UpSki... Wind Mountaineering, Riding the Vertical Cornice!

Sometimes it is a dance, lightly done.

Notice that Bud's weight is almost entirely in "the saddle" and only lightly on his skis.
The Ride up from 11,100' Looking north toward the route as Bud packs up Photos from the 12,600 level Sequence of ascent photos
Dancing up Verts

UpSki was purpose designed for ascent. The canopy creates a sky hook on those steep runs where a direct vertical climb is desired and the wind is sufficient. The padded harness adds enough support to keep the UpSkiers centered on their skis or board and able to control the equipmenti in a normal manner while ascending. The winds at the lower part of this ascent were less than 20 mph with gusts above that. The ride quickens as the ridge top winds with gusts of 35 mph are reached.

On this day, Bud's first in winds above 20 mph, he was (like all have been) startled at the raw power of going faster and faster as the summit approached. Canopy control is important on the summit where strong winds tug at the collapsed canopy. Normally we make a descent with the canopy still deployed so that a quick turn around is possible.

Most people who come to UpSki assume that it is the ski down that makes the ride up worthwhile but most of us enjoy both directions about the same and sometimes getting down quickly for the ride back up is more important. Sometimes it isn't.

 

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Jon Harrington / Media Descriptions of UpSki
Greg Dietl / Links of Interest / A story about Avalanche Safety / Slideshow of Spring Fun 2003