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

Derail the Coaster Rally

Derail the Coaster Rally

| March 15, 2011 | 21 Comments

Ever since I moved back to Utah 20 years ago, Snowbird has been aggressively pursuing physical expansion of the resort to the point that it is almost nothing new.  On the Park City side of the Wasatch Mountains, most of the land is privately owned so development is a foregone conclusion, which has led to […]

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Skinning the Sliver

Skinning the Sliver

| March 14, 2011 | 2 Comments

Between warm temps, rain, sun, fog, flat light and crazy winds, it is getting hard to find good quality snow in the Wasatch lately. Thinking that The Sliver in upper Hogum Fork was probably no worse than anywhere else, we made the long trek in just for the hell of it the other day.

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Dave Hanscom, Alexis Kelner & Wasatch Tours 0

Dave Hanscom, Alexis Kelner & Wasatch Tours 0

| March 10, 2011 | 9 Comments

When I first got into backcountry skiing in the Wasatch, people were always referring to runs that were “in the book,” which unfortunately was out of print. You either had one, went skiing with someone who did, or figured it out on your own. I’d given up hope of ever getting a copy of the […]

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18,250 Days of Stayin’ Alive

18,250 Days of Stayin’ Alive

| February 24, 2011 | 27 Comments

18,250 divided by 365 is 50, which just so happens to be how old I am today!  Happy birthday to me – I’m going skiing to celebrate.  ;) Ed Viesters described 50 as the new 30, but in any case, I’ll take it as it is better than the alternative, which is not turning 50 […]

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Folding and storing skins in high winds

Folding and storing skins in high winds

| February 18, 2011 | 13 Comments

;) ___________________ Help support StraightChuter.com and get the best prices on the best gear at Backcountry.com! Click the Golden Gear Goat below:

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Hans Saari Grants – Deadline March 1st

Hans Saari Grants – Deadline March 1st

| February 18, 2011 | 1 Comment

If you have a Spring Ski Mountaineering project in mind, there is still time to sneak in an application for the Hans Saari Memorial Fund (HSMF) Exploration Grant, which is due March 1st and is done entirely on-line.  Save your postage for Ramen packets.

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Chututorial 101

Chututorial 101

| February 11, 2011 | 19 Comments

I happened to have my POV camera with me yesterday when I stumbled across the Holy Mole couloir, so I shot a little 10 minute “How I Ski Chutes” tutorial, or Chututorial.  Don’t get your Oscar nominating hopes up – it is pretty crude, but it does illustrate the thought process that goes into skiing […]

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Awesome Day with the Wasatch Powderbird Guides

Awesome Day with the Wasatch Powderbird Guides

| February 10, 2011 | 59 Comments

According to the Wasatch Powderbird Guides (WPG), many backcountry skiers appreciate their efforts at keeping the Wasatch backcountry safe by bombing it and enjoy the “sizzle” that a heliskiing operation brings to a mountain range.  I’m not one of them.  On Tuesday, WPG said they were going to be skiing in Mineral, Cardiff, Days, Silver, […]

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Whippet Sharpening

Whippet Sharpening

| February 8, 2011 | 13 Comments

Whenever I’m in JHole with Rando Steve chugging  down GU Chomps and Cucumber Mint Nuun chasers, he asks me how I sharpen my Whippets.  Here’s how…

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Wasatch Conditions – Jan 30

Wasatch Conditions – Jan 30

| January 31, 2011 | 4 Comments

After torrential rain to 11,000′, then a deep freeze, then three weeks of little to no snow and high winds, you’d think the Wasatch BC would be toast, but it has been surprisingly good.  The south faces are corning up and the ice crust is breaking down.  The ridgelines are still skating rinks, but there’s […]

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