Many of my purist human-powered friends are amused by my off-road jeeping hobby — well laugh no more. According to the New York Times, backcountry skiing is now “off-road” skiing (used to have a link, but NYT broke it). Where in the world they got that term is a mystery. The article used famed Utah Wasatch guru Bob Athey as a source. Knowing Bob’s wry sense of humor, I’m wondering if he used that term just to geek the ever accurate and un-biased NYT. Who knows for sure, but seeing that backcountry skiing is now an off-road sport got me laughing out loud. Thanks Bob?
More, the NYT article implies that the bulk of backcountry skiers dying in avalanches are clueless thrill seekers. Typical. The fact is that most people dying in North American avalanches have knowledge about the risks, and are fairly experienced in the backcountry. I’m glad I can read the Times online for a few laughs.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.