From the SelectedWorks of David A Bainbridge

2014

Glissading David A Bainbridge

Available at: https://works.bepress.com/david_a_bainbridge/41/ GLISSADING

David A. Bainbridge 2014

Table of Contents

Dedication

Ch l. Glissading

Ch 2. A Brief History of Glissading

Ch 3. Glissading Styles

Ch 4. The Purest Form

Ch 5. Safer Glissading

Ch 6. Glissading Risk Classifications

GLISSADING Ch 7. Go Glissading

Ch 8. Getting There

Ch 9. The Future of Glissading

©David A. Bainbridge 2014 [2] DOUGLAS W. BAINBRIDGE 1921-2007 To my father who introduced me to the joys of the mountains and glissading at an early age. He enjoyed the mountains in all seasons, as an expert skier from the early days of telemark turns and bear trap bindings to his '70s. Backpacker, climber and glissader par excellence.

SAFETY NOTE: Safety is always an important concern for activities like climbing and glissading. No book can alert you to every hazard and potential risk. The descriptions of equipment and technique described in this book are not representations that these will be safe for you or your party. You are responsible for your own safety. Do not let your ambition exceed your ability. Keep alert, stay informed and utilize old mother common sense when in doubt--chicken out.

[3] 1. Introduction Like body surfing glissading requires a fairly specific set of environmental It is my hope that this book will help conditions. Rather than searching for elevate glissading from its lowly place as "a waves the glissader is searching for perfect way down after climbing" to the reason for firm snow. This can be followed from the "climbing." The emphasis has, as I hope to lower elevations as Spring advances and show, been on the wrong foot. It is almost may only be found on north slopes in the as if over the years the sport of paddling higher mountains in late summer. out through surf had developed and someone was finally writing a book on riding the waves in, "Surfing." One of the first obstacles I hope to overcome is the general lack of understanding of what "glissading" is. As Webster's dictionary defines it, glissading is "to make a controlled slide down a snow covered slope." It might more simply be called "skiing without skis." As Chapter 3 shows glissading has many forms: lying down, sitting, squatting, and standing. The purest form explored in greater detail in Chapter 4 is the art of glissading in the standing position. The skills and sensation involved in glissading fall somewhere between skiing, skate boarding, snow boarding and surfing. It is, however, easier to learn; requires less expensive equipment ($20 or less for homemade glissading shoes); safe (danger is minimal until the advanced stages); and Perfect conditions more fun. The only sport that is at all close The prime glissading season is late in cost and equipment requirements is Spring and early Summer, with flowers in "body surfing" which requires considerably full bloom on the walk in, cold crisp more skill and provides fewer rewards nights, sunny days, and quiet mountains. A beginners. time to settle down to the basics, simple

[4] food, clean air, the exercise of climbing up, the joy of glissading down, good friends, and living life to the fullest. Glissading, in addition to being a sport worth pursing for its own rewards, is also a very useful skill for the mountaineer to master. Moving fast in alpine conditions may often mean the difference between beating a storm and being caught out. It is one of the paradoxes of climbing that a slow, conservative, "safety" conscious climber may be exposed to greater objective danger than a faster, less conservative climber. Glissading can allow the climber to drop hundreds of feet in minutes, rather than hours, and can as Allan Steck's story shows mean the difference between life and death. It is also regrettably true that slips and slides on ice and snow account for a high proportion of mountaineering and Excellent form backpacking injuries and deaths. While *A glissade in ballet is a traveling step glissading skills won't prevent all of these starting in fifth position with demi-plié: accidents they can reduce your risk of the front foot moves out to a point, both being hurt. A better understanding of snow legs briefly straighten as weight is shifted conditions, more thoughtful consideration onto the pointed foot, and the other foot of slopes and run-outs, and better control moves in to meet the first. So a glissader when glissading can reduce the danger of on snow, may do a double glissade if they an accident. But the joy of high speed runs point their leading foot. on challenging mountains will always entail some risk. Like any sport, it is a question of acceptable risk and minimizing risk, not eliminating it.

[5] 2. A Brief History of Glissading As the golden age of mountaineering The origins of glissading are lost in the rose in the Alps there is little doubt that shadows of prehistory. Early man (or glissading gained increasing popularity. woman), first discovered the sport while Some of the gentlemen and gentlewomen sliding out of control down a snow slope alpinists developed considerable skill at it. crossing some mountain ridge in search of E. F. Whymper gives a good description food (sex usually being less critical than and recommendation, with a good food in the early spring). Undoubtedly, the illustration. Many of the classic climbers first feeling was that of fear (the beginning include a mention as well, including the glissader without previous skiing or early "boys" of Everest. skateboarding may feel the same way at first); but when the exhilaration of speed overcame this primal fear glissading was born. In fact, it is probably unfair to credit "homo sapiens" with the discovery of glissading. The otters and bears are among the most enthusiastic glissaders and have been seen going down snow or mud slopes again and again with obvious glee. An otter is speedy enough to glissade on flat ground, run slide, run slide faster than a person can walk. I have also seen young marmots glissading in the Sierra. Perhaps these animals deserve credit for inventing E.F. Whymper demonstrates the the sport and awakening the glissading standing glissade with ice axe. instinct in humans as they watched them at play. In more recent years glissading has In a riotous glissade we hummed down undoubtedly been practiced regularly by the next one thousand feet, swerving left or the shepherds and hunters of the alps right from supposititous crevasses after the around the world, yet no one has recorded fashion of ski-runners. their endeavors. Practiced as part of work Geoffrey Winthrop Young on the Weisshorn it remained unrecognized as "fun" or as a "sport" until very recently.

[6] My previous exploratory climb had made Rebuffat. In one of his books he described me aware of a convenient snow filled gully a friend's glissade on crampons down a in which an exceedingly rapid standing glacier at night during a remarkable alpine glissade was possible. Reaching this campaign in Europe. This initiates the highway I spun down to the little glacier. period of severe glissade descents. A. F. Mummery on Dych Tau 1895 In 1978 Peter Habeler and Rheinhold Messner completed a successful alpine Arriving on the big snow bed I glissaded assault on Everest. To hasten the descent for some little distance before realizing that to more oxygen rich air glissading on Somerville had stopped behind.... Everest was taken up again. First to the col E. F. Norton high on Everest 1924. and then in stretches below that. Their superb fitness enabled them to climb to ...he closed up the tent, and about 4:30 the top from the col without oxygen and left the camp and made his way down by return, with much controlled glissading, in the extreme crest of the North-East Ridge. less than 6 hours. This tremendous feat is By means of a careful glissade Odell described in Peter's book about their covered the distance between Camps V and ascent, Everest: Impossible Victory, Sphere, IV in barely thirty-five minutes. 1979. Sir Francis Younghusband 1926. Glissading skills may also save your life. It can enable you to move quickly while As mountaineering became more widely using little energy. One of the most known and practiced the skills and remarkable examples was the heroic effort techniques for preventing unwanted slips by Ernest Shackleton to rescue his crew and falls improved and so did the skills of after their ship was damaged by ice. After glissaders. Reports of these early their awe inspiring open boat journey expeditions were generally so terse that across tempest tossed Antarctic seas they glissading was not described in detail. landed on South Georgia Island and were Glissading was often relegated to minor forced to climb and cross an unknown mention "we crossed to the snow field and mountain range with minimal equipment made a rapid descent to Camp III." and little energy. A long and dangerous More recently glissading has received glissade into the unknown on the way more comment, although still appearing as down saved their lives and his crew. a minor footnote. One of the few And finally, Allan Steck and a party of exceptions to this conspiracy of silence Russian and American climbers completed was the master of rock and ice, Gaston a very dramatic glissade in the Pamirs.

[7] Shortly after they left a high camp because of severe avalanche conditions, an avalanche did, in fact, break lose. Descending in a very fast glissade down very challenging slopes they managed to outrun the main body of the avalanche. Had they walked down or hesitated they would probably all have been killed. Even a diehard "climber" should consider a more careful study of "glissading." It can improve control and speed descent in difficult conditions. There is no nobler sport than glissading. It is set in the glorious mountains and uses little except muscle and skill to create art. This book was written to provide an introduction to the sport of glissading. As it becomes more widely recognized it will probably spawn more specialized and expensive equipment and develop an increasingly specialized vocabulary (as skiing, skateboarding and snowboarding Takeoff have). I hope I will not be blamed for this "deviant" behavior, but will instead be credited for bringing this delightful, simple, and challenging sport into more people's lives. The more challenging slopes and conditions of "extreme" glissading are virtually unexplored and unknown and represent a new frontier now that virtually all the north faces in winter under storm conditions have all fallen and extreme ski descents have become common, and even competitive. Smooth traverse

[8] 3. Glissading Styles Lying Down

As the introduction and history have shown there are a wide variety of approaches and techniques for glissading. These range from the first lying down or sitting glissade of a youngster (of whatever age) to the skilled descent of an expert high on Mt. Everest. This chapter introduces the five basic glissading positions. The following chapter looks in The lying down or supine glissade greater detail at the purest form, the position is the most basic glissading standing glissade. position. It is the easiest method to use First however, a slope is needed to and is a logical beginning for the young glissade upon. A wide range of snow slopes child or old-timer. The preferred technique (from slight to steep) can be used for is to use a tarp, plastic sheet, old rain gear, glissading, depending on shoes, seat, or a large garbage bag to reduce the temperature, and skill. For beginning coefficient of friction and the rate of lessons, however, the following conditions saturation with melting snow. If you have set the stage for our introduction. We an ensolite pad or seat pad it can help to would like to begin with a moderate slope use it on top of the plastic to protect your with a gentle run out at the bottom. This buns. In most cases we lie facing up to the should be unobstructed and blessed with a sky with feet downhill. This allows the feet uniform coating of firm snow without to be used for braking and turning as suncups or fissures. Our shoes should sink shown. in about 1/2-1" for best results. It also ensures that the more vital parts If seated or lying glissades are the only are at least partially protected if a collision activity contemplated the snow can be with a rock or tree occurs. On very safe softer. But as it gets softer you need slopes (no rocks or trees or cliffs) the head steeper slopes to move. As your skill level downhill, lying on the back position can be increases you can glissade very soft snow used. This is the fastest position and can on very steep slopes, but beware avalanche allow glissading when no other way would, hazards. either in soft snow or on very low angles. Unfortunately, braking and steering are virtually impossible-and any contact with

[9] an immovable object can come at a high the hoar frost sparkled on the ground and cost to the noggin. we enjoyed in the unusual conditions until we started to get tired and cold. The very cold air temperature (despite the bright sun) kept us dry despite repeated contact with the snow. Delightful!

Sitting The next step in the evolution of glissading is the sitting position, perhaps the most common form used by mountaineers. Once again some sort of Methow in winter second skin is desirable to increase speed A Snapshot: Methow Valley and maintain warmth. In addition, because One of the finest memories of weight is concentrated on a smaller area, glissading I retain from my childhood some form of padding is highly involved was glissading lying down. We recommended. An ensolite pad or foam were out cross country skiing on a cold pad on top of a heavy duty garbage bag winter day in the Methow Valley of works well. Seated glissading is often done northern Washington when we found ideal in rain or snow pants but it can burn or conditions for lying down glissading. A wear right through them. Don't use your thick icy crust was overlaid with an inch of new Goretex! lacy hoarfrost. The crust was breakable on skis and quite difficult to ski on. Yet we found that when we lay flat in our slick nylon parkas and ski pants we didn't break through. The slope was fairly long, low angle, and fairly open (some sage brush and weed heads poked through). It turned out to be ideal for the head downhill (either on back or stomach) position and we spent some time carving people-size tracks through the hoarfrost. The sky was the deep blue that only clean cold northern air attains, Basic sitting glissade

[10] Sitting glissade with ensolite and plastic The sitting glissade in trough

Scree, wet grass and mud can also be used for glissading in a pinch. I have had a few outstanding days glissading on wet grass in various parks, if conditions are just right it works well and doesn't cause harm.

Sitting glissade on dry grass

The garbage bag glissade

[11] Begin by digging the heels into the and arose, triumphant, waving his axe slope while standing facing downhill. Next above his head for the rest to follow." place the tarp and pad on the slope behind. "Flopping down on his stomach at the Sit down, careful to keep the heels in. Then edge a half-melted cornice overhanging the lift the front of the pad between your legs couloir, the next man placed his ice axe and hold with two hands (only one if you into the textbook-perfect self-arrest are an experienced bronc rider and want to position, and slowly inched his boots over hold your cowboy hat in the other). Let the the edge, dragging his axe point stoutly heels lift up and you're off. into the snow as a brake. Keep the feet in touch with the snow for He began to accelerate rapidly, far more best control. Tilting feet to the side can rapidly than he'd anticipated. Quickly, he provide limited steering and digging the was blind with bitterly cold snow packed heels in will provide good braking. This is between his glasses and his eyes and a secure and quite controlled method. It is striving to stuff his nose and mouth. It particularly helpful in softer snow or when seemed he must have reached automobile glissading with a pack. speed, and avoiding the rocks halfway On some routes, or with a party of down was now academic, as he was blind climbers the seated glissades create a and could only hope his initial angle had trough. This is still fun, but different. Like kept him in the center of the widening being in a bobsled run. couloir. He thought only a few determined thoughts: "do not get flipped over, do not A snapshot: Mt. McLoughlin loose your grip on the axe, dig it in firmer!" " They had not come prepared for Suddenly, the ride was over, and he stood anything quite this steep, and had no rope up shakily, still blind, but waving his axe among them this day. After due discourse over his head for the last man to follow." and a snack in the hot June sun, they put on all their most warm and waterproof www.oregonphotos.com/Glissade.html clothing, carefully tucked all their clothing in tightly, and most carefully of all A Snapshot: South Sister fastened down their gloves and mittens for "we planted our fannies in the first protection from the rough abrading snow. glissade track and slipped down the All preparations for the flight now in order, mountain. I hesitate to think about how they launched one at a time, the first man fast we were going. The tracks were 12 to like a trial sacrifice to the Volcano God. In 18 inches deep and well worn. There were less than 5 minutes, he was to the bottom, three major glissade tracks and it took

[12] longer to walk from the end of one to the may be a reasonable position for beginning of the next than it did to run one glissading. Mastery of self-arrest with an of them. I will long remember the look on ice axe is desirable before attempting BB's face as I watched him accelerate difficult slopes. Velocity can build up quite through the first track. You can see the rapidly! mind and body realizing the exhilaration of moving down a mountain at a rate of speed just beyond expectation, just at the edge of control. Was that a scream I heard, or was the it just a visual scream? Maybe I was screaming. This was the best glissading of my experience, and in 20 to 30 minute we put about 2000 vertical feet of South Sister behind us. I completely ruined my Tyvek rainpants and would gleefully have ruined a second pair. Bill's poncho was also Ice axe with squatting position shredded. Do we need to develop and market Glissade-wear?" A Snapshot: Peak 13,385 My first exposure to the squatting http://cascadehiking.com/trips/2005/ glissade occurred on a steep snow slope in south-sister_July_2005/day2/day2.html the Sierras near Mt. Darwin. We had climbed a peak in the early morning on a Squatting third and fourth class route, with The squatting position is often occasional step cutting on hard snow. After described in mountaineering books that lunch on the top we walked back across to deign to mention glissading. It is a the steep north face we had climbed in the relatively easy position to learn but it morning. As we reached the edge one of provides poor maneuverability. The the more experienced mountaineers in the technique is often described using an ice group suddenly turned off the route of our axe as a third leg with the shaft point on ascent and with a whoop and holler the snow and the head held in preparation plunged, to what appeared likely to be his for a self-arrest. This is more easily done death, down a steep very hard snow slope with a longer axe than is now in fashion. with a scattering of rocks and little runout For steep slopes with hard snow or ice this at the bottom.

[13] He quickly assumed the squatting mastering this "purest form" are described position and sped down the slope with a in the following chapter. small rooster tail of ice and snow rising from his ice axe. We watched, open- mouthed, as he rocketed out of sight after just avoiding a jutting rock pile, whooping and hollering all the way. We gradually worked our way down the rock until we hit a more moderate snow slope and slalomed down to join him with standing glissades. He had his feet propped up on a rock, his pack under his head, and a big grin on his face. He confided that two summers spent on Blue Glacier in the Olympic Mountains had given him enough experience in self-arrest to stop even on fairly hard steep ice and that although this snow had been exciting, it hadn't been scary for him.

Standing The standing glissade is the most demanding and enjoyable glissading position. I rarely use any other position Telemark position adds stability because it offers the most maneuverability and control. A little practice may be required, but is well worth it. The basic position is standing with one foot behind the other (most weight on the trailing foot) and with the arms held out to the sides for balance. Using this position with good glissading shoes and good conditions a glissader can turn sharply, slalom, and traverse at a remarkably acute A Snapshot: Tahquitz Glissading shoes with gaiters angle to the slope. The steps toward

[14] recommended). I started off down the slope with a crisp slalom to warm up the muscles and the reflexes. I slowly increased my speed as my confidence built and cut sharply to the left to avoid a dense thicket. A slalom through the forest brought me back to a wide open slope which was quickly signed with a signature slalom. Back into the trees again, sharp turns, slower, a jump over a blocking log, some fancy foot work to avoid bushes and stumps, another jump over a brush barrier, and then out onto open slopes again. Off to the right far below my peripheral vision I sense some motion. It resolves into a group of boy scouts, roped up and plodding down the trail. I give a whoop and crank on some extra speed as I slalom down the slope in front of them. Crisp

As fast as skiing with good conditions linked turns with snow flying, a big jump off the trail platform and then back into An early spring day at Tahquitz the forest again. Slower now, tired, and provided one of the finest glissades of my exhilarated I coast to a stop at the bottom life. A long haul up the many switchbacks and stroll down to the car. A perfect of the trail in the cold shadow and hard icy glissade. snow of morning was rewarded by a fine lunch on top. After an afternoon nap in the pine-scented air I headed back to the slope and trail down. The leisurely lunch and nap had worked a magic transformation on the icy slopes, now softened to perfection. Casting caution to the wind (a careful look at the glissade slope from below, and preferably on the way up, is always

[15] 4. The purest form The standing glissade offers the greatest maneuverability, challenge, and enjoyment. It includes many of the skills and feelings of snow skiing (with very short skis), water skiing (with one ski), skateboarding, snowboard and surfing-yet requires infinitely less equipment, is easier to learn, and can be enjoyed without paying money for tows or fighting the Sanded and coated with slick plastic crowds now prevalent on the ski slopes On steep enough slopes any boots or and beaches. shoes will work, but it is nice to be able to The only equipment required for go fast on slopes that are not so steep (and beginning glissading is a pair of smooth therefore safer). A pair of gloves is also soled shoes. The Keds Surfer model was useful, waterproof and tough. That's all the best glissading shoe, with a slick you need. For steeper slopes boots with natural rubber sole. But almost any shoes hard soles are recommended. Gaiters will or boots without much tread will work with help keep snow out of your boots and a coating of Shoe Goo. I use a pair of old reduce the "wet sock" factor. Walking poles construction boots, after belt sanding the with baskets, or ski poles can be helpful, soles smooth and laying on a layer of Shoe but add another piece of equipment to Goo. drag around. Ski pole self arrests can be iffy. If you are on a steep slope an ice axe is a better choice. For any slopes with more risk a helmet is advisable. Knee pads and elbow pads can be a help in more challenging snow conditions, or where the edges of control are being pushed. For low angle slopes and soft snow slick rain suits or a scrap of plastic can help a sitting glissader keep moving. For steeper slopes and harder snow clothing that is not slick may be

Belt sanding boots preferred, perhaps a wool shirt, pants and jacket.

[16] An ice axe can be a key piece of safety First Steps equipment for advanced and expert The beginning glissader should look for glissading. A longer axe is preferable in a simple slope that is nearly flat at the most cases, rather than a short ice bottom and only moderately sloped near climbing axe. The classic walking axe from the top. With slick shoes you can go fast the 1900s is perfect. enough with good snow even as low as Practice is required to avoid making the shallow as 10 degrees. Snow should be risk of the ice axe greater than the fall, and firm, leaving about a half inch to one inch mastering the technique of an ice axe deep footprint, and smooth, without arrest takes practice. Mountaineering: The suncups, rocks or furrows. (See Chapter 6 Freedom of the Hills has a good section on for help finding some good snow). practice. It is good to work with deliberate sitting glissades with an axe first. Good hand placement on the axe first to control the point, then roll over and smoothly place the weight of the body onto the axe, force the pick into the snow. If you try to do it too quickly it may jerk the axe out of your hands or "stretch" your arms. After this becomes second nature, practice arrests from the head down position on the Keds were the best back or stomach. Try harder and harder Lace on your glissading shoes, if you snow and steeper slopes. haven't worn them to the hill, put on your Some people also like to use their gloves, and start at the bottom of the walking poles or ski poles for balance. slope. Walk up the snow slope by digging These can also be used for an arrest. in the edges of your shoes, side stepping, keep them level, or in a herring bone. With a good shoe, like the Keds, you'll be surprised how slippery they can be. Don't feel too bad if you fall down. Later on, as you get better at judging snow conditions, you may hike up the slope in your regular boots and then switch to your glissading shoes at the top. But when you are starting it is good to walk up in the slick shoes as

Poles can help

[17] well, so you can feel how fast the slope will When you lose your balance and start to be. fall, you can often side step and regain On reaching a midpoint where the slope your balance. If not, relax as you fall to ahead begins to look a bit too steep, plant reduce the impact. You'll stop when you one foot firmly, turn around to face down fall on the beginner's slopes but you hill, dig in the other heel, then bring the should get into the habit of digging in your other heel around too. By tipping forward shoes. You can edge to a stop with the you will be on your way. As you start to sides of your shoes or boots if you fall on slide, put one foot out in front of the other your side. On steeper slopes where you with most of the weight on the rear foot. may continue to slide when you fall down Hands should go out to the sides almost you want to get onto your stomach so you shoulder high for balance. Just try a few can dig in toes and hands. After you stop. straight slides at first. Turn your feet perpendicular to the slope and stand up, brush off the snow, and try again. After a few tries you should feel pretty confident about going straight down this shallow slope.

Turning You can turn like a parallel skier or like a telemark skier. Usually the telemark skier approach is better, but it depends on your shoes/boots, the snow conditions and the slope.

Telemark position Slalom practice

[18] Parallel turns: smooth snow, firm them back to level then tilt them to the You are now ready to learn how to turn. right and turn right, then left, then right. Move a little further up the slope and start You are on your way. off straight again. As you get started this After your first day you will have time tilt both of your ankles to one side managed some reasonably good turns in just as if you were on downhill skis, weight each direction, some nice straight runs, shifts to the inside, and you've made a and perhaps a few linked turns. Keep turn! If you make it sharp enough you'll practicing these simple maneuvers on come to a stop. Well done! Start again and simple hills with smooth firm snow and try tilting your shoes the other way. Voila, good runouts if you fall you want to stop another turn! without sliding off the snow into the rocks). As your skills increase you will find yourself trying steeper slopes until you are ready for intermediate glissading.

Parallel skiing form Try increasing the tilt and bite of your A safe place to learn ankle/shoe as you start to turn until you turn almost perpendicular to the slope and try linking turns. First turn to the left by tilting your shoes down on the left, bring

[19] Telemark turns: variable snow and slope A Snapshot: Blue Lakes A foot forward and back makes for a It's a beautiful July day as we hike up much more stable position for glissading. the ridgeline. Mosquitoes were fierce down To turn the foot on the off side (away from by the lake but up here there aren't any of the turn) is advanced and the rear foot the pernicious devils. We stroll along, follows in the track of the front foot. This breathing a little heavy at 9,000 feet, until front foot helps lead the turn as weight we find a good slope for our two transfers to the inside and back foot. In a beginners. slalom the foot positions slide back and forth. If you have a foot preference from surfing you may find it harder to turn the other direction, but it will quickly become second nature.

Beginners lessons can be hyyge

We help them on their first few runs by shouting encouragement from behind our beer cans. After a couple of shaky runs they rest while we carve some turns down the higher slopes. Back to the slope, this time with us guiding them from behind for a run (this Sharp turns are possible also works well for children). This seems to

[20] help and it's fun for all - plus good for Finally exhausted, and sunburned, we sweeties. Then we retire for lunch and pack up and the beginners work down a another beer. A nap for me, while the moderate slope under good control, even others climb the peak. Then on to another with packs. We traverse across up high to virgin slope. untracked steep snow and almost side by Rested and recovered our beginners are side carve our way down the afternoon doing well, even on the steeper slope. slope. Perfection. Straight runs are confident, turns are occasionally good, and enjoyment has Intermediate Glissading replaced trepidation. We run the steeper After a few sessions of practice on the slope over and over as the beginners work beginners' slope you should be ready for on the shallower side slope and finally intermediate glissading. This includes start tackling the steeper runs. moving up to steeper slopes (still with good runouts) and/or moderate slopes with some obstacles, trees, rocks or whatever. The essential step at this level is building up your control, confidence, and rhythm. Begin by working on better linked turns by setting up a pine cone (or if you have several conspirators) a beer can or Red Bull slalom. Start with the markers fairly far apart, 20' or so, over a gentle slope, and run them until you rarely miss. Then tighten it up. After you can do them at 10' move to a steeper slope and start over again. This will also help increase the smoothness and rhythm of your turns. After confidence is increased enough try a few gentle runs through open forest. Pick out your turn spots in advance and keep your speed down. Walk up your track first to make sure no ice sheets or hard snow occurs in the

Good form after a morning of lessons shadows.

[21] Intermediate glissading demands better or elbows to dig into the slope. These traversing skills. This is closely related to should be increasingly automatic and turning ability but it requires stronger effective with practice because the next ankles and better edge control. Practice stage, advanced glissading, will often take increasingly sharp traverses on steeper place where there is no runout and where runs until you feel reasonably confident on rapid recovery is essential. even a fairly steep slope. A Snapshot: Desolation Valley We'd been on the trail for a day and a half. The snow had been good in the midday but only limited time has been devoted to glissading because we've been headed in. Now, high on the ridge we drop our packs, exchange boots for glissading shoes and set off for some fun. The slopes are open, moderate, and the snow is good. Carving turns in unison we descend toward the valley below. But, alas, about halfway down the snow is too soft so we brake to a halt and trudge up again. Back down again further to the right we draw our signatures with our feet. Then again and again. Finally cold feet and lack of oxygen drag us to a halt and we have lunch, bare feet toasting in the sun. After a brief rest we return for a few more runs through the forest and then, reluctantly exchange the freedom of glissading for the Steeper and faster weight of boots and a pack. On to the top Between slaloming and traversing you and then a slow glissade, with pack, down will also get some practice in falling, and to camp on the other side. The coyotes recovering from a fall. The two basic yipping as they cross the lake that night responses to a fall are to either roll back to strike an ancient response and we slip your feet or to self-arrest using your feet, deeper into our sleeping bags. Content. hands (this is where gloves are essential)

[22] Advanced Glissading margin of control. When you fall now your After beginning to feel comfortable with safety will depend on getting up quickly or limited turns, traverses and self arrests on stopping. Practice. simple and moderate slopes you are ready It's also a good time to begin work on to proceed to advanced glissading. Here very steep slopes with runouts. Here boots, for the first time your skill may be all that rather than shoes, may be needed. Practice saves you from the rocks below. Until now turns, traverses, and self arrests (often the slopes you've been on have had few difficult or impossible on really steep obstacles and runouts, but now you may slopes so find the limits. Linked jump have to turn sharply and stop quickly. turns may be the only way to maintain Begin to challenge yourself, carefully. Walk control. Practice. the slopes to make sure the sliding will be Begin by finding a good steep slope with good, the turns secure. Keep the speed uniform snow and a good runout. Walk up down by working only on moderate slopes it, testing edges and control. Turn around at first - plenty of time for the steepness and begin by unweighting, turning the later. boots perpendicular to the slope and digging in. Try it the other direction. Fairly exciting on this steep slope isn't it! Try to do two in a row. When you slip roll over to your stomach and self arrest with both toes dug in and hands (gloves!). Dust off the snow and try it again from the top. Link the turns this time. As the slope slacks off go to a regular turn and then cut it loose for a schuss to the bottom. Pull up your ensolite pads, catch some sun, dry out, relax and admire your foot work. After gaining confidence on good snow try it in worse conditions. Practice tracking Open and safe slopes a line through occasional suncups and Start with relatively open forests or rivulets. Work on transitions from soft to boulder fields. Check for rockholes and hard snow until you rarely fall down. Then other hazards (see chapter 5). and head for the high country. gradually try increasingly difficult slopes. Plan your runs and always try to keep a

[23] Advanced Intermediate Glissading After mastering turns, traverses and self arrests on simple and moderate slopes you are ready to proceed to advanced intermediate glissading. Here for the first time your skill may be all that saves you from injury. Until now the slope you've been on have had few obstacles and good runouts.

Try some chutes and gullies Begin to challenge yourself, carefully. Walk the slopes to make sure the snow conditions and sliding will be good, the turns secure. Practice making linked turns, sharp cuts across slopes and hard stops. Learn to read the slopes more accurately to predict snow conditions and to spot risks.

Good snow in the trees Then head for the high country. Now you're ready for steeper slopes A Snapshot: Mt. Jefferson without sufficient runout and slopes with Early June found us camped below Mt. obstacles where control is critical. Some Jefferson in Central Oregon. After a hard types of chutes may also be included if day in through windfalls and washouts in snow conditions are good. the trail we decided to take a rest day and

[24] climb up to the north glacier for a look further into expert glissading. This around. Warm sun and bright snow sapped includes a combination of steeper slopes, our vitality as we climbed up the long variable snow and ice, obstacles, and no snow slopes, crossed a treacherous ravine, runout. It may also include descent of and worked into the start of the glacier slopes with very firm snow or ice where an before deciding crampons, ice axes, and ice axe is required to self arrest (see ropes would be advisable. We thereupon Chapter 6). It may also involve slopes that retreated to the moraine, ate lunch, and have not been scouted. enjoyed a refreshing nap. The snow, which had been too hard in the morning, reached a proper softness for glissading by the time we had recrossed the moraine. After very cautiously crossing the unstable, icy, moraine it was good to tighten the laces, button up the hatches, and kick off down the snow slope. A sprinkling of boulders from the moraine, suncups, and ice patches made for interesting turns, runs and stops, as we all too quickly returned to the valley below. Several hours of climbing, and several thousand feet, used up in only a few minutes of exhilarating glissading. Feeling so good that the temptation is there to climb it again just for another run, but we know that the snow will be too soft by the time we could reclimb it - so with songs in our hearts and sunburn on our faces we return to camp. Tying a long run together

Expert It may also involve glissading with After you feel competent and crampons on. This is risky to the ankles comfortable doing the type of glissading and feet and can lead to a trip and quick described under the advanced intermediate fall if a texture change occurs. Crampons section you can extend yourself a little should usually be removed before

[25] glissading and put inside a pack; however, with a strong group in support so that a in some situations it may be possible or injured person can be attended. necessary for expert or extreme glissading. The joys of solo expert glissading, One example from the Alps involves two of however, cannot be denied and the the leading tigers of their day, roped. attendant risks will probably prove Lachenal to Terray, "Why don't we acceptable to many. Make your decision glissade with our crampons on? It works with full realization of the worst that can very well on snow like this with a slope of happen and consider letting people know about this angle. Armand Charlet told me where you'll be going if you wish to be he done it on the Whymper." Terray to rescued or recovered as the case may be. A Lachenal, "Yes, and what happens if we cell phone may provide some protection, come to a patch of ice? We'd go head over but luck being what it is, you may fall into heels. And goodbye to the pair of us. a area with no coverage. Lachenal to Terray," Sez you! I tell you I The key elements of expert glissading had a good look at it from the hut. There's are control, not only of your body but also not a patch of ice on it anywhere." And your mind. It requires the most astute without waiting for my reply, Lachenal let judgment, both of your ability and himself go like a skier. I was completely conditions. Losing control or making poor taken by surprise. It was impossible to pull judgment can be fatal to the expert him up without running the risk of being glissader, so be careful. Don't push your jerked onto my back, in which case I would level of glissading up too fast. have still gone down but not in such good Work on your turns, particularly the control. There was nothing for it but to take jump turns, traverses, stops and self-arrest off after him in his daring glissade. One from a variety of positions. until they are minute later we had made a controlled comfortable and almost always near swoop of a thousand feet. At 11:30 a.m. we perfect. Ease into the tougher spots by were back in the Baltsheider hut.... trying expert sections in otherwise Lionel Terray. 1964. The Borders of the intermediate or advanced slope where you Impossible. Doubleday and Co., NY can probably stop if you fall. You might consider trying belayed glissading for your Expert glissading is dangerous and expert glissades. should be attempted only after you feel A fall or two under these conditions very competent at turning, stopping, may bring a new understanding of the recovery from falls and self arrests. It is limits of the game-and renew your interest desirable to do this type of glissading only in improving your skills and judgment. But

[26] even a few bruises or cuts won't stop you snow. The slope slackened a little and I for long because challenge is an essential relaxed with wide open turns and a long ingredient of the human spirit. As you gain traverse to pick up another finger of snow. confidence in expert glissading you might consider pushing yourself to the outer limits of "extreme" glissading. "Rich recalled a 1980 Stevens Peak Snow Practice. 'We were looking over a huge cornice when I joked how neat it would be to snap a photo of someone jumping off...The next thing I knew, Kim was hurtling through the air, both hands on his ice ax, legs outstretched, calmly waiting for contact and a perfect, upright glissade on the steep slope some 30 feet below.” Lorna Ream © 2002 Spokane Mountaineers, Inc. www.spokanemountaineers.org/ public_html/honmem/kmomb.htm

A Snapshot: Banner Steep is good if the snow is good A delightful summer day had taken us up to the Banner-Ritter Saddle, Lake A little jump over a rock band and back Catherine, and the west slope. In mid- to work in a very narrow gully. I slip, afternoon we decided to return to our almost fall, recover with very hard edging camp by glissading the steep snow fields. into a traverse in front of a jutting rock The snow felt good, and even though we and ease onto a very narrow ribbon of hadn't walked the slope we could see most snow. of it from above. I swung around high with No turns here as the snow ridge is less a little interesting 4th class climbing until I than two feet wide and drops onto the hit an entry point for the first snow field. rocks on either side. A couple of very dicey Texture and firmness, perfect. moments as the snow pinches to an angled I kicked off with very sharp turns to ridge where I must stay right on the crest check my speed. Jets of snow flying in the then a big drop off to the side onto another turns. Very quiet except for my breathing snow field and on down the mountain. and the sound of boots edging on the

[27] Screaming with joy, survival, and living glissading skills at the highest level to I link crisp turns down the gentler slopes tame the extreme conditions. Even so he at the bottom. And finally it ends and I am fell and lost his ice axe, slightly injuring able to sit back on a rock and admire my his leg. But he cut hours out of the descent track and my skill (and luck) in making it time. down without falling. A perfect run.

Extreme Beyond the far edges of expert glissading falls the realm of extreme glissading. Extreme glissading includes extremely steep slopes, high altitude, no runout, long descents with no rests, glissades under "full" conditions with limited visibility and hard snow, and descents of unscouted slopes. Extreme glissading should be tackled by the extremely fit and confident expert glissaders, preferably in groups and may Everest North Col glissading--Experts only require belays. It is often a last choice, where failure to descend carries as much Get radical! risk as glissading in very poor and dangerous conditions. There is no room for mistakes and the consequences of any error, no matter how slight, may be fatal.

A Snapshot: Mt. Everest I haven't done any extreme glissading, being a somewhat cautious and conservative type, but Peter Habeler's account of glissading down to the North Col of Everest in 1978 in one hour is a good example. He was concerned about oxygen deprivation and made an effort to Go steep but go safe get down quickly from the top. He used

[28] Chapter 5. Toward Safer Glissading well in the heat and we all got fried, like a While generally very safe, there are a plateful of lobsters. One of the worst hazards to avoid. While most of these are sunburns of my life, and all four of us were minor, avoiding them can increase your hurting by evening. Hard to sleep and not enjoyment of the sport. Others are more much enthusiasm for glissading, climbing, critical and avoiding them may increase and still hot. We decided to retreat, finding your lifespan. They are ranked in out that the only thing worse than doing approximate order of risk occurrence. nothing was putting a heavy pack on a sunburned back. Ouch! It was a painful Sunburn descent and return to the car. The most common hazard glissaders face is overexposure to the sun with resultant damage to the skin and eyes. The air temperature is often warm enough for shorts and T shirts (or less), the skin is still pale in the spring, and the snow reflectivity increases the already intense radiation at higher altitudes. A wide brimmed hat, sunglasses (good glass ones not plastic), and liberal, repeated application of sunblock is recommended. Pay particular attention to the spots that often are missed, the ears, the underside of the nose, and the backs of knees are among the most common surprises. Watch out for your feet too if you spend much time warming them up in the sun.

Snapshot: Three Sisters It was a nice backpack into the Sisters, but the weather was too nice. Sunny and Sunscreen and sunglasses recommended hot. The snow was too soft in the Abrasion afternoon so we lay down to take a nap on The firm snow, or firm, of early spring a tarp out on the snow to cool off and get often has well developed ice crystals. away from the mosquitoes. Napped too These prove as effective as sandpaper in

[29] removing skin. The use of tough padded our glissade. My dad jumped up and looked gloves, long pants and long sleeved shirts toward Mr. Mellichamp. "That," said Rogers, and jackets can help. Elbow and knee pads "was some kind of slide. may be recommended for beginners. Large “I had to keep walking, partly to see if I raspberries or snow burns should be could, partly to ease the pain. My face felt treated with care. Wash with soap, keep as if it had been scalded with boiling water. clean, and consider using an antiseptic or I did not want to look at my elbows.” Blood antibiotic dressing. ran down his forearms. He also had raw places on his cheeks, his forehead, and on Snapshot the tip of his nose. He looked like a clown. "Glissade it," yelled Rogers. After we had "Good thing that snow is cold. Otherwise slid to a stop in the snow-filled valley, my these babies might hurt." Right below his arms and legs shook like jello. "Nice going," elbows were two bright red circles, the size Rogers said, and we had marched on across of half dollars. They were awful-raw and to where we were now. "They had better oozing. stay clear of the shade," said Rogers . "They www.rhinoclimbs.com/SteveAllaback.htm know that," I said. "Hope so." "I knew I from Steve Allaback, It's Never Bad in the would fall. I could feel it coming. About a Mountains fourth of the way down we got a yard or two into a shady section, where the snow Sprains and Strains was frozen, and when we started to turn Glissading makes use of the full range around, my right foot crossing over my left, of the body's muscles. Falls and recoveries both feet slipped, my sunglasses flew off, to avoid falls can cause pretty high stress and just like that I was sliding down the hill on muscle groups and joints. The lack of on my back. For the briefest instant, mechanical leverage from skis and poles relieved, unburdened, I decided to relax and greatly reduces the likelihood of a serious simply let the snowfield swallow me up." It injury but minor strains and sprains are was too steep, and his pack too heavy. “I not unknown. The best cure for these is could not slow myself down. I could not set preventative with careful attention to the ax. The snow was scraping me like fitness before the fact. gravel. I was helpless, foolish.” The best training for glissading is found He dropped maybe a hundred yards and in skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, came to a stop in the soft snow where the skiing, and skating. The use of calisthenics steep slope met the valley at almost the or jogging is less beneficial because less exact spot where Rogers and I had ended emphasis is placed on rhythmical strength

[30] through a wide range of flexibility in the legs and torso. Warming up before the first glissade will also help reduce the chances of injury. A stretching routine may be helpful. Also begin by trying a few warmup runs before trying anything very difficult. This will help you warm up, and also let you get a feel for the snow. Snow conditions can increase the risk of overuse injuries. Sun cups can be very tricky to walk across in slippery shoes. And very deep suncups can be a problem even with grippy boots and an ice axe. Very soft mushy snow in the afternoon can lead to postholing, where ever steps Rockholes can be dangerous sinks in a foot or perhaps up to your thigh. Two options are possible, first if you This can be exhausting and can also lead to see the sinkhole in advance, you can often strains or sprains, especially when gelendesprung (jump) over it. Practice this sometimes you break through and technique not only for clearing sinkholes, sometimes you don't. but also for rocks and logs.

Sinkholes and rockholes A special hazard to glissaders is caused by differential melting around rock outcrops. The melting may cause mini- crevasses many feet deep to form. These can be masked by thin snow bridges which can lure a glissader into trouble. The best solution to sinkhole hazards is careful scouting of the slope. A careful look at rock outcrops and irregularities in the slope will avoid 99% of the sinkholes. The other 1% can be handled by technique. Practice jumping over obstacles

[31] Second, if worst comes to worst and you Drainage channels feel the bottom drop out, tuck and roll Melting snow can lead to rivulets or forward and pull your legs up out of even small streams under the snow. These danger. This will often enable you to avoid can hollow out the snow but be invisible the plunge. from above. Always treat low spots where This still leaves the possibility of taking running water might be expected with a plunge. It is not a pleasant experience, so caution. avoid it. If you drop a leg in you can If you fall through you may catch wrench a knee. If you are going slower you yourself by the shoulders as I did once but may emerge with no harm done. If it is a it was a struggle to get out even when I was deep hole you may drop to your waist, young and strong. Worse yet, you could catching yourself by the elbows. drop right through and have to climb out. In glissading areas with real crevasses If worse comes to worst, hope that you apply normal mountaineering caution. Be didn't decide to solo glissade this day and familiar with crevasse rescue, glissade that your friends will be able to help get roped up, with ascenders, and belayed. you out. And consider using a climbing harness.

Suncups Suncups can be a hazard when they suddenly appear on a downhill run. But usually they can be seen far enough in advance to slow down and very carefully step slide through them. An ice axe for balance helps. Stream cuts can be very dangerous

Falling into a creek can be very hazardous. A couple of years ago a woman fell through a snow bridge (she was hiking not glissading) and was swept far under the snow field. She finally managed to standup and carved out a small niche and dug up to the surface, throwing her pack out but unable to climb up. After three Suncups can be wicked hours standing in ice cold water she was

[32] rescued by a second party. Hypothermic Falls (Crashing into Rocks, etc.) and incoherent she was warmed up. By the By judicious use of your skill and time rangers arrived she was feeling better reading of snow conditions you should and declined evacuation or medical never (or very rarely) lose control and treatment. Lesson--don't give up! carom off the snow into rocks below. On steeper slopes be very aware of how fast Postholing you can accelerate if you lose control. In Snow can melt quickly in the Spring and slick clothes or glissading shoes you can a pleasant walk up or in on firm snow and accelerate almost as fast as someone who a delightful morning of glissading can turn is falling. Imagine skiing or snowboarding into an afternoon nightmare when the on the fall line! You can hit 40 mph faster snow softens too quickly. than you might expect. This can lead to postholing where every The speed of a slide is slowed primarily step or once every few steps your foot by the friction of the climber's clothing goes down two or three feet. This can be and gear, which may be minimal, and self very stressful on knees and legs. It is also arrest. At high speed it can be difficult to exhausting and can leave you stranded far stop with a self-arrest, and if the ice pick from your car. suddenly catches it can be pulled from your hands. If you catch a boot or crampon on a rock or ice band you may be flipped into the air, tumbling like a Raggedy Ann doll. If it happens try to protect your head. Start by learning to glissade on shallow and safe slopes. With glissading shoes you can go pretty fast and learn control on 10-20 degree slopes, or even less in ideal conditions. Learn to work with steeper slopes as your skill builds up, working in areas with a safe run out. Better than a self arrest is an instant recovery. Practice bouncing back on your feet from a fall. Practice getting up from a fall back into glissading position on different slopes and speeds. Try it from Postholing can be miserable different positions.

[33] Snapshot: Mt. Baldy In April 2005 veteran Southern California mountaineer and author Robert Secor, lost control of a voluntary glissade and slid, hit rocks and tumbled down a steep hard snow slope about 1,200 vertical feet on Mount Baldy. Others had glissaded the slope before him. He ended his slide near the Sierra Club's Baldy Hut where ski

Practice bouncing up from a fall patrol trained volunteers stabilized him for a helicopter evacuation. After a long and If you will be playing on steeper slopes difficult recovery he headed back to the practice self-arrests from different mountains. Factors leading to the accident positions. On your back dig in your heels. include the conditions, with soft snow over On your side dig in your edges. And, best hard icy snow, and slick clothing (rain of all, roll onto your stomach so you can pants). Witnesses said the experienced dig in your toes and hands. climber lost control very quickly and failed If you are doing serious glissading to self-arrest, although he tried very hard consider wearing a helmet, knee and elbow to do so with an ice axe. He has completed pads. If worst comes to worst, make sure more than 700 mountain ascents in the you will hit feet first, not head first. Take High Sierra, often climbing as many as up the shock by bending your knees and sixty peaks in a single year. rolling to the side. Try to stop rather than continuing to slide. If you are solo Adapted from the American Alpine Club glissading and hurt you are in an Account. unenviable position. You must decide whether to wait it out, call for help, or go Misreading the slope for it. If you are glissading an unknown slope Doug Scott showed what can be done by be very cautious. A moderately steep slope crawling over 12 miles down the Ogre and may be just at the edge of glissadable, but off to base camp down a rock covered if the slope breaks and becomes steeper glacier. you may be in serious trouble. A subtle slope to the side can also lead to hazards if it would direct you into a rock band or other hazard if you fell.

[34] As Kurt Wedberg says, "While glissading At about 24,500 feet he notes, “...when I from Trail Crest (on Mt. Whitney) looks got down to the top of the snow crest on the appealing, it is not safe, because the slope is Northeast ridge I was tempted to try a subtly angled in such a way that it can pull glissade. I really felt I was too weak to try it. an unsuspecting mountaineer slowly to the On the other hand it would save a lot of left, which can make you end up slamming slow laborious descending. Finally I yielded. into the rocks at a high rate of speed. It But I would experiment a little first. I would doesn't matter if you see tracks from people try sliding down over a little patch of snow who have previously done it. There have some 20 or 30 feet wide. If I could control been many injuries and fatalities from the slide well enough, I would try the big, people glissading here." open slope. If I lost control on the little If you make a serious mistake on steep patch, I felt that I would safely stop in the and challenging slopes it can be a fatal. rocks at its lower edge. So I sat down as on Never forget that loss of control on a steep a toboggan, pressed the point of my axe slope or chute with rocks or hazards can is into the snow as a brake, and pushed off. very serious indeed. If there is any doubt, Immediately, I knew I had made a bad downclimb. mistake. I accelerated viciously. So much so that the rocks didn't stop me at all. I Misreading the snow bounced and tumbled over them and out As you get more practice you will begin onto the uninterrupted snow slope beyond. to see the often subtle snow texture and Occasional rocks cut painfully, as did also color changes before they trip you up. the rough, granular snow. I managed to roll These may include ice bands from the over on my left elbow and, using it as a edges of old sastrugi or drift lines. These kind of brake, I stopped my spin and held may appear just a shade darker than the myself in one position. I caught sight of the slope. small orange tent below me. It was coming Snow texture may also change up fast, looming larger and larger. dramatically between sun and shade. This Amazingly, it looked as if I were going to can be a challenge in glissading through pass right next to it. forests with changing sun and shade. An I yelled even harder for Norm. I thought extended fore an aft foot position provides he might be able to catch me as I went by. safety and stability in changing conditions. Then the tent was upon me. I made a Woodrow Wilson Sayre's two glissades desperate lunge and succeeded in grabbing on Mt. Everest predated Yuichiro Miura's one corner. It tore out of my hand, but it attempt at a ski descent by over 15 years. slowed me slightly. Now the snow was a

[35] little flatter, and 30 feet beyond the tent I heels. I curled myself into as much of a ball ran into the rocks. The combination as I could and clasped my hands behind my brought me to a jarring stop, but it was a neck to save my head. There was a long stop. fall, followed by a buffeting slide, followed I was bloody and bruised. My whole left by another free fall, and then a slide that arm was completely skinned in one great finally came to a stop in deep snow. friction burn, yet the down jacket was not My knee was twisted, but I could still even torn, impossible as this seems. walk on it. Other-wise, I was again Otherwise there were no broken bones or unharmed. I had descended over 1,000 sprains. I was again amazed at my luck. I vertical feet across the face of Everest, yet I had slid at least 600 feet along the surface was still able to move around under my of the snow, dropping a vertical distance of own power. This is no doubt a record of more than 300 feet. some kind, but scarcely an enviable one." The next day, "Finally, I was not more The full account of the Sayres' than twenty paces from the flatter spot we expedition can be found in his delightful were heading for. But right here was the book Four Against Everest, Prentice Hall, steepest part of all, and the ice was hard 1964. under very thin snow. I just did not have the strength to move carefully enough. I walked into a trap one day while heading up for glissading. I was wearing Suddenly, I slipped a bit. My reflexes were too slow to recover. The next instant I found my vibram soled heavy climbing boots and found it easy to kick step ups the slope. To myself sliding downwards again. It was getting monotonous. traverse around to the slope I was after I had to cross through a shaded corner. The Almost mechanically, I turned over into a sitting position and went into the routine first few steps were fine, the snow was still soft but not as soft as in the sun. As I got of trying to brake with my ice axe. I passed only a few feet from HansPeter. I can still further into the corner I was barely able to get a nick in the snow. It was too steep and remember the horrified look on his face- pinched nose, grey face, staring eyes. But precarious to turn around so I tried to make the final 10 feet. by now I was practically blasé about the whole thing and I was just too tired to care. Swip. I was flying down the slope and turned into the stomach arrest position. I nodded my head to him as I went by. "Here we go again," I said. "Be seein' you." Toes and fingers into the icy snow I tried to slow my descent to little avail. Not good. And down I went. All at once I was over the edge of a big drop tumbling head over After about 30 feet I flew through the air

[36] and crossed a rock band before bouncing change in temperature had frozen the once and piling into another rock ledge. gully, and the surface was like a tilted Fortunately feet first and with minimal skating rink. I rocketed down the slope for damage. I was lucky to have only bruises, a 300 feet; so far as it was possible I was in twisted knee and abraded fingers. Had I control of the fall because I was the right bounced over the rock ledge I would have way up, lying on my stomach with head been in deeper trouble as the slope facing up the slope. As I shot down I was steepened. trying to drive the pick of my axe into the glass-like surface of the slope to break the The risk of changing snow conditions fall. All my weight was distributed over the One of the big risks of glissading is a axe shaft and was therefore exerted judgment error about changing snow through the pick. The steel point made no conditions. The snow that was perfect on impression on the slope whatsoever. the way up may have refrozen as the shade After 300 feet I was knocking up a fair comes onto it in the afternoon. Or the rate of knots and the axe was merely slope that is soft up above in the sun, may bouncing on the surface. Then I hit a small be icy in the gully below. soft spot. In a split second the pick buried The Scotch and English climbers in and itself with a terrible jolt; I clung to it. Now around Ben Nevis have enjoyed climbing in the pick had crushed its way into the hard full conditions and a range of controlled stuff. The encounter with the soft patch had and not so controlled glissades. slowed my pace and I was sure that my arm The following description is of a fairly had been stretched six inches. There was a typical problem of this kind, in this case a final flesh-and-bone tearing wrench and I descent of Number 3 Gully by Joe Brown, stopped. I had barely caught my breath and "Impatient to get down I jumped over the was thinking of trying to raise myself to my snow lip at the top edge of the gully. Having feet when I was off again. The change in gone down it earlier in the day I expected pressure from a condition of motion to one the snow to be even softer. The gully was of standstill had dislodged the pick. I about 55 degrees steep at the top, running immediately applied the braking action out into a consistent slope of 40 degrees. I again and came to a halt a few yards landed on an old foothold. Instead of farther down. Altogether I had fallen 700 breaking it and sinking into the slope I feet."’ bounced straight off into the air and next time landed face down on the slope with a bone-shaking thud. In two hours the sudden

[37] Hypothermia the first signs of hypothermia, listlessness, The spring weather in most glissading shivering (or worse, lack of shivering) and areas is delightful, most of the time. The lack of coordination. Trade clothes around, exceptions, however, can be impressive. A eat some food, or brew up and drink some 50°F day, which feels like 85°F in the sun, hot fluids. can quickly plummet to 30°F with high If conditions are very dicey consider winds and snow, sleet or rain. Having been holing up in a snow trench, tree snow hole on Cathedral Peak when a deadly spring or out of the wind in a group of trees or storm hit the Sierras I am more cautious under brush. Huddle closely together, tell than I once was. From sunny blue sky to tall tales of glissading glory, and endure. driving snow in only a few minutes. A The will to survive can conquer almost any number of people died in this storm and adversity. we were forced to retreat after very high winds made our improvised shelter Avalanche untenable. The ideal glissading snow is a dense well compacted snow which usually poses no avalanche hazard. However, there are some conditions where glissading quality snow will develop over a deep weakness in the snow that can result in a wet slab avalanche, probably the most hazardous of all avalanches. This is most likely to occur in the early spring before the snow pack is fully consolidated and ready for glissading.

A strong Spring storm can be deadly

A day sack with parka, sweater, mittens, hat, and wind pants not only makes a better pillow than an empty pack but it may also save you from a very miserable hike out. Be solicitous of companions too! Individual tolerance of cold varies greatly depending on health, conditioning, and body type. Keep a collective eye peeled for Study to avoid avalanches

[38] A layer of hoarfrost deep in the pack pretty shook up. All of us using this run may provide a sliding surface for a were also a bit freaked out because we breakaway. You can minimize the chances would have never expected this particular of being in an avalanche by glissading on slope would pose any risk. shallower slopes earlier in the season, Cornices can also pose a risk in spring. staying in the trees or on obviously If a substantial overhang is still visible, it shallow snow or fully compacted late is still possible to get a collapse onto the season snow. A collapsing cornice may also slope below. Look for signs of recent trigger a slide. collapse elsewhere on the ridgeline. Pay Spring avalanches may also occur as attention. Don't try walking out to the edge layers from late season snow storms soften of the cornice from above. rapidly in the heat and slough off the hill. Mountaineers are more likely to The are often smaller events but can be encounter glissading related avalanche dangerous. danger, since they are out in much more The risk may be lower than for skiers variable snow conditions and may be because a glissader can't traverse as glissading to get down through difficult sharply or cut as deeply. On questionable conditions not to have fun. slopes walk straight up rather than traversing on the way up. Make your Snapshot: Glissading into an Avalanche descent more vertical as well. "The five of us walked about 50 feet Thumps, whumps, or settling in the down the southeast face from the summit snow pack are indications you should and started our first glissade. We went consider another slope or wait until later in about a 100 feet and then stopped to move the year. over a bit for the second run. The snow was Avalanche behavior is predictable, but really wet and soft so it was a bit hard to surprises do occur. The only brush I have get started at the top but the slope got a had with an avalanche was skiing in the little steeper as we descended. Nelson Sierra. A small low angle slope at a ski area elected to go first and shot down the slope. broke loose shortly after I had skied it, as There was a change in slope a hundred feet had hundreds of others that day. Two farther down the face and when he passed people were trapped by the slide, but to this point he went out of my sight. With their good fortune an avalanche rescue Nelson out of sight it was Jeff's turn and team with dogs, was holding a training with a hearty "Yee-haw!" he set off in exercise one slope over. The victims were Nelson's glissade track. When he reached quickly found and fortunately ok, just the point were the slope of the face changed

[39] he braked and shouted, "Nelson's in a slide." "ARE YOU OK??!!" Female voice, skier Jeff and Peter were farther down the face heading to the saddle. Arm up, I wave and and watched in horror as Nelson tumbled in yell, "I'm OK!". the snow - getting buried - struggling to the It's bright, sunglasses are gone. Ice axe is surface - tumbling head over heels. gone. Arm hurts, but I'm OK. I'm OK. Nelson's Recollection: It started out like In response to our queries, "Are you any other glissade. Ice axe into self-arrest okay?" he said he was fine for the most part grip, jump into snow, wheee! I dropped but his shoulder hurt pretty bad and his hip down over the lip. The angle increased felt a little messed up too. In the slide slightly. Soon a thin layer of wet snow was Nelson had lost his ice axe (the axe getting flowing alongside me, like dozens of other wrenched off his arm probably caused the times. Suddenly I realized there was a LOT damage to his shoulder) and his of moving snow. What to do? Stop quickly? prescription glacier glasses as well as some Ride it out? Next comes a memory blur - other odds and ends. When Nelson's shaking what did I do? - then a clear recollection of had subsided and he had warmed up we being flipped over onto my back. Mouth is prepared to depart. We all donned full of snow, can't breath, spit it out. snowshoes and Nelson used a trekking pole Whomp! I'm on my stomach. Push up to the with his good arm and kept his injured arm surface. Get out of this! Woosh. I'm on my tucked inside his jacket. The descent was back again. There's the sky. Now its slow and steady but Nelson did surprisingly disappearing, covered with snow, can't well. breath. Whomp! On my stomach, push up to the surface, spit out the snow! Woosh, on Cheating Death in the Indian Peaks, by my back again... Am I dying? No, can't die, Andy Leach www.aroundcolorado.com/ see my wife, I can get out of this. Push up, trip_reports/2005_0618_Toll/index.html spit out the snow, breath, shit, on my back again, can't breath, again, dying, can't die, Risk assessment and management again, push up, whomp, again, ... It's Risk is a part of many activities we love. slowing, hands near face, make an air Many skiers are killed each year in pocket. It's stopping, push up, push up. The accidents in groomed and carefully slide stopped. I had fallen hundreds of feet managed ski areas. Glissading is often down the mountain. I was sitting upright in done in unmonitored areas with very a perfect L-shape, legs buried, upper torso variable conditions and involves both out in the open. subjective and objective risk. Practice,

[40] master your skills, and exercise your judgment. Listen to the little voice that says "this looks too dangerous." But enjoy the freedom and flow that glissading offers to the fullest. To maintain a sober and safe attitude, try a Goggle search every year for glissading accidents. Learn from others mistakes.

Perfect conditions

[41] Chapter 6. Glissading Risk Classifications sun strikes, it softens the surface layer one A wealthy glissading fanatic could half to one inch deep then the glissader is follow the changing seasons and mountain in business. ranges of the world for perfect conditions The mountain ranges and hills with the the year around. The majority of us, best early glissading are those where wet however, must be content with a shorter snow, rather than crispy dry powder, is season in the ranges close to home. more common and where warm spring Glissading conditions may occur almost days with freezing nights occur regularly. anywhere if snow remains on the ground Areas with cold, dry snow provide for two or three months in the winter. No glissading later in the year, but often mountains are required, but five or six without the easy, beginning and months of snow will build up a firmer base intermediate runs. Late snow on top of well and be good for glissading longer. developed firm snow seems to encourage Before going further into where the formation of suncups. These make snow for glissading is it may be helpful to glissading unpleasant or impossible, understand snow better. Snow can fall in depending on their depth. North facing many forms, from crystals, the traditional slopes are more likely to be smooth. snowflake, to snow balls, sleet, graupel, or The development of a glissading index hail; snow pack can also build up with may help future glissaders find their sweet hoarfrost. The origin is not as important to spot. Here are two alternatives, an activity the glissader as the transformation of the index (rating the conditions) and then an snow under the influence of freeze/thaw area index (rating the slope) Both add and gravity. Within a day or two after a information that may prove important. We major snowfall considerable settling and can only hope that future web links will consolidation takes place. As new snow is provide snow condition reports for added on top its added weight further glissading! increases the density of the lower layers of snow. And finally as warm spring days, Glissade Skill Rating thaws and rains occur the snow density The actual rating of a slope, like that for increases still further and firm snow whitewater rapids, depends on the develops. The glissader is concerned with conditions. A relatively easy slope with catching it when it is smooth and firm. The good snow could be a very risky slope with ice crystals are fairly large, angular, and mixed hard snow and ice. An easy slope in densely packed yet still discrete. When midday could be an expert slope early in temperatures rise and radiation from the the morning or in the evening with hard

[42] snow. An intermediate slope with ice at the once. Soft soled shoes acceptable if snow bottom could cause risk of serious injury. conditions are good. Test the snow before making a commitment. It is best to walk up the slope Class IV. Advanced. Steeper, faster to look for holes, ice and texture changes. slopes with no runout at the bottom. The Descent from a climb hours later may glissader must control speed and direction discover snow conditions are radically to avoid danger. Loss of control can create changed depending on exposure, either risk of injury. Not all of the slope is visible mushy or icy. at once, decisions on route must be made All ratings are for conditions of good with care. An ice axe may be required. Hard snow, that is soft enough to track but not soled boots generally advisable. mushy, smooth (no suncups), no avalanche danger. Class V. Expert. Steeper, faster slopes and chutes with limited or no runout. Not The GS Ratings all of the slope is visible at once. Route Class I. Beginner. Enjoyable low to selection is critical. The glissader must moderate slopes with safe run out at the control direction and speed to avoid bottom. The entire slope visible at once. If danger. Loss of control may cause injury or the glissader falls and loses control there death. An ice axe may be required. is no risk. Soft soled shoes acceptable. Class VI. Extreme. Only for the best, Class II. Intermediate. Steeper, faster with a party for support. Steep, fast slopes slopes with safe runout at the bottom for and chutes, with limited or no runout. at least part of the slope. Entire slope Boulders, drops and possible breaks in visible at once. Careful choice of route can glissading required. Perhaps a bergshrund, provide safety even with loss of control. crevasses, drainage features, or other risks Soft soled shoes acceptable if snow to avoid. Loss of control is likely to result conditions are good. in serious injury or death. An ice axe may be required. Climbing, rope handling and Class III. Advanced Intermediate. rappelling skills advisable. Steeper, faster slopes with no runout at the bottom. The glissader must control speed to avoid danger. Loss of control can create risk of injury. All the slope is visible at

[43] Proposed Glissade Area Index by elevation drops of up to a few hundred Courtenay Schurman, MS, CSCS (with feet, with some sideways scrambling suggested type locations for clarification) required to connect different glissades together. The best glissading locations obviously have to 1) have plenty of snow, preferably Basic Rock climbs in mid-season such as year round; 2) be continuous, not too steep S. Early Winter Spire and early spring (i.e. 20-30 degrees) gradient with lots of glissading at Alpental or Cowboy Mountain easily linked glissades, and 3) with a (Stevens Pass) would fit in this category, as considerable elevation drop. would the single drop around Panorama Point on Mt. Rainier. Mt. Shuksan and CGI 1 - Very minimal butt glissading Eldorado also have slopes that fit CGI3. that is heavily seasonal-dependent; usually includes most low-elevation Washington CGI 4 - Sustained stretches of glissading scrambles without much gain that turn into that allow significant elevation drops and dry, dusty hikes as early as mid-May and regular use of the ice axe to provide do not have much in the way of significant braking action. snow pack again until October. The scramble route on Mt. Daniel would CGI 2 - Short stretches of glissading that qualify, as would the Inner Glacier on Mt. sometimes involve pushing with the hands Rainier AS LONG AS THE CREVASSES ARE in order to sustain runs; usually easier NOT OPEN!) Dragontail and Colchuck) are grades (15-20 degree slopes) that require also good candidates as long as you avoid just the right snow conditions to allow the sloughing gullies on the sides of the good forward movement. approach routes that are prone to Shallow grade portions of the Muir avalanches. Mt. Goode before mid-summer Snowfield (not including Panorama Point would also be fantastic coming down the up from Paradise, or some of the upper scramble route known as the Cascadian reaches of the mountain which get Couloir. As long as you are cautious considerably steeper; see and stretches on glissading on glacier fields, Olympus and Mt. Pilchuck and Silverstar would fall into Glacier Peak would also fit this category. this category. CGI 5 - Up to thousands of feet of CGI 3 - Moderate stretches of glissading elevation lost quickly through sustained with occasional "swoops" that allow 25-40 degree slopes, and available most of

[44] the year. Mt. Adams - South Side (snow field, no crevasse risk, the west side on Adams Glacier, certainly qualifies, as does Mt. St. Helens up until about June 15. We try to climb St. Helens annually prior to limited permit season that opens May 15.

Slaloming a hill on a perfect day

[45] 7. Go Glissading or weeks. As a result, the following areas The following introduction to the are given special mention only because I glissading areas of the world is based on have enjoyed them so much. my own experience in the Western U.S. and Canada, web reports from glissading Carson Pass devotees and books. Undoubtedly as The slopes around Carson Pass offer glissading develops more detailed guides some of the best glissading in California and forecasting services will develop. and are my favorites. Access is easy and Wherever there is snow on the ground long parking is available (but costs). The season enough to consolidate it is possible to begins on the south facing slope on the glissade--but some places are more reliable east side of the pass. It then moves to the and predictable than others. south facing slopes on the north of the Some of the best glissading in the world pass. As they become depleted and soft the can be found in the Sierra Nevada east facing slope south of the pass come Mountains in California. The "relatively" into condition. As they begin to fade, the mild winters and moist snow which are north facing slopes usually mature. And cursed so strongly as "California concrete" finally the only remaining snow in cornices by the deep powder aficionados in winter and sheltered canyons comes into form. (myself included) provide the base for a long and excellent glissading season. Beginning in April at the lower elevations glissading conditions can be found higher and higher up as the season progresses until the low temperatures and new snows in Fall bring the season to a close. In this six month season the glissader can cover many thousands of feet of descent, watch the unfolding seasons, and enjoy the beauty of one of the most beautiful areas in the world " truly the "Range of Light" as John Muir called it. Within this vast range there are Elephant’s Back - Carson Pass thousands of slopes which may prove ideal for glissading for a matter of hours, days

[46] Ebbetts Pass Good glissading can almost always be Excellent glissading in late spring to found around the Cathedral Peak Saddle. early summer but it is often hard to find a And later, as the ephemeral snows fade place to park. Usually a couple of places on away some very challenging glissading can the east side. Long smooth glissades be found on the permanent snow fields on possible on south slopes early or on north Conness, Dana, and Lyell. facing slopes later in the day.

The Minarets-Ritter-Banner-Mammoth The Minarets area played a main role in my development as a glissader. As a result I have a special affection for it. Even in late summer good glissading can often be found in the ice field between Ritter and Banner. In midsummer the north facing ridges are usually in form, and earlier in the year almost the whole area will be covered with glissadable snow.

Mt. Lyell

Banner and Ritter The Cascades Tuolumne Meadows The Cascades, ranging from Lassen on And finally, as the last in this brief into British Columbia also offer excellent description of the Sierra, we come to glissading. Heavy wet snow and mild Tuolumne Meadows and Tioga Pass. Here winters throughout most of the range make early June may find us playing on the small for an early opening season with slopes right near the meadows after ski consistent good glissading for most of the touring above. As July arrives we'll be up spring and summer. Among the virtually higher looking for the East slopes in the limitless glissading offered by the Cascade morning and west slopes in the afternoon. I will mention four of my favorites.

[47] Mt. Gardner Mt. St. Helens Almost at the Canadian border Mt. The author of the first glissading index Gardner overlooks the beautiful Methow recommends Mt. St. Helen's as the "Best Valley in northern Washington. A good Glissade in Western Washington." Nowhere backpack trip in puts you in striking else in the state that I have found (except distance of the glissading slopes of Mt. perhaps Mt. Adams, which can actually get Gardner. A large bowl to the southwest of quite icy on the upper reaches of the the peak makes and excellent reflector mountain - and can be a cause of injury to oven and glissading site. the novice climber) can you be on slopes with little to no avalanche risk, minimal Mt. Jefferson risk of getting too far out of control with A tough backpack in early spring, before your ice axe, and no crevasses to worry the trails are cleared, will take you in to about. Enjoy losing 3000 feet of elevation Jefferson Park. From there a wide variety of in one single slide. www.bodyresults.com/ glissading is available. With luck the gentle E2glissade.asp south slope to the north of the north face of Jefferson will all be in condition. A fine Mt. Adams glissade can be made from the glacier on Mt. Adams offers some excellent the north face of Jefferson all the way back glissading possibilities, ranked number to Jefferson park. Mosquitoes can be fierce two by glissade index author ____. The if the snow is gone down low. south side snow field, has the advantage of no crevasse risk. www.bodyresults.com/ E2glissade.asp

The Sisters The Sisters offer fine glissading in the early summer. The long hike in through the lava beds is rewarded with firm and eminently glissadable slopes. Often a glissade into a tarn or puddle/can be found west of the middle Sister. The 32°F water can be refreshing after a hot glissade. Mosquitoes can also be fairly fierce here. Isolated peaks such as the Oregon Mt. Jefferson Cascades often have very impressive

[48] localized storms in he summer. Be up and winter snow begins to fall. The fairly active down early if you want to climb high as the glaciers and crevasses make roped travel lightning and hail storms usually break in and crevasse rescue practice desirable. early afternoon. Alaska Mt. Shasta In the ranges of Alaska much The slopes of Mt. Shasta can offer good outstanding glissading can be found in glissading even in the late fall. In spring season, though deeper softer snow can be and early summer an ascent of Shasta can a problem. I found some good glissading provide almost 10,000 vertical feet of very low in late spring near Mt. McKinley, glissading if conditions are just right. Ice although sliding around a mother grizzly axe and crampons are may be needed and with two cubs was a bit unnerving. The snow conditions may vary widely. good news, before the brush leafs out you The ascent up the Heart route in can see much more clearly who is out and midsummer can be softened by climbing to about. The bears often glissade as well and Elisabeth Lake the first night (by full moon I once watched some marmots having a if possible). This will allow you to reach great time as well. the top early the second day and enjoy a Towards the Coast the wet snow should leisurely lunch and glissade down before makes a better pack for even earlier the snow gets too soft. Be forewarned that glissading. I saw some good glissading although the weather on Mt. Shasta is often snow up in the foothills south of gentle and warm it can change dramatically Anchorage as well. with fierce winds and very abrupt temperature changes and precipitation.

The Olympics The Olympic mountains can also offer excellent glissading. The incredible snowfalls feed many glaciers even at the low altitudes on the Olympic Peninsula. I have found near perfect glissading on Hurricane Ridge twice in late June. Further back in the wilderness excellent glissading has been reported much later in the season and probably could be found until fresh A good ridge for glissading near Denali

[49] The Rockies The Alps The spine of North America can provide The Alps include many fine glissading good glissading in a seasonal progression slopes where glissading was born. The wet from south to north. Early childhood snows and warm spring temperatures bring glissades in the Rockies got me started. snow into glissading from relatively early Although the cold, light powder snow in the year at lower elevations and by common in the Rockies is not an early following the snow line up to the ripening glissade base it often reaches a permanent firn fields and glaciers good good consistency by late spring to glissading may be found all season. The summer. The season begins first down in mountain huts can add some extra luxury New Mexico, sidles up to Colorado, to the concept of alpine backpacking and Wyoming, Idaho, and finally on into British glissading. Columbia and Alberta. In a given area the season may extend from April to October Snapshot: The Alps, col de Cheilon by moving up with the receding snow line. "We hang a right at the Col de la The weather of the Rockies is more Serpentine and flog up some dodgy snow changeable and severe than the lower slopes on the Cheilon. The exposure was coastward ranges. Typical afternoon hail awesome, look right and there's a 3000' and thunder- storms may often inhibit drop straight down the north face, look left peak bagging yet provide additional zest and its only a mere 1500' drop onto the for glissaders on the lower slopes. When Serpentine glacier. I was expecting a your hair is standing on end and the air is beautiful alpine snow summit with a cross. crackling a fast glissade can offer a The reality was a narrow rock ridge with a comforting escape. faded 4" red cross painted on a bit of rock. The descent was easier at PD but again it was a narrow ridge consisting of rock, ice and cornices with very little in the way of protection. The best method of staying alive was not to slip off. Once that was over it was down a vague ridge, although on one section we had to face in and front point downwards for a while, then a superb standing glissade down from the col de Cheilon. We managed to glissade down the Mt. Andromeda--the Skyladder entire glacier, about 1 km."

[50] Simon Chetwynd www.chetwynd.info/ stories/stories_alps_2002.htm

Mountain ranges from the Pamirs to the Andes and Australia to Antarctica can offer good glissading in very impressive settings when conditions are right. Be prepared, keep looking and good glissading!

Eastern Sierra Glissading Paradise

[51] Chapter 8. Getting there pollution. Just warm sun on a sweat soaked back, the sound of deep breathing on a Most sport books begin and end with steep grade, and whistling wind on an the assumption that you are always where exhilarating descent! the sport can be conducted, neglecting the fact that more time, energy and money is usually spent getting to the site than in engaging in the sport activity. We need to rethink this isolation of activity from travel as energy and global warming issues become clearer. Ideally, we would work and live where the glissading is good all year. However, few of us are fortunate enough to achieve this state of grace and must expend considerable energy, time, and money in traveling to where the glissading slopes are. There are two solutions to this problem. First, and perhaps most sensibly we can arrange to include glissading in our vacation plans. This might tip the balance in favor of even a relatively long trip to the best glissading areas. The second alternative is to travel responsibly using a form of transportation that is ecologically responsible, healthful, and fun. The only transit mode that fits this bill is bicycling and bicycle touring fits extremely well with glissading. The minimal equipment required for glissading can easily be fit into the always crowded panniers of the touring cyclist and the daily pattern of glissading allows some bicycling to be done even with a full day of glissading. Early in the morning, while the The elegant way to go glissading snow is too icy, camp can be struck and a few miles covered. Then after the Goran Kropp set a good example by glissading, for the day ends with mushy riding his bike to Everest (nearly 7,000 snow, another few miles, preferably miles from Sweden), lugging his own gear downhill, can be covered before camp is to base camp, climbing the mountain solo made. and biking home. This combination of bicycling and Ultimate High: My Everest Odyssey. by glissading is extremely satisfying and Goran Kropp with David Lagercrantz. 1999. highly recommended. No car, no noise, no Discovery Books, New York:

[52] Chapter 9. The Future of Glissading The main goal is to be out in the What has been domain of the mountains, flying free across the snow, mountaineer, as a way down, will, I hope focused and joyful play. become a way for the multitudes to "find new joy in the mountains." The sport has "H.W. Tilman had his memorable bathes, many advantages for a very rapid spread. I have my memorable glissades. One I have First, no fancy equipment is required. And already mentioned. Another took place one second, no expensive support facilities are summer evening in the gully below the required, hence, no 'ski area' development north snow-field on King's Peak, Vancouver and promotion; although late spring skiing Island. The snow was perfect and there was might be opened to glissaders at some ski even a small crevasse to jump over. areas. I remember one day sun-bathing for over an hour on top of Mt. Slesse and later, after a rappel, boot-skiing (glissading) rapidly down its upper slopes on a serious of six-foot steps. Then there was the long natural luge-run leading to Shovelnose Creek from the ridge north of Mt. Fee. In many places spring snow lasts well into summer, and no patch is so small as to be overlooked by a true enthusiast. Glissading the walls of sun-cups can help break the tedium of a long march. I have read that even the mighty polar bear has been known to slide repeatedly down a hill for no other discernible purpose than to have fun. Let us guard against taking ourselves too seriously, that we too may follow this instinct - to go out in the snow and play."

Sandy Briggs. 1988. DOWN TIME GOOD TIME (In praise of Glissssssssssading). Island Bushwhacker 16:2 May www.tinoxygentungsten.com/Philosophy/ Glissading.htm

The development of specialized glissading equipment will help spread the sport and introduce it to new people.

[53] Further reading: currently working on books on irrigation, MOUNTAINEERING: THE FREEDOM OF THE HILLS. environmental history and a biography of one of my mentors, solar pioneer Loren W. STAYING ALIVE IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN. Neubauer. THE AVALANCHE HANDBOOK. ALLEN & MIKE'S REALLY COOL BACKCOUNTRY Further information and almost complete set of my papers can be found at: SKI BOOK. BACKCOUNTRY SKIING: SKILLS FOR SKI TOURING www.sustainabilityleader.org AND SKI MOUNTAINEERING http://works.bepress.com/ david_a_bainbridge/ MEDICINE FOR MOUNTAINEERING. http://alliant.academia.edu/ DavidBainbridge Acknowledgements: With thanks to those who helped with My papers, books and straw bale building image collection are in Special Collections photos and support. Special thanks to Bob at the library at UC Davis. and Chris, Betsy, Sue, CraigorBob, Denny and Roy. And to all those who have written about their glissading experiences, both good and bad, and shared them in books and on the www. Apologies for any uncredited photos or quotes -- my files extend back 30 years and over many moves some information has been lost. Let me know and I will update the next edition.

About the author I grew up in the West, spending my formative years in northern Washington east of the Cascades in a small town working in the family toy factory and enjoying the rivers, mountains and sage covered hills. My best times have always come in the mountains. Recent books include, Passive Solar Architecture. Chelsea Green. White River Junction, VT. (Boston Bookbuilders Award, 2012 best professional reference) and the Passive Solar Lab Manual. www.sustainabilityleader.org. (a teacher’s guide for Passive Solar Architecture). I am

[54]