Mountain Mentors, a nonprofit that serves communities in Vancouver, Whistler, Squamish and Pemberton, B.C., offers a new way to venture into the mountains. The volunteer-led organization began in 2016 and works to pair and facilitate one-on-one mentor/mentee relationships, with the overall goal of creating backcountry spaces where everyone belongs and can safely participate. Mountain Mentors president Rosie Langford expands on what their mission means and what growth may look like for the community-driven organization in her own words.
Traslin Family Traditions
Andy Traslin first ventured into the backcountry as a teenager while on a family ski trip to Whistler, B.C., in the mid ’90s. Inspired by Scot Schmidt in Blizzard of Aahhh’s, he wandered out of bounds and started hiking along a ridge. “I just started walking randomly with no gear. It was definitely a learning curve,” he says. Mike, Andy’s older brother, remembers him heading off, adding, “We were like, where did Andy go? I guess he saw where he wanted to be and went and tried it.” This Forest Gump-like attitude of getting an idea in his head and going all in has earned Andy the nickname “Andy Gump” from his older brother. It’s also been a driving force for the brothers’ many endeavors, which for three decades have exemplified the sort of understated yet bold skiing for which the Sea to Sky is known.
The Art of Doing Nothing in Avalanche Terrain
In October of 2005, Ed LaChappelle, the man viewed by many to be the grandfather of North American avalanche forecasting, published a paper in The Avalanche Review (24.1) under the title, The Ascending Spiral. Of the many important points made in this paper, one stands out: do nothing in haste.
Pieps issues voluntary recall of DSP transceivers
Pieps has formally issued a voluntary recall of its DSP Pro, DSP Pro Ice and DSP Sport avalanche transceivers. The Voluntary Product Correction program was announced on March 3, 2021 for beacons distributed in Europe, Asia, the Pacific and South America. Details on a recall in North America are forthcoming.
Unstable Snowpack Nationwide: Forecasters talk what caused it, how do you manage it and when it will heal
In the vast majority of forecast zones, a weak snowpack has combined with a pandemic-driven uptick in backcountry use and excitement over fresh snow after prolonged dry spells. And as winter continues to gain momentum, avalanche centers are pushing through these challenging circumstances to communicate the risks of traveling in avalanche terrain through their daily forecasts.
In Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming Records Third Avalanche Fatality in a Week
Wyoming recorded its third avalanche fatality in a week yesterday, with the death of an individual in Grand Teton National Park in a line called the Broken Thumb Couloir. This fatality marks the 25th death in the U.S. in as many days. According to the Jackson Hole News & Guide, the Teton County Coroner identified […]
Wyoming reports second avalanche fatality in a week
A snowboarder was caught and buried in an avalanche on Wyoming’s Togwotee Pass on Thursday afternoon. He was flown to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. This is the second avalanche fatality in Wyoming this week and the 28th in the United States this season.
Forty-five-year-old Bozeman Resident Dies Following Beehive Basin Avalanche
Forty-five-year-old, Bozeman resident Craig Kitto died from injuries sustained in an avalanche on Sunday, February 14. Kitto was splitboarding in Beehive Basin near Big Sky, Montana, when he was caught, carried and partially buried in an avalanche.
Snowboarder found dead near Loveland Pass, Colorado
On Sunday, February 14, Colorado reported its eighth avalanche fatality of the season when a snowboarder was killed near Loveland Ski Area. The Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office has identified the victim as 57-year-old David Heide of St. Mary’s, Colorado.
An Unfortunate and Precarious Situation
by The Editors February 15, 2021
We owe our friends at Ortovox and Pieps an apology. But first, some context. Over a decade ago, we started our Mountain Account column as a way to help the backcountry community to learn from accidents and incidents in the mountains. We see this as an educational part of our magazine and, over the years, […]
