UpSki - Wind Mountaineering

UpSki... Wind Mountaineering

UpSki / PO Box 1269 / Frisco, CO 80443 / 970.485.0245 ripping@upski.com

How to UpSki, a slideshow

Jon Harrington and UpSki Canopy 009 built Feb 10, 1986
Photo taken April 10th, 2006 by Phil Huff Click for a large view

There was a story recently in the local paper that tells some of the history of UpSki and included the fine photo of Jon Harrington. It is here in The Summit Daily.
Elisabet, Mattias and Greg on Loveland Pass
Jon Harrington on the White Wave
Rapid Ascent, April 16, 2004
Peak 9 UpSki, April 1, 2004
White Wave Slide Show (2003)
Extreme UpSkiing (oldish)
Up Boarding? (old)
Independence Pass with UpSki (the oldest)
UpSki -The Equipment & Founders (old)
UpSki - Jon Harrington (13 years ago!)
UpSki - Links to Wind & Snow Sports (old)
UpSki - What Makes it an UpSki? (old)
Greg Dietl--Discovering UpSki (old)
Jon takes a ride (Avalanche Safety) (so old)

JAN '07 UpSki News

Loveland Pass, Colorado has been something of a traffic nightmare during winters. Backcountry Boarders and Skiers use US Highway 6 as their ski lift on both sides of this 12,000 foot pass. This year a huge red sign announces that NO PARKING, except in designated areas, is allowed along the 6 mile stretch that crosses from Loveland Ski Area to Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. Along with the new enforcement, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has created enlarged designated parking areas on both sides of the pass. The top of the pass has about the same parking area as before but now, a short walk down the road is a large designated area with snow pushed back. It is a good thing to see that the State of Colorado has accepted the challenge of providing better backcountry access for it's non-resort skiers! Loveland Pass is an awesome winter playground. The afternoon UpSkier shouldn't have a problem finding a parking slot at the top lot for that ride up to 13,000 to see the sun set over the Central Rockies.

This year Snow and Avalanche conditions are equally fragile on all aspects due to the El Nino cut off lows that have brought ample SE-NE winds.. Yesterday, 12/30/06, as I drove up Loveland Pass from the I-70 side, deep avalanches (to ground) were evident on N, NW, S and SE slopes. The best resource for backcountry avalanche information is The Colorado Avalanche Information Center which has moved to the Engineering building at the West Portal. Everyone should consider becoming a "Friend" of the CAIC by making a donation and getting their forcasts emailed each day. The CAIC maintains several weather stations, as does CDOT, but for UpSkiing the CAIC station above the Loveland Ski Area has been very useful.

John White of www.MountainGuides.co.uk sent us a picture of UpSkiing in Northern England and Scotland. He operates a well known guide school in the Lake Districts and we first met when I picked him up as he was hiking the road up Loveland Pass with alpine touring equipment on his shoulder, 20 years ago! John has been UpSkiing, winters permitting, every year since and offers the UpSki experience as part of his Winter Mountaineering School. He said this about snow kiting in his environment: "We've tried kiting but it's crap for our unpredictable winds and steep terrain, so Upski is still the business for our terrain". This has been our experience as well, and we have used kites on snow since the late 80's, UpSki gear is the best way to ascend steep alpine terrain.

This past late spring, May 27th, UpSkiers Mike Cutherbertson, Kristie and Phil Huff, and new guy (but old patrol buddy) Dan Moroz of 33 years on the Copper Mountain Ski Patrol, had a good day near Independence Pass on Blue Peak. The day was expected to be windy and no other than famous backcountry mountaineer Lou Dawson reported strong winds at the 13,777 foot summit. Lou was skiing out as we were gearing up and he also reported that there was little corn due to the cooler than normal temperatures and high winds. UpSkiers have been skiing from Independence Pass since the mid-1980's, here is a story posted on the first UpSki Website in the mid 1990's.

Jon Harrington and Greg Dietl have been UpSkiing for my camera out and as a result there are a bunch of new photos including that amazing shot of Jon just ripping to the top of the Colorado Rockies world. New Slideshow with Greg on Loveland Pass and with Jon Harrington on the White Wave

Co-inventor John Stanford stays active building products (he builds the UpSki) for his company VertexPhoto.com. Story about what John and Sara are up to is in the fall edition of the UpSki News at "Fall 06 UpSki News" and here are links to UpSki news from the past season. From the Fall 05 UpSki News and The January News. The April 06 issue is here.

A tribute to Morten Svatun and links to Norway's UpSki and Skiseil websites are located here. Chiharu Fujii and Dan Graybill's of Fort Lewis College in Durango, their first UpSki story is here.

...Phil Huff

UpSki in the Lake Districts of Englands

Photographed by John Stanford, UpSkier Phil Huff,
March 2006, click for larger Image

UpSki Home / UpSki email / Extreme UpSki / Up Boarding
Sample Adventures with UpSki / The Equipment
Jon Harrington / Media Descriptions of UpSki
Greg Dietl / Links of Interest / A story about Avalanche Safety

UpSki... Wind Mountaineering UpSki / PO Box 1269 / Frisco, CO 80443 / 970.485.0245 ripping@upski.com
	How to UpSki, a slideshow
	How to UpSki, a slideshow	Jon Harrington and UpSki Canopy 009 built Feb 10, 1986 Photo taken April 10th, 2006 by Phil Huff Click for a large view
	There was a story recently in the local paper that tells some of the history of UpSki and included the fine photo of Jon Harrington. It is here in The Summit Daily. Elisabet, Mattias and Greg on Loveland Pass Jon Harrington on the White Wave Rapid Ascent, April 16, 2004 Peak 9 UpSki, April 1, 2004 White Wave Slide Show (2003) Extreme UpSkiing (oldish) Up Boarding? (old) Independence Pass with UpSki (the oldest) UpSki -The Equipment & Founders (old) UpSki - Jon Harrington (13 years ago!) UpSki - Links to Wind & Snow Sports (old) UpSki - What Makes it an UpSki? (old) Greg Dietl--Discovering UpSki (old) Jon takes a ride (Avalanche Safety) (so old)

		JAN '07 UpSki News Loveland Pass, Colorado has been something of a traffic nightmare during winters. Backcountry Boarders and Skiers use US Highway 6 as their ski lift on both sides of this 12,000 foot pass. This year a huge red sign announces that NO PARKING, except in designated areas, is allowed along the 6 mile stretch that crosses from Loveland Ski Area to Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. Along with the new enforcement, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has created enlarged designated parking areas on both sides of the pass. The top of the pass has about the same parking area as before but now, a short walk down the road is a large designated area with snow pushed back. It is a good thing to see that the State of Colorado has accepted the challenge of providing better backcountry access for it's non-resort skiers! Loveland Pass is an awesome winter playground. The afternoon UpSkier shouldn't have a problem finding a parking slot at the top lot for that ride up to 13,000 to see the sun set over the Central Rockies. This year Snow and Avalanche conditions are equally fragile on all aspects due to the El Nino cut off lows that have brought ample SE-NE winds.. Yesterday, 12/30/06, as I drove up Loveland Pass from the I-70 side, deep avalanches (to ground) were evident on N, NW, S and SE slopes. The best resource for backcountry avalanche information is The Colorado Avalanche Information Center which has moved to the Engineering building at the West Portal. Everyone should consider becoming a "Friend" of the CAIC by making a donation and getting their forcasts emailed each day. The CAIC maintains several weather stations, as does CDOT, but for UpSkiing the CAIC station above the Loveland Ski Area has been very useful. John White of www.MountainGuides.co.uk sent us a picture of UpSkiing in Northern England and Scotland. He operates a well known guide school in the Lake Districts and we first met when I picked him up as he was hiking the road up Loveland Pass with alpine touring equipment on his shoulder, 20 years ago! John has been UpSkiing, winters permitting, every year since and offers the UpSki experience as part of his Winter Mountaineering School. He said this about snow kiting in his environment: "We've tried kiting but it's crap for our unpredictable winds and steep terrain, so Upski is still the business for our terrain". This has been our experience as well, and we have used kites on snow since the late 80's, UpSki gear is the best way to ascend steep alpine terrain. This past late spring, May 27th, UpSkiers Mike Cutherbertson, Kristie and Phil Huff, and new guy (but old patrol buddy) Dan Moroz of 33 years on the Copper Mountain Ski Patrol, had a good day near Independence Pass on Blue Peak. The day was expected to be windy and no other than famous backcountry mountaineer Lou Dawson reported strong winds at the 13,777 foot summit. Lou was skiing out as we were gearing up and he also reported that there was little corn due to the cooler than normal temperatures and high winds. UpSkiers have been skiing from Independence Pass since the mid-1980's, here is a story posted on the first UpSki Website in the mid 1990's. Jon Harrington and Greg Dietl have been UpSkiing for my camera out and as a result there are a bunch of new photos including that amazing shot of Jon just ripping to the top of the Colorado Rockies world. New Slideshow with Greg on Loveland Pass and with Jon Harrington on the White Wave Co-inventor John Stanford stays active building products (he builds the UpSki) for his company VertexPhoto.com. Story about what John and Sara are up to is in the fall edition of the UpSki News at "Fall 06 UpSki News" and here are links to UpSki news from the past season. From the Fall 05 UpSki News and The January News. The April 06 issue is here. A tribute to Morten Svatun and links to Norway's UpSki and Skiseil websites are located here. Chiharu Fujii and Dan Graybill's of Fort Lewis College in Durango, their first UpSki story is here. ...Phil Huff

	UpSki in the Lake Districts of Englands Photographed by John Stanford, UpSkier Phil Huff, March 2006, click for larger Image
	UpSki Home / UpSki email / Extreme UpSki / Up Boarding Sample Adventures with UpSki / The Equipment Jon Harrington / Media Descriptions of UpSki Greg Dietl / Links of Interest / A story about Avalanche Safety