April 21, 2005
Cool Or Demented?
Is Andrew McLean...
a) the greatest backwoods climber/skier ever or b) the craziest uninstitutionalized loon loose in the mountains today? Some say his self-published classic guide to super-steep skiing encourages the sort of risk that gets people killed. Still, many can't help but admire the guy. How many people do you know in this risk adverse age who still have a true spirit of adventure that they are willing to act upon?
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I hate that when person X tries to ensure someone's safety be explaining how not to get yourself killed, a bunch of nimrods decide that person is responsible for the death.
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Seeing some of those pictures both exhilarated me and gave me the willies. I did a little technical skiing and touring years ago, but it was absolutely nothing compared to this guy. Oh, and if you really think you'll ski in areas like this guy does after reading his book and doing a few double-black runs at Keystone, you're utterly delusional. Judging only from the intro and table of contents, it looks like this guy is trying to arm people with at least some information. So, he's a).
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If he was cool, he'd ride a snowboard. Pretty pics, but nothing that demented.
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This is awesome thanks! How does a snowboarder say hi? "Oh sorry, I didn't see you there"
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How does a snowboarder say hi? "Oh sorry, I didn't see you there" Snowboarding has a steep learning curve and it's much harder to learn how to turn than on skis. And most of the hazardous snowboarders are people learning on the green trails. I'll refrain from making comments about skiers snowplowing down the blue and black trails. That aside, anyone who's excited by stuff like this must go to the Banff Mtn Film Festival. It is unfortunately too late now, unless you live in Oregon or Montana, as the tour is almost over. But go next year. I will try to remember to make a FPP at the appropriate time. They've got ski/snowboard films, climbing films, jungle expedition films, mountain culture films. It's the greatest thing ever.