Free-Heel Freebies
Tips

Words of wisdom from telemarking's latest guru

By Michael Parrish

Allen O'Bannon knows he's no Paul Parker. After all, the latter's 1988 Free-Heel Skiing is likely to remain the bible of devoted pinheads. But for recent converts, the veteran NOLS instructor offers Allen & Mike's Really Cool Telemark Tips (Falcon), a slim new paperback illustrated by fellow NOLS hand Mike Clelland. (Their first tome, Allen & Mike's Really Cool Backcountry Ski Book, won rave reviews and, after selling out its first run, was just reissued.) So as many of us head out for our first three-pin forays of the season, who better to turn to for a few secrets and safety tips.

What are free-heeling's golden rules? "Bring a map. Know basic avalanche skills. Never skin up the middle of an untracked run."

How about tricks to keep you a little more comfortable? "On long uphills, pull your goggles up against your forehead and stuff a bandanna in them to prevent fogging. Preheat your boots with hot water bottles."

What's the best way to keep warm overnight? "Build a quinzhee to sleep in and, if necessary, therm-suck [spoon] with your partner."

What the hell is a quinzhee? "It's an Athabascan word for snow shelter. You make a mound and then hollow it out, which is done by a person called the mole."

So what's your favorite place to ski? "Whoa, nice try! I hear Hawaii's great this time of year."