Earn your turns?

[Lori_K]

How far will you go to get to the good stuff?

I've noticed that out west here, many of the ski areas have "hike to" terrain. These are trails or bowls that are in-bounds, but you have hike your way to them. Sometimes it's just a couple hundred yards, sometimes it's over a mile.

As most of my experience is with lift-serviced groomers on the east coast, this is not something I am used to doing. (Especially not hiking at 11,000+ feet. Gasp!!) However, the hubby is big on finding the powder stashes, so invariably I am led along huffing and puffing, dragging my skis behind me.

There are some benefits, though: No crowds, no idiots, and usually nice snow. Plus it's a great aerobic workout. And the view is usually spectacular.

So, who else has made the trek for powder??

 

[ski diva]

Hiking for turns at 11,000 feet!? I think I'd need oxygen.

That's a gorgeous picture, though. It might be worth it.

 

[Thatsagirl]

Nice photo!

Yep, we have been known to hike for turns when we're out West. :D We've also just gotten into backcountry, and have a little experience in both the East and West.

I've already talked in a few posts about our trip at the end of March: Silverton (required hiking), Telluride (includes hiking to some guided-only terrain), Crested Butte (hiking if you want it). Expanding our experiences has 1) gotten us in better shape, 2) gotten us to terrain and snow we'd never get to any other way and 3) put some excitement back into an activity that we have both done for many, many years.

Keep it up! It will only get easier! And don't forget to share more photos like this...

Thatsagirl

 

[Kimmyt]

I wanted to, but I'm so darn worried that once I get up there I won't be able to get down...

*sigh* It's frustrating because I know that I can do it, deep down inside but my head always gets in my way.

 

[Lori_K]

I wanted to, but I'm so darn worried that once I get up there I won't be able to get down...

*sigh* It's frustrating because I know that I can do it, deep down inside but my head always gets in my way.

Kimmy, if it weren't for my husband encouraging me (ok, goading me) into doing these things, I wouldn't be doing them on my own. Usually, he has to tell me (convince me) that the ridge is about the same steepness as something I've skied before, so I have some sort of perspective. And if the snow is good and deep, then it makes things easier. It's always the first turn that is the scariest. If you have a SO or good friend that you can trust, then follow them in. Do it in the morning while you are still fresh and strong.

This past Saturday, I hiked into and skied down the steepest pitch I have ever done. My husband had only done this trail once before, but he was convinced I could do it as well. (I knew this was a steep run, because I saw HIM stand at the top for a long time before making his first turn.)
I literally sat at the side of this slope for several minutes. I have a fear of heights to begin with, and I was shaking just sitting there. Finally, I stopped shaking and a switch just turned off in my brain. I stood up, and made one turn. And then I fell against the slope, hugging it. Then a second turn, and another fall. The rest of the turns came easier after that, and I didn't fall again. I made it to the bottom in one piece, shaking a bit from the adrenaline. But I was able to look back up at the top and think to myself, "Wow. I just skied THAT!"

THIS is the slope gave me the shakes. The tiny dot at the top is my husband, the first time he skied it. I actually skied it more to skier's left, without the rocks.

 

[liquidfeet]

That lookslike so much fun. Requiring so much adrenalin. I am really impressed. It's also interesting to see that the tracks made by all those people before are not so smooth and Warren-Millerie. Is see lots of sudden jerky moves evident in that snow. Others must have been hugging the mountain as well. I wish I were there.

 

[Pequenita]

Beautiful. I'd love to try that, and I can empathize with the end-of-run rush you got! I learned last winter that I really like bowls and can ski them without causing major damage to myself. Thank you clinic instructors!

 

[skigirl]

Good for You!! Great pictures!! Sorry I don't hike. I am the skier that gets upset if I can't get a front row parking space because I don't want to walk very far to the lodge or lift!! LOL!!

 

[Thatsagirl]

If you hike up and don't like it, you can always hike back down. Seriously. That's part of what gave me the courage to do it the first time.

Also, it helps if you start with something relatively easy, so it doesn't become overwhelming. Maybe a 5-minute hike to terrain you know is intermediate. Many Western resorts have terrain that you can reach with a short hike like that.

Often you'll find that the hike-to terrain isn't any steeper than what you get right off the lift, it's just that it doesn't see as much traffic and you can find more untracked lines to pick from.

Thatsagirl