Ski Mountaineering: Most influential geographical area in US

trackhead · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2383 Location: Following Maynard

What geographical area do you think has influenced, or been the most prolific in representing ski mountaineering in the U.S.

Past and present.

Tetons?
Sierra?
PNW?
Colorado?
Others?

How about the pioneers of this activity in the last 50 years?

Shan · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 1:33 pm Post subject:

Wasatch? Nahhh.

Colorado? Not really.

The Cascades? Maybe.

Alaska? Separates the men form the boys.

Tetons? Big challenges and technical, no doubt.

California? The right answer. I think.

simple harmonic motion · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 697

There was an article published a while ago and posted here (maybe pre-hack?) that hailed the Tetons as number one. If anyone remembers the link I'd love to get a second look at it. Was it Alpinist?

lemon boy · Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 2696

Aspen.
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teleskigirl · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 1:43 pm Post subject:

Sierra

Stable snow, it's the range of light Very Happy

no worry of white outs-stable weather and tons of terrain....

Shan · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 1:43 pm Post subject:

Ooops. I just re-read that you're talking about ski mountaineering, not straight up mountaineering. In that regard, I'd have to tip my hat to the Teton tough guys. Google "stephen koch" for example.

trackhead · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2383 Location: Following Maynard

Shan · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 1:50 pm Post subject:

Yep. For sure a pioneer.

Don't forget Turiano, Coombs, Stamberger, Exum, Engen, Corbet, etc.

trackhead · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2383 Location: Following Maynard

wallag · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 124 Location: Boston

There were many people skiing technical routes in New Hampshire during the 20's and 30's. I think that predates pretty much anything out west (except for that guy who delivered mail across the Sierras on skis).

trackhead · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2383 Location: Following Maynard

^^^True.

I think an East Coast vid company is doing a doc on that right now.

TEO · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 465 Location: East Coast

Pshaw!

Brooks Dodge. Henry Hillman. Yup, you guessed it, Mount Washington. How many thousands of skiers have cut their teeth on the massif? It may not be the gnarliest or biggest, but I'd dare to say it is the most influential.

televisionary · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2832 Location: casa de sueños

The Tetons would have to be way up there. Skiing the Grand is still like the major test piece in the country. Briggs was off the scale.

Alaska has its moments, and a lot of 70s skiing around Aspen was way influential.

Fritz Stammberger, Tom Turiano, the Skoogs, Chris Landry, Rick Wyatt, the 10th Mountain Division, Alan Steck, Doug Robinson, Jungen & Spriceneks(sp?), to name just a few.

I'd like to see Lou and Andrew chime in on this one.

Rontele · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 2:10 pm Post subject:

Tetons.

And don't forget Rod and Mark Newcomb
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Shan · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 2:12 pm Post subject:

Nice list, Stipe. Naturally no list of influential ski mountaineers is complete without Andrew and Lou.

EDIT: to add... Best. Thread. Of. The. Summer.