Check out our feature stories about backcountry ski gear, skiing and culture.
Hut Trip Packing List Eat. Sleep. Ski. Repeat. Few experiences capture this mantra, like a week-long backcountry hut trip. Waking up with the first climb just steps away from the front door is good living. And few places serve up the experience better than one of the many huts and lodges that make up the Backcountry Lodges of British Columbia… Read More
The Best Ski Socks Ski socks may be low on the gear glamour scale, but a fresh pair of good quality ski socks feels mighty nice sliding into a pair of boots. High-quality socks can mean the difference between a good day and a bad day of skiing. From comfort to durability, high-quality socks outperform cheap socks. The tight weaves… Read More
DIY Ski Wax Bench If you plan to do your own ski maintenance, a solid ski waxing and tuning bench is a must. Between keeping my skis ready to roll, setting up test gear and working on friends’ gear, my ski bench sees a lot of use. Ski widths exceeded the width of my traditional ski vices years ago, and… Read More
Marker Alpinist 12 Tech Binding Dynafit set the tech binding standard, and many have followed. One of the more recent alpine touring tech bindings to turn our heads is the Marker Alpinist 12. Marker is, of course, well established in the alpine binding world and first stepped into tech binding design with the Kingpin. Blending the security of an alpine… Read More
Ski Waxing for the Backcountry Backcountry skiing is a far cry from ski racing, but freshly waxed skis are still important to keep you sliding and slashing through the pow. And the good news is that ski waxing for the backcountry is not rocket science. In fact, it’s downright simple. You only need a few basic tools and supplies to… Read More
Dysfunctional climbing skins are frustrating at best and will put an early end to a day of backcountry skiing at worst. Fortunately, most climbing skin problems can be overcome in the field or, better yet, avoided through proper care and use. The following climbing skin tips and tricks will help keep your skins doing what they do best – sliding… Read More
Roller Ski Bags – The Only Way to Travel A minimalist at heart, I traveled for many years with the most basic of ski bags: a single-zip padded bag with a shoulder strap. I’ve looked on with envy at those traveling with roller ski bags as they effortlessly negotiate the airport and car rental counters but have never bought in… Read More
Vacuum Insulated Beer Growlers The evolving world of water bottles is heavily weighted toward vacuum-insulated metal bottles these days. The new breed of stainless water bottles is durable and free of chemicals. They keep cold liquids colder and hot liquids hotter than any of the basic single-wall designs we’ve all been using for years. The price is weight and dollars…. Read More
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
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
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
You know the drill. You know the feeling. There’s no real rush for winter to arrive, because we know it will arrive in time. But would the anticipation process be the same without some encouragement from the slow release of ski film trailers to help fuel the fire . . . Here’s the latest from the crew at DPS skis… Read More
