Confessions of a ski bum

Soon their friends wanted the same info and I started to type up organized documents and climb nearby peaks to get route pictures. Before I knew it I found myself binding homemade books to sell to stores confessions of a ski bum the public. Years later I have now written 4 books covering modern backcountry skiing in and around Banff National Park. I believe that sharing route and condition information creates a safer and more fun backcountry skiing community.

If you are reading this, it means you are really into skiing. Why else would you take time out of your day to read the opinions of some ski bum? If you are a fellow 'ski bum', maybe you can find solace in what I say. If you are aspiring to be one, young and curious about the future, or always wondered what life of a ski bum would have been like - this is for you. My life has had a fairly directional path since an early age. Growing up in Ontario as a skier from a young age I naturally jumped on the park movement from the beginning in the late 90's. Looking back on my life there are the days before park skiing, and the days after.

Confessions of a ski bum

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Niger XOFFr. Gabon XOFFr.

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The latter seems fitting for this fastidious ski tourer, whose only real motivation is pure curiosity. I like exploring. So do other people. So, I guess my motivation is that I do what I like and now I'm helping other people do what they like to do. So why not? Baranow, who arrived in Banff 13 years ago has been tootling around the area year-round finding, or rather, documenting ski tours. The rather equalitarian author doesn't necessarily see what he does as something revolutionary, but something almost anyone could do. The idea that these places are secret and unseen is beyond ridiculous at this point. If anyone has a problem with me writing, is an asshole — to put it nicely. However, as one gets to know Baranow, it becomes clear that although he might see himself as a ski tourer amongst ski tourers, he really is unique and is the best person to spread the good word.

Confessions of a ski bum

To be a ski bum requires the ability to not take oneself seriously, which, even if it's not your equilibrium, is a good state of mind to understand. A surprising number of year-olds take themselves quite seriously. I know this because I've hired a few of them, and because I suffered from this foible myself. But I got lucky.

Ywzzz

Hate it all you want, I had a blast that day. Taken near the lodge looking south into my 'office'. From a teenage park rat, to moving to BC and slowly shifting more towards powder over the years, to where I find myself now - almost exclusively backcountry powder skiing. When the candle was fresh and new, I couldn't imagine why anyone who loves skiing to 'quit' and pursue other things in life. Probably not. Combine that with an early season snow pack, 10 day high pressure system, and relatively mellow terrain, there has been many days full of chill skiing and introspective thought. Steve's picture turned out way better than mine! I hope you find the information on this site and in my guidebooks useful. For the most part, the evolution of my skiing came very naturally, albeit, with many ups and downs. Sweden SEKkr. Thanks for putting up with my angst Steve! Short, steep, easy to lap, and more pillows and cliffs than you can count. Getting a feel for our home for the next week. This range sees a lot of snow in the winter!

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Are you people even still reading this shit? I believe that sharing route and condition information creates a safer and more fun backcountry skiing community. Am I any better off now than before? With that I didn't end up taking nearly as many action shots as I normally do. Senegal XOFFr. If you are a fellow 'ski bum', maybe you can find solace in what I say. Denmark DKKkr. Have fun and stay safe out there! Getting a feel for our home for the next week. Chad XAFFr. Getting bored of just standing around watching pictures being taken I decided to do a little behind the scenes style photos. Followed shortly by my second proper drop of the season. That's Steve standing on top, doing his birthday dance I can only assume.