HuntersEmma57
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I never took to AT gear, but I sure took to the backcountry.
Here's my story:
I started skiing at age 49 after I married a telemark skier. I'd never even heard of telemark before I met him.
My first year skiing, I pretty much stuck to groomers at our alpine resort, but Spouse, knowing my love the the quiet of winter and wilderness, also introduced to me cross country skiing. I didn't not at ALL like the skinny floppy skis and tiny boots/shoes and the lack of control even on the meager of downhills (slants really). But I loved going up.
My answer to floppy skis and tiny shoes was entry level telemark boots and bindings on wider skis. I can't say I was graceful or pretty to watch (kinda like watching a slow motion car wreck), but I took to it wholeheartedly.
We would downhill ski all day at Timberline Resort on Saturday and on Sunday until 1 and then head over to White Grass Nordic Center (WV) where I always found endorphins. Within 45 minutes of skiing up, the "dolphins" would show up and we'd ski there until sunset and even later. I got and still get such a huge rush successfully descending from the top. Free heels are pretty wild and surviving them made me a better and bolder alpine skier.
For 13 years, we split our weekends and holidays between alpine and backcountry Nordic. My skills improved enough in both genres to tackle big mountains.
While my telemark downhill skills never got beyond competent, my alpine skills evolved quickly and most of my time since moving to Utah has been chasing powder at Powder Mountain. It's truly beautiful and thrilling. But also at times Very Civilized and too many people too often for my tastes. It's also Expensive.
Season passes keep us on our home mountain, but the biggest score has been the much expanded opportunities for Nordic Backcountry. We have 20 miles of trails at Ogden Nordic creeping up the foothills of Ben Lomond Peak. For several years, we'd ski the top of Powder Mountains tabletop mountains and have a thousand acres to ourselves -- all of it under less than 28 degrees above which is considered avalanche risk.
Powder Mountain has a new ownership group and that area is now in the private section of the mountain called Powder Haven.
I can't say is all bad. Some desparately needed upgrades have been made and even major access to expert terrain on the public side. Powder Mountain remains uncrowded mostly due to massive price increases and a focus on season passes. Day tickets have tripled in price from when we moved here 6 seasons ago and are very limited. No mega-passes or any kind of external passes are accepted here.
But I'm not finding the same joy. Maybe it just that our downhill season is off to a very slow start.
What has become very clear is that Nordic backcountry is now what calls to me most days. It continues to challenge me and bring me peace, a sense of freedom, quiet, and solitude.
The last 3 afternoons, we've skied 26 miles with over 3400 ft. of elevation gain. The endorphins are flowing.
I'm sharing this because I'm dismayed that so few people know about or are willing to explore backcountry Nordic on fat skis and telemark boots. No skins just scales. Lighter and faster uphill and a hell of a ride downhill. No beacons and probes needed.
If you'd like to learn more, DM me. You have no idea how many endorphins are out there waiting for you.
Here's my story:
I started skiing at age 49 after I married a telemark skier. I'd never even heard of telemark before I met him.
My first year skiing, I pretty much stuck to groomers at our alpine resort, but Spouse, knowing my love the the quiet of winter and wilderness, also introduced to me cross country skiing. I didn't not at ALL like the skinny floppy skis and tiny boots/shoes and the lack of control even on the meager of downhills (slants really). But I loved going up.
My answer to floppy skis and tiny shoes was entry level telemark boots and bindings on wider skis. I can't say I was graceful or pretty to watch (kinda like watching a slow motion car wreck), but I took to it wholeheartedly.
We would downhill ski all day at Timberline Resort on Saturday and on Sunday until 1 and then head over to White Grass Nordic Center (WV) where I always found endorphins. Within 45 minutes of skiing up, the "dolphins" would show up and we'd ski there until sunset and even later. I got and still get such a huge rush successfully descending from the top. Free heels are pretty wild and surviving them made me a better and bolder alpine skier.
For 13 years, we split our weekends and holidays between alpine and backcountry Nordic. My skills improved enough in both genres to tackle big mountains.
While my telemark downhill skills never got beyond competent, my alpine skills evolved quickly and most of my time since moving to Utah has been chasing powder at Powder Mountain. It's truly beautiful and thrilling. But also at times Very Civilized and too many people too often for my tastes. It's also Expensive.
Season passes keep us on our home mountain, but the biggest score has been the much expanded opportunities for Nordic Backcountry. We have 20 miles of trails at Ogden Nordic creeping up the foothills of Ben Lomond Peak. For several years, we'd ski the top of Powder Mountains tabletop mountains and have a thousand acres to ourselves -- all of it under less than 28 degrees above which is considered avalanche risk.
Powder Mountain has a new ownership group and that area is now in the private section of the mountain called Powder Haven.
I can't say is all bad. Some desparately needed upgrades have been made and even major access to expert terrain on the public side. Powder Mountain remains uncrowded mostly due to massive price increases and a focus on season passes. Day tickets have tripled in price from when we moved here 6 seasons ago and are very limited. No mega-passes or any kind of external passes are accepted here.
But I'm not finding the same joy. Maybe it just that our downhill season is off to a very slow start.
What has become very clear is that Nordic backcountry is now what calls to me most days. It continues to challenge me and bring me peace, a sense of freedom, quiet, and solitude.
The last 3 afternoons, we've skied 26 miles with over 3400 ft. of elevation gain. The endorphins are flowing.
I'm sharing this because I'm dismayed that so few people know about or are willing to explore backcountry Nordic on fat skis and telemark boots. No skins just scales. Lighter and faster uphill and a hell of a ride downhill. No beacons and probes needed.
If you'd like to learn more, DM me. You have no idea how many endorphins are out there waiting for you.
