This is a book that I had on my Amazon wishlist for quite some time…too long. But I finally got my hands on a copy. And once I opened it I had a hard time putting it down, despite some of the content being a bit scientific. In fact that was some of what I […]
Book Review: Training for the Uphill Athlete Read More »
Maybe you noticed the site hasn’t been active much in the last few months and maybe you haven’t…but the good news is I’m alive and have still been testing gear! After a summer with lots of mountain biking and covid-19 weirdness, we’re now fully back into ski mode. I’ve been out touring a few days
2020/21 Season Preview: New Skins, a Beacon, and a Cute Dog Read More »
Well…what a different world we’re in from just a month ago. First off, wherever you are, I hope you’re doing your best to practice social distancing and staying healthy. Avoidance of interaction seems to be the best strategy to prevent the spread of COVID19 at this point. Our sincere condolences to anyone that has lost
Backcountry Skiing and COVID19 Read More »
Terrain management is one of the three pillars of avalanche safety along with the snowpack and weather. Unlike the snowpack and the weather, terrain doesn’t change much over time. The snowpack will develop crusts with warm weather, but the angle of your slope won’t change because of some sun or heavy winds. Terrain management is
Avalanche Safety: Terrain Management – Slope Angle Read More »
I finally got to spend some time skiing and touring in the Salomon S/Lab Shift MNC 13 this season. Minds were blown when this binding was announced with its radical new design combining pins for touring with an alpine style toe and heel. But has it lived up to the hype? It isn’t perfect, but
Salomon S/Lab Shift MNC 13: The Ultimate Resort/Touring Binding? Read More »
I was looking for a new softshell for touring this year and ended up with the Mammut Ultimate V Tour SO. Yes, the name is a bit of a mouthful. What I was specifically looking for was a jacket that I could wear over a base layer while hiking. Something that was windproof (or close
Mammut Ultimate V Tour SO Softshell Review Read More »
Every season the ski gods bless us with more new goodies than you can shake a stick at and this year is no exception. Touring boots are better than ever, more lightweight tech bindings keep hitting the market, and as always there are new skis to test drive. Here are some of the highlights of
Hot New Backcountry Gear for 2019/2020 Read More »
I needed a new go-to touring pack this year for day trips and ended up going with the 32 liter version of the Mammut Spindrift. I have a smaller pack for quick trips (the Ortovox Trace 25 – review upcoming), but on colder days with lots of extra layers to pack or on longer journeys
Mammut Spindrift 32 Ski Touring Pack Review Read More »
Avalanche Airbags are all the rage these days and with good reason. The chances of surviving a slide with an airbag is way higher than without. This article will give readers a bit of background on avalanche airbag packs and then look at the best avalanche airbag packs in 2019. There are options for many
The Best Avalanche Airbag Packs in 2019 Read More »
In our roundup of the Best Tech Touring Bindings in 2019 we mentioned a new tech binding: the Fritschi Xenic 10. Fritschi was well known for years as the manufacturers of the ubiquitous Freeride frame touring bindings. But recently they’ve made waves with the Tecton and Vipec Evo touring bindings, which are hybrid tech bindings
Fritschi Xenic 10 Touring Bindings: Overview and First Impressions Read More »