Posts Tagged ‘backcountry ski touring’

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


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 [...]


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 [...]


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 [...]


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 [...]


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 [...]


Ticking Timebomb

Ticking Timebomb

This is not the weekend to go backcountry skiing, at least here in the Northwest. Interestingly, the reason for what could be a truly hazadarous weekend for any sort of ski touring, has less to do with the Pacific Northwest and more to do with the Rockies.
“This is the weakest snowpack I have seen in [...]


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 [...]


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 [...]


Rethinking Telemark Bindings: The Rottefella NTN

Rethinking Telemark Bindings: The Rottefella NTN

I’ll be the first to say, out loud, that anyone still telemark skiing or ski touring on the ‘old’ telemark bindings are crazy. Although I’ve only been backcountry skiing on the Black Diamond O1s for about a season and half, it took all of two steps to realize, very quickly, that we pin heads were [...]


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 [...]


Will You Survive?

Will You Survive?

Last night I was browsing the world wide web so I could share some avalanche education with my readers. I stumbled across the Forest Service avalanche center website and uncovered this pretty cool little interactive avalanche game.(Although I suppose calling it a ‘game’ isn’t very appropriate.)
I applaud the forest service for providing such material, even [...]


Backcountry Ski Photos: Fairy Meadows, BC

Backcountry Ski Photos: Fairy Meadows, BC

In the winter of ‘05 a group of us took a chopper deep into the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia. For a week we reveled in the backcountry ski terrain that surrounded us and the Fairy Meadows hut, mostly inspired, often intimidated. Temperatures were utterly freezing (at one point hitting -32 degrees!) and while we [...]