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 You've heard my buzz-words a thousand times --- the commercialization, privatization and motorization of recreational opportunities, the Corporate Takeover of Nature, the Disneyfication of the Wild. When's the last time you've seen as clear an example of those words in action as in the appended article about "Pure Wilderness Escape"?
In my book, this is a near perfect example of what industrial recreation is about, yet this example does not involve an ORV. Much of what threatens wildness does not involve ORVs, though motors are almost invariably involved. The transformation of the outdoor recreation now taking place involves turning countless blank spots on the map into pre-packaged opportunities for the consumption of commodified, privatized, motorized experiences. This is the future industry planned for wildlands recreation more than twenty years ago. This the the vision to which today's land managers have subscribed What is described may, in one form or another, yet become the fate of National Parks and wilderness - both big and little "w" wilderness alike.
We in the conservation community spend far too much energy criticising motorized recreation without questioning whether we ourselves have become part of the problem. We focus too narrowly, or so I suggest.
Scott
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New Backcountry Ski Lodge Offers Pure Wilderness Escape
Revelstoke (BC), Canada - Icefall Lodge, British Columbia's newest
backcountry ski lodge, will start its first full winter of operation
this month. Located on the Continental Divide and bordered by Banff
National Park, the lodge perches at treeline in the shadow of some of
the highest peaks in the Rockies. The nearest town is Golden, B.C.,
some 37 miles to the south. Winter access is by helicopter only,
leaving 12 lucky skiers with 77 square miles of skiing terrain for
their exclusive use - the largest terrain of any ski touring lodge in
Canada.
Backcountry skiing's appeal lies in its combination of a great workout,
beautiful surroundings, and the sheer bliss of an untracked powder
slope under your skis. New equipment has made it easier than ever for
resort skiers to make the transition to backcountry powder skiing.
North Americans have embraced the concept, with backcountry ski gear
sales up 75% since 2002, according to Gear Trends Magazine.
Ski touring involves skiing in gentle zigzags up the mountain slope.
Special adhesive strips, called skins, are attached to the bottom of
the skis to prevent the skier from sliding backwards. At the top the
skins are removed, bindings are secured, and skiers are treated to a
downhill powder run unlike anything experienced at a resort. A fit
skier can cover 2000m (6600 feet) of vertical in a day. While
helicopter skiers use the machine to start each run, lodge-based ski
touring uses it only to access the lodge. This means less vertical, but
a far more peaceful and less expensive wilderness escape.
Icefall Lodge's owner, Larry Dolecki, has been guiding for 15 years in
New Zealand, the Himalayas, the Alps, and at home in Canada. He calls
Icefall's terrain the best he's ever seen.
"High peaks make for big snowfall, huge glaciers, long runs and a long
season," Dolecki says. "You could ski a different glacier every day."
He has found clients of all abilities savor the feeling of escape they
get from a backcountry ski vacation. Away from cellphones, Blackberries
and the Internet, surrounded by a small group of friends, outside all
day exploring the mountains, fueled by gourmet meals, lodge visitors
emerge feeling fit and totally recharged.
Icefall Lodge is available for experienced skiers to rent as
self-guided groups, or less seasoned skiers can contract a guide to get
the most out of varied and sometimes challenging terrain. More terrain
may be found at the Lodge's website, icefall.ca.
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- Outdoor recreation 
