ski resort vs backcountry

Nicely said Tim. I can't imagine going back to skiing the resort as much as I once did. I have yet to buy a pass this year and I don't see that changing anytime soon (maybe i'll pay for some spring days in whistler to access the bc). I don't really enjoy skiing funky hard pack just to get into a small powderstash at the crowded resort. Ya, in the backcountry you can usually find some safe areas to make turns when it really dumps. And if its too dangerous, then I'll either buy a pass to ski in crappy visibility at the resort or go home. 100% bc so far...

That was a fun walk through time. <br><br>The last day I purchased a One Day lift ticket was November 26, 2002 at Taos, NM for $33. 100% was open and no one was there. That was 204 ski days ago.<br><br>I recently skied at Stowe, Vt for two days, but that was free. I was wondering why I felt so unnerved and privileged to ride in the Gondola. It was 4 years ago since I last paid for lifts! Another day closely follows breaking the rule, a half day at Loveland Pass ski area 2-22-03, but that was with a coupon already paid for in 2002, and it was 14" fresh Colorado gold. We ended up at the Pass hitchhiking the rest of the day anyway, so that was hardly a day on the corderoy. <br><br>

Maybe 70/30 skewed toward BC. I love both, but don't like crowds and enjoy the climb and of course the untracked, the silence, hanging in the forest, on ridges on summits, mixing a little hiking and mild climbing with the ski, and discovering new routes and lines (nothing like having a theory pay off). All that said, I also love the smell of BBQ chicken on the deck on a spring day (even though I usually have a sandwich in a pocket which I eat on the lift), skiing right onto lift after lift, sniffing out the powder pockets after all seems tracked, and hanging with good friends who love to ski but don't share my fondness for ascending. Three of my best powder days in either setting were down at Heavenly at Tahoe after a week-long dump, three days where it stayed bitterly cold and while all the cool skiers were up at Squaw and Alpine Meadows, we mostly had the trees to ourselves because the Heavenly-bound intermediates wanted to stay on the groomers. Most runs were at least 50% untracked for three long-weekend days!<br><br>As a good friend likes to put it "it's another vacation dilemma!" Or to alter Sky's style a bit, otta-gay ove-lay oth-bay!

skiing at white pass makes it easy to enjoy a resort powder morning and then hit the bc for the rest of the day i get in about 90 days a season with a good mix of both.

I don't keep the best records but the last few years have been between 40 and 50 days per year of skiing and only 1 or 2 of those at a resort. Of course quite a few of those days are at closed resorts.

Being retired enables me to ski about 100 days per year and about 60% of those days are resort days. I usually ride the lifts on powder days because I know enough stashes that enable me to avoid the crowds and still enjoy untracked lines. During the past few years, Jill and I head south for a few months and resort ski and tour around Lake Tahoe and the Eastern Sierras as far south as Whitney Portal. We have midweek passes for a few Tahoe area resorts and again use them on powder days and then for access to tour out of the area. I call this "resort backcountry". It's usually the best of both worlds because you get a lift up and then can tour to all those distant ridges and bowls. This sems to be ideal for pass holders because you don't feel like you spent all this money on a single days lift ticket. <br><br>I have noticed that when I am at ski resorts I am looking over my shoulder for the "out of control" person that might whack me. I normally don't have that concern in the backcountry. <br><br>My only comments are to retire early while you can still enjoy your passions in life. Also, don't become too responsible or important, that way you can call in "sick" and not have anyone lay a guilt trip on you.<br><br>Zap