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    December is here and snow is a flyin'. The December issue of Off-Piste Mag (Issue 43) is at the printer and will begin shipping 12/2.   Subscribe or renew now to get the best in grassroots backcountry adventure. Subscribe, renew, or buy some Off-Piste Schwag (hoodies, hats, voile straps) for the holidays and you will be entered to win 1 of 10 pairs of Mountain Khakis Alpine Utility pants (men's or women's). You must subscribe or purchase on-line to qualify.   Issue...

Read More "December Issue"

The crew over at Backcountry Access has produced a series of informative avalanche rescue technique videos. The videos cover beacon searching, probing, and shoveling techniques. All of the videos are worth checking out. I chose to post the shoveling technique video here, because shoveling, one of the longest steps in avalanche rescue, recieves very little attention relative to search protocols.

Obviously, keen search skills are vital to a rescue, but given the stats on avalanche rescue, the minutes and seconds spent shoveling are also vital. An average one-meter burial requires removing between one and one-and-half tons of debris. This equates to between two and three thousand pounds of snow. The video from Backcountry Access promotes strategic, efficient shoveling techniques. Take a look - your partners will be glad you did.

In my efforts to dodge work - actually, I was doing important research - I came across this great clip from the late 70's of French extreme ski pioneers Anselme Baud and Patrick Vallencant. This is the first descent of Mont Blanc's Arete de Peuterey circa 1977. Glen Plake and Nate Wallace followed up in June 2009 and became the first Americans to ski it - 32 years later! The music is a little tough, but the footage, their gear, and their ski line are impressive.

Strike out at the local ski swap this year? Still trying to sell some ski gear?

LocalSkiGear.com is a new internet based classified ad outlet that is looking to become your goto spot for ski gear sales; call it a ski-centric Craigslist. The site was created to provide the best venue by which people who are passionate about skiing and snowboarding can buy and sell new and used ski gear in their local communities.

Locally-based transactions benefit your town and the broader environment by:

•    Recycling and reusing ski and snowboard gear
•    Reducing environmental impacts of having to ship gear
•    Keeping the money in the community which strengthens local economic vitality
•    Strengthening interactions between local skiers and boarders in a community
•    Plus -You keep all the money, LocalSkiGear.com takes nothing

LocalSkiGear.com’s goal is to provide a unique online community where you can exchange a large variety of ski equipment at affordable prices, right where you live. Spread the word.

Feel free to contact the folks behind the site at info @ localskigear dot com. They promise to respond promptly, unless it is a powder day…

Three Sisters Backcountry will be in Portland Thursday, November 19 @ 8PM to promote their new yurts and skiing in the Central Oregon Cascades.

The presentation is FREE  and will be hosted  at THE NORTH FACE  store in Portland - 1202 NW Davis Street, Portland, OR   (503) 727-0200.

Get the scoop on the latest addition to the Oregon backcountry scene.

While some lucky folks are out enjoying the early arrival of winter (see above photo of Ray Thomas courtesy of Larry Goldie at NCMG), we are working on finalizing the next issue of Off-Piste. All of the computer time making the issue happen results in some good time wasting fodder like the Bond clip from earlier in the week.  well, here is one more to help lighten the mood of the hours spent in the office....

In the spirit of the internet as a tool of distraction, here is James Bond - the original ski base jumper...

Snow is a flyin' in the Northwest. You can get a taste of winter through the eyes of Sweetgrass Production's new flick Signatures in Hood River and Portland this week. Signatures is not your average ski porn.

Nick Waggoner, director of Sweetgrass Productions, spent last year in Hokkaido, Japan. Signatures captures his year in Hokkaido through the lives of local skiers, riders and artists. The film blends backcountry ski footage with the voices of local skiers and riders as the winter season unfolds in Hokkaido.  In addition to local island talent, the film features footage of numerous other skiers including Hood River’s own Charlie Canon.

Hood RIver Show:
November 9 - Monday - Columbia Center for the ArtsDoors open at 7 p.m for the, show starts at 7:30 p.m. Double Mountain will be on tap. Tickets are $10 and available at Waucoma Books or at the door. 

Portland Show:
November 11 - Wednesday - Kennedy School 8pm. tickets ar e$9

Signatures backcountry ski film trailer

We just got new ball caps and a small run of 100% organic cotton hoodies here at the office. The new ball caps are the same style as previous hats and are 100% organic cotton.

The Hoodies are navy blue with the Off-Piste logo embroidered on the front. You can click the photo for a closer look. Get 'em while they last!

Hoodies are $40 and hats are $16. Prices include shipping in the US. We also have a full supply of Voile straps for your ski strapping pleasure. Oder your organic cotton hoodies and hats here.