Backcountry Skier Personalities Backcountry skiers can be a curious bunch. We come in a variety of flavors and there are several easy stereotypes to poke fun at. Of course, we all hold traits from a mix of stereotypes, but in the spirit of making fun of ourselves, we broke backcountry skier personalities into six classic stereotypes — Gearhead, Jaded Local,… Read More
Ultralight Insulated Jacket – Patagonia Micro Puff Down vs Synthetic Insulation A puffy or insulated jacket is essential gear for backcountry skiing. Ask a skier if they prefer down or synthetic, and you’ll find less consensus. While synthetic insulation is more durable, stays warm when wet and is better suited to the repeated stuffing and re-stuffing that a puffy experiences… Read More
Wow, Folllow the Forecast has some great deep snow footage. These guys really get the goods. Big Lines. Pillow lines. Deep Lines. Sit back and enjoy. Follow the Forecast
Recognizing Avalanche Terrain Avalanche Canada has a webinar series this season covering a variety of avalanche safety topics. Recognizing Avalanche Terrain and Trip Preparedness provides a good introduction to or refresher on avalance hazards. It includes info specific to Avalanche Canada’s website, but more it’s a solid overview for anyone looking to broaden their backcountry knowledge.
Chest Harness or Pants Pocket – What’s the Best Place to Wear Your Avalanche Transceiver Standard protocol for wearing an avalanche transceiver has long been strapped to your chest in its harness. In the last handful of years, more and more skiers are moving to storing their beacons in a pants pocket. Using a pant pocket makes for convenient access… Read More
You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows, but it sure helps when it comes to ENSO and remembering the difference between La Niña and El Niño and their respective influences on the weather in your local ski stash. Below is an article from the Off-Piste Mag archives that lays out the details about ENSO and… Read More
Fresh Ground Coffee, Anywhere! Coffee, the magical fuel of many an adventure and a daily ritual for many of us. And who can deny that fresh ground beans are the best way to make the best cup of coffee? The art of making coffee in the backcountry and on road trips takes many forms. Regardless of how you make your… Read More
GORE SHAKEDRY GORE set the standard to which waterproof, breathable outerwear is measured, and their latest innovation, GORE SHAKEDRY™, takes everything GORE-TEX is known for to a higher level of performance – waterproofness, breathability and lightweight construction. SHAKEDRY’s distinct design uses a GORE-TEX membrane as the face fabric and a 100% polyamide fabric as a backer. What does that mean?… Read More
The Man Behind the Maps – Legendary Ski Artist James Niehues Ski resorts and trail maps are synonymous. We’ve all poured over a resort map taking in the detail in search of the best terrain and the right runs or simply to decide which way to go. You might have guessed that ski resort trail maps are digitally rendered photographs…. Read More
Osprey Soelden 32 Backcountry Ski Pack Skins. Shovel. Probe. Layers. Goggles. Food. Water. Check. Packing for a ski tour isn’t rocket science, but dialing in your ski pack for easy access to the gear you want — when you want it — takes practice and a pack with thoughtful organization. The Osprey Soelden 32 backcountry ski pack balances a quick-access… Read More
Avalanche Rescue Probe Technique Aside from trying to understand the hazard and avoiding avalanches, most backcountry skiers focus their snow safety efforts on efficient transceiver use. Proficency with your beacon is definitely important. However given a burial, shoveling and probing can easily be the most time consuming piece of an avalanche rescue. Backcountry Access (BCA) offers a number of educational… Read More
Salomon TV Freeski Collective 2020 Movie Trailer Each day is one day closer to getting on snow and skiing . . . Get ready to make the most of it when it gets here. Salomon TV has some motivation for you with their fall/winter 2020 Freeski Collective Movie Trailer
Skins Maintenance and Glue Refresh Tips Climbing skin glue doesn’t last forever. It gets dirty, becomes patchy and turns gooey. Skin glue problems can wreck an otherwise excellent day of skiing. But there are some climbing skin maintenance tips and tricks to help you avoid the full (dreaded) reglue project. Refresh Climbing Skin Glue – Iron Your Skins Retouching skin… Read More
Three Leatherman Multi-Tools with Bit Drivers My backcountry repair kit is on the thin side when compared to many skiers, but I always carry a multi-tool in my pack – read more about backcountry repair kits. In my experience, the highest-use tools for addressing boot, binding and unforeseen backcountry issues are a screwdriver of one sort or another, pliers and… Read More
Huck Yeah Ski Movie Trailer The 2020 Matchstick Production Ski Movie Trailer Huck Yeah.The shot on location list reads like a skier’s bucket list: Jackson Hole, WY, Whitewater, BC, Whistler, BC, Alaska, Rusutsu, Japan, Idaho, Mt Baker, WA, Verbier, Donner Pass, CA, Mt Cain, BC, Troll Mountain
