Latest
Blown-In 6 – Ski and Outdoor Industry News
Blown-In — A semi-regular look at the latest ski and outdoor industry news bits is a collection of press releases, new products, and interesting stuff circulating on the interweb that catches our attention. This edition of Blown-In features recent avalanche activity, Black Diamond gets subpoenaed, the Hilaree Nelson Education Scholarship and the Rocky Talkie Search and Rescue Scholarship Award. Elevated Avalanche Activity Fatality and Near Misses in Utah, Idaho and Montana Following "Dry January," fresh snowfall across the West kicked off heightened avalanche activity in numerous locations. Inbounds avalanche activity at Snowbird shut down lift operations on February 7. Nearby, at Solitude Resort, skiers ducking a rope set off an avalanche requiring a ski patrol response. Still in Utah, one skier died, and a second…
Gear
Pinnacle Alpine Insulation – Arc’teryx Cerium SV Down Jacket
Everyone will agree that a warm, puffy jacket is required equipment for backcountry skiing. It’s your ticket to comfortable transitions and lightweight insurance for staying warm in the case of an emergency. When it comes to lightweight, packable warmth, nothing beats the natural insulation value of down. A high-loft down jacket creates warmth you can feel as soon as you pull… Read More
G3 Minimist Climbing Skins
Less is More I’m a minimalist by nature. Less is more has proven to be a solid mantra for most things backcountry skiing-related. Well, maybe not when it comes to the width of my skis, but today’s wide skis help fuel the less is more mantra because if you’re gonna slide around on 110-130mm underfoot, you better lighten your kit… Read More
Smith 4D MAG Ski Goggles – Maximum Field of View
Ski goggles have advanced a lot in the last 10+ years. Optics are better, lens changes are simpler, tint options are plentiful, and perhaps most importantly, the field of view has improved dramatically. By Field of view, we mean how much you can see through your goggles. Not only have goggle lenses gotten bigger, but frame and lens technology have… Read More
Arcteryx Alpha SV – Alpine Minimalism at its Best
The Arc’teryx Alpha SV in a Word — Refined Prior to 1998, Arc’teryx was a niche Canadian brand making climbing harnesses and backpacks. When they stepped into the outerwear world 25 years ago, they did so with an all-or-nothing attitude. As a company founded and run by dedicated climbers and skiers, Arc’teryx set out to build a jacket that could… Read More
The Power of Rolling – Foam Roller Massage and Recovery
Recovery and Maintenance – Foam Roller Time Anyone who prioritizes mountain adventure knows the importance of training to make the most of every outing. But how many of us take recovery and body maintenance as seriously as we take the playing part? Let’s be real: riding, skiing, running, and hiking are the fun part. The body recovery and maintenance parts,… Read More
Rocky Talkie Radios – Pro-Grade 5-Watt Two-Way Radios
Raise the Bar on Backcountry Communication – Rocky Talkie Radios Good communication makes for a good day and safe travel protocol in the backcountry. On the most basic level, good communication is about staying in touch with your ski partner(s) while climbing and skiing. When the terrain splits your group, or different paces cause separation, two-way radios let you stay… Read More
Features
Avalanche Beacon Tech – Barryvox S2
Since the advent of digital signal processing and the three-antenna transceiver design, avalanche beacon tech advances have been relatively incremental. There have been minor design updates, processing improvements and some promising features like voice direction and signal flagging. Nonetheless, for the average user, it’s hard to see the differences between most beacons. The Barryvox S2 by Mammut aims to change… Read More
Tour Better – Backcountry Skiing Tips
Tour Better Backcountry skiing is a balance of adventure, fitness and skills. The more you tour, the better your systems and the smoother the day. I surveyed a few ski pals for their favorite backcountry skiing tips and tricks. From planning and layering to gear maintenance and must-have items, here are our top 10 ski touring tips. #1. Read the… Read More
2024 Skier Gift Guide
If you are shopping for skier gifts, we have ideas to help! Here’s our annual list of the best skier gifts for your favorite backcountry skier. You can also check out our recommended gift ideas from last season. Check out our 2024 skier gift ideas. 1. North Drinkware Hand-Blown Glassware – $56 North Drinkware – From Mt. Baker to Mt… Read More
Preseason Backcountry Skiing Checklist – Dial in Your Gear
Skis, boots, skins, poles, goggles, beacon, pack, shovel . . . It’s time to scour your garage, search the basement and rummage through the closet. Winter has returned, so wherever you stash your gear for the off-season, it’s time to dig through the boxes and round up your backcountry ski kit.But is your backcountry ski gear ready to roll? Check… Read More
Adventure Ride Essentials
Ride. Clean. Repeat. A Pressure Washer for Bikes
Keeping your bike running smoothly is all about routine maintenance. Regular cleaning, lubing and fine-tuning are what keep the miles rolling easy. As the wet season begins here in the Pacific Northwest, regular cleaning is more important than ever to keep your bike running well. As the old saying goes for horses, “rode hard and put away wet” is no… Read More
Pearl Izumi Attack Hybrid Cycling Jacket — Wind-Resistant and Breathable
Dressing for cool weather gravel rides requires a balance of breathability, wind protection and warmth. Layering is important, but your choice of the outer layer is even more critical because of the need for wind protection and, ultimately, breathability for your layering system. If it’s not raining, I often run a combination of layers, including a lightweight wind jacket and… Read More
Multi-Tools for Bikepacking and Adventure Rides
Pack Light, But Not Too Light Carrying a compact multi-tool or a limited collection of bike tools is essential on extended bikepacking trips and remote gravel rides, but the minimalist in me is always looking for ways to carry less. Roadside repairs fit into two categories: bike adjustments/fixes and flat tire repairs. Few tools cover both scenarios, though there are… Read More
Choosing the Best Bikepacking Bags – Seat Pack Reviews
Ortlieb, Osprey and Deuter Seat Pack Reviews The seat pack is one of the largest volume bags in most bikepacking setups. They are also arguably the most finicky to set up and fit to your bike. They require careful packing, correct positioning, snug attachment and enough clearance above your tire to avoid problems down the road. We tested a number… Read More
Industry News
Blown-In 6 – Ski and Outdoor Industry News
Blown-In — A semi-regular look at the latest ski and outdoor industry news bits is a collection of press releases, new products, and interesting stuff circulating on the interweb that catches our attention. This edition of Blown-In features recent avalanche activity, Black Diamond gets subpoenaed, the Hilaree Nelson Education Scholarship and the Rocky Talkie Search and Rescue Scholarship Award. Elevated… Read More
Voile Straps – The Origin Story
Voile straps embody Voile’s Simple, Solid, Backcountry mantra to the tee. Durable and versatile, Voile straps are oft-copied and never duplicated. The Voile formula is simply the most durable and functional of any similar product I have ever used. If you are not using Voile straps, you should be. And if you don’t know where the idea for Voile straps… Read More
G3 Acquired by Canadawide Sports
G3 Genuine Guide Gear Under New Ownership G3 got its start with telemark bindings back in 1995. By 2010 G3 was a widely recognized player in the backcountry ski market with a product line including skins, shovels, probes, skis and alpine touring bindings. News broke in August 2024 that G3 was facing insolvency and was forced to enter receivership and… Read More
Blown-In 5 – Ski and Outdoor Industry News
Blown-In — A semi-regular look at the latest ski, outdoor and sometimes bike industry news bits is a collection of press releases, new products, and interesting stuff circulating on the interweb that catches our attention. This week’s edition of Blown-In features the NOAA Winter Weather Outlook, Mammut Barryvox S/S2 Recall, a Pieps Pro IPS Recall, ORTLIEB’s repair week and $10k… Read More
Avalanche Safety
Avalanche Beacon Tech – Barryvox S2
Since the advent of digital signal processing and the three-antenna transceiver design, avalanche beacon tech advances have been relatively incremental. There have been minor design updates, processing improvements and some promising features like voice direction and signal flagging. Nonetheless, for the average user, it’s hard to see the differences between most beacons. The Barryvox S2 by Mammut aims to change… Read More
Must Watch – To the Hills & Back
To the Hills & Back is not your typical ski movie. It’s a story of risk and consequence. What is risk? Risk is the likelihood of something bad happening and understanding the consequences. The new Sherpas Cinema film explores the consequences. It’s a story of loss, humility and resilience. No one heads to the mountains thinking about the worst that… Read More
Avalanche Safety Basics – Five Red Flags
New to backcountry skiing? Looking for basic avalanche safety tips? Short of identifying and avoiding avalanche terrain, staying safe while backcountry skiing begins with understanding hazard basics. Backcountry Access (BCA) has a series of no-frills avalanche safety tips geared toward backcountry skiers of all levels. BCA’s latest avalanche safety video offers five red flags to keep an eye out for… Read More
Updated Avalanche Transceiver Interference Guidelines
If you’ve ever taken an avalanche safety course, you’ve probably heard about electronic interference and avalanche transceivers. Electronics like cell phones, heated gloves, smart watches, two-way radios and even snowmobiles can create electromagnetic interference (EMI) that will disrupt an avalanche transceiver search. Basically, some electronics emit EMI that can alter avalanche transceiver behavior. The good news is that you can… Read More
Movies
Heart of the Mountain – Shames Mountain, BC
British Columbia is well-known for its legendary snowpack and deep, wide-ranging mountains. While places like Whistler and Revelstoke have well-deserved reputations for deep snow and expansive terrain, BC is home to numerous small, local ski hills that offer much more than the sum of their parts. Shames Mountain, outside of Terrace, BC, is one such place. Facing closure in 2008,… Read More
Swift. Silent. Deep – The Legacy of the Jackson Hole Air Force
The Legacy of the Jackson Hole Air Force In the early 1980s, a group of dedicated skiers began pushing beyond the Jackson Hole Ski Resort boundaries in search of untracked powder snow and steep terrain. Their story is about ski bum culture, ski area policy and the rise of freeride skiing. Swift. Silent. Deep. is a 2009 ski film that… Read More
The Caretaker – Film Short
At the doorstep of Mount Washington, just below Huntington Ravine, sits The Harvard Cabin — a remote respite for ice climbers and backcountry skiers to escape the elements. Every year, one caretaker lives in the cabin all winter long. The Caretaker is an ode to those who care for it, the men of Harvard who built it, and the mountaineers… Read More
Fire Lines | Patagonia Films
As mountain bike season and summer trail days wind down, it’s easy to put fire season in the rearview mirror, but for those of us who live in the West, the impact of wildfire is omnipresent. In northern California, climate change and 150 years of forest mismanagement have led to some of the most catastrophic wildfires in the state’s history—including… Read More
The Vault
What’s The Problem? Understanding Avalanche Hazard
The classic backcountry ski checklist – shovel, probe, beacon, brain – has also come to include the avalanche forecast, and most of us make an effort to check the forecast before we head into the mountains. But an important question that’s often overlooked is, “Are you really absorbing the most important information contained in the forecast?” Sure, the avalanche hazard… Read More
Avalanche Accident – A Perfect Storm
A Perfect Storm – Reflecting on an Avalanche Accident Never have I fought so hard to suppress the overwhelming urge to panic. Before I realized what I was doing, I heard my own muffled screaming. I told myself to calm down. Again, I realized I was screaming. A few deep breaths later, I gained a small measure of composure. I… Read More
Avalanche Safety – The Morning Meeting
Avalanche Safety – Have a Clear Plan and Conditions Dialogue The number one response I hear from students when asked why they are taking an avalanche class is “to be safer in the backcountry.” Avalanche instructors work hard to send folks away with many of the tools they need to be safer skiers. Some of these avalanche safety tools are… Read More
The Art of the Uptrack
Larry Goldie – Owner, Lead Guide at North Cascade Mountain Guides First, there was the epiphany. It was a deep day, sixteen inches of new and still snowing. The hookup began as many do, spontaneously meeting at the trailhead with the same objective in mind. I was with my two most regular ski partners. Our spontaneous partner was a local… Read More
