At the end of February, there was a warming trend in the Rockies that, along with a stretch of no snow, provided uncharacteristic opportunities for skiers to get out and attempt certain lines that generally aren’t approachable until later in the spring.
Renoun Skis feels the Bern
Renoun Skis, a Burlington, Vermont-based ski manufacturer founded in 2011 by Cyrus Schenck, is making waves in the ski industry through their use of a non-Newtonian polymer in their skis’ cores that’s designed to increase dampening qualities. But this deep-space-sounding material is not the only thing setting Renoun apart.
Looking for Gold: An Adventure into Colorado’s Most Remote Wilderness
The plan is to take the 130-year-old, coal-burning train 20 miles into the Colorado backcountry where we will access Chicago Basin, a remote drainage containing three 14,000 foot peaks. The goal is to hike six miles into a base camp on Saturday, ski all three 14ers on Sunday and hike back to the train by 3 p.m. on Monday. It’s not lost on the group that this is an ambitious goal, but we board the train with optimism.
Avy Report: The difference between low and no
High pressure systems are making themselves at home in the Rocky Mountain region, greatly reducing the avalanche danger forecast ratings from Utah all the way up to Montana. This trend in increased stability sits in stark contrast when compared to that of January and early February when slab avalanches and depth hoar were prevalent dangers. The Utah Avalanche Center (UAC) reminds us, however, that “low doesn’t mean no.”
Snow Woes: Will There Always Be Winter?
“The long-term trend is moderating temperatures. Accelerating, moderating temperatures,” says Nick Bond, Washington State’s climatologist and the senior climate science researcher at the University of Washington. “It’s going to be two to four degrees warmer in 2040, on average.”
Backstory: The Ski Hangover
It’s 2:30 p.m. on December 23, and I feel awful. I am exhausted, and my heels and lower back feel as if someone is driving hot, dull knives into them. I have been on my feet since 5:30 a.m., working a retail window at the post office, and an unending line of people before me are looking to mail Christmas letters and packages. I try to hide my discomfort, and I try not to think of the five long days between now and my next day off.
BACKCOUNTRY BULLETIN: MARCH AVALANCHE AND BACKCOUNTRY COMMUNITY EVENTS
March is here, and the ski season is beginning to wind down. But for those of us who still have snow on the brain, it’s not over till the last flake falls, so celebrate your season at these upcoming events.
Smugglers’ Notch Basecamp: Day 2 Dispatch
The Backcountry Basecamp at Smugglers’ Notch Resort kicked off on Sunday under foggy, damp conditions. But as the day warmed up, any ice on the mountain became edgeable and visibility quickly increased. And with those improved conditions, skiers and riders began arriving at the Smuggs Upper Parking Lot, where they continued partaking in free demos and learning about the […]
Smugglers’ Notch Basecamp: Day 1 Dispatch
Jeffersonville, VT A rare bluebird day sparked off the third and final stop of the GORE-TEX Backcountry Basecamp tour, held at Smugglers’ Notch Resort’s Upper Parking Lot. After a week of dealing with rainy conditions, northeast skiers and riders remedied their vitamin D deficiency from first to last chair as they partook in free demos, […]
Backcountry Basecamp Raffle and Live Music
Jeffersonville, VT Join the Backcountry BASECAMP tour at Smugglers’ Notch Resort tomorrow, Saturday Feb. 27, at the Brewster River Pub and Brewery for a huge party and even bigger raffle. The event kicks off at 4:00 after a day of AIARE demonstrations, uphill how-to clinics and airbag demos, all of which will be located at a yurt-based […]
