The new film, Search for Freedom, looks pretty interesting. The Search for Freedom is a story told through the eyes of a group of people who helped create a cultural phenomenon. It is about the freedom that is accessible to everyone; the freedom that comes from living in the moment and doing what makes us feel the most alive. An… Read More
G3 ION Ski Crampon
G3 ION Ski Crampon I’ve been using the G3 ION tech binding this season in the backcountry and at the ski hill with great results. Given our less-than-stellar winter, I found I was in need of the ski crampon for the ION for a few adventures. Although the ski crampon functions much like any other AT binding crampon, the G3… Read More
Cascade Volcano Skiing Conditions
Cascade volcano skiing season is going to be a bit shorter than normal this season due to the low Pacific Northwest snowpack this winter, but the access is opening up earlier than normal. Most access roads are snow-free, but a couple primary ones remain gated as of this week. I’d think this should change soon. In the meantime, you can… Read More
Traditional Wooden Ski Building
Here’s a cool window into the old-school wooden ski building process. Way to keep the tradition alive . . . Making Traditional Wooden Skis from S Ensby on Vimeo.
Fritschi Vipec 12 Binding Review
The Fritschi Vipec 12, having weathered a few initial glitches last season, hit the market in 2015 refined and I’ve spent the past couple months logging hours on the current model in the backcountry and at the ski resort. The bottom line is that Fritschi has set themselves up as a viable player in the tech-binding market and the Vipec offers… Read More
2016 Backcountry Skis – Ski Testing Part II
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
Volcano Skiing
Here’s a quick time waster for your Tuesday. Volcano Skiing.
Burnie Glacier Chalet
Burnie Glacier Chalet Spring is underway in the valleys, but the mountains still harbor a taste of winter and that’s exactly what I got while visiting the Burnie Glacier Chalet outside of Smithers, British Columbia at the end of March. Located in the Howson Range on the east slope of British Columbia’s Coast Mountains, Burnie delivered cold snow in the alpine… Read More
Powder Creek Lodge
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
