Archive for March, 2009
Heliskiing Everest and Friends of Flagstaff
Access to backcountry skiing seems to have been an issue for at least as long as the sport has been around, but for me, the entire discussion changed on May 14, 2005 when a helicopter landed on top of Mt. Everest. Now the discussion is no longer if you could take a machine to anywhere […]
BackCountry Magazine Ski Test
Although I suspect my invitation to the annual Backcountry Magazine ski test extravaganza was a clerical error, I took them up on it anyway as it was a good excuse to drink Adam “Howie” Howard’s beer and ski at Powder Mountain. I’ve been involved with many ski tests over the years, but lately have been developing […]
Steep Skinning – Mindset
Having the right mindset is almost as important as the right gear and technique when it comes to steep skinning. You have to be into it. I was out touring with a friend from Switzerland in the Wasatch Mountains a few years ago and he refused to follow any of the existing skin tracks, which […]
Steep Skinning – Technique
The technique for steep skinning is just the opposite of skiing, which makes sense as you are going up, not down. One of the harder things to get the hang of is the idea of leaning back, not forward. Because touring bindings have a pivoting toe, it is hard, if not impossible to pressure the tip […]
Steep Skinning – Gear Adjustment
You don’t need any special gear to lay down a steep skin track, but there are a few adjustments you can make to your existing set-up which will help. Heel lifters are absolutely essential and should be turned to their highest setting. Don’t be bashful. Certified guides dislike heel lifters for their clients as they are […]
Steep Skinning – Part 1
Spring is here and the time is right for skinning in your top pegs. I don’t go out of my way to always pick the steepest skin line possible, but there are times, actually, a lot of times, where a steep skin track angle is much safer, faster and more efficient. Few things in backcountry skiing […]
Indian Creek – Photo TR
Continuing an almost full week of trip reports, I went down to Indian Creek on Wednesday with my long time skiing and climbing buddy, Brad Barlage. Brad is a sales rep for Black Diamond, which means he has the full-on pimp daddy ride (Ford Van), tons of gear, plenty of dogs and knows The Creek […]
Speedy Bowline Tie-in Trick
I took a skiing time-out yesterday to go crack climbing at Indian Creek, Utah with Brad Barlage. While we were roping up, Brad showed me this cool little trick for tying a Bowline knot around your harness. Bowlines are the King-of-Knots as they strong, simple and easy to untie after they have been loaded. Because […]
TR – Shooting Star Saloon, Huntsville, Utah
My mother’s side of the family immigrated to Utah five generations ago, but not for the usual reasons. Instead, they were here to start a brewery – Fisher Beer. The brewery has been gone for close to 50 years, but beer in Utah remains a topic which is close to my heart, or liver in […]
Superfly Open – Kiting Festival
The second annual Super Fly Open kiting festival was held this last weekend at Powder Mountain, Utah. Affectionately known as Pow Mow, the Eden based ski resort has an exposed ridgeline perched right at its summit which makes for perfect kiting conditions. There aren’t many obstacles to collide with and the wind can be moderated by going […]
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