Andrew McLean
Andrew McLean lives in Park City, Utah and is a gear designer, writer, photographer, ski mountaineer, climber and Mountain Unicycle rider. He and Polly Samuels McLean are the parents of two very loud little girls.
Andrew McLean's Latest Posts
Wasatch Backcountry Update – March 1, 2014
Another wild week with rain, snow, wind and dramatically fluctuating temperatures. But also some pretty good snow. The Red Snake returns – morning traffic due to avalanche control work. Warm and dry in the valley bottom and dumping snow halfway up the canyon. The “high” avalanche rating kept the crowds at bay. I think this […]
Skintrack Conversational Videos
Hardly a tour goes by without someone referencing a video nowadays. “You haven’t seen the one where the guy runs himself over with a snowmobile? Where he/she smashes into a rock BASE jumping? That avalanche video? Skiing like a Bagger 288?” It makes me wonder what people talked about before YouTube came into our lives. […]
Customizing Your Climbing Skin Fit & Finish
Skinning in the Wasatch Mountains is a unique experience and unlike almost anywhere else in the world. First off, most approaches to the hills can be measured in minutes and/or inches, so miles of miles of kick & glide do not apply. Second, we get a lot of deep, dry snow, so trail breaking is […]
Wrangell-St.Elias National Park & Preserve Photo Galleries
I’ve got more great photos from this area than I can even begin to publish, but if you are into backcountry skiing, it’s the place to be… 2008 kiting trip to the Bagley Icefield… 2010 – A Quick Trip and Surprise Wedding 2012 Wilderness Ski Week 2013 Wilderness Ski Week ________________________________ Help support StraightChuter.com and […]
Wasatch Backcountry Update – 10 Feb 2014
Be careful what you wish for – you just might get it. Two weeks ago we had such a rotten base layer that I was facetiously hoping for rain, which seldom happens in the Wasatch, until of course it started to rain at 9,000+ feet in February. This seemed grim, but then the temperatures dropped […]
Baffin Island & Patagonia Kite Assisted Skiing Presentation
This Thursday, Feb 6th, I’m going to be giving a presentation up at Snowbird on kite assisted skiing in Baffin Island and Patagonia. The show starts at 6:00 and a $5 donation gets you raffle tickets for great prizes and helps support the Utah Avalanche Forecast Center. It takes place in the Wildflower Lounge (21 […]
2014 Winter OR Show Recap
Every time I start to think I’ve been to a lot of Outdoor Retailer tradeshows (40+?), I’m reminded of the veteran sales representatives in the outdoor industry who have not only hit every OR Show, but SIA, ISPO and numerous regional shows as well, which puts their count well into the hundreds, if not thousands […]
Snowbasin Freeride Avalanche Workshop, Jan 26 -28
I took this workshop last year at Snowbird and am excited to be returning this year as an instructor. I’ll be giving two classroom presentations, teaching a ropes & knots mini clinic and partaking in all of the on-snow activities. My first presentation should be titled “Mental Case Studies in Avalanche Stupidity” as it covers […]
Racking Up Vertical For the Snow Leopards
Dynafit, in conjunction with the Sports Loft and Alta, are hosting a “Snow Leopard Day – Ski Touring Event” this Saturday, Jan 18th at Alta. It is a five hour event which will be held in the Michigan City area of upper Grizzly Gulch and features go-til-you-blow laps, with Dynafit donating 5 cents for each […]
Wasatch BC Report, Jan 13 – Wild Weekend
In 24 hours, the Wasatch went from some of the worst skiing of the season, to the best, and then back again. A much needed storm finally rolled in, but was accompanied by warming temps, howling winds and a touch of rain, which created a zipper crust all over. Polly described it as “skiing through […]
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