Whether you want a GPS watch to track your turns, monitor your heart rate or give you a heads up when the barometric pressure drops too quickly, you have lots of options these days. We’ve come a long way from the digital Casio being your companion on a tour, and our editors have compiled a list of their favorites to help find the watch that’s right for you.
My Dog is the Worst Ski Partner
Following Michael Ferrara’s nonscientific study into people’s opinions on dogs in the backcountry, Tyler Cohen offers his rationale for why his border collie might not be the best ski partner. Cohen says Niva would be the most annoying of all skier types, the bro who won’t stop spewing stoke.
Do Dogs Belong in the Backcountry?
Longtime ski patroller and dog handler Michael Ferrara believes dogs can go backcountry skiing in certain situations. He was surprised to discover that not everyone agrees.
Highlights from the 2023 Gear Test Week
The skis, splitboards and testers have all gone home, but we still have lots of work to do. With another Gear Test Week in the books, we’re taking a couple of hard-earned days off before jumping into the massive endeavor of turning hundreds of review forms into our annual Gear Guide. We have a lot of info to parse—after we sneak in a little remote testing in our home range, that is.
Out of the Office: The 2023 Backcountry Gear Test Week
Hello, and thank you for coming to our website! Our editors and staff are currently very busy corralling 60 testers, 154 pairs of skis, 50 splitboards and more around Powder Mountain, Utah. Needless to say, we probably won’t have time to share any news on our website this week. Interested in learning about how our Gear Test Week runs or hearing about the latest trends in backcountry equipment? Head to our Instagram account, where we’ll share daily insight into next year’s gear and more.
Skier Dies in Slide Near Colorado’s Buffalo Pass
Steamboat, Colorado, resident Andrew Hyde died after being caught in an avalanche in Routt County.
Avalanche kills solo snowboarder in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains
Devin Overton, a 29-year-old Colorado native, was killed Thursday in an avalanche in the San Juan Mountains. Guides from a heli-skiing operation found the solo snowboarder after flying near the debris pile.
Avalanche Kills Skier on West Slopes of Wyoming’s Teton Range
Wyoming reported its first skier avalanche fatality of the season Thursday when a man was caught, buried and killed on the western slope of the Teton Range. Authorities are withholding the name of the deceased until next of kin is notified.
The Tough Things: Finding Serenity in the In-Between Places
Dani Reyes-Acosta shakes off the stress of her mother’s illness and the Covid restrictions keeping them separated with a frozen skintrack and supportive touring partners.
Checklists, Beacon Checks and Route Planning: Building Systems as a Backcountry Traveler
Avalanche educator Sarah Carpenter knows consistency is the key to backcountry safety. With that in mind, she’s created a system to make sure her beacon is turned on, her plan is in line with the forecast and her entire group is on the same page.
