Backcountry Ski

Sometimes the worst weather days are the best days. It snowed hard all day and the winds howled but the snow was epic.  Skin tracks were covered up by the time I got back down.  Monarch is a great place to skin in bounds on fun terrain but make sure you still treat it with respect and have a plan.  I was going to skin over on the Breezeway / Mirkwood side but Ski Patrol broke a slide in the Mirkwood Bowl with a 4ft crown.  Chair laps on Panorama was an awesome backup plan.

Why do we do this? Why do we go to such great lengths to snap ourselves to equipment that helps us to creep our way up a grade that produces access to such a different alpine experience?

There are some intriguing ways to segue into the human powered world of skiing while reducing the risks you might take by jumping straight into a “real” backcountry scenario.

We started this series of articles with the WHY – what motivations get us outside touring in the backcountry. Then, we discussed the HOW – where to reach for the smarts needed to travel as safely as possible in the backcountry. Now the WHAT. What gear takes you happily and safely into the backcountry?

By “this” I meant the Meidjo, M Equipment’s NTN telemark binding. Upon hearing the unmistakable nervous and excited tone of an employee asking about one of his favorite pieces of gear, Jim appeared from around the corner exclaiming, “Oh, it’s pronounced ‘med-jo.’ You’ve gotta try them.”

Black Crows is something else to Mountain Chalet. Their endeavors present a passionate and focused attention to the personalities of the  founders, as well as the personalities of their patrons. By melding  minds bringing forth the freedom of freeride skiing and the stark crispness of contemporary design, Black Crows breaks a mold. They lead us to an unlikely partnership of fresh aesthetic and a free and playful approach to sliding on snow  on our favorite mountains.