Early
winter marks the beginning of boot-packing season
at Silverton
Mountain. Last weekend, more than 200 hardy souls
braved the cold and deep
snow to help prepare Silverton Mountain's steeps
for the upcoming ski season.
Boot-packing consists of walking, stomping and trudging
through the early
snowpack in order to break apart any layers, release
air pockets and compress
the snow. The snow compaction helps to develop snow
stability. Bootpacking
is not an easy chore, but well worth the effort once
one reaps the rewards:
deep powder turns. Bootpacking days continue at Silverton
Mountain on Dec.
9-12, offering hardy skiers and snowboarders the
opportunity to get out in the
mountains, get in shape, make a few turns, and earn
a ticket to ski Silverton
Mountain. Packers should show up at Silverton Mountain
at 8:30 a.m., with
beacons, shovels and probes, and ready to get stomping.
Doug Evans powers through the waist-deep powder as
he trails a group of fellow boot
packers.
Patroller
Chris Engelhardt reaps the rewards of his efforts
as he glides effortlessly through the snow.
The more
people the better when it
comes to snow compaction.
The well-equipped
boot packer:
sunscreen, duct-taped pant legs,
and an avalanche beacon.
Jessica Higgens
feels the burn as she
pumps her legs through the deep snow.
A lot of bodies compacting snow is crucial to skiing
this natural avalanche
terrain.
Near the summit, an early morning
hike with breath-taking views begins the
day to start control work.
The bull wheel begins the process,
lifting eager boot packers to the top
of the ridge.
