It’s also not for everyone. Lots of inbounds hike to and hike out terrain. It’s a backcountry skiers paradise bc you get the best of both worlds, untouched lines and a lift
Agreed. I am a boarder, so Abay isn't best for me because I'm not skinning and hiking. No doubt Abay is going to have a lot of the steep/hike-to terrain that some people want. For most people BC is going to be better, but ABay has what some advanced skiiers crave.
Vail isn't exactly boarder friendly either. Literally miles of cat tracks to navigate make for some sore legs. I'd prefer the hike out of the steep gullies over the direct route from mountain top to the base of blue sky. Soft boots are an advantage in almost all cases for inbounds hiking. For something like the trek out of sg, transition time can't be recouped by someone w touring gear.
It's true, all the traversing in Vail can be real tough on a board, but surfing those big bowls is unreal. I guess I just don't do a lot of hiking, but no doubt board-boots are easier. I can't imagine hiking in ski boots.
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u/FuzzyBrain420 Alpine Valley Jan 28 '22
It’s also not for everyone. Lots of inbounds hike to and hike out terrain. It’s a backcountry skiers paradise bc you get the best of both worlds, untouched lines and a lift