The Gondola Game: Smugglers’ Notch Resort owner responds to dustup over clandestine lift project
On June 1st, a secret, six-year-old plan to build a gondola between Vermont’s Smugglers’ Notch and Stowe Mountain resorts was uncovered by a local paper. While Smugglers’ Notch Resort president Bill Stritzler believes connecting the two resorts would benefit all user groups, locals have their doubts.
Ski Bum Dreams: A Vermonter follows her father’s skintrack
I grew up on lore of the Air Bears, my dad’s infamous group of college friends turned ski squad. Throughout my childhood they gathered for ski trips in some of the world’s most iconic terrain—from the … [Read More...]
Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Ski Mountaineering Course
When I look back on living in Oregon, spring skiing rises to the surface of my many cherished memories—the kind that have become fuzzy around the edges, the details vague, the feelings amplified. … [Read More...]
Dust-on-Snow Events Threaten Winter and Spring Snowpacks
When you think of spring skiing, what comes to mind? You might picture corn snow, zinc-covered noses and alpine starts. Sure, but … [Read More...]
In Relatively Average Season for Avalanche Deaths Across U.S., Colorado Approaches Record Number of Fatalities
As spring settles over Colorado, a sobering fact has become apparent: The state is just one avalanche fatality away from tying its record for the most in a single season. The Colorado Sun reported … [Read More...]
The Long Game: Knee Surgery, a Year of Recovery and a Record-Breaking Return
My grip strains as I cling to the Kilter Board, two holds from topping out on a 40-degree overhang, forearms pumped, left hand balancing on a sloper hold, left hip bracing the wall. Right hand on a … [Read More...]
Gearbox: Avalanche Safety Gear
Skiers give a lot of credence to which beacons work best for them, with good reason, but what about the rest of your requisite avalanche safety gear? Is a shovel just a shovel, meaning any model works … [Read More...]
Gearbox: 2023 Beacons
Editors' Choice: Arva Neo BT Pro $420, arva-equipment.com The Neo BT Pro’s name says it all. This Bluetooth-equipped beacon carries features that are worthy of any snow professional, … [Read More...]
Gearbox: 2023 Airbags
"Beacon, shovel, probe" has for years been the checklist backcountry travelers recite before a tour. But as airbag packs become lighter and more user friendly, that checklist may eventually need a … [Read More...]
Mountain Skills: Take the time to be prepared for early season turns
It’s late fall and many mountains throughout the U.S. have seen some decent early season snow. As a result, stoke is high and people are itching to ski. Not many ski areas are open yet, however, and … [Read More...]
Mountain Skills: How to Prepare for Your Level 1 Avalanche Course
Beacon. Shovel. Probe. For years, these have been the standard required tools for heading into the backcountry. But what good are they without the proper training in how to recognize hazards and use … [Read More...]
Mountain Skills: Why You Should Upgrade Your Avalanche Transceiver
Imagine your best friend buried under frozen avalanche debris. Precious minutes have passed, and you are still fumbling around on the debris surface because the outdated transceiver you are searching … [Read More...]
Mountain Skills: The tools and tricks to stay motivated in the skintrack
Mornings can be rough, and even the most diehard skiers experience days when it’s hard to get out of bed. You cringe at the thought of jamming your bruised feet into your wet-from-yesterday ski boots, … [Read More...]
Mountain Skills: Essential Education
The list of skills and knowledge needed to get into the mountains is never ending. In fact, it’s subject matter that numerous careers are built on, but safe and efficient backcountry travel … [Read More...]
Mountain Skills: Cody Townsend Ditches Deviance
What do space shuttles and backcountry skiing have in common? According to freeride skier Cody Townsend, it’s a relationship that stems from an explosion and a theory. Better yet, he’s adapted a … [Read More...]
Talking Risk: How to Better Understand and Communicate About Uncertainty
Alta Ski Area Snow Safety Director Dave Richards once said, “The only certainty in avalanches is uncertainty. The only time you know anything is when you are wrong.” Traveling in the backcountry means … [Read More...]
Mountain Skills: Knowing When To Turn Around
“It’s getting late. I think we should get off this slope and head back.” This is a statement that has good intentions, but the process behind it isn’t perfect. As spring approaches, the days get … [Read More...]
Mountain Skills: Hydrate or Die
I know a lot of guides who manage to ski all day and only drink a half-liter of tea. They also tend to have their first kidney stones around the age of 40. Fun! Conversely, when I toured with Greg … [Read More...]
Mountain Skills: Anticipating Point Release Avalanches
This article was originally publish in April, 2015. As the spring approaches, many of us turn our attention to steeper, more technical lines higher in the mountains. The layers of snow that formed … [Read More...]
