Like most mountain guides in mid-March of 2020, I lost all my employment prospects for the foreseeable future due to the fallout of our worldwide pandemic. Ski patrol work at Big Sky: terminated early. Ski guiding season: terminated early. Denali guiding season: canceled. Summer guiding season: hard to say; maybe? Mountain Guiding to COVID Screening With limited options available, I …
Patience. A word we have heard a lot about lately, especially in regards to spring ski mountaineering. As ski mountaineers, we exercise patience often as we wait for acceptable conditions to line up with our specific objectives. Sometimes that means waiting until spring. This spring, Zach and I had our sights set, once again, on skiing the Grand Teton together. …
It’s no secret that Alaska is famous for its skiing. When you visit, it is mind blowing how big this place is and how many different mountain ranges and diverse climates it offers. For me, living here for 13 years now I am committed to life in the last frontier. A common question I get from guests I guide is …
The Camel’s Hump Challenge has been around for over 30 years. The Challenge Trail takes skiers on a 15-mile loop that circumnavigates Camel’s Hump, third tallest peak (4,083 ft), keeping you at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 2,900 ft and intersecting Section 20 of the Catamount Trail as it loops around the mountain. The Camel’s Hump Challenge is a benefit …
Before the ski season began I had grand ideas of the backcountry trips I would take here in the northeast; the places I would visit, people I would bring along, the routes we would explore, etc. However, as the season unfolded each plan faded along with the changing weather patterns. From planned tours around Mount Washington, the Presidential Range, Camel’s …
For those of us who spend our lives in the mountains, it’s mandatory to accept that nothing is given. A wide variety of factors can shut down a mission: weather, fitness, conditions, and preparedness all come heavily into play. But when 18 Alaskans set out in late March for the 2019 Alaska Mountain Wilderness Ski Classic, I don’t think it …
WINTER IS COMING Shorter days, lingering morning frost, and snow blankets the mountains- winter is near. Skiers and snowboarders itch to get back in their bindings. For lovers of mountain exploration, this season of anticipation is nostalgic and exciting. It is time for reflection on past trips and planning of future trips. Time for pulling out old gear and reminiscing …
Before this past October, I had never actually skied with Beau Fredlund. There were many times we would say hi and agree to find time to get out together. Unfortunately, the timing never seemed to work out. The closest we had come to making turns together was teaching an avalanche awareness course. But alas, one ski-run on the ungroomed blue …
There is something magical about the first backcountry hut trip of the season. The glistening tranquil forests with boughs laden, the fragrance of pine, and pixie dust floating down and sparkling in beams of light. It’s the hiss of skis gliding through snow, the tinkle of shattered hoar frost, and the cold nip to the hands and feet that spills …
Skiers and snowboarders are part of a nomadic tribe that can be found dreaming about the next turn, sometimes traveling to great lengths in search of pow. This summer, as the days were getting longer and temperatures higher, I found myself longing to get away from the scorching heat in Whistler, BC. Perhaps an adventure in Argentina? Traveling to the …
