Break out the warm-weather wax and buy another propane tank for your portable grill—it’s corn, couloir and road-lap season. East to west, snow-removal crews are hard at work clearing high-mountain routes that have been impassable during the winter months. And soon, they’ll be ready to ski, offering high-elevation, late-season turns, hot laps and roadside grilling well into early summer. Here are five mountain routes to get you there.
Mountain Skills: Anticipating Point Release Avalanches
As the spring approaches, many of us turn our attention to steeper, more technical lines higher in the mountains. The layers of snow that formed throughout the winter begin to gain strength and the avalanche problem is less complicated—it’s ski mountaineering season! But as the temperatures climb, wet avalanches become a more regular, primary concern.
Editor’s Note: For Kathy
At the bottom of the world, Adam Howard finds fellow Vermonter and Swiss Guide Hans Solmssen
Into “The Darkest White”: Eric Blehm Discusses His Latest Work, a Deep Dive on Craig Kelly
From slalom racing to splitboard guiding Craig Kelly shaped the sport of snowboarding. Now, roughly two decades since his death, Eric Blehm traces Kelly’s life from his first snowboard to the fatal avalanche that killed him.
Pachinko Slots: Gambling in the Japanese Alps
While skiers and riders flock to Hokkaido, Japan’s northern island, Betsy Manero takes a chance in the Japanese Alps.
Teleskier, Humanitarian Kasha Rigby Leaves a Legacy of Uplifting Others
On Tuesday, Feb. 13, the world lost beloved, legendary ski mountaineer Kasha Rigby. But her impact extended far beyond the mountains.
Kasha Rigby Dies in Avalanche in Kosovo
The legendary skier and mountaineer is thought to be the only fatality in the slide at the Ski Center in Brezovica on Tuesday. This is a developing story, stay tuned for updates.
MR. & MRS. SMART
Being a mountain guide in Chamonix, France can be as romantic as it sounds, but it’s also hard on the mind and taxing on the body. And romance and fatigue usually don’t go together. So what if your lover is also a guide? Maybe your business partner, too? Meet Miles and Elizabeth Smart. They can get you into some of the hairiest places on the planet. And they share socks.
Staying Safe: Human Factors and Avalanche Education
From a dry December into a hazardous January, Hallie Benton explores local efforts and recent studies promoting avalanche education.
Atmospheric Flow
Gabrielle Antonioli first thought she wanted to be a doctor. But a sharp left turn put her on a different track: avalanche forecasting. Today, she’s working for Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center.
