Mostly Backcountry Ski Touring

Skis, boots, poles, gloves, helmet, beacon, shovel, probe, skins, safety supplies, food, water, and positive mental attitude. This is the checklist that starts each day in the mountains. The door shuts, backstraps get tightened, boots are buckled, then off we go into the wilds of the Rocky Mountains in Winter. It is a sacred place, a special place, an unpredictable place. It is a place I find myself when I get lost. Skiing is one of the most physically demanding pursuits in my life and one of the greatest. My heart’s rhythm sped up, and the pounding in my ears is quieted by the hush of the blanket of snow. These are well-earned turns, often in the best or worst conditions. Tired smiles give way to uncontrollable whoops and wahoos! At the day’s end, friends become to seem a little more like family and you can sleep well knowing you have lived that day to the fullest.