Rebooting for What Shall Pass

For all intents and purposes, it’s still high noon as far as summer is concerned. While the AQI here in Bend currently reads 94, let’s call that pretty solid in the “I’d go outside” part of the indices. It’s been hottish to hot, near totally dry, and, sadly, nearby we’ve spawned plumes of eastward-moving smoke. Apologies to those east of here—which is a lot of you. But at this point, calling the weather and daily atmospheric conditions the “new normal” feels dated, since it’s been the norm for more than a minute now. 

As this is a reboot piece, let’s set the ball rolling for the new touring season and reminisce a bit. As I wrote the editor’s note for Issue 4 of The High Route journal (coming end of October), I mused a bit on the West’s historic snowpack lows. While the snowpack may have been low, I’d assert, the skiing/riding was not poor. Beyond a side trip to the Tetons and Canada, I was not obsessed with chasing quality snow. I mostly, and happily, toured in the home range and found a few new ways to maintain my stoke. Which also meant that I mostly skied a 170cm length 97mm underfoot ski. I rarely needed float. Yet, a long effective edge was in high demand. Locally, there was little need for beaucoup tip or tail rocker, or a general sense of looseness that is highly desirable for those seeking more free-spirited skis or boards on deeper days. It turns out that during a year when the spigot is somewhat clenched tight, it’s remarkable what we can make do with. (A “no snow is bad snow” and a “tools not jewels” mindset helps.

For fear of sounding didactic, it takes a degree of lowering the bar to enjoy, and even embrace, a season like last year out West. There are, however, stop gaps. You could (and can) chase the never-ending and well-marketed Ja-Pow and the food at the 7-Eleven (セブンイレブン)—it’s way beyond Slurpees and roller-grill dogs, or so I’m told. You could chase a cold dump, or three, up north. But then you must study up on the rigors of parking passes/permits on Rogers Pass; there is an online tutorial. You could, too, hedge a bad season in the Northern Hemi by bolting for the Southern Hemi, and vice versa.      

So where do we go from here?

Let’s entrust ourselves to the poet laureate of verbal paradoxes: Yogi Berra. While we may not know for sure who said it first, many attribute this statement, “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future,” to baseball legend Berra. Contrary to Berra’s main thesis, outdoor media is in the business of making predictions about future snowfall that seem like sure bets. Will it snow? Will it snow enough? And if it snows, where will that snow fall? None of us really know for sure. 

Putting aside for a moment that it’s pretty much a miracle to be alive and even boilerplate, by extension, is a fine medium to slide on, the predictive markets (and science!) tell us that we’ll experience a Super El Niño in the Northern Hemisphere this winter. (Sweet!). But like anything Berra puts his mind to, like making predictions, especially about the future, is downright tough. Open Snow states this about the future: “Our winter forecast favors above-normal snowfall across the Southwest U.S., including California, Utah, and Southern & Eastern Colorado. Below-normal snowfall is favored across the northern-tier of the U.S. and much of Canada, as well as western portions of the Mid-Atlantic.

Depending on where you sit on these sorts of things, there you have it. We are optimistic here at The High Route; even if you sit in a region where your snow sliding destiny is on the “below-normal” side of the future. There is no doubt, if you made it through last season—which you did—that you’ve got this. Still, it might be wise to hedge against it by having some extra P-tex on hand.