What do I do now?

[NHpowderhound]

I have a problem.I am in the early stages of planning a possible Utah trip this season.The general paln is a mid-week trip most likely sunday or monday tru friday.Alta is tops on my list with at LEAST two days planned.Snowbird and Snowbasin are next.I was planning to go alone but today I mentioned my plans to a co-worker who does some backcountry himself and he sounded interested in going.
Here is the problem.He snowboards.Nothing against knuckle draggers but as we all know Alta is skiers only.
What should I do?Perhaps I should consider two days of the Interconnect.
((*
*))NHPH

 

[woodi7259]

How good of a friend is your coworker? That would kinda make the decision for me, if it's someone you've skiied and done stuff with before, more of a friend then a coworker, I'd probably give him the option of coming but if it's just someone you wouldn't normally due stuff with I wouldn't worry about it too much. I would say it depends.s

 

[JimG.]

Find out if he owns a splitboard...if he does, then say yes 8) . If not, no because you will wind up skinning and waiting, skinning and waiting, skinning and waiting and in between you'll have to listen to him moan about not keeping up :x .

 

[Patrick]

I agree with woodi's advise. How well do you know him? Once I brought a co-worker down to Whiteface from Ottawa for a day trip, the guy used to be a ski patrol at Ste.Anne.

I got along with him fine at work, by no means what I would call a friend. Boy, he was a drag to ski with, I was expecting him to be able to keep up with me.

It's okay when it's a good friend, wife or kids, but not when it's simply someone you know.

The trip wasn't that bad, it's was just for a day and it was at a place I go now and then. HOWEVER, I WOULDN'T HAVE NEVER supported this for a trip or a day trip at somewhere you never ski at and want to go all out.

LIFE'S IS SHORT MAN, WINTER ARE EVEN SHORTER, AND TRIPS WEST EVEN MORE. If you aren't sure of any of these:

a) abilities lesser than yours
b) not sure if you can get along
c) or any other reasons.

Go alone, or go with him (to share expenses - if you can stand him), but make it clear from the start. "You ski where you want, if you can keep you fine, if not fine also, but expect me to wait for you".

This is my Dear Abby advise for this week.

 

[hamdog]

i'm on your co-workers side of this, so of course i'm gonna say to bring him along, as long as he understands:

you rip shit up and don't like to wait for people. if you plan on doing any bc or ob at any of these resorts, i think it's all bootpacked, so you'll be hiking under the same conditions. and your days at Alta he will be riding alone at snowbird when you drop him off on the way by. make sure he's ready, tell him that you'll slow down a bit, but he's gotta open the door and jump on the drive by snowbird on your way to Alta. time's a wasting!

ask him what he likes to ride, and how he likes to ride it. fast? hard? bumps? cliffs? chutes? groomers? just enjoy the views? etc. can he tear the bumps up? and ride with him for a day before you go to see what his ability is. race him if you like to ski fast. see how he compares. it's all in good fun, but you can also see how much his actions par up with his talk. where does he ride regularly? Nashoba Valley? then your answer is obvious. NO! sorry dude.

if your riding ability and preferences match......go with him......if they don't........solo mission.

and can you hang out with this guy for a few drinks without being anoyed?

would he sleep in if 6"+ of fresh await, or would he put skins on a splitboard and start skinning up the canyon? haha. just kidding on this one.

do you get along, and can he keep up? that's pretty much all you need to know i would think. don't bring baggage you don't need though. good luck.

 

[NHpowderhound]

I've never skied with this guy and his backcountry experience is pretty limited I think.I'm sure he wont be able to ride down some of the goods I want to get to.

My plan now is to get some turns in with him at Jay or get him on Mt. Washington to see what he's got and how we interact.

I'd love to have some company but i've also become very comfortable skiing alone.It's nice to ski as fast or slow as you want,break for lunch when and if you want,go to the Golden Eagle wehn I want and not be held back or pressured to do something i'd rather not.

But when I ski a run that is a total mind blowing experience and there is no one to share it with,well that can be a bummer.
((*
*))NHPH

 

[hamdog]

NHPH says:

I've never skied with this guy and his backcountry experience is pretty limited I think.I'm sure he wont be able to ride down some of the goods I want to get to.

you have doubts i can see. sorry man, but you're going solo. sounds like he'd be some of that extra baggage i was talking about.

enjoy the trip! when are you planning on going?

 

[NHpowderhound]

I'm kind of open.Alta and Snowbasin are tops and i'm seriously considering a day of the Utah Interconnect tour.Dates are open too as i've signed up for airfare special alerts.
I've traded posts for several years with someone who is now living in SLC and was hoping to get some skinny on good snow months,school vacations(when not to go) and where to find a pool table and some poor bloakes ready to part with thier money.
((*
*))NHPH

 

[Patrick]

But when I ski a run that is a total mind blowing experience and there is no one to share it with,well that can be a bummer.

It can be much worse if you are blowing your mind skiing (or not) and have someone with who you ski bitches about the conditions (it's too icy, I can't ski this shit / it's snowed too much, I can't turn or the snow too wet and heavy). :-#

In case like these, I prefer being in my world than hear negative vibes. 8)

 

[Ryan]

Not to be an ass but I say leave him. There is nothing worse that getting to some placy that youhave been dreaming about for months just to not be able to attack it. It is better to ski alone that to listen to someone complain.

 

[Cannonball]

Absolutely go by yourself. Save this guy the misery of listening to you complain about "knuckledraggers". The last thing he wants to do is spend good money to go to Utah with a chance to ride the sick terrain at Snowbird, Brighton, Powder, etc. and get stuck hearing you whine about how you need to go to Alta.

I've been on many, many trips with large groups of skiers and snowboarders. 99% percent have gone flawlessly. The only time there has ever been a problem was when someone started complaining about someone else's style.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Give him a try on a local day trip. Then you'll find out if you can ski/ride independently or whether he's looking for a guide/social companion. If the former, he'll be happy to shred Snowbird while you're at Alta. If the latter, you'll know not to invite him to Utah or any other serious destination trip.

 

[Sharon]

Everyone's got their 2 cents. Here's mine:

If he's someone you wanna hang out with and share lodging and car rental, bring him along, as long as he understands that you will be skiing/riding independently. Drop him off at Snowbird and drive over to Alta. I've done this with Snowboarders and its totally cool with them. I also have dropped good friends off at ski areas and went cat skiing without them because they were not at a high enough level and would hold back the group. All was good and everyone was happy (though the decision process was a bit of a pain).

At the end of the day, have drinks and dinner together and share your experiences of the day.

This is a lot more fun than going alone.

If he's a total loser and will drive you crazy, then tell him that you'd rather travel alone. Someone like that can totally ruin a trip.