BOREAL RIDGE March 1, 2000

We have nothing against the practice slopes and the standard runs, but if that's all you know, you've missed something special; something lost beyond the ranges, a glistening new white world with its hard edges covered over for the winter, and you its discoverer.

--Dave Brower, The Sierra Club Manual of Ski Mountaineering

For me, this season has been a sort of reverse evolution. Having backcountry skied for 27 years, and almost never riding a lift or skiing on groomed snow, I thought to give regular resort skiing a try to see what was new on the scene. A frequent hiking companion had won a contest and invited me to tag along on a two day trip to Vail/Beaver Creek resort in Colorado. This was too good to pass by. I, at first, urged to get a cash equivalent, but that wasn't possible. Suggesting taking a family member, I was the only one known that would appreciate this win. This person was weak on skills, but had applied to win the contest, as entry was free.

Being reluctant to fly, with the well-covered spate of air disasters locally, I thought of backing out at the last minute. But, we had decided to get some downhill skiing lessons and practice at Boreal Ridge Ski Resort the week before the trip.

On Wednesday the 1st, driving in beautiful weather up I-80, we reached this resort at about 10 a.m. The resort is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with night skiing. The standard Adult day pass is $31. The conditions were very good, so we went into the lodge and proceeded to get our contest winner a pair of rental downhill skis and boots. There was a package for $44 that includes rentals, lessons, and lift pass on the beginner runs. A similar package that I planned to take in Colorado was over $70. Trying to be frugal, we thought to learn at a cheaper rate, then ski with more proficiency during the paid for ski vacation.

After getting her set up and waiting for the 12 noon lesson, I went back and got my telemark skis, bought my pass, then hit the slopes. I had to relearn getting on and off the lift, in addition to getting used to groomed slopes with my tele skis. I took about four beginner runs to refresh my technique. I saw that my companion had started lessons, and hoped that they went well. I advanced onto the quad chair and more difficult runs. Naturally, I sought out the diamond run. The ones here were simply ungroomed, steeper runs, but nothing like we do in the backcountry. I took the good, deep, powder runs slowly, but they were too tracked up now, at this time of the day, to be much good. Boarders leave a deep, wide track, that is much worse than by short skis in the days those came up. I fell a couple times, then went back to lesser runs.

I am forced to do this, prefering a good peak ski. With my own ski mountaineering activities effectively banned since 1987 by the local chapter, it is more difficult to find partners for these activities. Not many skiers will buy highly specialized, expensive equipment to endlessly plod up gigantic hills, to then ski one downhill run on sometimes junk snow. The Ski Mountaineers Section, Angeles Chapter trips this year are mostly advanced, which means double black diamond ability required. They ski up to 50 degree slopes, with variable conditions, carrying a pack. An avalanche beacon is required, which I resist. I use an avalanche cord, which is much cheaper, and perhaps better. The stats on beacons aren't very good. They do fail, and the chances of live rescue aren't much better. My philosophy has been, ski while conditions are stable, and don't take bad chances.

I had my fun, and my companion finished with the lessons. It was about 3 p.m. We decided to call it a day, since it was a long drive home. There is less traffic before 4 p.m., and the possibility of falling asleep at the wheel would be worse for a tired person. She had an additional 120 mile drive home.

I took a photo eastbound from the Cisco Exit overpass of the hills about the Loch Leven Lake Trail. This is a popular area for the local chapter tours. A fairly short, thousand foot climb to the ridgetop brings one to rolling terrain with vistas of the Interstate as well as the North Fork of the North Fork of the American River. One unusual hazard for unaware skiers are the railroad tracks. One skier was killed here recently after being hit by a train.

Once, I barely had the time to scramble up the embankment when a passenger train quickly and almost silently glided on by. Another time, on another chapter tour, one poor tourer was confused while standing astride the tracks, with a downhill bound train suddenly approaching. A fall would have resulted in her death. Luckily, she was able to get off the track, with a justly outraged engineer screaming at her. The snow muffles the sound, and the curves of the track make sighting the approaching train impossible. This is a major rail line, so many trains come by. It takes about two miles for a loaded train to stop. They are not like cars!

We stopped in Colfax for a quick bite, then were back early enough on this mid-week adventure. I felt that I had some exercise, although nothing like with a good backcountry tour. Hopefully, our trip to Colorado will go so smoothly.

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