Backcountry Skiing = Deep Powder

Jason Chamberlain, an avid back-country skier in the area, made the most of the recent blizzard-like conditions to ski some deep powder and lay down some first tracks at one of his favorite back country locations. “I don't want to mention specifics,” Chamberlain said about his favorite back country ski area. “I recommend driving around and just see what all is out there. When you see something you like, which is usually a huge pasture at high elevation, try to make friends with the farmer and, hopefully, if things go well, you can spend the afternoon tracking up his back yard.” Although Chamberlain is vague about the specifics, he does offer additional clues to those who remain uncertain on the best types of back country terrain around Boone. “I think cow farms are the best, as long as they're hormone free,” Chamberlain joked. “There are a lot of different options out there with a lot of vertical drop. For those who aren't afraid to hike, the rewards await.” The reward that came for Chamberlain and other back country skiers and boarders last week was deep powder. Some places near the western border of Watauga County held over six feet of powder, a rare treat for North Carolina.

The Obscurists

In the spring of 2009 High Country Video Productions shot and edited a short film called The Obscurists. The film shows what bouldering in the High Country is all about. It isn't about how hard you rate the problem, or how popular the problem is on rockclimbing.com, or how many ascents the problem has. Bouldering in the High Country is all about going out and finding new boulder problems that you've never climbed before. The only thing that really matters is going out and pushing yourself to climb harder on new boulders and to keep pushing yourself to get better, stronger, and more solid by pushing the limits of what you've experienced just a little further into the unknown.

Here's The Obscurists, a film about bouldering in the High Country.