On January 12 of last season, Jason Layh, 44, and his partner embarked on a tour on Jobs Peak (10,638 ft.), located in the southeast corner of the Tahoe Basin on the Nevada side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Andrew McLean: The Wasatch Straight Chuter
For ski mountaineer Andrew McLean, ingenuity comes easily. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1961, he spent his youth moving a few times before settling in Seattle, Wash., where he ski raced before leaving to attend the Rhode Island School of Design. At RISD, McLean, known for bouldering the campus walls at night, was […]
25th Anniversary Editor’s Note: Townie Talk
“We don’t live in a ski town,” my friend said one night a couple of weeks ago as we sat on the deck of the Brewster River Pub and Brewery, dubbed the Brewski by locals. We were only a quarter of a mile from Smugglers’ Notch Resort, but it was off-season and still warm enough to sit outside. My response echoed off the unoccupied metal chairs: “What are you talking about?”
How Tahoe-based snowboarder Ming Poon swapped business for photography
Photographer Ming Poon, 36, has curated his life around a love for the mountains. After developing an interest in snowboarding at a young age while growing up in Vermont, Poon moved to California to attend Sierra Nevada College, where he scheduled classes and work to maximize time spent learning other skills, like snow science, safe mountain travel and how to ride in front of the camera.
Forecasting the Future
Eduardo Gonzalez, 46, is an avalanche forecaster for Pyrenees Heliski, based in the town of Vielha, population 4,000 and the capital of Val d’Aran. Gonzalez’s interest in forecasting began during a five-year freeskiing stint in British Columbia in the early 2000s—in 2006 he was caught in a slide in Whistler, B.C., triggering his decision to better understand the risks and dangers surrounding snowpack.
Life on High with Roc Sagrista
Roc Sagrista, 29, is a splitboarder, climber and hutkeeper for Refugi d’Amitges, a lodge that sleeps 74 in Parc Nacional d’Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici. The hut, situated at 7,759 feet and tucked within the Catalan region of the Pyrenees, has served as an entryway into the mountain range since its construction in 1966. […]
Summer Storage: What To Do With Your Skis and Boots
Spring is here. And in many places, so is full-on summer. But even though the snow is gone, that doesn’t mean skis and boots can be tossed aside until next season. Without any of that pesky white stuff to distract you, now’s the perfect time to properly clean, wax and store skis and boots, so they’ll be […]
Summer Storage: What to do with your jacket, pants and puffy in the off season
Winter is winding down, leaving a slew of winter gear to contend with in your closet, basement or car trunk. And while it may be easier to just shove your puffy and beacon into the depths of your closet and call it a winter, there are a few easy and quick steps to improve your gear’s longevity and ensure it’s as ready as you are once the flakes start flying again. Here’s how to treat your apparel with the respect it deserves.
Craig Gordon: The Know-Before-You-Go Guy
“I saw [KBYG] as a long-term thing,” Gordon says. “Sometimes, if I’m at a grocery store or a summer concert, someone now in their late 20s, early 30s will be like, ‘Hey, dude. I went to your KBYG presentation. Now my kid tells me that they went to it, too.’”
Margaret Wheeler: America’s Second Female IFMGA Guide
As of 2016, women accounted for roughly 11 percent of those certified through the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA). It’s a strikingly small percentage, but one that, through the efforts of Margaret Wheeler, is showing promise of an uptick.
