Desparados.....as in so little snow...

Snow is a scarce commodity here in Muskoka so far this season.. so this post is the closest thing to backcountry skiing being done.....out the back door and into the backyard of my inlaws on Christmas day!

Yeah, yeah, I know....Onterrible.  It's where we live...............
It's still skiing, and it's all good.

                                              Out through the back door...

                                                Powder up to our edges!

                                            through the field and past the ball diamonds....

                                                       hmmmm.........a skate park!

                                                           This box needs a hill.........

                                                        but not with these skis!

                                                                    Original Kronen Schliff!?

STOKE! Part 2. A blast from the past - the Mica Mine Ski Jump.

Back in the day, there was a bunch of skiers from Huntsville that formed a ski club and naturally, built a jump. A good one at that, too. Here's a look at the Mica Mine ski jump that had it's outrun onto Fairy Lake.

 From Huntsville: With Spirit and Resolve: "The Mica Mine Ski Jump, located on Mica Mine Hill beside Fairy Lake, was built by the Huntsville Ski Club and opened on January 13, 1934. At the time, Huntsville was actively encouraging winter tourism in an effort to offset the effects of the Depression. Billed as the "largest, longest, and steepest ski jump in Ontario," the Mica Mine jump had a 170-foot takeoff ramp that allowed a takeoff speed of 70 miles an hour. At the time only two other jumps in the world could beat it for thrills (one in Banff, one in Lucerne). The jump dropped off so steeply that skiers could not see the bottom of the hill from the ramp tower. The jump remained in use well into the 1940s, when it was popular with members of the Norwegian Air Force, which had a training facility in Muskoka during the Second World War. The remnants of the Mica Mine Ski Jump takeoff tower are still visible in the bush on Mica Mine Hill. "

Note, to add: the only remaining remnants as of 2011 are the old concrete piers. You can still find them on the North East side of the Mica Mine hill that can be accessed off of Forbes Hill Drive. (Note: this is currently private property.)

STOKE! Part 1. The Muskoka Backcountry Ski Quiver.

Another day waiting for the snow to fall - and a good time for a post to build the stoke. Today is the day to look at a ski quiver - one suited and used for backcountry skiing in Muskoka. The skis range in purpose from exploring non trackset trails to deep powder yo-yo session tools. They span in age from late 80's to present day.  Although this particular quiver utilizes 3-pin/cable bindings only, it doesn't rule out the use of system (re: NNN-BC/SNS-BC) bindings and boots for Muskoka backcountry skiing. Bring what you got.
The important point is to bring what will work for the task at hand.  Are you going for an exploratory trail ski on one of the hundreds of km's of unplowed roads in the area? Maybe a 'schwack through your backwoods that you've always wanted to ski.  Or best of all, a skin in to a favorite hill for some pow slayage in the trees.
Choose your weapon.

And go skiing.

The Quiver. Circa 2012.

The skis, from left to right.

Elan Boomerang (2012, 190cm, 140/120/130)

These are the ultimate powder weapons.  Tip and tail rocker, with camber under foot. Forget your presumptions about their use for skiing here in Muskoka.  They rock. Period. They are game changers for every part of the game. They tour (with skins) better because of their rockered tip. They ski lower angled hills better because of their flotation.  They make you a hero. End of rave.

Rossignol T-4 (2004, 185cm, 122/94/112)

These were the definition of a fat ski in the last millenium - before rocker changed the world. They still work great today.  They would be as happy skiing the mecca of La Grave, France, as they are the backcountry of Muskoka.  The T-4's are part of the Rossignol Bandit family of skis.  Although they are probably better off at a lift-served area, their even flex and predicatablility in all snow, from powder to spring mank make them a go-to ski when the snow conditions allow the use of skins. Or old school tip to tail grip waxing. (now that's a post all its own. )

Rossignol T-4's at Pipeline. Photo courtesy of Sick Bird Rider

Karhu Guide (2009, 175cm, 109/78/95)

These are it.  The Muskoka Backcountry Ski - defined.  A mid fat (by todays standards they are svelte) waxless ("fish scale" patterned) modern day XCD ski.  XCD meaning cross country downhill. These skis get more use here in Muskoka than any other.  The addition of some ski skins in your pack make for the ultimate quiver-of-one. Waxless patterns do well in softer wet snow or corn, and are just fine for low angle tracks, but are less effective in cold dry fresh pow on steeper angled climbs. Thus the skins. (I'll post a skin review in the future.) Although the Guide is no longer available, the Madshus Annum is. Same ski, different manufacturer. The entire XCD line that Karhu once owned has moved to Norway!
The next generation of rockered  waxless skis is now available courtesy of Voile.  They are in the mind of this Muskoka skier, the next quiver addition, and possibly, the next quiver-of-one.

Guides on the Lookout,Huntsville - Xmas day 2009. Photo by Michael Stevens

Karhu Catamount (1994, 175cm, 85/70/80)

In the beginning there was the Karhu Catamount.  It spawned a family of relatives and descendents, including the Trak Couloir/Bushwacker.  It is still the ski to use in Spring corn snow, or rain crust, or even twisty icy trails.  It has a classic ski-mountaineering sidecut that lends it superb torsional stiffness, at the expense of deep powder love. That being said, the ski shown above is the 175cm version - perfect for "thicketeering" in dense woods. It was produced in a 190cm version as well, but even that was stiff, so less than a perfect old school backcountry skiing skill set is not a match made in the backcountry. Whatever.  This ski just won't go away anytime soon.

Skilom Touring (1980's?, 195cm, 68/58/63)

This is the latest addition to my Muskoka backcountry quiver. It is intended for longer trail schwacks - exploratory skis into the hinterlands. I haven't skied it yet, but at first blush, it has a soft tip which will lend itself to ungroomed trails, combined with a mild secondary underfoot camber suitable for traditional XC grip waxing. I will report on this ski in a future "The Dirtbag's Closet" post.  I can't wait!

Thanks for visiting the Muskoka Backcountry Ski Blog.  Donations of snow are always welcome!

Gear Preview: Flylow Higgins jacket

With snow in the air and SBR doing forest management, it's time for a glimpse at the future....in this case, a brand spanking new Flylow Higgins jacket ....to replace my beloved and well used Cloudveil.
It arrived not to long ago from Backcountry.com, a great source for gear for, obviously, backcountry skiing!
Although there was the obligatory duty, GST/HST and brokerage to bend over and cough up, it was the only source for this core bro-brah brand which I had been coveting for sometime.  A careful search in the TGR forums confirmed the righteousness of my choice, as well as sizing - always a crapshoot when ordering on the interweb.
It seems to defy definition. It could be a hard softshell, or a soft hardshell. It has a soft fleecy lining, very mild stretchy properties, and all the pockets in the right places. Exactly what I was looking for.

So far, it has only been tested pre-season on in-town shopping expeditions....so far, so good.  A full review of it will happen once it's deployed in the field. Stay tuned, and pray for snow.

The New Kid in Town!

Earning turns with no snow...

The tools of the trade. The Lithium battery upgrade is awesome.

What do Muskoka backcountry skiers do when there is no snow? Forest management. Any good hill in our part of the world could use some stand improvement, and that's what happened today at one local stash. Lest you get up in arms, all of this activity took place on private property, at the invitation of the landowner. Now I've got my season's pass for one of the hottest tree skiing destinations in Muskoka.

Even the dog got into the spirit of things!

A new chute was added to the trail map.

Now all we need is some snow. Patience, Grasshopper.

Skiing the way it never was....or...the way it's always been...

This is a blog about skiing.  Skiing beyond the groomed. "The back of beyond", as the late Alan Bard said.
In weeks and months to come, it will cover the backcountry skiing experience in Muskoka, Ontario Canada...and beyond.

It's about self powered skiing. Earning your turns. Its not just alpine, or nordic, or any other narrow definition of the sport. People - those who should know better especially - ask me....where do you do it? Everywhere I respond...open your eyes...!  They can't see the snow for the trees...or the trees for the snow. Muskoka is one big ski area begging to be skied.  It involves developing a skill set that never ends....every turn, every pole plant, every climb, and every descent is new and different.

We have a whole lexicon of words to describe it. Schwacking.  Thicketeering.  Skiing.
It's all good.

Stay tuned.....

                                                       Lookout, West Ridge. Photo by Michael Stevens

Pipeline. Photo by David Stevens

                                                          Classic Woodies. Photo by S.B.R.

                                         
                                                              Pipeline.  Photo by S.B.R.