Tips & Technique
Death by 1,000 Ounces
It is easier to ruin a trip by having too much gear rather than too little. The issue with too much gear is weight, and too much weight means reduced mobility. As Ray Jardine, the master of ultralight backpacking says “If you need something and you don’t have it, then you don’t need it.” This […]
The Simple & Sexy Munter Hitch
The Munter hitch is perfectly suited for ski mountaineering as it is simple, only requires a locking carabiner, can be fed quickly (for belayed skiing) and is reversible for belaying or rappelling. Also, unlike many belay devices, it works well with smaller diameter ropes. The downside of it is that it requires constant brake-hand pressure, […]
High Stakes Tent Anchors
Getting your tent shredded by wind or snow is an educational experience you only need to do once to appreciate how bad it is. They don’t just kind of explode, but go in a chain reaction of snapping poles and ripping fabric which leaves you wrapped in a cocoon of nylon and sharp aluminum pole […]
Rap Master
If you suspect that a ski descent might require a rappel, it is a good idea to bring a small assortment of gear in case you have to set an anchor. Trees and rock outcroppings are the best anchors if you can find them, but often times it’s necessary to whack in a piton, Stopper […]
One for the Road
One of my favorite pieces of travel advice came from a hokey little magazine article about family road trips, but the advice is applicable to ski mountaineering trips or expeditions as well. The basic idea is to force yourself (and your partners) to spend one minute of contemplation before you take off going through a […]
The Last Word on First Aid
First Aid and CPR classes are like classic literature—everyone agrees they are great, wonderful and important, yet few people have actually made it all they way through them. Skiers are optimists and the chances of ever actually having to perform CPR or First Aid are remote, which makes it easy to blow the classes off. […]
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