Comments on: It’s All About the Up

By: Meriwether

Meriwether — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:45:16 +0000

I like how you think. Let me know if you want a few:
http://meriwether-rants.blogspot.com/2010/03/its-all-about-up.html

By: rl

rl — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 06:23:50 +0000

Up is good. Its when I get to hear the birds and the wind, see what’s up. But don’t follow my skin tracks. They are apt to meander here and there, looking out over that or this, cut a big elbow out of the more ordinary route or take you to a deadfall puzzle that needs a lot more snow to manage gracefully. OTOH that’s how I find new ways down, wandering around on the up.

Really, I’m not lost. I’m just sightseeing.

By: Military Skiing « Dongshow Productions

Military Skiing « Dongshow Productions — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 22:28:52 +0000

[...] dense alders or needlessly lost vertical. But to get back on track, the other day I was reading Andrew McLean’s ode to skin tracks where he concludes, Skin tracks are a reflection of the people who put them up, and like reading a [...]

By: Randonnee

Randonnee — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 05:53:54 +0000

Even when the down is not so good I enjoy the up and down, the traverse, the entire journey! In our variable Cascade snowpack I enjoy immensely the light Dynafit setup including the ski crampons that I have been using this week for the water-ice patches in the trees. Even with the challenging up this week, the down on open slopes had some freshies on a decent crust. Sunshine illuminated the entire journey… : )}

By: pba

pba — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 04:41:08 +0000

What a pleasure to find a post about uptrack art. It makes me wonder if it’s all about the trail-breaking, not just the up. As you point out, breaking an artistic trail requires a real awareness of snow conditions and terrain, the kind of meditative concentration at the heart of all outdoor sports. Should you put in a kick turn at the tree blocking your line, or push through the branches to continue your contour and set yourself up for the clearing two switchbacks above? That’s why breaking a trail is so much more fulfilling than slogging up a skin track highway. Another benefit of breaking trail is all the information about snow stability you gain through your feet.

Opportunities to break trail can be few and far between in the crowded parts of the Wasatch. Some people may see that as a benefit. But my best days have always included lots of trail breaking.

By: Derek

Derek — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 04:27:00 +0000

“It’s All About The Down” was a disappointing marketing campaign turn. It’s all about all of it.

Nice post Andrew.

By: mark

mark — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 03:38:05 +0000

Andrew, I love the new setup. I am absolutely converted to Dynafit. They’re lighter, and they ski better than the Fritschis I was on. Less binding flex makes the boots feel more responsive. Better overall experience on the up and the down.

Oh, and Jared says I’m supposed to confess my big fat man crush on you. Or a least on the lines you’re skiing. I can’t believe I just wrote that. Actually, yes, I can.

By: DG

DG — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:58:39 +0000

Its good to see that there are others that think like me. I love the up. Great photos.

As for BD, “all about the up.” Well, for me, its all about the SkiTrabs!!! A company dedicated to making great touring skis. I’m sure BD will make millions, but Trab will make pieces of art.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:24:23 +0000

Hi Mark – sounds like a nice set-up! As a viewer supported website, any and all purchases that are made through StraightChuter.com are not only appreciated, but keep the commerical interuptions away. Thanks.

By: cgd

cgd — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:48:01 +0000

couldnt agree more about the up and a well thought out skin track, its not about the first run of the day its about the last one!