2016 backcountry skis – Ski testing part II In keeping with the first ski testing post’s focus on 2016 backcountry skis with 90-99 mm waists, here are a few thoughts on skis with waist widths in the 90’s. Generally speaking, for West Coast backcountry skiers, a mid-90’s waist on a backcountry ski is considered on the narrow side and remains a quiver… Read More
In this winter of lackluster storms and roller coaster temps around the West, I have learned one lesson over and over: the mountains always deliver. A mid-March trip to Powder Creek Lodge on the west slope of British Columbia’s Purcell Range was a great example of this lesson. The snow gods had been fickle for almost two full months, and so… Read More
The deepest snowpack in the Northwest this winter is in Washington’s North Cascades. I was lucky enough to catch a few bluebird days ski touring with North Cascade Heli and North Cascades Mountain Guides this month. We found some good snow hiding in the north-facing alpine reaches of the Washington Pass area. NC Heli offers a touring option where they… Read More
Along the Highway 20 corridor in the North Cascades, snowmobiles provide valuable access to backcountry skiing and having a solid set-up to keep your gear dry and attached to your sled is paramount. Giant Loop from Bend, Oregon makes a great waterproof snowmobile bag that suits backcountry skiers well. A quality gear set-up prevents the miles-long yardsale of gear and helps mitigate some of… Read More
The Dynafit Patrol Jacket is a lightweight, minimalist shell designed for all-weather touring using Gore-Tex Active 3-layer fabric. As a longtime softshell jacket convert, it’s the rare day that I seek the protection of a waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex type shell. So, when the Dynafit Patrol Jacket arrived at the office, I wasn’t convinced of its utility. Nonetheless, it was noticeably light. In fact,… Read More
Avalanche Engineers offers an inside look into avalanche snow science at Montana State University. These guys are more than a bunch of flakes; Avalanche Engineers follows two Montana State University scientists who delve deep into the mysteries of the snowpack to find out how a snowflake becomes an avalanche. Filmed in Bozeman, Montana, this mini-documentary takes you on a journey from the micro intricacies of… Read More
I’ve run the Scarpa Freedom SL for a full season of testing now, and it continues to live up to its first impressions as an incredibly lightweight and touring friendly alpine ski boot. I do not see it as a dedicated touring boot for a devoted backcountry skier but rather as the best of the crossover boots that provide alpine… Read More
The King Pin, Marker’s new tech-style AT binding is making waves across the internet this week. And for good reason, it sounds pretty cool. The tech toe is similar to the growing crop of tech binding options, but it’s the heel unit that looks to set the King Pin apart. It’s got a full TUV Din certificate for one. Second, it’s… Read More
There’s no shortage of books on avalanche safety, and Utah Avalanche Center Director, Bruce Tremper, is the author of one of the best, Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain. One thing books like Staying Alive and others lack, however, is a readability and first person approach that appeals to readers with a less technical background or approach. This readable, first person… Read More
Off-Piste the backcountry skier’s magazine, Issue 59 December 2013, ski pack reviews, ski cutting, Zed part II, Breathe
SKI STORAGE RACKS The pile in the corner of the gear room has grown larger over the last few years. My own ski quiver was substantial enough but adding my two teenage children’s collections has tipped the pile toward entropy modeled after storms in the Gulf of Mexico. I’ve dabbled with a couple of cobbled, home-spun ski racks made from… Read More
Scarpa Freedom SL Ski Boot If you are in search of one boot to serve your resort and backcountry ski needs, you’ll be stoked to see the new boots coming from K2, BD and Scarpa. The past couple of seasons have offered a great selection of lightweight three- and four-buckle boots for dedicated touring and this upcoming season looks… Read More
Persistent Weak Layers, Tele is Dead, Heli- Touring, Grumpy Old Shop Guy, Airbag Packs and more
Take Me to Valhalla . . . Sweetgrass Productions steps into the world of digital cinematography with their fourth ski film, Valhalla. Shot entirely with the RED camera system, the film is about “the weightlessness of youth, a wild tribe, and one man’s journey to rediscover the bright eyes of his childhood and creativity of every moment.” Having spent two… Read More
The Utah Avalanche Center does an excellent job forecasting mountain weather and avalanche hazard in Utah. Their website offers a wealth of information for anyone heading into Utah’s backcountry and beyond. Their latest video, a retospective look at last season’s record breakingly poor snowpack, is full of incredible avalanche and snowpit footage that illustrates the hazards of a shallow, continental… Read More
