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Change of Fun - Skiing Mount Rainier
The top of the Emmons Glacier is benign by snow-walking standards. A planar rectangle of snow, surface unperturbed by just about anything. That surface under our feet is goldilocks firm, neither icy...
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A Very 'Brief' History of Skiing
From Humble BeginningsIt’s no secret that skiing today is often viewed as an indulgent pastime, one made possible by modern society’s abundance of leisure time and disposable income. For many, the...
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2025/26 Season Preview
Rumor has it that Old Man Winter is beginning to rouse from his slumber, meaning ski season is just around the corner! Once again, we're here to help navigate the turn with our annual season preview....
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How Risk Perception Shapes Our Time in the Mountains
The Risk Paradox: Does Experience Make Us Safer or More Vulnerable?For many years I have spent a lot of time thinking about risk in the mountains. What is risk? How can a person minimize risk? How do...
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Bolivia - Part 2: The Honey Badger and Golden Retriever
The next morning, we woke casually, made water, and slowly headed up Wila Llojeta. In the Southern Hemisphere, the directions are flipped. Since we were skiing a southwestern face, we were not worried...
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Bolivia - Part 1: Friendship Firsts
The 90% humidity causes me to gasp like a fish with too much water. Where the hell am I? The short answer is Cartagena, Colombia, in late June. Two duffles loaded with ice axes, ropes, crampons, and...
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Backcountry Ski Mount Points
Choosing skis can be a daunting task. There are many brands with many models to choose from. How are they different? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Which of them will work with your...
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Considerations for Skiing Lightweight Equipment
I’ll be the first to admit I swore never to ski lightweight gear. I’m 200 pounds and an 8-year PSIA Level II ski instructor used to titanal skis and 140 flex boots. But the siren song of speedy...
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Ski Technique for the Backcountry
The mention of backcountry skiing often conjures mental images of talented skiers slaying big lines in wild places. These images are probably based on a previously viewed twenty-second scene filmed...
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Telemo Co: Telemark Skiing for the Backcountry
Once upon a time, leather boots and telemark bindings were the only efficient way to ski in the backcountry. This beloved discipline started to fall by the wayside due to innovations in alpine touring...
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2024/25 Season Preview
After another eventful trip around the sun, we find ourselves waking up to crisp mornings, mountains teeming with color, and the smell of pumpkin spice. These signs mean one thing: October has arrived....
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Subscriptions for the Backcountry
Whether replenishing race skins worn out from a season of hard racing, guaranteeing a supply of wax in the perpetual battle against friction, or ensuring you're adequately supplied with your favorite...
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Contrived Adventures on Mt. Whitney
Have you ever considered doing a multi-pitch alpine rock climb with ski gear and skiing back down? If you said “No, that sounds dumb,” you are right! Not ones to shy away from dumb stuff, Garrett...
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Pakistan Exploratory Skiing
The Hunza District of PakistanIf you've ever thought about Pakistan in the context of ski mountaineering, you've most likely thought of the Baltoro region, which lies in the Shigar District in the...
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Ski Expedition Planning with Matt Randall
Why go on a trip/expedition in the first place?Maybe you have skied in the same zones for years and are looking to branch out (I’m looking at you, Wasatch powder hounds!). Maybe you would like to...
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Waxing Skis - the Basics, the Details, and Everything in Between
Part art form and part science, waxing a pair of skis often feels shrouded in mystery. Considering the consequences of a botched wax job range from ruined skin glue to ruined skis, it's no wonder why...
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Red Line Traverse
I wish to acknowledge the Western Shoshone, Eastern Mono, Western Mono, and Northern Piute peoples, their elders past and present, their future generations, and all Indigenous peoples that have called...
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Avalanche Rescue & Snow Science Gear List
Whether you just signed up for your first avalanche course or are looking to take your snow science nerdiness to the next level, having the correct tools for the job will allow you to get the most from...
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Backcountry Skis - How to Choose
With the increasing number of backcountry skis available, selecting the best one for the task can feel daunting. Like in many professions, there are specialized tools designed for specific tasks. The...
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Alpine Touring Boots - How to Choose
It's a fairly intuitive statement to say backcountry skiers enter the backcountry to ski. What isn't as intuitive, however, is the individualized experience each of those skiers seeks to gain from...
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