hut kitchen

Alberto De Giuli with some very happy visitors

Rating: 5.0/5 (2 votes cast)

Dynafit Eruption and Aurora Down Jacket Review

Feb 18th, 2010

by dolomitesport.

2 comments

Isn’t it mandatory these days for Product Reviews to reveal whether or not the reviewer was given products for free? If so, I hereby admit that yes, Dynafit recently sent me a huge box of goods – for a photo shoot. But “free” gear does not always make for “good” gear, so when something is good I like to let it be known.

Look like a fashion champ in Dynafit's new clothing

Announcing : the Dynafit Eruption Down jacket for men, and the Women’s version, the Aurora Down jacket, both – perfect. Two thumbs up, 5 star, you get the idea.

Why? And what are they? Super light puffy down jackets that compress down to nearly nothing for in your pack. Pull them out, shake them a time or two and voila, a form fitting, sport cut, ultralight, super warm puffy. During this time shooting skiing in the Italian Dolomites, we have been living in them, both in the mountains and in town. I have been keeping it on to stay warm shooting, then skiing with it and loving the comfy, cozy warmth.

The material is a light nylon that I have deemed bomber after my camera’s flash mount snagged on it and was forcefully torn across the surface of the jacket making a terrible sound of shredding material. My fears were for nothing as the jacket had not even a mark.

So why are we impressed by a jacket that nearly every outdoor clothing company offers? Because unlike so many others, this one fits snug, yet flexes as you move, zero constriction, no extra material, just a form fitting cocoon of warmth made from quality materials. Of course it is down, so don’t get it wet, and don’t leave it stuffed in a stuffsack all summer.

Visit the Dynafit site for all the info on these jackets and their growing line of performance clothing

Tea Time in the Dolomites

The men's and women's Dynafit down jackets

Rating: 4.0/5 (2 votes cast)

Ski Randonee and Ski Running Explained

Feb 10th, 2010

by dolomitesport.

12 comments

Ski Mountaineering Introduction

Ski Running terrain, the stuff you used to dread

Let’s just start by saying that I recognize that this is not a post for every kind of skier. For whatever reason, the subject of going backcountry skiing for more than just ripping turns or dropping into steep couloirs is more than some can handle. I know thanks to a few pieces of hate mail I recently received for suggesting (here) that there may be something other than fat skis and big attitude as reason to go skiing in the mountains. That “something” was light backcountry ski gear and the idea of backcountry skiing as an endurance sport. I also received more than a few comments and emails praising the post and asking for more details. It is for these people that I once again write about this idea of Ski Rando Racing, Ski Running, or Ski Mountaineering – whatever it is called in the US. It is so young that it has yet to really have a name stick. So here are my thoughts about this sport that I am sure would be phenomenally popular if given a chance.

Maybe Ski Running is a good term as in some ways it is a fit. If you are a trail runner, road biker, mountain biker, nordic skier, or hiker …and also a backcountry skier – Ski Running combines all of these into a winter sport that can be done alone on all that lower angle terrain you have been ignoring while headed to the steeper stuff. No, it is not about the turns, it is about the experience of going to the mountains, moving quickly, efficiently and becoming fantastically fit from it all. Think nordic skiing light but backcountry capable, and think perfect singletrack where you decide to lay it down.

For me, the opportunities opened up when I saw the gear. Having previously lived in the Mammoth Lakes area of California, backcountry skiing meant telemarking. I ignored that and promptly locked my heels down many years back when AT gear became more efficient. Nevertheless, the setups were still a bit clunky and heavy. Dynafit certainly helped lighten the load but the typical US gear selection was still about skiing down, not necessarily up, even though 90% of the backcountry skiers life is spent going…. up.

The Euro racing scene

As I started spending more time in Europe, specifically the Italian Dolomites, I discovered an entirely new gear selection. Superlight everything, taken to an even higher level thanks to the phenomenally popular European race culture. Suddenly there is backcountry gear not much heavier than a nordic set up that also allows one to ski well… down.

After three back to back ski trade shows in recent weeks it is becoming clear – this gear is beginning to make its way to the US and just might possibly be on shelves for the winter of 2011. Dynafit seems to be riding this wave most effectively with their new Dy.N.A. Race and TLT5 ultralight all purpose boot. Scarpa’s F1 has long been the standard, and continues to be king, but keep an eye as well on both Garmont and Scarpa’s new offerings.

Because I know the range so well, and especially the potential for big spring tours, I cannot imagine a much better place for ultralight ski touring gear than California’s Sierra Nevada – so maybe this post is for you guys. In Colorado, Utah and Wyoming it has already caught on, yet in the Sierra, where it is a perfect match, not quite yet.

A ski running day rather than a skiing day. But yes, the big bowl back there, already skied it.

Ski Rando Case Study

A beautiful, still winter day in the Dolomites. Time to get out for some exercise and I would live to ski, but with whom? It’s a Tuesday morning and I made no plans with friends. I grab my light ski gear and head out the door. Destination: frontcountry, lower angled, rolling terrain, ridgelines; in other words, safe.

3 hours later I have a 26km ski behind me with an average heart rate of 165. I still managed to gain 1200 meters and even made some nice powder turns in the trees. Sounds like a fun workout, much like going for a summer run or ride, but all while being in the mountains in the depths of winter.

Tiny heel post

My Ski Rando Gear

Skis: Ski Trab Duo Sintesi Aero – an all around superlight ski for both training and moderate tours, yet light enough to race on. There are lots of skis to choose from…

Bindings: Dynafit toe piece, Schia heel post. Be warned, many race heel bindings are not releasable. Dynafit does make a very light, releasable heel with the Speed Binding

Poles: Ski Trab with tall grip for multiple hand positions, length = floor to nearly shoulder height

Skins: Ski Trab narrow skins, they only go 2/3 of the ski length, You want some base showing to allow for skating and gliding

Boots: Scarpa F1′s

My thought about all of this is the simple fact that you can go out for a very real backcountry ski using extremely comfortable, light gear. Skinning will suddenly feel like trail running, but get to the top, rip your skins and enjoy the benefits of being on skis. It doesn’t matter if you intend to ever race, it’s really about getting out more often, experiencing the backcountry in a new way and implementing a different type of exercise for fitness – one that will have you all the more appreciative when you really go backcountry skiing.

Yep, it's a workout. Guess I can't hide the two stops at huts

The tallest sandwich on record post ski running workout yesterday

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US Ski Mountaineering Team Member Nina Silitch as Guest Contributor

In the coming days, Top US Team Member Nina Silitch will be writing up a post of her own with details about being at the top of the game while living in Europe as a Ski Randonee Racer (or is it Ski Running? Ski Mountaineering? What did we decide?)

Finally, Nina will include her thoughts on the US scene and how it is evolving. More about Nina at: FasterSkier.com

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