In the year 2021, it would seem that telemark and mountaineering are now mutually exclusive concepts. With far superior technology and weight saving advantages within the alpine touring sector of backcountry skiing, there is almost no reason to be a ski mountaineer on telemark equipment. Yet alas, the years go by, and I myself am still here: a “modern dinosaur” …
The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting a lot of things, including ski season. Back in May 2020, Powder Magazine wrote an article predicting an impending wave of new backcountry users as a result of increased restrictions at ski resorts. While recreation is more important than ever for mental and emotional well-being, there exists the concern that those new to venturing beyond …
Fitness is leased, not owned, and the rent must be paid every day. In Part 1, Backcountry Ski Fitness, I wrote about the importance of intensity in your training plan. I forgot to mention, unless you have already built the proper aerobic base by doing high volume at lower intensities, you are unlikely to benefit from high-intensity training. Even once …
As some of us are getting early season turns, I bet we’re all amped for a full-on winter! We now move into our fourth winter season with avalanche education in the United States split into 2 tracks: recreational and professional. Here are my thoughts on this change and the current course structure. Make a Plan Like having a plan to …
If you read the reviews on the SuperCharger or V8, you know each ski is esteemed in the backcountry community. However, you might not know which ski platform is a better fit for you…
It takes relentless self-discipline to schedule suffering into your day. But if you do, you’ll find that at the other end of that suffering is a whole other life waiting for you. -David Goggins Backcountry ski fitness takes time. There is nothing that any of us can do to create more time. However, we can manage our time differently or …
Climbing, contrasting cultures, and the Creator When I was a little kid I loved to climb trees. Part of me loved the excitement and adrenaline of free soloing junipers and pine trees in my backyard. The other part of me craved the solitude and birdseye hideout. It was a place away from people, from responsibilities; a place to silently observe …
Bells on the door chime as you walk in while the shop dog lifts his head to acknowledge your presence before returning to napping. Aromas of burnt coffee and ski wax fill your nose while a Phish jam season plays through the speakers. Behind the sticker-plaster counter is the friendly face of your local shop employee, likely prematurely weathered due …
This blog started out as “10 Tips to Have an Awesome Trip to Japan.” However, as COVID-19 started to show up in late February here in British Columbia, it did not feel right to share a travel blog as we moved closer to a global pandemic. It has been a crazy year, to say the least. Japan in January 2020 …
Risk: possibility of loss or injury. Tolerance: the act of allowing something. From: Merriam Webster Dictionary As I was descending from the summit of Mount Matier to the saddle of the NW Face for our ski descent, I was awestruck by the beauty of the glowing, rimed snow pillars on the ridge. Distracted for a brief second during the exposed …
