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 them effectively? That’s where a 24-hour Level 1 avalanche certificate course comes into play.
It’s Snow and Avalanche Workshop Season
It’s snow and avalanche workshop season, when avalanche centers and educational organizations around the country bring in snow-science experts to share the latest insights. To help you find one in your region, we’ve compiled a list of the workshops we know about.
A Methodical Learner: Tim van der Krogt Brings Freestyle Flair to Splitboard Mountaineering
From dropping Rogers Pass pillows to ticking off some of Revelstoke, B.C.’s biggest lines, Tim van der Krogt brings freestyle flair to the backcountry
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 Precious minutes have passed, and you are still fumbling around on the debris surface because the outdated transceiver you are searching with is unreliable and malfunctioning. According to Dale Atkins, former president of the American Avalanche Association and a 30-year avalanche professional, any transceiver more than 10 years old should be retired, even if it has hardly been used.
Old Gal Powder: Thirty-Six Years of Friendship, Exploration and Skiing
From the peaks of the Himalaya to the office of Exum Mountain Guides in Jackson, Wyoming, Jane Gallie and Margo Krisjansons have formed a bond that stretches back decades. According to lead Exum guide Jess Baker, “They’re the glue that holds Exum together.”
40 Tribes: Backcountry Riding in Kyrgyzstan
In this interview from 2014, we talk with Ryan Koupal, who first visited the China/Kyrgyzstan border in 1999 and was deeply intrigued by the rugged, remote Tien Shan Mountains. So, after graduating in 2003 with a degree in Mandarin Chinese from Middlebury College, he returned to the Tien Shan while leading programs for Where There Be Dragons, a study-abroad program for high school and college students.
Mountain Skills: The tools and tricks to stay motivated in the skintrack
In 2016, Aaron Rice skied 2.5 million human-powered vertical feet, and there were definitely times when he just didn’t feel like skinning. He often wanted to ski one less run or even lay down in the snow and cry. But he knew that, to reach his goal, he had to become a master of motivating himself to start earlier, go longer, go faster and stop later.
It’s Getting Hot in Here: What Wildfires and Record Temperatures Mean for Skiers and Riders
Megan Michelson left her home in Tahoe City, California, last summer as the Dixie fire made air quality worse than that of Beijing on a bad day. While she was gone, the Caldor fire swept in from the south, displacing tens of thousands of people. After one of the worst fire seasons on record in the western U.S.—and one that hit particularly close to home—Michelson explored what it means for our climate, our winters, our snowpack and our skiing.
Outclassing the Old Guys: The College Student Notching First Descents in Alaska
First descentionist Zack Little has absorbed lessons from an impressive roster of mentors to become a leader among his peers.
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 doesn’t necessarily require a PhD in snow science or a guide’s certification. It takes common sense, good partners, a willingness to learn and, above all, the following 10 things that every skier and rider should know.
