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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Greetings, weather nerds! Are you obsessing about ski season weather? Well, as forecast by the NOAA Climate Prediction Center in August, a slowly developing La Niña is beginning to influence ski season conditions. NOAA just released the latest winter weather outlook for December 2024 through February 2025, with relevant ski season weather trends, including temperature and precipitation. This winter, NOAA… Read More
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
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
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
