Backwoods Skiing and More

... tons of good 'Cross Country' and 'Backwoods' Skiing up in the 'Laurel Highlands' with miles of developed trail systems - the best being the old 'Laurel Mountain' ski area, the 'Kentuck Area' and 'Bear Run Nature Reserve' up at 'Ohiopyle State Park', the "groomed trails" at Laurel Ridge State Park, Quebec Run "ain't bad", anywhere in the 'PA State Gamelands' - anywhere there's enough snow... gotta' define the difference, however - 'Cross Country' ya' just need some 'Nordic Ski' gear and minimal skills for cruising usually easy flat to rolling terrain, while 'Backwoods' you're gettin' into more difficult terrain with the need for more technical gear and skill - sort of like the difference between going for a casual bike ride along the 'Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail' and riding some difficult MTB single track... can't even compare it to the groomed slopes at the resorts - visiting a local "resort" for the first time after several years of skiing some "pretty crappy" backwoods conditions - found it pretty easy - especially with "fat downhill skis" and "lock down" bindings - but, prefer the woods and the 'three pin equipment'...

... this guy was good...

... Rob Goodman cruising out the 'Kentuck Trail' up at 'Ohiopyle State Park'...

... the town of 'Ohiopyle' and the 'Yough River' nestled in the 'Laurel Highlands'...

... 'Hemlock Forest' up at 'Bear Run Nature Reserve'...

... 'Bear Run' - some pretty difficult trails there - also, situated at lower elevation - not always the best snow conditions - but lots of fun "when in"...

... 'Kentuck' area at 'Ohiopyle' again - this place used to be pretty popular - remember that they used to have a race there every February back in the 80's - used to get quite a few entrants - personally, used to try and do at least six miles each visit ...

... "groomed trails" up at 'Laurel Ridge State Park'...

... for years ya' only had standard 'Nordic-type' skis available - very skinny, straight "side-cut" with no edges - we were always trying to "soup 'em up" - adding these bungy cord 'Voile Plates' back in the day increased performance somewhat...

... always figured that the best functional ski (for around here) had to be a lot shorter and wider - metal edges wouldn't hurt either - someone else was thinkin' likewise - eventually started building 'em with lots to choose from - settled on these 'Karhu Velas' (1) - 190cm (as opposed to 210cm), 70/60/65 - added some three-pin cable bindings and heavy boots - big difference - unfortunately, took a tumble the second season skiing 'em and broke an ankle - planned to upgrade to the release bindings when healed... settin' around home - foot in a cast watchin' a TV program on military 'special forces/mountain warfare' - so here comes a "SpecOps" team flyin' down some mountain slope - they "hockey stop" on a dime - withdraw rifles - and assume prone firing position faster than you can read this - pretty impressive - and they're equipped with the shortest skis ever seen - searched on-line forever, found nothing - must be top secret - but found these 'Karhu Backcountry Skiboards' - purchased the 'Metas' (3) - 120cm - 135/110/120 - ratchet bindings so ya' can wear regular mountain boots - fell in love with 'em and found 'em perfect for the SWPA woods - picked up another pair and mounted three-pin cable bindings, as well as a pair of the 'Karvers' (5) - 131cm - 120/100/115 - we're mostly skiing tight, single-track trails between trees around here (or no trail between trees with these things) - usually no time for "sweeping turns" - and these things were able to do just that (with some practice) - unfortunately - Karhu (after years of performance) folded a while back - so - once they're gone, they're gone... those are 'Black Diamond' adjustable ski poles (2 & 4) - 'MSA Snow Shoes' (6) - that's another story...

... always "scoffed" when encountering 'snowshoers' over the years - just happened to always be in snow shallow enough to walk in - so a few years back we're up at the 'Secret Cliffs' (stay tuned) and "post-hole-ing" into and out of the place in waist-deep(+) snow and with heavy packs of climbing and photo gear - was murder - planned to return the following weekend, so purchased some snowshoes (the  MSA's) for the "venture" - a photo says a thousand words - that's Laura (Li'l Buddy) Hahn above from that trip - learned a lesson and will no longer scoff (and fell in love with 'em - lots of fun and a great workout ta' boot - now need more deep snow)...

one last thing... while pullin' the above 'Voile Plates' from the cobwebs, found this - the original 'Snurfer' - precursor to the modern 'Snowboard' - here's the upper deck...

... and the 'finned' bottom - looks well used - used to have a very good sledding hill near home as well as taking it to the 'Toboggan Hill' up at 'Sugarloaf Knob' a lot - had a first version 'Burton Snowboard' as well, but never got into it - they weren't allowed at the "resorts" back then and everyone (including the "media") was saying that it would never "catch on"...

... Ha! - this is good...

... (Edit 02/06/15 - for some reason this video clip disappeared - this post gets tons of views - so we fixed it - always looking out for you - "the people")...

... 'Secret Cliffs' from a few years back - that's Tim on the left - the guy on the snowboard's name I forget (Mike?) - apologize - meet too many people doin' this stuff... (Edit 12/29 - Mike Royer is the guy on the snowboard)...

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... Brilliant!!...