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In 2020, I made the switch from full time mountain guide to full time editor of Backcountry Magazine. It wasn’t an easy transition, especially when it came time to act as the lead editor on an issue—the 2021 Skills Guide—for the first time. This was around the same time that Rob Coppolillo—an IFMGA guide, author and BCM contributor—published The Ski Guide Manual. While working on a book review, Rob and I bonded over balancing guiding with writing and finding ways to tie the two professions together. I called him back to ask his opinions on the Skills Guide while outlining it, and he even contributed a section to it.
Thursday, April 18, Rob Coppolillo passed away while guiding in British Columbia. It was a solemn reminder that the backcountry is a fickle place. Even when you’re doing everything by the book, things can still go sideways. And Rob always did things by the book. While working with him on an article we’d go back and forth until he deemed every word perfect. It wasn’t unusual for there to be 20-plus emails in a chain with him, discussing the best way to set a skintrack or how to address professionals versus recreationalists. But it was always clear that his feedback wasn’t to be a hard ass. Rob had a joy for bringing people into the mountains, and he was passionate about sharing his knowledge the right way. He instilled the responsibility of being the editor of a backcountry-focused magazine in me. People use what they learn from this publication to operate in a wicked learning environment. Bad information can be fatal.
I’ll miss running story ideas by Rob and following along on his many adventures, but I’ll still think of his passion for educating every time I sit down to write a skills-based article. I’ll still ask myself, what would Rob say?
Betsy Manero, Editor, Backcountry Magazine
