Andrew McLean

Andrew McLean lives in Park City, Utah and is a gear designer, writer, photographer, ski mountaineer, climber, Mountain Unicycle rider and father of two very loud little girls.

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Andrew McLean's Latest Posts

Glacier Rope Set-up

Glacier Rope Set-up

| December 16, 2011 | 10 Comments

Because ski mountaineering is so varied, there is no one single “best rope” out there that covers all the bases.  Sometimes you want a short, light, skinny rope just in case, and other times you need a full length, beefy multi-fall lead line.  In the past I’ve carried a variety of 60m ropes  based on […]

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Ski Magazines Worth Buying

Ski Magazines Worth Buying

| December 8, 2011 | 1 Comment

I was perusing the magazine stand the other day and ended up buying not only one, but two skiing magazines, which doubles my combined retail purchase of ski mags for the last two years.  The first one was the 2012 Skiing Adventure Issue which I bought mainly for the Grant Gunderson double fold-out cover photo.  […]

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Antarctica 2011 – Trip Report

Antarctica 2011 – Trip Report

| December 7, 2011 | 12 Comments

It seemed hard to believe that anything could ever top the 2009 Ice Axe Antarctica Ski Cruise, but I think this year actually did.  In 2009 we had freakishly good weather (clear, sunny and calm every single day), but in 2011, I think we were able to get into more interesting terrain.  Part of this […]

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3D Topo Maps

3D Topo Maps

| October 31, 2011 | 4 Comments

The first (and most likely only) time I went on a CMH trip, it gushed rain for the entire week. This was a tragedy and the lodge staff said that they had never seen anything like it in their entire history.  One of the saving graces was that I got to spend a lot of […]

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2011/12 First Day

2011/12 First Day

| October 8, 2011 | 11 Comments

I thought the skiing was pretty good for October 8th, but my skis disagree and still aren’t on speaking terms.

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Snow in Park City – Oct 6

Snow in Park City – Oct 6

| October 6, 2011 | 3 Comments

I don’t think it will stay for the winter, but it was a nice surprise to wake up to!

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Haute Hut Cuisine

Haute Hut Cuisine

| October 4, 2011 | 0 Comments

We recently spent a night in a hut and I was reminded of an excellent food trick I learned last season from “Goldie” up in Whistler. Time and powder are of the essence with a hut trip and it is a shame to waste them by washing dishes and doing endless clean-up, which takes twice […]

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“Breaking Trail” review

“Breaking Trail” review

| September 30, 2011 | 1 Comment

I walked out of Brewvies theater last night after watching  “Breaking Trail”  expecting snow on the ground and found dry, hot asphalt instead.  Arrrg – pace thyself.  As penance, I swore it was going to be a crappy season with no skiing until early January.

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Rush v. Maestrale

Rush v. Maestrale

| September 27, 2011 | 19 Comments

The people of the backcountry will now hear the case of Rush v. Maestrale.  Please be seated. I don’t think I toured a single day last year in anything but Scarpa Maestrale boots.  For resorts, I have a pair of Scarpa Mobe boots, but I have yet to brave any touring with them.  I come […]

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Talisker Proposed Tram in Living Color

Talisker Proposed Tram in Living Color

| September 26, 2011 | 33 Comments

After being berated by Talisker’s tram lobbyist, Ted Wilson, I thought I should go up to the area in question and check it out myself to see if I was over-reacting to the issue. I don’t think I was.

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