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.
Eastern Avalanches: Unstable snowpack doesn’t care if you live in the east
Yesterday, David Lottmann, an AIARE instructor based out of Conway, New Hampshire, posted on the blog, North East Alpine Start, about an avalanche incident he witnessed this past Sunday, January 17 on Mt. Washington when five climbers triggered a slide next to where Lottmann was instructing an AIARE class.
Avalanche fatalities spike in western U.S.
Between January 16 and 24, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) has reported 10 fatalities due to avalanches—six of the victims were skiers or riders. Before Jan. 16, there had been no skier or rider deaths to date in the winter of 2015/16.
The American Alpine Institute forms Liz Daily scholarship for aspiring women mountaineers
The American Alpine Institute (AAI) is an organization that provides instruction for ice climbing, rock climbing, glacier skills and off-piste skiing to those who are looking to grow their skills in the outdoors. In a recent gesture, the AAI has set up a scholarship in honor of the late Liz Daley, snowboard athlete, mountaineer, guide and instructor for the AAI. The hope is that this scholarship, ranging from $1,000 to $2,500, will help more women venture to become guides like Liz.
Jackson Hole Basecamp: Day 2 Dispatch
The sound of avalanche control bombs rang in the break of day on Sunday at Backcountry Basecamp. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort reported five new inches of snow overnight and crowds were lined up for tram laps early in the morning. With fully booked guided tours and another day of demos during day two of Basecamp, skiers and riders were able to explore sidecountry terrain and learn about avalanche safety from Jackson Hole Mountain Guides and AIARE certified instructors.
Jackson Hole Basecamp: Day 1 Dispatch
The Jackson Hole, Wyo. Backcountry Basecamp stop started with mild weather and overcast skies. It was a busy weekend for the resort, with a recorded 59 inches of new snow falling between Jan. 12 and 21. The recent storm drew big crowds, and as a part of the Basecamp schedule of events, guided tours were offered with Jackson Hole Mountain guides where participants could get out-of-bounds and away from the bustle. Groups left through the backcountry gates after avalanche safety debriefings to find fresh turns.
Alpenglow Mountain Festival: a community gathers to celebrate the backcountry
Alpenglow Sports of Tahoe City, Calif., is looking forward to hosting the upcoming Alpenglow Mountain Festival for its third consecutive year this February. Festival organizer and owner of Alpenglow Sports, Brendan Madigan, is excited for another opportunity to bring together the outdoor community of the greater Tahoe area to celebrate backcountry travel.
Jackson Hole Avalanche Kills Splitboarder
JACKSON, WYO. A splitboarder hiking on pyramid path, located in the southern part of the Teton Range off Pyramid Peak, was killed in an avalanche yesterday, January 19. The splitboarder and Jackson resident, identified as Jed Wesley Foster, 30, was caught in a slide estimated to be roughly two feet deep at the crown, according to the Bridger Teton Avalanche Center. The avalanche carried Foster approximately 1,800 feet.
