Backcountry Skiers – 'Do the VertFest'

By Gordy Skoog - March 15th, 2009

Have you done your verts today?

From a long history of European mountain culture a tour de force has quickly emerged onto the world stage http://www.vimeo.com/735044, and may very well realize its first Olympic medals in 2014 at the XXII Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. In a celebration of mountain spirit, the Grand Raid was the first to showcase Randonee Ski Racing, over the spines and drops of the Alps, as an endurance test of ones winter mountain skills. From those humble beginnings Europe has embraced in two short decades this wild pursuit to the tune of 10's of thousands who line routes along the glacial outback, often through the wee morning hours. It's a crazy, bazaar, and an infectious a la Tour de France on snow.

North Americans, who seemingly are more traditional pine cone eaters, joined the fray late by sporting their first United States Ski Mountaineering Association Team in 2005. It was a baptism by snow storm while underestimating the rest of the world's serious endeavor status view of backcountry racing. Attempting to catch the fever, individual as well as race series events (Mountain Hardwear/Life-Link/Dynafit Ski Mountaineering Race Series) have fired off around the States, from Kirkwood Mountain Resort, California to Sugarbush Resort/Mad River Glen, Vermont. over the past half dozen years. For most, these events remain a Bro-Rendezvous of the backcountry community. However, with a growing elite class you can see the Lycra tide a changing.

Recently, Outdoor Research put on their 3^rd annual VertFest at Crystal Mtn, Washington. An event that would challenge all with a total 4900 vertical feet and estimated race times of 1.5 hours for the winner and 3 hours for the stragglers. At the 7:30am signup it was apparent that some serious ringers had driven in for the event - Cary Smith from Jackson Hole, Stano Faban from Vancouver/Slovenia, and Ben Parson from Montana materialized with full skin-suits, xc poles, and national team skinny skis. The Traslin brothers came down from BC, and early smack hinted of stealth training by local age groupers. But the cool thing about Rando racing is that even though Lycra has taken hold of the elite, it's very much a community scene where the racers and the recreational participants hang out, and chat with animated passion about their last backcountry skiing trip.

Having experienced a couple of Vert tests myself during the first Randonee Rally days, I chose to start a new spectator division; the prerequisite being shooting pictures and taking a mandatory lunch break. I enjoyed being on the other side as my brother, Lowell, and long time Sunny Side Slider buddy, Greg Louie, prepared to test their mettle. At the start the weather was cool with a biting wind for those who chose to wear light softshell's, and inspired racers to run short sprints in their tights for warmth. With a few verts it wouldn't take long before hats and gloves would be shed to dump excess body heat.

With clear skies and a foot of new snow, the race got off in mass exodus after the obligatory avi beacon check (competitors also have to carry a shovel and probe).

The 67 skiers, who had self -seeded themselves from fast to slow, headed in quick succession directly up Lower Bull Run. About a third of the way up the wheels came off as the slopes compacted snow became difficult to skin. Improvising on the spot, skis where soon pack slung by most all and an unplanned boot to the top became the modus operandi. As some slipped a chaotic Laurel and Hardy affair leveled the playing field. Greg described his experience this way, "my new "race" skins (straight 65mm mohair NOS Black Diamonds with a home-brew tip attachment) slipped and took me down, right in the middle of a bunch of racers. Ooops. Several other people also lost grip, one guy on teles taking out a couple of people as he slid downhill. I looked up the hill and saw the elite guys booting (all except Seth, who made it all the way on his skis and jumped up to 2nd place), so I followed suit."

After the long pull to the base of Iceberg Gulch a quick control gate left had some competitors stripping skins for a semi-short downhill traverse, while others thinking it faster choose to skip the transition and skin glided to the abandoned Chair 5 lift-cut. Ascending the treed slot to the base of K2 Face, this is where the obligatory Rando boot-up cleared the lungs of many participants. Some 300 vertical in height this 45 degree slope required four wheel drive with toe-nail backup, and lung blowing tenacity (the race group got to do it again on round two as well). With "way to go" course marshal chants as competitors crested the Face, Greg reflected his view of what came next, "The race route wound up to the Campbell Basin Lodge, then up the basin to ascend Silver Queen (6,400'). Skinning up the icy moguled ridge with semi-functional skins was miserable, and several people on big tele and Fritschi rigs passed me, but I made it to the top (just downhill from the postage stamp sized lift station) and ripped the skins. The course traversed into Campbell Basin just under the ridge over some funky icy bumps. I managed to pass several people on the traverse, and a couple more on the ski down. As soon as the course hit the groomed, I hit a high tuck and tried to relax, hoping no one would turn suddenly in front of me." For the Rec. class one lap was enough with climbing legend, Dan Cauthorn, representing well by making the first fini for the old guys. For the race group a second slightly varied circuit would decide their suffer fest fate.

When the backcountry blitz abated, the top three in the Men's race were Ben Parson, Cary Smith, and Stano Faban. Andy and Mike Traslin took 4th and 5th respectively and homeboy Seth Davis came in 6th. Middle-aged phenom Lowell Skoog, who it turns out had been training with Seth under the cover of darkness at an undisclosed location for some weeks prior to the race, came home in 7th and won the 50+ Men's Division. Seth's wife Holly won the Women's Race and a nice new OR coat to match Seth's from last season's events.

As I watched the awards proceedings, supportive at-a-boys went out all around, especially when things kicked into gear with its signature generous raffle. The backcountry manufactures always step it up in support with lots of door prizes for nearly every competitor. Just show up with a bib number and you're a winner! Now, with all the snow flakes settled it was time to test vendor gear; considering new set ups as well strategy for next year.

So you say you didn't do your verts. Well, on March 28^th at Alpental, Washington the backcountry community will rally once again. With last years twist of a ladder climb scaling the Rollen cliff band, there's bound to be plenty of Rando spice to hold your attention.

Alpental Event Details

When: Saturday March 28th, 2009
Where: Alpental Ski Area
Registration opens: 7:30am - closes at 9:00am
Registration location: TBD
Registration prices: $75.00 / $45.00 with proof of ticket or season pass (cash or check only)
Mandatory Pre-Race meeting: 9:00am @ location TBD
Race starts: 10:00am
Award ceremony/celebration: 3:30am
Raffle tickets for sale: 2 for $5.00 or 5 for $10.00

Vertfest – 3^rd Annual Outdoor Research – A Celebration of backcountry VertCulture

http://www.outdoorresearch.com/site/culture/vertfest.html?id=8MUMebyn:64.146.161.231

Crystal Mtn Results: http://www.randosaigai.com/crystalvertfest022809%20017.jpg

Backcountry Skiers – 'Do the VertFest'

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