Thread: Do you consider BC sking an Extreme Sport? Poll Yes/No

The point of my earlier post is that backcountry skiing is much more similar to mountaineering than it is to resort skiing, in terms of risk. My remark about climbers having to be competent enough to get off the ground was tongue in cheek, sort of--obviously you can die on easy terrain (a friend of mine died climbing mount washington by a trail-came down the wrong way and fell). But as a group I think climbers are more attuned to risk and safety than are backcountry skiers (but not more attuned than the people reading this, of course.)

Originally Posted by old goat

The point of my earlier post is that backcountry skiing is much more similar to mountaineering than it is to resort skiing, in terms of risk.

That's true.

I thought you were talking about rock climbing only. Not climbing in general. I dont know anything about mountaineering. Sure, maybe there is a threshold.

Originally Posted by XXX-er

you can choose to make anything extreme but BC skiing is not extreme on its own

YES!!!.....Finally, logic dost prevail!

That is precisely my point in that photographic set, a few posts up.

The guy that skied down Mt. Everest was probably the ultimate in "Extreme" skiing...given the gnarly skiing conditions up there. (Notice that people haven't really been 'flocking' there for their skiing machismo badge, after that guy nearly lost his life there). That might have been the penultimate BC terrain...but that might be like calling Albert Einstein and Richard Feynman merely 'smart fellows'.

It is an absurdity to call an endeavor as wide-ranging in terrain and application as backcountry skiing "extreme"....some is, some, on the the other hand, just AIN'T.
A factor of danger isn't enough to transport something to the realm of 'extreme'...otherwise skateboarding would always be an extreme sport...Tony Hawk and his 20 foot airs on the vert wall MAKE his application of it extreme...but skateboarding down a sidewalk, isn't....even if you fall.

Base-jumping, on the other hand is EXTREME, no matter who does it, or where it's done.

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Originally Posted by Alaskan Rover

Depends.

NOT extreme Backcountry skiing:





EXTREME backcountry skiing:






CAPISCI?

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Good point, but extreme backcountry doesn't have to be about hucking.

^^^ Nice pics, PappaG!!

Been there, done that...and that emphasizes WHY I like BC skiing. It's the work and tribulations that it takes to get there that make the actual descent so much more luscious.

But WHY no crampons????...I mean ice ax and crampons just go together like Rice Krispies and milk. Nice pics, though!

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Originally Posted by Alaskan Rover

^^^ Nice pics, PappaG!!

Been there, done that...and that emphasizes WHY I like BC skiing. It's the work and tribulations that it takes to get there that make the actual descent so much more luscious.

But WHY no crampons????...I mean ice ax and crampons just go together like Rice Krispies and milk. Nice pics, though!

First 2 are from this TR:
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ED!!!-06-07-08

Pretty sure Bernardo had crampons on, although it doesn't look like it. Wish I could have skied it that day with him and FrontRangeDrummer, but had gear problems on the climb up.

3rd photo is from HikeforTurns skiing Flour Power Couloir off Otis Peak in RMNP:
http://forrestthorniley.com/otis.htm





Honestly, there's nothing quite like the rush you get from a steep line. Ultimately, most of us could drop a relatively large size cliff into deep powder, and that fear at the top before sending it is brief. But climbing and/or skiing down a steep, icy face requires much more than the ability to convince yourself to jump off something big. The teamwork, the uncertainties, the route navigating, the actual ski down after climbing/skinning for long hours with a nearly-drained body.... can't really be matched. Is "extreme" and overused term? Probably, but it gets the point across and most people have come to understand what it entails.

IMHO, we need to get past the terminology "extreme". It is semantical, but insurance companies and un-understanding/ignorance family and friends can use the term against "us" and in a negative light. The coupling of the terms by the media increases this ignorance. Using a broad generalization like this about skiing in the backcountry is ludicrous and needs to stop.

I know a number of BC skiers the leather boot/tele types who will never fix their heels, who still don't own a beacon and its arguable whether they need one, I once suggested to one of them she could improve her technique by doing a few laps at the local SMALL hill she pronmptly broke her wrist

these are still BC skiers, IME the biggest risk is to go on a trip with them & die ... of boredom

Originally Posted by XXX-er

I know a number of BC skiers the leather boot/tele types who will never fix their heels, who still don't own a beacon and its arguable whether they need one

That would be me, sir. I do have a beacon that I acquired in a trade of services from a Swiss mountain guide but I'm not quite sure how to turn it on.

Originally Posted by XXX-er

I once suggested to one of them she could improve her technique by doing a few laps at the local SMALL hill she promptly broke her wrist

Name and phone number please

Originally Posted by XXX-er

these are still BC skiers, IME the biggest risk is to go on a trip with them & die ... of boredom

It did take my son 4 BC trips to accustom himself to my pace of travel and to learn to change his expectations of the experience.

BTW, this thread has been insightful if I think about all the aspects of it.