First, a shout out to Hannes for his work on the Wiki page covering ski descents of the 14 8,000 meter peaks. . In these days of information overload, silver lining is when you do want the beta it is often available. Good example.
I like the way the Ski 8,000 Wiki teases out details such as the use of supplemental oxygen, as well as clear information on how much of the peak was skied. My only gripe is I’m not highly impressed when folks pay porters to help shlep skis to the top of a peak so they can ski from the summit and then downclimb much of the vertical. I’d like more clarity on that, but such is difficult to quantify in a series of lists. Yet such can be inferred. More, it’s hard to define how much down-climbing or rappelling is ok when doing a “legit” descent. Perhaps the fun is in being the audience and debating the particulars?
Before the Wiki, we had our own page attempting to document 8,000 meter descents. I’ll keep that going but depend on Hannes and his compatriots to record the intimate details.
Speaking of the particulars. In my view, this one is a bit over the top. JT Holmes: “I’m Bond.” Check out this clearly over-produced segment on CBS 60 Minutes featured JT swiss army knifing a gliss descent off (literally) the iconic Eiger in Switzerland. Stunt “skiing” or real? One has to admit that the camera operators and helicopter pilots are where the truly exceptional skill sets reside. Perhaps if the performance artists had climbed the famed North Face first they’d get a nod as well. As it is, yawn? Your opinions? Viagra pre-roll on the video does a nice job of setting the tone. But, can she ski?
I always enjoy a twisted take on the news. Check out this article positing that the Colorado pot industry could take over skiing in total revenues. Soon. Please other states, legalize it so we can continue being the ski capital of the United States. Ruling the THC supply for the nation seems proll compared to what we’ve done here with resort and backcountry now for half a century or more. Details here.
Speaking of the WildSnow home state, there is indeed a certain female ski racer I seem to always encounter in my google travels. Check out what Colorado gal Lindsey is up to now. Any Formula 1 car with a Lindsey in the driver seat is worth a stop. Come to think of it, isn’t it somewhat of a tradition for Worldcup ski racers to go for high performance petrol conveyance? It’s not hard to see the connection. More here.
As most of us suspect, ebikes are just getting started in terms of innovation. When the gearing is all internal, with quiet belt-driven componentry seamlessly integrated with pedal assist, under an x-generation power cell, look out world. It appears Gates Corporation is seeing a place in all that. More here.
I should have reported a while ago that one of the original publishers of dynamic backcountry skiing info on the internet has passed. Mitch Weber, who produced the lively Telemarktips forum during the telemark boom that peaked around 2006, left us back in March due to illness. I remember Mitch most fondly as a guy who seemed to love pushing manufacturers’ buttons, back when most ski equipment makers didn’t have a handle on how to deal with the “insta feedback” and subsequent data storms that internet social venues engendered. The results were often hilarious, with anonymous forum posters coming up with disruptive takes, shills sneaking in, and Mitch always there promoting his modern and aggressive form of modern telemark skiing on big boots, bindings and skis.
The peak of the zanny days, in my view, was when Mitch hosted a get-together for his website enthusiast “teletipsters,” replete with pole dancers. Those were the days. To his everlasting credit, Mitch and Telemarktips were pioneers in using the internet to leverage community building. Regarding Mitch and myself, we had fun ribbing each other about telemarking, check out some of that here, and our Televangelism category is not about religion, or is it?
This one is just plain funny. A guy here in Colorado decided to live in a public hut and charge skiers for their overnight stays. First Creek Cabin is Federal property and open for all skiers to use. Apparently a guy named “Moe” slapped his own padlock on the door, moved his possessions in, and kicked up his own start-up hut business. Funny, but lame. I’ve opined for years that more of our huts should have legitimate live-in hut keepers, perhaps First Creek needs one. More here.
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.
