The New Testament (for the ski mountaineer)
By Adam HowardFree Skiing: How to adapt to the mountain
By Jimmy Oden (Falth and Hassler, $65.00, freeskiing.nu)
Freedom of the Hills. For the climber or true mountaineer it’s various versions are the bible for the sport. Especially if that includes walking, or rapping, post-holing, or downclimbing. Mine, well, it’s only about going up when it’s all about coming down. And now ski mountaineering, or hard-core backcountry, has a bible of its own: Free Skiing: How to adapt to the mountain by Jimmy Oden. It’s a new bible, for a new age. Call it King Jim’s version.
Unlike the black and white King James version of the original real deal, this testament isn’t meek. Its more than 350 pages begin with 80 pages of inspired color photography, mostly of European rippers in their native Alps “free-riding.” Himself a Euro (he’s Swedish) Oden has a surprisingly salient voice, at times making dry material like snow science as tolerable as most snow geeks do this side of the pond. Still—and I’m only assuming english is his second language—he’s clearly a professional UIAMG guide first and writer second.
What makes this the ski mountaineer’s bible is Oden’s command for the subject, and his book’s organization thereof. He understands the pursuits of today’s hard charging ski mountaineers who populate towns like La Grave, France and Verbier Switzerland. And while Free Skiing’s intros to each section relate mostly Alpine lore, any aspirant schuss sicko stateside can appreciate them. St. Anton could be Jackson, Zermatt; Aspen, whatever. The how-to subject matter like doing a beacon search to setting up a Z-pully for crevasse rescue is certainly as transcontinental as mountains and snow, oui?
Like all guides, Oden is organized. He tackles each subject—from avalanche science and mountain weather, to first aid, to glacier travel and rescue to steep skiing skills and climbing tech—in a simple, clear format. And the design and illustration of the material rivals anything published stateside. In fact, I’ve seen nothing better, in any genre.
In his mid 30’s, Oden combines seasoned mountain skill with youthful exuberance. He’s lived long enough to make a few mistakes, and as he says in the forward, “Some of my past decisions make me feel very stressed.” But he’s young enough not to come off preachy.
