The High Pressure Mindset Shift

High Pressure has been the consistent weather theme out West this season. By high pressure, we mean long, sustained periods of clear skies, often with cold temperatures in the evening through early morning, and generally a lack of snowfall. Historic or near-historic lows have been cataloged throughout the region. Previously, we ran a three-part series with IFMGA guide Billy Haas, thematically organized around the mindset shift to prepare for big mountain skiing. With the dearth of snow in his home range, the Wasatch, Haas thought it appropriate to address the mindset shift for high pressure.  Many of us come to touring for the wild, untracked powder snow. If that type of snow is your carrot, you’ll likely be chasing it this season by hopping on planes. While near instant snow gratification can be fulfilling, it comes at a cost to the piggy bank and, yup, your carbon footprint. Which means many of us manage our touring habits under high pressure by staying put in our respective local ranges. Of course, you could forgo touring altogether or play pickleball. Our conversation with Haas centers on finding skiable/ridable terrain during sustained high pressure. This all equates to less poutiness and more snow seeking during this snow drought.  The upside to this may be that those who grew up snow sliding in icy and firm conditions might find what you’re experiencing with all this high pressure somewhat familiar.  ***    THR: Sure, we all miss powder skiing, but I don’t find the high-pressure-touring to be downright miserable. In fact, I’ve found the lack of crowds and conditions, sometimes, to be enjoyable. What are your thoughts, and how are you managing?   Billy Haas: I am a guide, so in winter it’s the nature of my job to go skiing five to six days a week, even through sustained high-pressure periods. I can say that there has not been a single day I’ve gone skiing when I haven’t made some good turns and had some fun.  Even this season, there really has not been a day when I’ve thought it wasn’t worth it. Sure, it’s a mixed bag; for example, I recently had a day where I skied one run that was quite bad, but I’d skied three pretty good runs earlier that day.  To provide some context, here in the Wasatch, we’ve been skiing some pretty decent recrystallized powder snow, which essentially means powder-like near-surface facets. And honestly, if the run is relatively sheltered and it’s not heavily tracked, it’s still pretty fun. And where some aspects or runs have received some wind, you can find a supportable windboard that is relatively chalky, fun, and grippy for steep skiing.  Another pattern to eye is “orange peel”; we live and die by the orange peel in these circumstances. Orange peel forms when there’s near-surface faceting, and then there’s some wind stripping. If you look at classic wind effect on snow, the wind’s going to move across the snow, and it’s going to take snow from certain […]