Check out our feature stories about backcountry ski gear, skiing and culture.
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
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
Climbing 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… Read More
Hut Trip Packing List Eat. Sleep. Ski. Repeat. Few experiences capture this mantra, like a week-long backcountry ski 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… 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
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
Ultralight Boot Crampons – TechCrampon 250 The slogan, “If I can’t climb it, I won’t ski it,” helps keep me out of trouble. However, come spring, there are situations when a steep slope may be too firm to climb, but in time will soften into good skiing. Climbing steep firm slopes requires the right tools, namely boot crampons. But, for… 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 – No More Rusty Edges 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… 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
