Mikey Franco has lived in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for 26 years. He started teaching snowboarding the first year he moved to town, and has been a guide for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort for 16 years. Franco recently took on a second job, snowboard manufacturing. He wanted to take the knowledge he had collected from years of guiding and teaching—watching people ride and listening to their terrain and conditions preferences—and integrate it into boards that were custom made for the rider.
The Dark Side of Brilliance: Donny Roth Balances Emotion and Reason in the Backcountry
AMGA Guide Donny Roth spends most of his time in the mountains, whether in Chile, Colorado or far-flung destinations. And as the owner and lead guide of Chile Powder Adventures, ski guide for Irwin Guides, an athlete and human-powered advocate, he’s logged countless hours evaluating both mountain conditions and his own passion for pursuing the sport.
Vertfest 2016: Alpental ski area
It is February, and the ninth annual Vertfest event hosted by the Northwest Avalanche Center has begun. Last weekend brought Vertfest to Mt. Bachelor, and this coming weekend, more festivities will be held at Alpental ski area. The list of events for February 13 and 14 includes an uphill-downhill randonee race, avalanche awareness, steep […]
Skiing on a high avy danger day
Until last week, Associate Editor Lucy Higgins and I had never traveled in the backcountry on a high avalanche danger day. It was not something I wanted to check off my bucket list, and neither of us dared to self-guide during conditions like those seen last Tuesday in Crested Butte, Colorado. But on that day, as part of a Dynafit press trip, Lucy and I were scheduled to head into the surrounding backcountry with Donny Roth of Irwin Guides.
Five killed in avalanche in the Austrian Alps
WATTENTAL VALLEY, AUSTRIA. This past Saturday, February 6, 20 skiers from the Czech Republic were caught in an avalanche in the western region of Tyrol. Five suffered fatal injuries, reports The Guardian.
Working for the Weekend: Presidential Spring
The latest episode of Ski The East’s backcountry series Working For The Weekend, “Presidential Spring,” might be the thirst quencher for parched East Coast snow enthusiasts. In the episode, Ben Leoni—a lawyer from Portland who spends his two days of freedom from the daily grind skiing with similarly job afflicted friends—travels to Mt. Washington to ski some technical, less traveled lines on the famous peak.
Backcountry Experience panel at SIA: Inside the Female Mind
DENVER, COLO. This past Friday at SIA, Backcountry Magazine Assistant Editor Louise Lintilhac led Inside the Female Mind, a discussion panel focusing on how women approach decision-making, group dynamics and problem solving in the backcountry. The panel, held at the Backcountry Experience’s booth, was comprised of journalist Berne Broudy, freeride athlete Lynsey Dyer, freeride athlete Pip Hunt and photographer and guide Kt Miller.
Boardroom: an interview with Christine Feleki, aspiring female splitboard guide
An aspiring splitboard guide from Canmore, Alberta, Christine Feleki is working over the next few months to gain the experience needed to pass her final guide exam. In a world where there are not many splitboard guides, and even fewer female splitboard guides, Feleki has put in the time honing the art of knuckle-dragger guiding and terrain management. Now, she’s on track to become a fully certified guide.
BACKCOUNTRY BULLETIN: FEBRUARY AVALANCHE AND BACKCOUNTRY COMMUNITY EVENTS
It’s February and winter is in full swing. Here is a selection of this month’s backcountry events you may want to brave the cold to attend. ALASKA CHUGACH NATIONAL FOREST AVALANCHE CENTER—FREE CNFAIC AWARENESS TALK Tuesday, February 2 | 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. | REI, Anchorage | More info: cnfaic.org CHUGACH NATIONAL FOREST AVALANCHE CENTER—FREE […]
Boardroom: An interview with Pallas Snowboards co-founder Stephanie Nitsch
Stephanie Nitsch is a woman of many hats. I first met her in 2014 at the SheJumps all-women ski and splitboarding mountaineering course, Alpine Finishing School, held outside of Revelstoke, British Columbia. She was there as both participant and journalist, and I got to know Stephanie through stories of her roving lifestyle. Now Stephanie splits her time between her house in Whistler, B.C. and Park City, Utah, where her new company Pallas Snowboards is based.
