Portable Chargers for the Backcountry Electronics in the backcountry are the norm. Apps like Gaia (GPS), Strava, Avenza and RidewithGPS turn our phones into worthy gps and navigation 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 options. There are many portable chargers and storage batteries on… Read More
Ski Mountaineering Harnesses As a skier first and a mountaineer second, it’s not often that I use a harness while ski touring. But when the going gets technical or crevassed, you don’t want to be left wishing you had a harness with you. Here are two great ski mountaineering harnesses that offer no excuse to leave them at home. They… Read More
Roof Box Modification Rooftop cargo boxes are a great way to haul skis and keep your gear out of your vehicle. I have a Yakima Rocketbox, and I use it all winter long. I’ve noticed that my ski edges often rust when I leave my skis in the box for multiple days. Basically, snowmelt from the skis pools in the… Read More
BD Coulior Harness Guest Blog from Larry Goldie of North Cascades Mountain Guides The minute I saw Black Diamond’s new Couloir harness, I knew I needed one. In the never ending quest to lighten my kit, it was immediately apparent that this harness would likely bump my current ski harness out of its favored spot. I have spent the last… Read More
Book Review:Training for the Uphill Athlete:A Manual for Mountain Runners and Ski MountaineersSteve House, Scott Johnston, Killian Jornet$30 from Amazon Whether you are planning a week-long ski tour, a backcountry hut trip or looking to broaden your trail running horizons, your experience depends on your fitness. Whether you are looking to be competitive or simply enjoy the rewards of an… Read More
Ski Mountaineering – Ski Crampons and Boot Crampons Guide Climbing skins can only get you so far when it comes to summit attempts, climbing couloirs and spring ski mountaineering objectives. From firm boot packs to firm skin tracks, lightweight boot crampons and ski crampons are the ticket to efficient ski mountaineering travel. Ski Crampons Ski crampons are an underrated tool… Read More
Rain-X For Ski Top Sheets Snow build-up on your top sheets is part of backcountry skiing, and spring is the worst season for sticking snow. Warmer temperatures mean heavier snow, meaning you’re dragging more weight up the hill than necessary. K2 tried to address top sheet snow buildup with a p-tex top sheet material on their backside ski line a… Read More
I like to start a day of touring with an innocent-sounding question; “Anyone know what the hazard is rated today?” This question is a very effective way to begin a conversation with your touring partners about the current avalanche conditions. I like to follow it up with something like, “Considerable, eh? What’s our main concern?” Now, with a discussion about… Read More
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.
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.
Patagonia Descensionist 32L Ski Pack A good ski pack keeps a low profile. It needs to store 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 liters… Read More
It’s never too early to inspire your spring and summer volcano ski objectives. The DPS film crew travelled to Chile in search of mountain culture and skiing to brings us WALLMAPU. The Pehuenche people of present-day Chile speak Mapudungun: ‘the language of the land.’ This land, their universe, is known as Wallmapu. Two skiers enter into a breathtaking creation of… Read More
Prior Husume – XTC Construction – A Balance of Float, Power and Weight Handmade in Whistler, BC, the Prior Husume ski has been serving up all-conditions float and control for many years. The latest version features a 109mm waist and the same hard-charging, big radius personality as earlier versions. Crossover Resort and Backcountry Feel I’ve been skiing the Husume XTC… Read More
Dynafit TLT Speedfit Binding As the snow stacks up in the hills, so does the test gear in the Off-Piste Mag shop. The latest new tech for testing is the Dynafit TLT Speedfit binding. The Dynafit tech binding design has seen a steady evolution from the original Dynafit TLT to the now feature-rich Radical 2.0 and Radical ST bindings. The… Read More
G3 Alpinist+ Climbing Skins – Glide Model I’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 climbing skin available over the years, I prefer skins with. a hybrid… Read More
