Resort skiing is what most people think of when someone says “Let’s go skiing”, and for good reason, it is how the vast majority of us enjoy the sport. Regardless of how deep one’s passion for skiing runs, the minutia involved with resort skiing will start to deter even those who define themselves with skiing. In recent years with the surge of popularity in our sport, the resort has worked to erode my love of skiing. There have been countless times I found myself waiting it a lift line or riding a chair with some form of resort irritation (insert the typical gapper rant here) and have to consciously remind myself that I’m outside in a beautiful environment doing what I love and everything else doesn’t matter. The crowds, stratospheric prices, rushing to snag your piece of untracked, create an atmosphere that feels closer to a day at a theme park then an adventure into nature. A few years ago, Ben and I decided to quit complaining, and take action to do something about our resort frustrations. After some education and gear adjustments we were able to access a world free of crowds, pay parking, and seven dollar hot chocolates.
Finally, after skiing resorts all season long we took a day to earn our turns and have a true skiing experience. The destination was Rocky Mountain National Park, more specifically Hidden Valley and the zone called the Terrain Park. We started at Hidden Valley, skinned up the old lift line and skied in the north facing trees. The snow was pretty crusty and wind whipped, but it was still pretty fun. After a run in the Hidden Valley trees we hoped back in the truck and headed to the Bear Lake trailhead to hit the Terrain Park zone. In the Terrain Park we were able to get a few small drops and a pretty cool pillow line (all untracked, of course). Skinning with the Marker Duke bindings and alpine boots was impressive, well worth the added weight when it came time to pull the skins and slash the pow. We did learn that a properly sized skin is paramount, as mine were not, and it severely increase the amount of energy it took for me to climb.
A day of skiing consisting of only two runs may sound weak compared to a resort day, but driving there in zero traffic, no rush, the fact that it was free (save for my National Parks pass), skiing untracked all day, and we saw a grand total of 4 other skiers makes those two runs so enjoyable and gives a feeling of accomplishment like nothing I’ve ever had at a resort. Returning to skiing in a pure form, free of the fashion show and headphone wearing drones was both figuratively and literally a breath of fresh air.
Disclaimer:
Backcountry skiing and travel requires proper avalanche safety gear, knowing how to use that gear, and knowledge of proper decision making skills when in avalanche terrain.
Resources:
Colorado Avalanche Information Center
Colorado Mountain School
Let me know when you guys do this again. I want in
Nice post. The amount of fun one is having when skiing should not be measured in the number, but the quality of the turns. In that regard, it was a great day of skiing unmatched at a resort this year. Special thanks to the new tundra for making the drive up smooth and enjoyable!