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

Trip Report – New Yorker Festival, NYC

Trip Report – New Yorker Festival, NYC

| October 8, 2008 | 6 Comments

As a person who has accidentally made a half-assed career out of writing, I’m always in awe of the literary skills of the writers at The New Yorker magazine.  The sign of a good writer is when you can take a seemingly mundane subject (elevators, shoplifting, MapQuest, etc.) and turn it into a story that […]

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Chuting Spree Clue #2 –  Black Diamond Ski Boots!

Chuting Spree Clue #2 – Black Diamond Ski Boots!

| October 7, 2008 | 7 Comments

Follow five semi-weekly clues and be the first to correctly identify where the boots are hidden to win a pair (any size, any model) of Black Diamond Ski Boots! Clue:  Three countries have overlapping territorial claims to this ZONE.    Now if we could only get there from here… Know the zone? Don’t answer now – […]

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Clue coming soon – hold on for an hour.

Clue coming soon – hold on for an hour.

| October 7, 2008 | 1 Comment

I just returned from NYC late last night and will get the latest Chuting Spree clue up about an hour late today. It will be be posted at 11:00am instead of the 10:00am. Thanks and happy turns, Andrew

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Off to New York for a Few Days

Off to New York for a Few Days

| October 2, 2008 | 3 Comments

I’m heading out/over to New York City until next Monday to be part of the New Yorker Magazine Festival, which should be a blast.  The main reason for going is to be part of a panel on extreme sports, which is being moderated by Nick Paumgarten and will have alpinist Greg Child, long distance open-water […]

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16th Annual Backcountry Bash Fundraiser – Colorado

16th Annual Backcountry Bash Fundraiser – Colorado

| October 1, 2008 | 7 Comments

A few years ago, I gave a slideshow at a Backcountry Snowsports Alliance (BSA) meeting and had a chance to talk to the Directors and see what the program is all about.  In a nutshell, BSA organizes human-powered backcountry users into a single voice to help preserve non-motorized areas in Colorado’s public lands.  I think this […]

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Chuting Spree Clue #1 –  Black Diamond Ski Boots!

Chuting Spree Clue #1 – Black Diamond Ski Boots!

| September 30, 2008 | 41 Comments

Follow five semi-weekly clues and be the first to correctly identify where the boots are hidden to win a pair (any size, any model) of Black Diamond Ski Boots! Click here for the Chuting Spree – Black Diamond boots contest rules. Clue: One of the most famous ski runs in America is named after a member of the […]

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Chuting Spree – Contest Rules for the Black Diamond Ski Boots

Chuting Spree – Contest Rules for the Black Diamond Ski Boots

| September 30, 2008 | 13 Comments

With great excitement, I’m thrilled to announce that Chris “GoFo” Grover and Brad “B-Rad” Barlage of Black Diamond Equipment, right here in Salt Lake City, have donated a brand new pair, of any size or model available, of their new BLACK DIAMOND SKI BOOTS!  Can you give me a HELL YEAH!?  The rules and concept is […]

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Ode to the Voile Strap

Ode to the Voile Strap

| September 29, 2008 | 7 Comments

Duct tape doesn’t work very well for the cold, wet environs of ski mountaineering, but it hardly matters as there is something way better – Voile straps.  In terms of classic designs, these are right up near the top and incredibly useful for almost anything, including holding your skis together.  I prefer the Old Skool […]

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Sunday Photo – Dater Glacier, Antarctica

Sunday Photo – Dater Glacier, Antarctica

| September 28, 2008 | 6 Comments

I’m heading down to Antarctica (yeah!) for a ski trip in Novemember, so I have the White Continent on my mind. Today’s photo was one of my favorites from my first trip to Antarctica in 2000/2001 where we climbed a new route up the “backside” of the Vinson Massif.  Skiers crossing the Dater Glacier in Antarctica […]

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Winter – Coming Soon to A Mountain Near You!

Winter – Coming Soon to A Mountain Near You!

| September 26, 2008 | 5 Comments

Ahead of time, it often seems that the Black Diamond Avalanche Forecast Party is always held too early in the season, but inevitably, within a day or so of the party and seeing all of the skiers get back together after a hot summer, the weather begins to change and people start having skiing on their […]

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