Here is more from the Billings Gazette:
Wide, long, curve-tipped skis are hewn by axe from red spruce and the bases nailed with silky horsehair. These ancient skis glide smoothly over powder and yet can climb practically straight up.
The Kazakh and Tuvan tribesmen of the region used to use the skis to hunt elk. Because guns are illegal, they lassoed the beasts from their skis — a primordial tableau depicted in local petroglyphs dating from 8,000 B.C.
In his program, “Last of the First Skiers,” Jenkins explores this last enclave of prehistoric skiing, its links to the modern global ski culture, and the profound adaptability of humankind in an increasingly globalized world.
A critically acclaimed author and internationally recognized journalist, Jenkins covers geopolitics and adventure. In addition to his work for National Geographic, Jenkins is a writer-in-residence at the University of Wyoming. His program is part of the Global Studies Excellence Initiative and continues the World to Wyoming outreach series.
