Here is another story while waiting for the Pineapple Express to move on

There was a time when the backcountry skiers were for the most part telemarkers. They were the ones with the gear to travel into the wild, natural world of winter in the mountains. Alpine touring bindings had yet to reach their innovative heyday. Compared to the BC skiers of today they were mostly males with a few beautiful women here and there. All were powder skiing enthusiasts who displayed great skill and style in their endeavor to plunder the fresh snowfalls beyond the boundaries of the resort.
In their time most were true ski bums of that era; penniless, hardworking ski town residents, powder hounds all and many with climbing skills. They developed a look of long hair and shagginess combined with an expressive attitude of snow experience and knowledge. Night jobs in the hospitality industry, especially in restaurants gave them the means to live their dream, but by no means defined them. Working as dishwashers, waiters, bartenders, busboys and cooks not only paid for their labor, but also helped to feed their need for one solid meal per day. The pure, simple love of powder skiing was their bond in the evolving world of the 60's, 70's and 80's.
If one was fortunate enough to live, ski and survive during those years and be a part of that ground breaking community that was such an important part of ski history, here is a hope that even today you are still able to enjoy a day in the knee deep snow lost in moments of true bliss.

Since then, there have been major improvements in back country skiing equipment, gadgets, and safety. Back country skiers now have access to a wide range of equipment, including helmets, probes, shovels, split boards, avalanche transmitters, alpine tour bindings, even telemark bindings.