Backcountry skiers and riders have been taught to dig pits for years, but the elephant in the avalanche education room has always been what role they play in your decision making. All too frequently we use them judge whether or not a slope is safe to ski—what do you expect when they’re often called “stability tests?” These tests, however, have serious limitations—both in the accuracy of their results and their interpretation—and, when applied incorrectly, can cause more harm than good.
Communities speak out in Patagonia’s Jumbo Wild short
Patagonia has a history of environmental do-gooding, and their latest mission revolves around preserving British Columbia’s Jumbo Valley, which has been threatened by development for more than 20 years. Partnered with Sweetgrass Productions, Patagonia recently released a short taken from the feature film Jumbo Wild, highlighting the human and environmental communities at odds with the proposed development in the area.
Snow Shooter: Brian Mohr
Getting the shot is just a bonus for Brian Mohr, whose seemingly unlimited appreciation for family, community and environment continuously bubbles over. As he goes with the flow, he has a camera along for the ride—taking photos as he inspects both the finer and bigger things that cross his path.
Powderwhore is Dead: Long Live Powderwhore
After 10 films, the makers of the notorious Powderwhore ski movies are calling it quits. A post last week on the Utah-based production company’s Facebook page confirmed the news. Drew Tabke caught up with Noah and Jonah to talk about their journey, why they’re hanging it up and what’s ahead.
Mountain Skills: How to really read the avalanche forecast
Avalanche forecast centers do a great job informing backcountry travelers about current conditions, weather patterns and the avalanche danger. In fact, when you start digging, there is a huge amount of information on an avalanche forecast center’s website. But to get the most out of the forecast and prioritize information, don’t just stop at the danger rating—use the forecast center’s site as a resource regarding past, current and future conditions.
Caltrans limits parking along Lake Tahoe, stirs controversy
Blood pressure is rising among backcountry skiers in the Lake Tahoe area and not just because of elevation. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has downsized some highly used pullouts along Highway 89 in the West Shore Region. For skiers who use those pullouts for parking to access some favorite Tahoe bc zones, the environmental improvements have been a tough pill to swallow.
Snow Shooter: Tero Repo
No newcomer to big-mountain photography, Finland-native Tero Repo has influenced photography trends and captured images of some of the best backcountry and freeride skiers out there.
Mountain Skills: Why Take Avy Two?
While most backcountry users end their formal avalanche training after Avy One, snow safety requires constant education.
The Offseason: T-Bar Films Gears Up For Winter
“We’re gearing up for what is going to be a big 2015/2016 winter,” Tyler Wilkinson-Ray says in an interview in the October 2015 issue. He’s half the two-brother team behind Vermont-based T-Bar Films, known for producing “United We Ski” and “Vasu Sojitra: Out On A Limb.” While editing their latest film, Tyler shot and produced a short, capturing his motivation, inspiration and outlook for the upcoming winter.
Photo Gallery: Hokkaido’s Heli Debate
In “Hokkaido’s Heli Debate,” Whittaker investigates a brewing issue on Japan’s north island, where backcountry and helicopter skiers are squaring off over the shadowy trees and sunny bowls of Shiribetsu-dake (3,632 ft.). “Can there be enough for everyone?” Whittaker ponders.
