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.

rss feed

Andrew McLean's Latest Posts

Expeditions – The Beginning

Expeditions – The Beginning

| May 7, 2009 | 5 Comments

John Ryan from “The Lonely Planet” describes the travel cycle as “dream, plan, book, go, come back,”  This covers it, but it is easier said than done.  To me, the “plan” part is the most important, but before that, you have to have a dream of where you want to go skiing. I get my expedition […]

Continue Reading

Expedition Season

Expedition Season

| May 6, 2009 | 4 Comments

To me, expedition skiing is what it is all about.  I love the idea of using skis to explore remote areas, the sense of commitment, the fun of travel, the great partners, meeting new people along the way, hopefully ticking off some challenges and more than likely adding a few more to the To Do […]

Continue Reading

Flagstaff Letter Writing Campaign – Part II

Flagstaff Letter Writing Campaign – Part II

| May 4, 2009 | 18 Comments

(continued from previous Alta history posting) In the current scheme of ski resorts, ASA has done a great job of improving their existing facilities instead of going on a manifest destiny land-grab like Snowbird, The Canyons and Vail. But times may be changing.  After serving as Alta Town Mayor for 34 years, Bill Levitt retired in […]

Continue Reading

Alta Trivia & the Proposed Flagstaff Lift – Part 1

Alta Trivia & the Proposed Flagstaff Lift – Part 1

| May 1, 2009 | 2 Comments

Although they share a common name and many of the same interests, the town of Alta and the Alta Ski Area (ASA) are different entities.  ASA runs the lifts & facilities of the ski resort and the township of Alta governs things like planning, the library, public safety, transportation and the budget for the booming (as […]

Continue Reading

A Trip Across Alta’s Ribbon of Doubt

A Trip Across Alta’s Ribbon of Doubt

| April 30, 2009 | 17 Comments

The Ribbon at Alta is a line that I’ve been meaning to ski for about the last twenty years, yet I never seem to get around to it.  One good reason for putting it off is that it traverses through the top of the Devils Castle Buttress with a whopping 600′ of exposure the entire time.  […]

Continue Reading

Sawtooth Photo Gallery & TR

Sawtooth Photo Gallery & TR

| April 27, 2009 | 12 Comments

My first backcountry skiing trip to the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho was about ten years ago with Mark Holbrook.  We went in to the top/back end of the range via a trailhead outside of Stanley and my main memory of the trip was that it was really cold, but had excellent skiing.  I vowed to come […]

Continue Reading

Heyburn Couloir – Sawtooth Mountains

Heyburn Couloir – Sawtooth Mountains

| April 25, 2009 | 6 Comments

I know, you are probably sick of videolettes by now, but this one actually has a mini plot line: five backcountry skiers climb up and ski down a jewel of a coolie in the heart of the Gem State – Idaho.  This was part of an outing with K2 Backcountry where we spent a few […]

Continue Reading

Top of the Hallway Couloir

Top of the Hallway Couloir

| April 23, 2009 | 0 Comments

Dropping into the Hallway proper from the low entrance.  The high entrance usually involves a little cliff, but as the snowpack is at a high for the year, it was completely filled in.  You can just barely catch a glimpse of it on the skier’s right about halfway down the upper chute. Back on Friday […]

Continue Reading

Top of the Hallway – video

Top of the Hallway – video

| April 22, 2009 | 1 Comment

And yet another little video clip – this one is leading into the top of The Hallway, which was much better skiing than the actual chute, which was full of chunky-style avalanche debris.  These little video clips were all shot with the trial VIO POV 1.5 camera that I’m demoing.  After a few days of […]

Continue Reading

Matt Straight-lines “The Slot”

Matt Straight-lines “The Slot”

| April 21, 2009 | 2 Comments

Another video while I’m in the Sawtooths – this one of Matt dropping a fun little slot in upper Mill D. ___________________ Help support StraightChuter.com and get the best prices on the best gear at Backcountry.com! Click the Golden Gear Goat below:

Continue Reading