Beacon, shovel, probe—it’s the basic backcountry checklist. But there’s more to a comfortable day on the skintrack than those three essentials— here is our second installment of skinning gear to keep you moving in the right direction. Want tester feedback on these products? Subscribe now or pre-order in our online store to get a copy of Backcountry Magazine’s 2020 Gear Guide […]
Skintrack Sketches: Artist and designer Joseph Toney takes an abstract view of the skintrack
Unconfined by the limits of ski graphic design, Toney often hits the skintrack to find his subjects, painting mountains he sees and photographs while skiing or hiking.
2020 Gear Guide: Skinning Gear Part I
Getting the contents of your pack dialed for a long day on the skintrack can be an uphill battle, from tackling morning-of skin prep for better glide to bringing the right layering options to survive sweaty slogs and bone-chilling descents.
Skintrack Sketches: How Eric Pollard balances art and professional skiing
Freeskier Eric Pollard has spent nearly two decades working within in the ski industry, from crafting skis with LINE to starting the film company Nimbus Independent—all while creating illustrations and paintings that capture these experiences.
After four years in the making, Vermont ski film Leave Nice Tracks to be released
For the Vermont-based Rochester/Randolph Area Sports Trails Alliance (RASTA), their film journey’s been a long one, but one now close to its debut. Editor in Chief Lucy Higgins first chatted with the men behind the film, Marius Becker, Dan Crienza and Kyle Crichton, in 2015 as they began documenting the alliance’s mission to develop a purpose-built backcountry ski network in the central Green Mountains of Vermont.
Closing the Loop
The Circular Economy: whether it’s the latest buzzword in sustainability or a term here to stay, its concepts are important in reducing our impacts to an amount the earth can sustain.
The Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival kicks off its 15th year
On October 25, the Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival celebrates its 15th year in Boise, Idaho with another round of films geared toward documenting the human-powered backcountry experience. At each show, Backcountry Film Festival Manager Melinda Quick says that viewers will be able to enjoy subject matter ranging from the topics of climate change to issues of accessibility in the backcountry
An Ode to the Old
It’s easy to forget, even among our single-use-plastic-shunning, bike-commuting, recycling, backcountry-skiing selves, that everything about ski gear is resource intensive.
Shaped by Snow: One Woman’s reflections on climate change, skiing and alpine habitats
I was drawn to Shaped by Snow, by author Ayja Bounous, who has followed the most important rule of science communication: connect with the reader through what they care about. In her book, she shares her own outdoor experiences while describing the very real threats to mountain ecosystems from climate change.
The New Normal
It’s 8:30 a.m. on a cold February morning, and we’ve been on the move for roughly two hours. I’ve sweated through my baselayer, and small crystals of ice are beginning to form on the cuffs of my sleeves. That’s not good.
