BACKCOUNTRY SKI ADVENTURE
It’s 5:30 a.m., and my alarm stirs me from a restful night of sleep. I crawl out of my warm bed and into my base-layer clothing of wool and polypropylene that will keep me warm and dry for the day. Coffee drips and eggs fry as I load my skis, boots and backcountry pack into my pickup truck. The snow is deep, so I put the truck in four-wheel drive and head out to pick up my ski partner, Gary.
A few miles later, we park at the trailhead and gear up. We’re not at a ski area. There are no chairlifts, no restaurants, no groomed terrain, no ropes to tell you where you can and can’t ski, no opening or closing time. It’s simply you, your partners, your gear and the knowledge and skill to travel safely and comfortably through the mountains seeking light and snow while surrounded by endless alpine photo opportunities.
We ascend in pre-dawn light, racing to get to a spot I scouted earlier in the week. It’s icy cold, just about 10 degrees
