Is Skiing Without Chairlifts The Future Of The Sport?
Salomon TV released a short film, Hankin Evolution, covering the story of Hankin Evelyn, the backcountry ski area located in British Columbia.
Hankin Evelyn is a "ski touring area" as opposed to a classic resort. All the runs are cut, and there is no uphill transportation.
If you want the sweet descent, you have to make the ascent... on foot.
Visitors of the resort say access to the 14 runs offered by Hankin Evelyn is well worth the extra effort.
"The feeling you have out there... It's different than sitting on a lift. You're active all the time. It's the combination of everything coming together; it's this pure experience. Ski touring is magical."
Brian Hall explained his intentions behind creating Hankin Evelyn with his daughter. "I wanted a place for people to recreate without having to get your wallet out. It was just for the community."
There are no employees at Hankin Evelyn: it's all volunteer based. There are no Ritz-Carltons or Hiltons, but there is a fire lookout people can sleep in overnight.
More and more people have been going to Hankin Evelyn each year. This could be due to skiers getting sick of long lift lines and general crowding at the resorts, where there is no bar for entry and trails clog up on weekends.
Canadian professional skier Mike Douglas said, "let's face it. Ski hills are busier than they've ever been before, and that powder is fleeting."
Related: Mike Douglas: Season in Review
Not to mention, backcountry skiing is way more sustainable than using lifts. Often, resorts are powered using fossil fuels, whereas hiking up the hill uses human power only.
Previously, ski touring was discarded as being beneath "real" skiing, but with the growing market for high performance touring gear, the backcountry is becoming popular with skiers of every style.
On a larger scale, discussions are often had surrounding climate change and skiing.
Will the sport survive the warmer temps? Now, perhaps it's time to consider the reverse: how does skiing contribute to climate change?
Mindsets like that of Brian Hall could change everything.
Related: Backcountry Gear That Makes Everything Easier
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