- Below you’ll find a short interview with author and friend Rodney Ley about his new book.
- Book release event: Fort Collins, Thursday November 3, On the Edge Tuning ski shop.
- Book is now available from Beacon Guidebooks.
“This book is the culmination of 50 years of skiing on Cameron Pass, a place I am deeply passionate about.” – Rodney Ley, Author
Jim Davidson is a longtime friend of Rodney Ley and also a backcountry skier, “I’ve been fortunate to follow Rodney’s ski tracks around for a few decades, and I’ve learned so much from him about Cameron Pass. Now, lucky readers of his authoritative ski atlas can absorb and apply all this hard-won backcountry wisdom.”
A Long History
Rodney, how long have you been skiing the Cameron Pass zone?
“I’ve been skiing up there since December 1972, when I took some old borrowed wooden X-C skis up Poudre Canyon to where the road ended at the time (Big South Trail) and skied up the then-gravel road to Chambers Lake.”
What does this new book mean to you?
“Myself and others had been pondering the idea of documenting and preserving the ski runs and background history now for several years. When Beacon Guidebooks approached me about a year ago to author their Cameron Pass Atlas I was finally able to work up the courage to proceed. Beacon Guidebooks has a track record of outstanding ski atlases and maps. www.beaconguidebooks.com (they have a “press section” on their site.)
I discovered right away it was a labor of love—my passion for maps, history, and supporting the backcountry ski community were all fed by this work. I reached out to the other folks I knew who had been working on this idea to get their buy-in (everyone was super supportive!), I consulted with the Diamond Peaks Ski Patrol, and now the Colorado Mountain School (who have the “education” permit for the State Forest State Park). Everyone was on board.
I had the experiences to draw on. I founded the Never Summer Nordic Ski Yurt system in 1985 (sold in 1992), was the Avalanche Observer for the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (1986-1992), and taught nearly every type of backcountry summer and winter activity on the pass as the director of the CSU Outdoor Program for thirty years.
I don’t think it’s bragging to say I know as much about the skiing and avalanches on Cameron Pass as anyone.”
Do you discuss weather/climate?
“Yes, we have a significant section on the Avalanche Terrain Evaluation Scale (ATES) which of course involves weather. If you aren’t familiar you can look at: https://avysavvy.avalanche.ca/en-ca/the-avalanche-terrain-exposure-scale
Each sector has a discussion of prevailing winds, snowpack types, etc. and rates the complexity of the weather vis-a-vis avalanche. The publisher, Andy Sovick, is one of the few book makers who actively use this scale for evaluating avalanche danger (of which there is plenty on Cameron Pass).
As a side note, I’ve been told that the Colorado Avalanche Information Center is going to re-draw the Front Range forecast zones into 6-7 new sub-sectors. (BTW: that might make an interesting blog story as well.) I’ve always told the CAIC folks that “Cameron Pass is different”, we really don’t fit the Front Range forecast zone very well, nor the Steamboat/Flattops. Now it appears we will be getting our own “north Front Range” zone—really cool. “
Don’t miss Book Release Party on November 3!
