Them there skis on his back!This time of year, with the increased tourist traffic on the dry park trails, skiers are subjected to a barrage of comments as we hike back to our cars with skis on our backs. Many of the comments are classic and predictable, but occasionally you get a doozie and you just can’t help laugh at.
I do my best to be friendly and explain where I’ve been (sometimes more than others), but most of the time they just don’t ‘get it’, so I end up moseying on my merry way. Here are some of my favorite comments from the tourists. If you have some of your own to add, please leave them in the comments section.
- -Where did you guys go?
- -Ooooo….I thought you were a bear!
- -Hey, can you carry my pack…he he he?
- -Way to get after it!
- -How do you get up there?
- -Are there ski trails up there?
- -Is there snow up there?
- -Do you groom your own trails?
- -How do you get your skis up there?
- -Look…that guy’s been cross-country skiing.
Truly my favorite is when they don’t say anything at all…and look at you like you’re wildlife…crazy wildlife that is!
Last weekend in Rocky Mountain National Park we got asked “Are you sking or just training for something?” nothing like a tourist for an ego boast.
He he he…I think I’ve heard that one too!
A memorable conversation:
“Hey look at you! Did you find any snow up there?”
“No, we thought we saw some, but then we got up there and it was just sand.”
“Ah, that’s too bad!”
I usually pretend I dont speak english. “How far did you go up”? Is not bad. I really enjoy the gear of some, L.L Bean school bag with patches of the lame places they have been, with a liter of Mountain Dew and a bag of Cool Ranch sticking out. God bless them!
Coming down towards Jenny Lake after a long day in the mountains, I was asked, “Did you make it to the top?” I responded with a blank stare not knowing how to answer. My climbing partner respondedd, “Which top?” and the tourist ladies said, “you know, Inspiration Point.” Hmmmm.
Don’t you mean Inspiration…PEAK!! 😉
We got that in the shop once.
Are you supposed to be here?
Are you lost?
From a classic group…I think she had black socks and sandals on.
We usually leave the snowy gullies and end up in meadows full with flowers…..and we are wearing shorts and sometimes sandals…skis/board on the pack.
Sometimes they laugh and think we are crazy or stupid.
Some would ask if I skied the only famous couloir, even if I am in the totally opposite side of the mountain.
But we got used to this…funny interaction.
PS: Steve…one sticker reached Madison. Cool!
q:don’t u need snow up there to ski?
a:(yawn)bears are afraid of skis, you should try packing ’em.
Walking down Cascade Canyon, coming off Mt Owen… “Where did you go skiing?”, easily answered by pointing over my shoulder at the highly visible route… Naturally prompting the next question:
“How did you stop when you got to the bottom?”
And another classic, heard this one two or three times over the years: “Did a helicopter drop you off up there?” (No, but I sure wouldn’t mind a heli ride back to the car…)
Once when I was overtaking some hikers as we were all hiking down from Tuckerman Ravine in late May or early June…
They: “That looks like a whole lot of work for very little skiing.”
Me: “Yes, but you did all the same work yet got in no skiing.
They: “Hmm, good point.”
He he he…
These are great…please…keep them coming!! 😆