Thread: Sidecountry??

I have ben hearing this term or "Slackcountry" a bit lately and was wondering what defines this. Is Silverton sidecountry? Is it a drainage next to a resort or OB that feeds back into a resort? Terrain that one could bootpack to. Is Wolverine cirque Alta sidecountry. What does this term mean to you? Just wondering.

Its a chance for the purists to bag on the resort skiers.

I have heard it refer to anything accessed by a resort or lift.

Interestingly, it does not apply to highway pass skiing, which in many places can be done without skinning. Maybe thats where the phrase slackcountry comes in handy.

Personally, I dont mind calling it all backcountry. To me, if you are on your own, with gear and training, skiing virgin snow on unmarked trails you are in the backcountry.

Otherwise, what then is backcountry?
Is an approach skin required? How many miles deep do you have to go before begining your ascent?

Is it just enough that you skin what you ski, trading vert for vert no matter how you get there? That way you can be a righteous "backcountry" dude by taking your noisy polluting snowmobile deep into the forest.

Hell, is skinning even required? If you use your sled to avoid hiking or skinning alltogether, but are far from civilization, is this backcountry also?

I don't think it's used to bag on resort skiers. It just refers to resort accessed backcountry, which in many cases implies a different equipment setup.

Originally Posted by Mountain Junkie

I don't think it's used to bag on resort skiers. It just refers to resort accessed backcountry, which in many cases implies a different equipment setup.

sounds right to me. around lcc we further differentiate by calling stuff across the street "frontcountry". that means i don't mind carrying heavy gear and if i need to bail for work i can just ski right down to the car. sidecountry would be <15min access. if you go far out enough you'll need a full setup (extra clothes, food, xt water, etc)

I'm an inbounds purist. Anyone who doesn't hammer ice bumps with me is G A T.

that is all.

i support yetimang's definition.

Sounds like a bunck of city slickers thinking too much!

I understood it to be smoothly sliced spam braided into dynamic tendrils of macrame' masquerading as some helical demiurge with a brown wad stuffed inside the nose of some anorexic sumo wrestler.

Originally Posted by kailas

Sounds like a bunck of city slickers thinking too much!

you actually used the term city slickers? amazing.

Easily accessed (could be via resort, road, or skinning) terrain that sees high user traffic (comparatively). Hazards are still present but the perceived risk is lower because of ignorance or laziness. Can go by sidecountry, frontcountry, slackcountry, or not cool enough for uber cool Colorado hardcore Kailas country

High test naugahyde dream catcher mounted on the pudenda of some writhing wastrel, the supreme succubus of malign intent, the nadir of nubility, the paragon of puce. Wrapped in proscuitto, night and Machievellian sweetmeats, redirecting requests and spoofing cream filled canolli soaked in darkest bowls of pudding like espresso. Electric fruit, diesel doilies, lacy oilcans and unguents of squid livers slather on her eyebrows. Oh what pains for beauty.

Originally Posted by Buster Highmen

High test naugahyde dream catcher mounted on the pudenda of some writhing wastrel, the supreme succubus of malign intent, the nadir of nubility, the paragon of puce. Wrapped in proscuitto, night and Machievellian sweetmeats, redirecting requests and spoofing cream filled canolli soaked in darkest bowls of pudding like espresso. Electric fruit, diesel doilies, lacy oilcans and unguents of squid livers slather on her eyebrows. Oh what pains for beauty.

Beefheart??

this thread shows potential.

Hmmm, I opened this thread thinking it was all a joke, but now I am liking this theory.

My buddies and I have always joked that resort skiing is The Frontcountry.

I kinda like this sidecountry idea. Just the days where you are taking your safety gear and a pack up on the mountain with you. It would just be a level where you are prepared for either the resort or going on a short hiking/sidestepping adventure ob.

Really this can even boil down to having to different packs for the occasion.

I'm IN.

Originally Posted by Huckwheat

Hmmm, I opened this thread thinking it was all a joke, but now I am liking this theory.

My buddies and I have always joked that resort skiing is The Frontcountry.

I kinda like this sidecountry idea. Just the days where you are taking your safety gear and a pack up on the mountain with you. It would just be a level where you are prepared for either the resort or going on a short hiking/sidestepping adventure ob.

Really this can even boil down to having to different packs for the occasion.

I'm IN.

can be explained as...using your sled.. and pirating the goods... "there's a pirate style in everyone out there"..::: the snowcat guides sometimes refer to sleders as pirates....