"Where it all began"

Some old pics...

This was on one of my first "backcountry ski" trips. We tried to ski some of the slides on Giant Mtn (NY). You read trip reports of people skiing these things frequently now - I think there is even a guidebook. But ten years ago... we never saw anyone or heard of anyone doing this stuff.

We ended up bushwhacking all day until we had to turn around. Much of our descent was thrashing through slide alder. But I just thought it was novel to be skiing downhill not at a resort. This is a nice patch of forest once we were back on the trail. What's that above my head? It's an old style wooden snowshoe (with rawhide webbing). Not the best for climbing mountains. I think I'm wearing all cotton too. I'm lucky I didn't die.

The following photo is from Whiteface Mtn in Lake Placid, probably a year later. Apparently the "slides" are an official part of the resort now, but this was a ski mountaineering adventure back then (the backcountry fad had not yet arrived). At the bottom, after negociating some icy cliff bands, we cut back into the runs at the resort (closed for the year) and skied to the base for a 3600ft continuous run.

By this time I had found more modern snowshoes which I used to ascend. We had a French guy on this trip - I lent him my "traditional" ones. I guess you could say I was mean for giving him the large cumbersome things, but he seemed thrilled - I think it just heightened the North American experience for him. You can see him in the day-glo yellow pants above.