It had to happen - sooner or later
February 21, 2011
26 posts
17 users
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I have finally sworn off the steeps, or at least the super steep. Today I took the snowcat above the lifts to Aspen Highland's extreme terrain, hiked up a bit more and looked over the edge in several places. The exposure is severe and the initial 200 or so vertical feet are significantly steeper than the average pitch.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspen_HighlandsI backed away. A ski patroller carried my skis down the narrow icy boot ladder to the snowcat pickup point freeing me for the added safety of a pole in each hand. I had no second thoughts about the decision. It was the right one. I believe I still have the physical ability to do stuff like that but the mental resolve is gone. 10 years ago I would have given it a shot. It probably doesn't fit the definition of extreme skiing given by one of the French extremists, "If you fall you die". But, you would have a chance. I am done skiing super steeps. There is a certain pride in having almost made it to 70 before this decision. My host, and nephew, went down with me and showed me a vast glade called Deep Temerity, also part of Highland's 2005 terrain expansion. It was choked with powder and much of it was untracked. It drops about 2000 ft. off the beginning of the snowcat route. It was wonderful skiing.
Wouldn't sweat it, we all reach some limit in this sport. I definitely ski a lot slower than I used to. I still like steeps and challenges, but I don't accept speed all that well anymore. The mach speeds are no longer worth the risk for me.
From your thread title I thought you had finally come to your senses and gave up tele for alpine.
Sounds like a triumph of common sense to me. Good for you...I think you just set a great example. Enjoying this sport does not mean you have to push yourself to the edge.
Last year during our Stowe trip we stayed in the Inn at the base of the Tollhouse lift. One of the best parts of every day was at closing time, when I took that 3 mile run on Toll Road all the way home. Being able to relax while I skiied on that gentle trail and enjoy the serenity of the forest was sublime.
Good luck to you, I enjoy reading your reports.
Denis' decision point is significantly beyond what most of us would even begin to entertain, let alone senior citizens
I doubt I'll ever have to make that decision, senior citizen or not. Denis were you on tele or alpine gear?
Tele, the black Diamond Megawatts with Axl bindings. I would have made the same decision on alpines.
Denis -- good for you. I was reading your post thinking everyone should always feel like they can do that -- back away when they know that's the right thing to do. But then at the same time I was thinking, I'd never be able to do that once I was up there, I'd just have to drop in...
Then I got to the almost 70 part.
Here's to many more happy runs! I'll be in the lodge with a beer when I'm 70.
Leo, couldn't agree more.
Sometimes I don't have the kahunas to pull out a driver on a tight dog leg let alone deciding whether or not to risk life and limb.
Denis, KODOS to you, you've said "No Thanks", and rightly so, to something that I would get queasy just thinking about.
Denis,
Not sure how close to 70 your are, but I hit 70 in early March. I have given up moguls (never did them well anyway) and some less than super steeps. I now prefer groomed to rough ungroomed, but some occasional powder suites fine. I too have had a couple of experiences where I defered to common sense after first considering a line or run. I enjoy my time on the slopes, but there is a sense that time could abruptly stop if I do not use common sense.
Hell, I am so out of shape that sometimes I have a real difficult time just getting my boot buckled after arriving at the slopes. While at 7Springs a few weeks ago I was working to get the boots buckled and a lady offered to help with the last buckle, and I accepted! This is life!
The Colonel
Man..If & when I get to 70 Ida made the plunge!...probably would have just Fell over
No pride lost there-Props
A couple years ago, I met a gentleman who was 90+ at smuggs. rebuilt knees and groomers. I did't see him this year, but like to think he is still sliding.
A couple years ago, I met a gentleman who was 90+ at smuggs. rebuilt knees and groomers. I did't see him this year, but like to think he is still sliding.
I think my ski instructure at Smuggs was telling me about him when I was up in last month. He mentioned that they gave free skiing to anyone over 70 and that they had someone over 90 who still skied their regularly.
While at 7Springs a few weeks ago I was working to get the boots buckled and a lady offered to help with the last buckle, and I accepted! This is life!
The Colonel
Thanks for that Colonel. I love it.
Got to work on that one.
I'm 70 in Aug.
Knowing when to say when is the mark of a grown up, congrats.
Denis,
How do you like those Axls? Have to regear next year and trying to decide bw NTN and Axls and was wondering if you also looked at NTN setup. What boots are you using with that setup?
Thanks
The Axls, like Hammerheads are great for downhill control, although they do not switch modes as easy at the Switchback and I've had some ice up problems. I haven't tried NTN. You can probably demo them at the Mad River Tele Festival next month. I am a bit put off by the investment in both boots & skis. I am on 12 yr. old Crispi CXP a 3 buckle boot. Shells in great shape. I could use new liners.
Live to ski another day is always my motto. If there is any doubt, I trust my instincts and back away. There is no shortage of fun challenging terrain to keep me busy, so I rarely ever regret backing down from scary stuff.
Now as age advances, I sometimes find myself making major ski decisions while looking down at my unfastened boot buckles in the morning, never mind looking down a trail! I don't know if it's the boots or me, but suddenly those buckles have started feeling like they need a pry bar to close...
Skier219,
Whoa! You are too young for the buckle problem thing!! See my earlier post. Without a doubt, this is the hardest thing about skiing, as far as I am concerned.
Going to Utah, or anywhere else anytime soon? Would greatly enjoy skiing with you again.
The Colonel
Skier219,
Whoa! You are too young for the buckle problem thing!! See my earlier post. Without a doubt, this is the hardest thing about skiing, as far as I am concerned.
Going to Utah, or anywhere else anytime soon? Would greatly enjoy skiing with you again.
The Colonel
I think it kicked in when I crossed age 40 or something. And I can even feel the blood rushing into my head if I bend over too long fidgeting! Never used to have that problem. The thing is, I took up serious road biking last summer, and I think that may be the root cause -- my calves have been morphing a bit, and probably got bigger. Unfortunately, these boots used to have a perfect fit on the first notch, so I don't have any room to loosen them up. I have a new pair of boots waiting in the wings for the day when the soles of my current boots wear out, and thankfully they are a little roomier. I'm just reluctant to go through the break-in process until I really have to....
I'll be heading to Alta in the coming weeks -- PM me if you want details. Always room for more!
The pics from Jimk confirms you made a wise decision. Nothing to be ashamed of...48 degree pitch is a bit steep for most of us.
Some trivia, hopefully mostly true since I'm talking without checking and relying on memory.
Highlands Bowl is a pretty interesting place. Used to be Out of Bounds due to extreme avalanche danger, but it was poached a lot for obvious reasons - check out the pix Jim K linked. Several ski Patrollers died there years ago. For whatever reason (good reason IMHO), Aspen Highlands decided to open it up. Higher skier traffic actually makes it safer, by compacting the slopes. I *thought* I read in a Ski Mag ~a decade ago that they would get early season volunteers and pretty much side stepped the *entire* bowl early season to produce stable snow layers. Any corrections to my geezer memory are appreciated.
Great view of the bowl from Ajax (Aspen) Mountain.
Did the Highlands Bowl once. Even with the snowcat ride partially up, it is one seriously-assed long hike up at hefty altitude. Hike up may be more dangerous for those over 40 than the ski down. Seriously. There is a lift chair swinging at the top. I just about fell asleep in it. And I'm 20 years younger than Denis (nearly 30 when I did it.)
[img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/90013395@N00/5465075604/[/img]
Or
Highlands Bowl Test. (Not so successfull.)
If you can access the links, the line of trees at the center of the ridge are people hiking up.
You mean like this....
the ant line in progress.
Thanks! Too much multi-tasking today.
The snow cat takes you to the top of the lower ridge, just to the left of my friend Debbie's head. It is a long hike to the summit (left-most of the top three peaks.) That ridge is also a lot narrower than I recall it (though it is a *bit* wider than it looks from a distance.) Walking up it pretty tough, wouldn't want to walk down it.
