Telemark pioneer Paul Parker dies at 71

Backcountry and telemark skiing pioneer Paul Parker died Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, after a battle with cancer.

Hiring freeze puts avalanche forecasters in a bind

A recent Forest Service hiring freeze leaves the backcountry community concerned about avalanche centers’ bandwidths this coming winter.

Girl Winter: A New Film Tour Celebrates Women in Skiing

A new film tour, Girl Winter, is now showing across the country. The tour features six short films created by and starring women.

The Road to 3 Million

First Noah Dines fell in love with skiing. Then, he decided to ski 3 million vertical feet in a year. At just over 2.5 million vertical feet skied, he’s broken the previous record and he’s on track to hit his goal in the next few months.

Winter Wildlands Alliance 20th Annual Backcountry Film Fest

Winter Wildlands Alliance 20th annual Backcountry Film Festival will be premiering in Boise, Idaho.

Backcountry Magazine Barn Bash 2024

Join Union Bank and Smugglers’ Notch Resort for the 15th Annual Backcountry Magazine BARN BASH at the Cambridge Community Center on Saturday, November 9. Grab your mountain buddies for three great ski films including “Sven: Life In Front of The Lens” by Osprey and F4D Studio, and “Consonance” and “Nisei” by filmmaker and photographer (and former intern) Iz La Motte. Plus, great live music with Brett Hughes and Lowell Thompson, our legendary raffle, food from Spicy Spoke and beverages from The Alchemist, von Trapp Brewing and Lot Six Brewing Co.

All proceeds benefit the Cambridge Area Rotary Winter Wellness Days program which gives local kids the chance to ski and ride for free, regardless of income. For many of these groms, their five full days at Smuggs (and not at school) are their first introduction to snow sports.

Camaraderie and Couloirs: Chris Kussmaul’s Passion Project

Chris Kussmaul began exploring the Montana backcountry as a student at Montana State University. He found plentiful skiing, but very little information. With his guidebook, Peaks and Couloirs of Southwest Montana, Kussmaul set out to change that.

Setting the Bar: Anna DeMonte Records the Fastest Known Women’s Ski Time on Mont Blanc

When Anna DeMonte arrived in Paris, France for a work trip in February, she intended to use the opportunity to ski classic steeps in Chamonix before returning to her home in Utah. Four months and one Fastest Known Time later, she now hopes to inspire others.

Mountain Skills: Professional vs. Recreational Avalanche Training…what’s in it for me?

This winter, avalanche education in the U.S. will be evolving. The old system of Level 1, 2, 3 will be replaced with two options: a recreational track and one geared toward professionals. The goal of the split is to deliver better, more focused courses to each user group. So how do you know which one’s for you? Here’s the breakdown.

Mountain Skills: Hydrate or Die

We lose fluids through perspiration (sweating) and respiration (breathing). While ski touring, high elevation and drier air make this even more dramatic. And during the spring, warm weather further exaggerates the amount of fluid lost. Dehydration leads to a drop of performance—in stages from slowing down to bonking to needing medical attention.

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