It’s hard to believe that I’ve lived in Crested Butte for so long that I can point to all the high peaks—Gothic, Axtel, Emmons and Whetstone—and say that I have been there. Same with most of the chutes, gullies, couloirs and bowls. But then the one spot I see right out the kitchen window every […]
Backstory: Winter Lost and Found
This winter I am going to ski the monster, the beast that created all those scary stories that skiers would tell when I was a kid. Tuckerman Ravine. Other skiers would brag of death-defying runs they survived down Tuckerman’s steeps. But despite always seeking steeper runs in my youth, I never got to cross it off of my list. So this season, I’m going to ski that boogieman.
Lodge Logistics: Pack, Plan and Execute a Hut Trip
Guided or self-guided? Purcells or Monashees? Late January or early March? Whether you’ve been to one backcountry hut or a half dozen, there’s still a whole lot to determine when planning your next trip. But for the guides and owners who run these outfits, the only thing that outnumbers their days in the field is the volume of tips they can offer for packing, planning and executing an all-time trip. Our advice? Think of lodge operators as your backcountry concierge and don’t hesitate to call when preparing for a trip. They have more beta than you can imagine.
Backstory: Adventurers Anonymous
I watched Maria and Bob pore over a map of the Icefields Parkway on the hostel wall at Lake Louise with some trepidation. They were committing the topography of the Rocky Mountains to “memory” and I was right to be nervous. Once they memorized the map off we went to the pub for a few […]
Gear Test Week: A Family Affair
When you read the dispatches from the Backcountry Mag crew on the status of their annual Gear Test Week at Powder Mountain Resort, you can’t help but think what a party the whole affair is. Indeed, a festive atmosphere does dominate the whole scene. How could it not? After all, a week of skiing where […]
Neighborhood Watch: The Wasatch Backcountry Alliance
No greater metropolitan area has a larger population living so close to the mountains than Salt Lake City. The Wasatch Front is home to more than 1.7 million people, 11 ski resorts and near-constant, seemingly ceaseless battles over open spaces. A lifelong Wasatch backcountry skier and president of the newly formed Wasatch Backcountry Alliance, Jamie Kent is now at the forefront of advocating for the protection of Salt Lake’s backyard bc. Here’s what he and his organization are up to.
Soul Patrol: The Backcounty’s Original Rescue Squad
Each spring, a 20-person volunteer crew works alongside New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington Avalanche Center to educate Tuckerman Ravine skiers and provide rescue assistance. The group is officially known as the Mt. Washington Volunteer Ski Patrol (MWVSP), and John Kneiriem, a 25-year Tucks patroller, leads the force. Here’s his perspective on patrolling The Rock Pile. Backcountry: […]
Spaceman: Greg Hill’s March Odyssey
“I hiked to outer space and skied back down in a month,” Greg Hill said over the phone as he boarded a Revelstoke gondola last week. “That’s pretty rad.” Hill, who is known for vertical challenges like climbing and skiing 2-million feet in a season (2010) or 50,000 feet in a day, set out to […]
Shred Test 2015: It’s A Wrap
I gave away an avalanche airbag today. And the winner deserved it. She worked hard all week. They all did. My splitboarding gear testers kick ass. I only wish I had more airbag packs to give away…. Fortunately, conditions were stellar in Crested Butte this past week, stoking the crew for long, productive days of […]
The Third Reverse: The 17th Annual GORE-TEX Grand Traverse
This weekend marked the 17th skiing of the GORE-TEX Grand Traverse, which typically stretches 40 miles from Crested Butte, Colo. to Aspen. But this year, the race was rerouted due to avalanche danger and run as a reverse from Crested Butte to the Friend’s Hut and back. Still, some 200, two-person teams toed the line in Crested Butte to compete in the third running of the Grand Reverse.
