A question that many skiers ask at some point is ‘Should I get touring boots or use my alpine boots for backcountry skiing?’ I know when I first started exploring the backcountry I asked myself this question. I used my alpine boots (which were freaking heavy) for the first 5-10 days of backcountry skiing. Once […]
Top Reasons to Get Alpine Touring Boots Read More »
Update: check out the updated 2019 versions of the best bindings for backcountry skiing: The Best Bindings for Alpine Touring in 2019 Part 1 – 50/50 Bindings Part 2 – Tech (Pin) Bindings As the backcountry skiing industry keeps heating up, more and more manufacturers are making high quality touring bindings. The number of choices
The Best Alpine Touring Bindings in 2018 Read More »
Is anyone else starting to drool over all of the new gear that’s coming out this year? I know I sure am. It seems like every year there is at least one new piece of gear that is unlike anything that came before it. This year there are at least 3 that fit that category!
2018/2019 Backcountry Skiing Gear Preview Highlights Read More »
There is nothing that can replace practice in the field and learning first hand from avalanche experts, but it doesn’t hurt to read as much as you can about avalanche safety. This list of the best avalanche safety books range from covering the basics to pretty advanced topics. There is something here for everyone. Personally
The Best Avalanche Safety Books Read More »
It’s a bright summer day as I write this, but I’m finding myself thinking about powdery days in the mountains. ‘Tis the season for teasers from this years big ski and snowboard movies, and this will have to be enough to keep me entertained until the snow flies again. It’s only a few months away!!!
2018 Ski Movie Trailers Read More »
Last season Mrs. HikeForPow got a new pack for Christmas to replace her aging Arc’teryx Silo 30. The Silo 30 was a good pack, but it was a bit too long in the torso for her. It also had a bit of an odd shape. It narrowed at the bottom, so fully packing it was
Osprey Kresta 30 Women’s Pack Review Read More »
If you are someone that spends time in the backcountry, you should definitely consider getting a PLB (personal locator beacon) or a satellite messenger. The nature of backcountry travel means that you are often out of the range of cell towers. Having a device that communicates via satellite can literally be a life saver if
The Best Satellite Messengers and Personal Locator Beacons of 2018 Read More »
The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the grass is starting to get green. Maybe you’ve already been out for a mountain bike ride or two, or you’ve started pre-season bike maintenance. Your beloved skis are probably gathering dust in a corner in the basement or your shed, and won’t be given another
End of Season Ski and Gear Maintenance Read More »
If you spend much time in the backcountry, you have probably considered getting an app with GPS tracking and topographic maps. Nothing can replace paper maps in terms of reliability (as long as you keep them dry), but GPS apps have come a long way. Another good alternative is something like the Garmin InReach Explorer+,
GPS Navigation Apps: Gaia GPS vs Backcountry Navigator Pro Read More »
Although an avalanche shovel is a fairly simple piece of equipment, every year there are small improvements made to shovel designs. They get stronger, lighter, and easier to assemble and take apart. This article will take a look at some of the best avalanche shovels currently on the market. If you’re looking for other avalanche
Best Avalanche Shovels in 2018 Read More »