This is the second half of the interview I did with Jeremy Dobish for the Backcountry Coalition. This time I talk about some of my gear issues, favorite ski destinations, and more.
Happy Holidays!
Erik
Archive for the ‘Skiing’ Category
Backcountry Coalition interview, Part 2
Tuesday, December 20th, 2011Backcountry Coalition interview
Tuesday, December 13th, 2011Here is an interview I did recently with Jeremy Dobish for the Backcountry Coalition. This is a cool, grassroots community of backcountry skiers from around the United States who share information, trip reports, photos, and the general enthusiasm of getting off the beaten track. If you enjoy off-piste skiing, you should join them. Best of all, it’s free!
Erik
Spring Skiing Fever
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010This spring, I have been training for two big climbs that have been on my tick list for quite some time: the Moose’s Tooth in the Alaska Range (stay tuned for a trip report) and Alpamayo in the Peruvian Andes. Both ascents consist of long, sustained ice climbing and are a good test of physical and mental endurance. In addition to physical conditioning in the gym, I also try to spend a few long, hard days in the cold and wind to train my mind against the challenges of the mountain.
I really enjoy getting out for some spring backcountry skiing right in my own backyard, the Rocky Mountains. Last spring, I had a magical day climbing the 50° slope of the Dead Dog Couloir up Torreys Peak, a 14,267 foot peak near Denver, and skiing down the bowl between Grays and Torreys. We had a couple dozen perfect turns down some snow which my buddy described as “butter.”
Backcountry skiing blind is a fun challenge. On the uphill, I follow the sound of my friend’s skis as they scrape through the snow. However, following a friend on the downhill as he calls out directions through blustery wind and snow conditions, which change in the space of a turn is the real excitement. For those of you who are skiers, try closing your eyes and making a few turns on a nice groomer to get an idea of what it’s like!
This week my friend, Skyler Williams, and I spent some time skinning up to the Continental Divide above Loveland Ski Area and Berthoud Pass. These quick weekday trips also give me a chance to break in and test my equipment. Lately I have been using the Mountain Hardwear Wayback ski pack, which has a cool back panel opening. This allows me to lay the pack in the snow and get to the contents without the suspension getting covered in snow. I’ve tried a lot of ski packs over the years and the Wayback is now my favorite.
Here are a few photos from our skiing adventures:
Here’s a short video of me skiing with my friend Jeff Ulrich to give you a better idea of how a blind person works with their guide. To order a copy of the full-length film or to learn more about blind skiing and guiding, go to  www.blindskiersedge.org
Blind Skier’s Edge Ski Clinics – Breckenridge, Colorado
Monday, December 7th, 2009This week, December 10-11, Erik and his ski guide, Jeff Ulrich, will be showcasing their blind skiing and guiding clinics at the Hartford Ski Spectacular in Breckenridge, Colorado. The program they developed, called the Blind Skier’s Edge, is an innovative technique which hopes to attract more blind skiers and guides to a sport that has seen marked decline in recent years.
Photo: Serac Adventure Films
Here is a glimpse of the duo in action from the short film Blind Skier’s Edge, which has played at film festivals around the country.
Visit http://www.BlindSkiersEdge.org for more information.
