Anyone have any good suggestions for ski mountaineering routes for people new to the sport but have taken some courses. Looking for suggestions Colorado, washington, northeast...

Well, it depends what sort of skiing you're looking for. Here are some Colorado resources.

- Lots of information in the forums and trip reports on www.14ers.com and www.13ers.com
- For steep descents (45 degrees+) see stanwagon.com/wagon/coloski/coloski.html
- Dawson's Guide to the Colorado 14ers describes ski descents from just about every peak
- For routes in the Aspen area see Dawson's Guide to Colorado Backcountry Skiing, www.backcountryskiingco.com. Or you could buy the old-fashioned printed version, but it's now a collector's item that goes for a mere $140 on amazon.com.
- And if you think that's bad you could shell out $200 or more for a used copy of Haddad & Faughey's "Front Range Descents"... guess I should try to take better care of my beaten-up copy.
- Newly published: www.giterdunpublishing.com/makingturns-in-the-tenmile-mosqui>>>

For routes outside Colorado, Dawson's "Wild Snow" is the ski-mountaineering answer to Steck & Roper's 50 Classic Climbs.

And if you're feeling ambitious you could try to repeat this: coastmountainculture.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/Coast-1-f-Coa>>>

How well do you ski - especially in tough conditions, and how solid is your avalanche training? That makes all the difference. Have you spent much time backcountry touring?

A good way to get started is to ski Cascade volcanoes in the late spring/early summer. St Helens is a good starter, and then the South Slopes on Mt Adams. SW Chutes on Adams are also great and a bit steeper. Haven't been down to Shasta yet but that is next on my list.

Well if you want more info than you could imagine check out www.wildsnow.com. Lou Dawson's website/blog. Have fun, go crazy...