Backcountry Ski Photos

Flakes – A Telemark Backcountry Skiing Video

Flakes – A Telemark Backcountry Skiing Video

Just when I thought about adding an AT setup to the quiver…a tele flick comes out


Backcountry Ski Season Is Coming…Are you Ready?

Backcountry Ski Season Is Coming…Are you Ready?

I don’t think words are required for this one.

Avalanche Skier POV Helmet Cam Burial & Rescue in Haines, Alaska from Chappy on Vimeo.


Summer in the Cascades

Summer in the Cascades

Who said winter is over? In the Washington Cascades, it’s winter year round.

More photos coming from this past weekends ascent of Mt Adams, and descent of the SW Chutes.


Backcountry Ski Photos 50% Off!

Backcountry Ski Photos 50% Off!

Winter is far from over here in the Pacific Northwest. Matter of fact, it appears to just be starting. But, there are signs spring is coming. Friends are wiping the dust off their mountain bikes…
For a limited time, any and all backcountry ski photos are 50% off! See below for a small selection of what’s [...]


Van Epps Backcountry Ski Tour

Van Epps Backcountry Ski Tour

Not many people know how extroadinary the Washington Cascades are. Heck, before I moved here I had no idea just how diverse and immense the Cascades were. Thankfully, I have a much better idea now…
This was one of those perfect days of backcountry skiing, when everything aligns just right: deep snow, cold cloudless skies and [...]


Dreaming Big

Dreaming Big

All backcountry skiers eventually reach a point where their local stash begins to feel small. Driving up to the mountain pass, they often peer into the distance at a wicked couloir or hear rumors about this epic 40-degree 3000 ft open bowl that is just over that ridge…
I often find myself in this situation and [...]


Recent Backcountry Ski Trip – Mt Rainier Slideshow

Recent Backcountry Ski Trip – Mt Rainier Slideshow

When it’s clear in Washington, there really is no better place than Mt Rainier. So this past weekend a group of us headed down for a quick ski. It felt more like spring then February but we weren’t complaining when we stepped out of the car at the parking lot near Paradise Lodge.
Rather than post [...]


Recent Backcountry Ski Trip

Recent Backcountry Ski Trip

Recent backcountry ski report posted on mackieimages.com.


The Science Behind Avalanches

The Science Behind Avalanches

I’m not sure if this is good or bad news, but regardless, it’s news. The New York Times just ran a story on the science of avalanches. As any backcountry skier knows, understanding how avalanches work is a bit of art and science…and, in my opinion, luck. The story is no doubt in response to [...]


US National Telemark Ski Team Heads To Europe

US National Telemark Ski Team Heads To Europe

It’s not backcountry skiing per se, but I have to plug the US Telemark Ski Team as they represent what “backcountry skiing” used to be…well sort…at least the free heel part. My wife, Jeannine, is a member of the ski team, although is admittedly having a more difficult time training this year, being in Seattle [...]


Can It Be? No Love in Whistler.

Can It Be? No Love in Whistler.

It’s been a tough year for backcountry skiing just about anywhere in the west. According to avalanche.org, there have already been 22 avalanche fatalities in the US and Canada. Not all of these were backcountry skiers, a couple were rock/ice climbers and almost half were snowmobilers.
Here in the Pacific Northwest, our season was slow to [...]


Not What You Want To Hear

Not What You Want To Hear

I just received the following email from a friend at the Northwest Avalanche Center. The email was originally sent by the owner of North Cascades Mountain Guides, Larry Goldie. As an avid backcountry skier, this is not what I want to hear.
Hello Skiers,
There is currently a set of circumstances in the backcountry that we
want to [...]


Backcountry Skiing Photo Of The Day

Backcountry Skiing Photo Of The Day

Winter has officially arrived here in the Pacific NW. Besides a few breaks here and there, it’s pretty much been snowing for the past two weeks. This is great for the snow pack, but unfortunately the backcountry is hard to reach and scary to be in at the moment. We’re not alone. The other day [...]


Cross Country Skiing in Seattle

Cross Country Skiing in Seattle

I never thought I would be skate skiing to breakfast…in Seattle!
Ok, so it’s not exactly an epic backcountry ski tour. But when you consider having to be aware of what’s coming around that next blind corner, it’s almost like exploring a new mountain.

And more snow is on the way!


Skiing Pic Of The Day: Kettle Range, WA

Skiing Pic Of The Day: Kettle Range, WA

Snow is finally starting to fall here in the Pacific Northwest and soon enough we should all be enjoying some backcountry ski tours. For now I’ll take what I can get, even if it’s a couple ski photos from past trips.
This shot was snapped on a three-day ski tour to the Snow Peak hut in [...]


How Bad Is It? Bad Enough to Run Up Mt Si

How Bad Is It? Bad Enough to Run Up Mt Si

It’s that bad. Dec 7th, 2008, and still no snow in the Washington Cascades. So what’s a backcountry skier to do? How about go for a trail run up Mt Si? Sounds like fun right? We’re getting desperate, but at least the 4,000 ft climb up Mount Si was under clear blue skies and afforded [...]


Think Outside the Box: Beautiful & Inspiring Winter Landscape & Skiing Photos For the Holidays!

Think Outside the Box: Beautiful & Inspiring Winter Landscape & Skiing Photos For the Holidays!

Time is running out on holiday shopping. Which is kind of scary, because with Christmas only a couple weeks away, there still is barely any snow in them hills! I woke up this morning, as I do every day, looked out the window and the Olympic Mountains are bare bare bare. It will come they [...]


Mt Rainier Backcountry Ski Tour

Mt Rainier Backcountry Ski Tour

There a lot of folks here in the PNW who actually ski year-round. I’m not one of them. But I do love backcountry skiing and there really is nothing like that first ski tour of the year. Despite a pretty abysmal start to the winter, we were lucky to hit Mt Rainier on a very [...]


Did someone say SNOW?

Did someone say SNOW?

It wasn’t so long ago that I was actually looking forward to the onset of spring. An epic winter in Whitefish, Montana, left me secretly yearning for sunny days and warm temps. Let me rephrase that, I just wanted the temps to rise above freezing so I could start training for what would be an [...]


Are You A Hoar?

Are You A Hoar?

One of the many benefits to backcountry skiing in the Pacific Northwest (besides tons of snow and huge amounts of terrain) is we don’t have to worry AS MUCH about hoar frost. Which is why, while living in Whitefish, Montana, last winter, I was always a bit nervous ski touring. Although I wouldn’t say Whitefish [...]


No Snow? Go Surfing.

No Snow? Go Surfing.

All of us backcountry skiers in Washington are waiting patiently for the snow to fall. In the meantime there are other adventures we can partake in. Unlike a large portion of my friends who are enjoying epic whitewater paddling at the moment, my wife and I took advantage of the abnormally warm and sunny weekend [...]


Backcountry Skiing Photo Of The Day: Paradise

Backcountry Skiing Photo Of The Day: Paradise

I don’t think you can find a single backcountry skier in Washington State who hasn’t anxiously awaited their day on the Muir snowfield of Mt Rainier. From novice ski tourers to experienced mountaineers, Mt Rainier is a skiers playground.
The below photograph was shot after a day of touring, looking down at the Paradise Inn, and [...]


The Real Deal: Backcountry Skiing Avalanche Video

The Real Deal: Backcountry Skiing Avalanche Video

A Dozen More Turns is a reminder that anything can happen to anyone while backcountry skiing.


Sunshine? Not Here in the NW

Sunshine? Not Here in the NW

It’s raining. Yup, it’s that time of the year. Actually, this time two years ago was when the NW received copious amounts of rain. Just check out some of these photos from Mt Rainier – http://mountrainierclimbing.blogspot.com/2006/11/mt-rainier-storm-flood-damage-photos.html. Believe it or not, there are sections of the park that are just now opening from that storm.
But that [...]