skiers out number climbers

It's another technocultural evolution. Like the bicycle, or the ability to smash things with bones.

nice photoshop work

so early primative mankind knew how to snowboard and then as the species evolved we all moved on to dynafit rigs?

Well of course, there weren't two planks coming out of the ground, there was one. And my ancestor there decided to strap it on his back and go rip it up.

ps. that would be GIMP work there

nice photoshop work    

so early primative mankind knew how to snowboard and then as the species evolved we all moved on to dynafit rigs?

Heh -- monkey use tool!

I wonder when I'll get my opposable thumbs

Liberty Ridge was skied in 1980. That didn't reduce climber traffic much.

It's like saying that people will stop belaying a rock climb after somebody free-solos it.

Nonsense.

Just a joke. Hence the winky.

Stoudema: I think you're quite right. Also, with the advance of gear and popularity out-of-bounds skiing, it makes sense for more and more mountaineers to expand their mountaineering to include skiing.

I love GIMP!