I think I was trying to bring up a couple of points about BC skiing that to me seem inherent to the sport:
The silliness of some of the associated efforts, and,
the varying perceptions of acceptable risk and enjoyment levels
The first is illustrated by mej's Cannon Mt couloir post: "en route for the Cannon Mountain Couloir with expectations of a good run and a good 'schwack on the way out". Heading into a trip, knowing you will be 'schwacked on the way.
Then his description of the actual experience: "imagine 12 foot high alder interspersed with cliffs and 12-inch logs suspended 4 feet off the ground and piled like pick-up-sticks". For me and most of the people I go out with, this kind of adventure is humorous and fun, maybe beacause it seems so ridiculous. It will be remembered long after the turns from the trip are forgotten. Is this because of the sense of 'accomplishment', or are we really crazy?
Varying perceptions are even more interesting. Most non-skiers obviously won't understand. Some lift skiers might envy the solitude and fresh tracks but either suffer from inertia or just aren't willing to put out the effort. Then there is the huge range of goals and comfort levels within the BC skiing community and even within a single skier.
I can be skinning up a steep slope with exposure and sluffing snow, thinking it is pretty hardcore. I switch to booting and I am totally comfortable and it is normal again. I get up a little higher and as it steepens, I start to think hardcore again. Out comes the axe, everything is normal. Can't get a good platform to change over to skiing, this is hardcore. Got the board clipped in, this is normal again.
During the 'hardcore' parts, I was wondering 'what the hell am I doing here?'. Once I am comfortable, or better yet, clipped in at the top of a long run, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
How many times in a day have you changed your mind about whether or not you are enjoying a trip?
Do you choose your destinations more for the expected quality of turns or because you want to 'accomplish' something?
