How to clear a psychological block for tree skiing

mountaindewgirl

mountaindewgirl

Active member
Last weekend I hit a sidecountry lap down a beautiful tree chute in Idaho and missed the ski out. Was steep and deep and sick asf for a minute... Until I got caught alone in a flat river bed with impossibly steep ravine walls for several hours and popped out onto the interstate a few miles away and hitchhiked back.

Ugh, the hike out was kinda brutal. I went in the river and some tree wells a few times, and I'm really grateful I was on a snowskate because I could use it like a grappling hook to climb out.

Cried tears of joy for about 2 minutes when I got picked up off the highway and then was pretty chill about it, trying to shake it off.

Didn't think about it at all during the work week and then went skiing today.

First lap was a tree run, but I started to panic about 2 turns in and skied out onto the piste. Then it happened a couple more times.

Just really felt like I needed to get off the slope, and now I'm sitting here in the lodge thinking:

HOW DO I CLEAR THIS PSYCHOLOGICAL BLOCK OF TREE SKIING SO I CAN SKI TREES THE REST OF THE WEEKEND?

Thanks.
 
Ski more trees. Seriously, that's what cleared my block. Once I felt more comfortable and got used to them it became natural. Also, read the terrain more. Try and avoid areas that have developed wells, read what the snow is telling you.

**This post was edited on Mar 11th 2023 at 1:39:31pm
 
Travel with people who know the terrain. Rely on their navigation skills. Also, buy touring gear to haul yourself out of trouble with ease.
 
Sorry idk if this sounds condescending but isn’t it a really bad idea to go alone in the trees like that? I know I definitely wouldn’t do that alone
 
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