Latest
Portable Chargers – Backup Batteries for Backcountry Charging
Portable Chargers for the Backcountry Electronics in the backcountry are part of life. Apps like Gaia (GPS), Strava, Avenza and Ride turn our phones into worthy gps and map tracking tools for adventure in any season. However, keeping electronics fully charged and ready to go on a multi-day backcountry trip requires back-up power. There are many portable storage batteries on the market that can be used to recharge electronics. I've been using a couple different portable chargers over the past year: the MyCharge AdventureMax and the Goal Zero Venture 30. Basically, both are lithium batteries encased in rugged plastic housings that you charge up when you have access to power and then use to charge phones, gps units and small electronics when away from power. When deciding…
Gear
Fellow Prismo AeroPress Filter
Fellow Prismo AeroPress Filter Review Making Great Backcountry Coffee Better For the dedicated coffee drinkers among us, little compares to the ritual brewing of the morning cup. We all have our time-tested favorite methods for brewing coffee in the backcountry and on the road, and one of the best road trip coffee makers is the AeroPress coffee maker. This winter, I… Read More
Ski Crampons and Boot Crampons for Ski Mountaineering
Spring Ski Mountaineering – Ski Crampons and Boot Crampons Guide The days grow long and the snow grows firm. When your timing is right, spring ski mountaineering offers fast uphill travel and silky smooth descents. Come spring, climbing skins can only get you so far, especially if you have your sights set on summits and couloirs. From firm boot packs… Read More
Patagonia Descensionist 32L Ski Pack
Patagonia Descensionist 32L Ski Pack A good ski pack keeps a low profile. It needs to store our avalanche safety gear and essential day trip supplies. But its presence should be subtle and fade away as we skin our way up or turn our way down the hill. The ideal ski pack size varies for everyone, but generally speaking, 30-40… Read More
Climbing Skins – G3 Alpinist+ Glide
We’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again; climbing skins are one of the most underrated pieces of gear we use. Yet without skins, we can’t do what we do, climb up to ski down. Having used nearly every type of skin available over the years, I have a strong preference for momix skins – skins that use a… Read More
Softshell Ski Pants for Backcountry Skiing
Backcountry Ski Pants Patagonia Snow Guide and Arc’teryx Rush FL You gotta get up to get down, and skinning uphill requires breathability in your outerwear. It’s easy enough to shed your ski shell when breaking trail, but your ski pants are a different story. As a result, backcountry ski pants need to vent, or better yet, be truly breathable. Waterproof-breathable… Read More
Arc’teryx Proton LT Hoody – Lightweight, Breathable Warmth
Arc’teryx Proton LT Hoody – Active Insulation If you have not experienced the modern world of “active insulation,” it’s more than just marketing hype. It refers to an insulated jacket that maintains air permeability. In other words, it’s breathable. The idea behind active insulation is warmth across a wider spectrum of aerobic activity than a more traditional, less breathable jacket… Read More
Features
Training for the Uphill Athlete
Book Review:Training for the Uphill Athlete:A Manual for Mountain Runners and Ski MountaineersSteve House, Scott Johnston, Killian Jornet$35.00 from Patagonia Books Whether you are planning a week-long ski tour, a baccountry hut trip or looking to broaden your trail running horizons, your experience depends on your fitness. And whether you are looking to be competitive or simply enjoy the rewards… Read More
DIY Ski Waxing for the Backcountry
Ski Waxing for the Backcountry Backcountry skiing is a far cry from ski racing, but freshly waxed skis are still important to keep you sliding and slashing through the pow with ease. And the good news is that ski waxing for the backcountry is not rocket science. In fact, it’s down right simple. You just need a few basic tools… Read More
Ski Waxing and Tuning Bench
Ski Waxing and Tuning Bench If you want to spend anytime doing your own ski maintenance, a solid ski waxing and tuning bench is important. Between keeping my skis ready to roll, setting up test gear and working on friends’ gear, my ski bench sees use multiple times per week. Ski widths exceeded the width of my traditional ski vices years ago, and… Read More
Essential Backcountry Ski Gear – What Do You Really Need
Essential Backcountry Ski Gear – What Do You Really Need Boots, skis, poles, skins, shovel, probe, beacon – these are the non-negotiable gear items for a day of backcountry skiing. Of course, you’ve got your basic baselayers and outerwear, too. But what about all the other stuff – the gear that spends more time in our packs than in use…. Read More
Avalanche Safety
Avalanche Safety – Communication in the Backcountry
Avalanche Safety – Communication in the Backcountry The freezing levels in the Northwest have been on their typical fall rollercoaster ride and, with the ride, the snow has come and gone and come again. Early season skiing has its attraction, but I like to remind myself that there is no rush. That said, plenty of skiers have seized the moment… Read More
Avy 101 – Weak Layers – A low tech approach to identifying common avalanche culprits
Weak Layers A low-tech approach to identifying common avalanche culprits – by Larry Goldie Believe it or not, regardless of what triggers an avalanche, every avalanche has one thing in common: they all fail on a weak layer of snow. Personally, I would much rather be out skiing than standing around in snowpits looking at snow crystals and analyzing weak layers…. Read More
Movies
Killian Jornet Troll Wall
Killian Jornet, endurance athlete and steep skier extraordinaire, set his sights on the Troll Wall, the tallest vertical rock face in Europe and the iconic Fiva Route. One might argue the semantics about what is skiing, but the feat is impressive, nonetheless.
Skiing La Grave – A Worthy Tuesday Time Waster
La Grave, France is legendary for its technical terrain and lift-assisted access. Faction skis put together a nice edit of a trip to La Grave. It does a great job of sharing inspiring footage and showcasing how easy it is to get in deep in La Grave.
The Vault
The Art of the Uptrack
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… Read More
Dream Job – Avalanche Forecaster
Dream Job – Avalanche Forecaster An Interview with ChugachNational Forest Avalanche Center Forecaster Wendy Wagner by David Waag We all appreciate the value of our regional avalanche forecast centers and, let’s be honest, who hasn’t dreamed of working as an avalanche professional. It’s all face shots, field observations and free gear right? Well, it turns out there’s a lot more… Read More