State of Avalanche Education

The State of Avalanche Education

The AIARE Avalanche Education Curriculum Like many other readers of the Voile Blog, the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE), has played an integral role in my development as a backcountry skier. Chances are you and your touring partners have taken a recreational Level 1 Avalanche Education Course (or beyond) through AIARE or an equivalent organization. Founded in …

23/24 BIPOC Backcountry Scholarship Recipients

23/24 BIPOC Backcountry Scholarship Recipients

We couldn’t be more excited to share the essays of the 23/24 Voile BIPOC Backcountry Scholarship recipients, but first, we want to start by expressing our gratitude to everyone involved in making this scholarship happen. From the people who helped spread the word to those who applied and everyone in between. Your efforts bring this together and we’re incredibly grateful. …

Family That Skis Together

The Family That Skis Together

The Tele Mike V-Team Vlog This VLOG is dedicated to the families that ski together and the heartfelt familial connections that are forged in snow and ice. I always thought that I would be a fantastic father for a daughter to raise in the mountains in addition to my son who is quickly outpacing my ability to keep up with …

World Telemark Day

World Telemark Day 2024

Calling all freeheel fanatics Mark your calendars and start doing your lunges because World Telemark Day is right around the corner, and Voile is gearing up for an unforgettable celebration atop the legendary Alta Ski Area! On Saturday March 2nd, join us as we pay homage to the timeless art of telemark skiing amidst the incredible terrain of the Wasatch …

Setting Skin Track Header

Master the Art of Setting a Skin Track

During a day of backcountry skiing or riding, the vast majority of our day is spent walking uphill, usually quite slowly, to access our intended objective. It stands to reason then, that we should think about the up track as just as much a part of the day as the ski back down. As backcountry skiing continues to grow in …

Hut Trip

Hut Trips: How to, Heuristics, and Having Fun

Hut trips… This simple term evokes mental images of endless deep powder runs, quality time spent with friends, eating excellent home-cooked food, and living a life of backcountry simplicity solely centered around what skiing dreams are made of.   Of course, this is likely the general idea of what all of us are hoping for when we drop $1,000-5,000 on …

Be Curious Header

Be Curious, Not Judgemental: A Mindset for Approaching Avalanche Incident Reports

All Photos in “Be Curious, Not Judgemental” Courtesy of Aidan Goldie-Ahumada The backcountry is a harsh and unforgiving learning environment. While Backcountry skiing is a uniquely thrilling and multi-faceted activity that can give access to stunning and untouched natural landscapes, interacting with avalanche terrain comes with inherent risks. Over the years, avalanches have indiscriminately claimed the lives of many people, …

Wandering Trails Collage 22/23

22/23 Wandering Trails Scholarship Recipients

Each year the most challenging part of running this scholarship is having to select recipients from a pool filled to the brim with incredible applications. This year is no different! It’s truly amazing witnessing the bravery each athlete showed by sharing their stories with us. We couldn’t be more excited to announce Mai Li O’Keefe (Grand Prize) and Laura Wang …