Any skier can understand the urge to improve their equipment. Few take matters into their own hands like Jamie Kunka. The avid backcountry skier has effectively found a way to blend his love of snowy escapes with the craft of making his own skis for a living.
The secret? Scotland’s rugged terrain and spirit of self-reliance, which inspires Kunka’s approach to his craft. What was once childhood experiments creating bows and later race skis in college has evolved into Lonely Mountain Skis, Kunka’s cottage business that ships skis across the world. The fine works of art are refined enough to hang on a wall but still perform well in the variable conditions.
“I feel a connection to the craftspeople in Scotland, and hopefully my skis give a nod to those sort of pioneers,” Kunka says, nodding to the nearby distillers at Aberfeldy, who have been crafting whisky in the same Scottish Highland mountains for the last 125 years. “I see parallels throughout the different crafts too. A whisky maker uses different types of wood to bring about different characteristics of the scotch, just as I use a combination of different woods to achieve the perfect harmony in the ski.”
Though he’s endlessly passionate for the woods near his workshop that sustainably yield the timber he harvests, Kunka is just as eager to share the local traditions with others. Watch Kunka enjoy a backcountry hut trip, ski touring in the Colorado Rockies while reveling in the payoff of efforts to produce both Scottish skis and whisky. Then go deeper with Kunka’s tips on building your best backcountry adventure, plus other Masters of Craft. This feature collection profiles one-of-kind visionaries who transform nature’s purest elements with time-honored traditions and cultivated experiences.
How to Build Your Next Backcountry Ski Adventure
To venture safely in the backcountry, every traveler must gear up with the minimum essentials: avalanche beacon, probe, and shovel. Beyond those starting necessities, a few choice gear extras can help you create a memorable day away from the crowds.
Climbing Skins
You have to climb before you can descend. Skins are precut attachments that stick to the bottom of your skis and glide in one direction but resist gliding in the other, allowing you to climb the hill without sliding backward.
Purpose-Built Pack
That book bag from your school days isn’t going to cut it. A proper backcountry ski backpack will have dedicated internal organization for your required avalanche shovel and probe, as well as a spot for those skins. You’ll want a pack that also accommodates a hydration reservoir and has room for extra layers and snacks.
Versatile Poles
Similar to downhill ski poles, these lightweight options adjust in length so you can make them longer on flat terrain or shorter on steep climbs. Both options will help you move faster on hard stretches of the tour.
Backcountry Bound
You might not be able to build your own skis, but you can certainly build your own ski trip. Here are three ideal skill-gaining spots for your next backcountry laps.
Mount Washington, New Hampshire
One of the tallest mountains in the East, Mount Washington is renowned for its hard, technical touring options. Tuckerman Ravine collects snow blowing off the top of Washington and is home to arguably the best backcountry skiing on the East Coast—as long as you can handle the steeps.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Within the boundaries of Rocky Mountain National Park, you’ll find Hidden Valley, a former ski resort that shuttered in the ’90s but has become a go-to spot for backcountry purists thanks to its low-angle terrain and beautiful scenery.
Mount Baker, Washington
Baker receives the most snow of any location in North America thanks to the storms that roll in from the Pacific and get trapped by the 10,781-foot active volcano, dumping more than 600 inches of powder every year. Several different aspects drop off the mountain, giving skiers and splitboarders a cornucopia of potential runs.
Since 1898, ABERFELDY has stood as testament to a tradition of whisky making that stretches back over generations. Found where Perthshire’s tallest mountain, deepest loch and longest glen meet, ABERFELDY is at the Heart of Scotland. Its complex yet approachable, smooth character is seen today as a Classic Highland Single Malt full of rich, round and indulgent flavors. ABERFELDY was born out of a set of ideas that remain invaluable today: respect for our craft, connection to the land, and the uncompromising pursuit of the highest quality Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Discover more at Aberfeldy.com
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