LOVELAND TELE POSSE

This photo, circa 2016, is of me with my three most beloved ski mentors, and some of my most common and frequent ski partners. Together, at the time, we were a combined age of approximately 225 years, with likely 200 ski seasons combined, it’s a real testament to friendship, partnership, respect, and learning.

There is a deeper layer of trust that partners develop doing dangerous things at high altitudes. I consider trust in terms of altitude… people I would ski with at Steamboat, or cross country skiing at 7,000’ might not make the cut when we’re exploring avvy-prone terrain out the backcountry gate on Loveland Pass above 11,000’. These gents, however, have been my partners up to the top of 14,000’ backcountry peaks.

We are, of course, pointing at nothing in particular, playing into a silly moment… a clustermark of telefuckers, as we would sometimes call it. Because for all the seriousness of high altitude backcountry skiing, it damn well better be fun, as well.

Left to Right: Charlie Ziskin, me, Kevin Bound, Larry Hall