Hurricane Ridge

Perhaps I should just check the TR archives for this one, but what the hell, I'm sure someone wouldn't mind recollecting on a past journey.  Any testimonials?  I'd like to get there this year...

The trail out to Hurricane Hill was my first spring "backcountry" ski trip; about 28 years ago.

The weather window can be slim. The park is closed most of the winter. They seem to have a Rainier style approach to getting the road open. It is worth every hassle.

After a few years of AT skiing, my first ski here coincided with my first time trying out leather solomons and skinny touring skis. It was a great area for touring, and provided a lot of incentive to come back for on bigger skis too--it's where I also realized I wanted my heels free all of the time as I discovered the potential, possibilities and creativity of longer distance "XCD" style tours.

Try and do an overnight, or at least ski a few days there and stay in PA.

Hah! Finally! I have the two of you side by side. "It's a Turn, not a Religion" right next to "What do you mean it's not a religion". This thread just found a new fall line ~ as per a recent poster ~ and neither of you is getting away... You AT'rs might as well log off right now, because this doesn't concern you.

Seriously, guys, since each of you chose to put a tagline, as it is, on your posts, and as it's rather meaningfull to do so, I would really like to understand the two places you're coming from ~ if in fact they are different. A-E, I appreciate the part of your post where you say you realized you wanted your heels free all of the time, and discovered.. creativity.." Sounds a bit spiritual to me.. Telemon...?

First off, I confess to being a bit of a Tele-snob. I feel that if you have made the decision to not lock down your heels while skiing, you shouldn't look like all of the other skiers on the hill. If I happen to catch a fellow skier in the transition part of the tele-turn, I delete the photo for the same reason. The mountains are my church and I get real personal pleasure and spiritual satisfaction from belonging to the small congregation attending as genuflecting telemarkers. A good part of what defines me as an individual is my devotion to this distinctive sect. Even so, especially after a long 30,000+vf day in a resort, I have had to go to confession and admit that I have sinned and made a p-turn.

HAHAHA, what a hilarious response to come home to! I'm tickled.

Though I'm now a beer and a bowl deep, since I was told there'd be no escaping, I suppose I should try and muster a response though not sure where to begin-though I’m not sure I realized posting a signature line was “rather meaningful to do so”.

"It's a turn, not a religion" was simply a quote I stole from the late Alan Bard of Sierra climbing/guiding/skiing notoriety, WHO was in fact a free-heeler himself (an early Karhu XCD athlete or something like that).  I'm challenged in life by not taking myself to seriously, I try to be aware/embracing of contradiction, and this quote reminds me of that as a member of this oddly cultish sect that is telemark.

Mountains as place of worship?  I pretty much agree with nearly every thing Telemon said (I'm always thrilled to come across other members of the Church of the Higher Elevation, as it's something to "hippydippy" to talk about with most lowland mortals).  That said, moving through the mountains with a map, exploring new places, lines and routes, touching and tasting rocks and snow, i.e. the whole intake of place, is the point of worship so to speak and the method of travel not AS important.  Though I certainly have personal opinions about styles of sliding on snow, anytime someone is getting out into the backcountry (especially alone and/or on foot) is what it’s all about; as this is a site seemingly most dedicated to backcountry travel v. actual style of snow slide, thought a friendly reminder was in order.

We should all go skiing together to sort this out.  Holler if you want to go creep around in the mountains of Snoq Pass….I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.

PS…Telemon, you should check out my sect.  We don’t allow guilt and confessions of transgressions  .