Avatech, the Park City, Utah-based maker of proactive avalanche safety tools, launched an updated version of the Avanet app today. The redesigned app, available now through the iTunes store, incorporates route-tracking and observation-reporting functions, aiming to bring safety-information sharing to the masses.
Photo Gallery: Green Mountain Snow Soldiers
“The drill hall at Jericho, Vt.’s Ethan Allen Firing Range looks like a cluttered, dimly lit high-school gymnasium,” Tyler Cohen writes in the November 2015 issue. “And on a snowy January morning, it’s filled by more than 100 young-faced National Guardsmen, each preparing for a week of tactical and on-snow training.”
Testers’ Choice: BLACK CROWS CORVUS FREEBIRD
Tory Hayssen is clear about her preferred direction of skiing, saying, “I like the downhill best.” When asked what conditions she most enjoys, she told Backcountry that she prefers to go to “Pow Town,” but that “it’s all fun”—a good attitude to have no matter where you choose to shred. Here is what she thinks of the Black Crows Corvus Freebird.
VÖLKL V-WERKS BMT 109
Eric Tiffany is more interested in the downhill performance of his gear, but admits that as he gets older, he looks for that balance between weight and chargeability. Really, all he needs to have fun, however, is a few inches of fresh snow. Here is what he thinks of the Völkl V-Werks BMT 109.
Backcountry Bulletin: November Avalanche and Backcountry Community Events
With less sunlight drawing you outside, November is the perfect time to brush up on avalanche skills and hang out with friends. Here are some of the events to put on your schedule this month.
Testers’ Choice: Armada Kufo 103
“The less weight on my feet going uphill means I can carry more Grey Goose for my Black Russians,” says tester Jamie Krakowiak. She wants a skis that is “efficient and trustworthy at a reasonable price point,” and looks for deep snow in open bowls, but is willing to hunt a little for fresh in the trees if she has to. Here is her review of the Armada Kufo 103.
Women’s Ski Camps: Five programs designed to push boundaries
Gone are the days of using “you ski like a girl” as an insult. With the host of women’s ski camps available to females young and old, there are now more opportunities than ever for women to get out and push their boundaries on skis. Whether it’s backcountry skiing or resort shredding, these all-female camps provide the training grounds for experienced skiers who just happen to have two X chromosomes.
Testers’ Choice: La Sportiva Vapor Nano
LA SPORTIVA VAPOR NANO $1,200 – sportiva.com SIZES: 164, 172, 180, 188 DIMENSIONS: 130/102/120 WEIGHT: 5 lbs. 4 oz. (180) Buy Now Tested and Reviewed Tester Christine Raymond enjoys what she calls “light gear to climb faster and wide skis to float the powder.” While she is not a big fan of spring skiing, she does […]
Category Killer: Freerider’s Choice
Sometimes you just want to go fast, and for that you need power and stability in a ski. These sidecountry chargers value performance over weight savings.
G3 Issues Voluntary Avalanche Probe Recall
Genuine Guide Gear (G3) has issued a voluntary recall of their Carbon Speed Tech Avalanche Probes due to potential failures in their function upon deployment. According to G3, these failures are a result of force used when pulling the T-handle that tensions the internal cable. In certain models, excessive force with this action can weaken and possibly break the internal ferrule, causing the lower segment of the probe to disconnect.
