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 2 Dispatch
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 […]
Backstory: Tucks Someday

We are a ski family. My wife, Kristin, my son, Grant, and I all love to ski. But my teenaged daughter, Karly, loves skiing more than any of us, and today, she is jonesing to get on the slopes.
Backcountry Basecamp 2016: Smugglers’ Notch, VT

Jeffersonville, VT (for immediate release) – Backcountry Magazine, in association with GORE-TEX and Voilé, is proud to announce that it will return to Smugglers’ Notch Resort the weekend of February 27-28 as part of its annual BASECAMP Tour. “We’re thrilled to be able to bring our event back to our hometown,” says Adam Howard, Backcountry Magazine’s Editorial […]
IFMGA guide and Mountain Enabler Evan Stevens Digs in

Evan Steven is an IFMGA-certified mountain guide based out of British Columbia, where he works for half the year at his family-owned touring hut and guiding operation, Valhalla Mountain Touring. He and his wife, Jasmine Caton, guide human-powered adventures for months at a time, with thousands upon thousands of vertical feet logged over the course of a season.
2Point5Mil: Why I’m Doing It

This poorly conceived idea took place in January 2015, and when I finished out the day, something clicked inside me, though it took me another six months to realize what it was. Over the spring, while spending time in the Desert Southwest exploring slot canyons, climbing sandstone and mountain biking on slickrock, I was finally able to realize what I had to do.
Beartooth: this new device pairs with smartphones to aid in two-way communication without network service

FEBRUARY 22. A new device called the Beartooth, intended to be paired with a smartphone, is now available for purchase. The Beartooth serves as an off-grid phone accessory that is marketed as a communication and navigation tool.
Yosemite ski descent: Jason Torlano talks big lines and bigger rappels

Climber and skier Jason Torlano has called Yosemite home since childhood. And he’s in it for the long haul, noting that it has allowed him to see and interpret his natural surroundings in creative ways. Recently, he decided to attempt a rarely skiable line called the Super Couloir that is a section of the bigger line, Slipping into the Void. And because Torlano keeps an eye on home conditions, he was able to take advantage of the snow-filled line.
The Avy Report: Late February brings variable snow conditions

Earlier this year, we reported on a trend across the western United States of a depth hoar layer that, for many regions and avalanche forecasting centers, was a cause for concern. A month later, the primary concern for avalanches has shifted to a focus on ones of the wetter variety in many locations.






