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Peaking out on top of Mt. Goddard. Photo courtesy of Mike Schwartz |
CommentsSchwartz Shares Local Backcountry Adventures
Adventure Slide Show Series
By Olivia DwyerPublished: January 6, 2010
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The Adventure Slide Show Series were started with the goal of inspiring the audience to get out and create their own adventures. Last night, Mike Schwartz, owner of The Back Country and sponsor of the series, gave the audience the treasure map to finding thrills in their own backyard as he shared some of his own backcountry ski adventures from the Sierra Nevada. With winter in full swing, Schwartz' outdoor shop is keeping him busy — not to mention he's been battling the flu — so this week's interview was done via email.
Moonshine Ink: Why do you think it is important to share the stories of the outdoor community and peoples’ passions?
Schwartz: In the first week that I lived in Tahoe, I was practically convinced this would be my long-term future home from this odd experience. Someone I didn’t even know suggested I go to Mark Lewis’ house, where Dave Nettle lived, and was doing a slide show. That’s all I knew. Turns out, there were hundreds of welcoming locals there at this word-of-mouth, backyard party. And it was obviously a regular thing. He had just come back from a far away climbing trip. I wasn’t quite smart enough to start rock climbing at that moment, but I did learn something I had only suspected so far: people who spend time in the mountains are really amazing. They are the type of folks you want to be around.
Dave and his friends were really living the mountain lifestyle. Not just dressing like it. Since I met him in 1994, I have enjoyed watching Dave inspire people to “go for it” in the mountains to a really unbelievable degree. Most locals know what I mean. Even if you’re not friends with Dave, just seeing one of his slide shows stays with you. It helps you motivate yourself to get off the couch and go do something really memorable, and maybe push your limits a little. When you’re trying to get a trip going, or an extra lap on Tallac, you just think to yourself, “What would Dave do?” Start moving, of course, is the answer!
MI: How did you and Dave end up working together on the Adventure Slide Show Series?
Schwartz: I called Dave a few years later to get together with me on a community adventure slide show series that my business, The Back Country, would sponsor. He said he was ready to do that exact thing himself, so we started it up with 15 shows. Dave does the first and last show, and we fill in the gaps with highly adventurous locals, and a few well known pros. Lynn Hill, Peter Croft, and Andrew McClean, for example, packed the house to where 100 people couldn’t even get in the door. But on the other hand, we also enjoy the cozy shows where 125 people show up and sit down comfortably to see a Denali Ski Descent by their local ski touring hero, John Morrison.
MI: Why did you get involved as the sponsor of the Adventure Slide Show Series? Why do you think it is important to share the stories of the outdoor community and share people’s passion?
Schwartz: I’ve advertised everywhere at one time or another, and it’s stressful guessing what good it does. Sponsoring this event is something I love doing. I pay each slide show presenter $200 in store credit. If I could afford it, I’d pay $200 to see these shows myself. Of course, that’s not what it’s about, and the presenters never ask for anything; I’m sure they would all do it for free. It’s all about meeting up with your friends, and getting psyched for your next adventure.
MI: Do you hold anything back from your slide shows? For example, ski routes that are so special to you, you prefer to keep them a secret?
Schwartz: I don’t keep secret powder stashes, but I do like to try and spread people out when I give ski tour recommendations at the shop. My favorite ski tours are definitely the ones I figured out on my own, and where I got away from all other signs of people. Knowing a good, efficient route to ski powder near your house is really cool, too. I’m pretty busy, usually only skiing 1-2 times a week. I try to go different places each time. There are about 10 local ski tours I do every year though for sure. I post pictures of most of my ski tours on my website [www.thebackcountry.net] under “messageboard.”
MI: What about backcountry skiing in the Sierra makes it a different experience from skiing anywhere else in the world?
Schwartz: If you made a scorecard for ski touring locations, the Sierra would be the winner for most people. Variables such as favorable weather, road access, information, vertical drop, easy camping, season length, scenery, snowpack depth, square mileage —and you’re not going to fall into a crevasse. And if you’re from out of town, Reno Airport is pretty much as easy and cheap as it gets. Oh yeah, then there are hot springs, cool little towns, wildlife, wild flowers. I could go on all day.
MI: What is more important in outdoor adventure: enthusiasm or advanced technical skill and the latest and greatest in equipment?
Schwartz: You end up with enthusiasm; it’s what the mountains do to you. The technical skill comes with time and also from a mentor or two. My advice is to go ski or climb with many different people who you feel are compatible and safe. You’ll form your own ideas from this melting pot regarding what risks you want to take, and how to climb and ski.
The slide show series takes place every Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Bar One at Squaw Valley. Past speakers have included Kip Garre, John Morrison, and Dave Vuono. View the entire schedule of speakers at www.thebackcountry.net.
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