Latest
DPS Lotus 124 2.0
DPS Lotus 124 2.0 - Alchemist Edition For the most part, backcountry ski waist widths have settled into the 100-115mm zone the last couple of seasons. You can confidently grab a pair of skis with a waist in the low hundreds for just about any day of touring. Between rocker, sidecut and lightweight core materials, these skis are agile, light, capable and most importantly fun in a very wide range of snow conditions. A 106mm waist ski can literally do it all from carving corn snow to floating deep powder, as can a 100 or 112mm waisted ski. But what about a bigger ski? Is it worth going wider? Can a bigger ski be a go-to board for all-conditions touring? I would have answered this…
Gear
G3 Minimist Climbing Skins
G3 Minimist Climbing Skins I’m a minimalist by nature. Less is more has proven to be a solid motto for most things backcountry skiing. 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… Read More
DPS PHANTOM
DPS Phantom I’ve always enjoyed the ritual of waxing of skis. In the fall, it marks the approaching ski season. During the season, it harkens the call of a powder day or the anticipation of an extended trip deserving of fresh glide. Ski waxing can be a social event or a good reason to dissappear into your workshop. So when… Read More
Ogso Skis – The Schwarztor – A Quiver of One
The Ogso Schwarztor – A Quiver of One – 135-104-120 Choosing one pair of skis to do it all in the backcountry is a big ask. There’s no shortage of good skis. It’s finding the one ski that blends playful powder skiing with confident control while keeping it light underfoot that’s the hard part. I typically spend my winter on… Read More
The Best Ski Socks
The Best Ski Socks Ski socks may be low on on the gear glamour scale, but a fresh pair of good quality ski socks feels mighty nice sliding into a pair of boots. And high-quality socks can actually mean the difference between a good day and a bad day of ski touring. From comfort to durability, high-quality socks outperform cheap… Read More
Marker Alpinist 12 Binding – Review
Marker Alpinist 12 Tech Binding Dynafit set the tech binding standard and many have followed. One of the more recent alpine touring tech bindings to turn our heads is the Marker Alpinist 12. Marker is, of course, well established in the alpine binding world and first stepped into tech binding design with the Kingpin. Blending the security of an alpine… Read More
Softshell Ski Pants for Backcountry Skiing
Backcountry Ski Pants Patagonia Snow Guide and Arc’teryx Rush FL Softshell Ski Pants 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… Read More
Features
DPS Lotus 124 2.0
DPS Lotus 124 2.0 – Alchemist Edition For the most part, backcountry ski waist widths have settled into the 100-115mm zone the last couple of seasons. You can confidently grab a pair of skis with a waist in the low hundreds for just about any day of touring. Between rocker, sidecut and lightweight core materials, these skis are agile, light,… Read More
What’s in Your Pack – Backcountry Ski Packing List
Backcountry Ski Packing List What’s in your ski pack? It’s a good question and one that I occasionally ask myself as I heft the weight of my pack to my shoulder in the morning. There’s no sense in carrying more up the hill than you need to, but there are key items you should always have with you in the… Read More
Ogso Skis – The Schwarztor – A Quiver of One
The Ogso Schwarztor – A Quiver of One – 135-104-120 Choosing one pair of skis to do it all in the backcountry is a big ask. There’s no shortage of good skis. It’s finding the one ski that blends playful powder skiing with confident control while keeping it light underfoot that’s the hard part. I typically spend my winter on… Read More
Gifts for Skiers
Gifts for Skiers Need holiday gifts for skiers on your Christmas list? Short of setting them up with a hut trip or new powder skis, we’ve put together a few of our favorite gifts for skiers to help seed your holiday shopping with fresh ideas – all for under $100. Leatherman Skeletool Multi-Tool $60 Never let your favorite skier head… Read More
Avalanche Safety
Backcountry Access BC Link FRS Radio Review
Backcountry Access BC Link FRS Radio Review Good communication in the backcountry means many things. But on the most basic level, communication is about actually being able to talk to each other. Two-way radios are a great tool to facilitate communication when the terrain splits the group. Whether it’s simply to make sure you get a photo set up just… Read More
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
Movies
DPS Skis – Shadow Campaign – Lonely Star
DPS Skis – Shadow Campaign – Lonely Star DPS Cinematic is back with Volume VI of the Shadow Campaign ski film series. Skiers Santiago Guzman, Piers Solomon and Zack Giffin inspire winter adventures with their snow sliding skills from Mt Baker to Revelstoke. Here’s what DPS Skis has to say . . . An ill-fated explorer finds himself marooned on… Read More
Candide Thovex Skis the Great Wall of China
Candide Thovex Skis the Great Wall of China Candide Thovex skis the Great Wall of China without Snow Candide Thovex never ceases to amaze. I think he’s actually pushing the climate change thing a bit by skiing on everything but snow while we still have snow to ski on, but maybe he’s just securing his future for a world without… Read More
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
