Intro to Uphill Touring

Interested in meeting new friends and doing a little uphill trekking? If you come out to Holiday Valley Resort this Sunday, February 23rd, you can join in the “UppenAdam” Intro To Uphill Touring event, back for its second year.

Led by local skier and podcast personality, Adam Sauerwein (@mradamx), he describes the event by saying, “UppenAdam is a community building event. With the growing popularity of ski touring/split-boarding, we’ve seen a lot of people walking up the hills. This is an opportunity to meet people, ask experts and learn a little bit more about an extremely intimidating activity. It’s being offered, because (personally) I saw an opportunity to grow the culture and community that exists in other mountain towns and decided that now is a great time to help cultivate that.”

Adam had a lot more to tell EllicottvilleNOW about this year’s UppenAdam. “The goal is to make slight improvements each year. Last year, due to minimal snowfall, I had to make significant changes to the planned route. This year, there will be a new route designed to showcase a side of Holiday Valley that many people have never seen. In addition to the new route, I aim to have designated stopping points along the way for questions and instructional information,” he said.

So how does this work? “The concept is simple: it’s a community-building event for anyone interested in uphill ski touring - walking up hills to ski down. The equipment can be intimidating, and there are specific routes, etiquette, and courtesies associated with the sport. This event aims to bridge the gap between beginners and experts, creating an open forum where participants can ask questions, learn, and even assist others along the way.”

On this year’s route, Adam plans for everyone to meet at the Champagne Sundeck (Yodeler Lodge) at 7:30am on Sunday morning. Coffee will be provided by their friends at Holiday Valley. Participants will have the opportunity to chat, enjoy their coffee, share stories, and discuss tips and tricks. He aims for everyone to depart at 8:30am for a pleasant 1 to 3-mile adventure up the hill.

Best part? The event is FREE to attend, but participants must have their own equipment. There will be no on-site demos, but there will be plenty of experts available to help you understand and use your equipment. The UppenAdam event is specifically designed to help skiers become more comfortable with uphill gear, gain a better understanding of uphill skiing at resorts, and meet like-minded individuals. People of all ages are welcome, and no sign-up is necessary. Just show up and go!

Adam does have some tips for those attending. “The best advice I can give is to have fun and realize that touring is all about enjoying the experience. Let go of your ego, make friends, help others, and learn something along the way.”

He did want us to remind everyone that this is a self-supported event, so please bring plenty of water and snacks for a day in the woods.

While this is a more leisurely paced learning event, if you are interested in a more competitive uphill pace, you can always opt to join in Holiday Valley’s 2nd UppenOvr event, which promises participants an exhilarating journey from Yodeler Lodge at Holiday Valley up to Spruce Lake and down Sunset at HoliMont. Then take the same course backwards from Sunset to Yodeler. It’s a 3-mile trek, boasting two divisions for those who want to race against the clock and those who just want to do it for fun. You can sign up now for the March 15th event at holidayvalley.com. Participation in the UppenOvr will help contribute to Holiday Valley’s Empire State Ride, which benefits Roswell Park Cancer Center. And you can’t forget the after-party on the Champagne Sundeck. There will be music, hog dogs, beer, raffles and an amazing auction featuring one-of-a-kind items. Good times for all and all for a good cause.

Intro to Uphill Touring

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