RSSTips & Technique

My Most Valuable Piece of Avalanche Safety Gear

My Most Valuable Piece of Avalanche Safety Gear

| December 29, 2010 | 4 Comments

Without a doubt, solid partners are the A-#1 best piece of avalanche gear out there.  This doesn’t mean partners who can dig you out quickly, but more partners who are less likely to get you or themselves buried in the first place. Good partners come in all sorts of sizes, shapes, sexes, speeds and ability […]

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Enlightenment – Step 2

Enlightenment – Step 2

| December 23, 2010 | 18 Comments

Ahhh, I can feel the pounds falling away.  Tomorrow is my first day out with my lighter set-up and I can’t wait/weight. As mentioned in the last post, I am keeping my heavier Safety Pack and assembling a light one as well. Things that got the outright chop: Goggles – I use wide sun glasses […]

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Enlightenment – Step 1

Enlightenment – Step 1

| December 22, 2010 | 9 Comments

The process of reducing my total backcountry skiing equipment weight is harder than it seems. First, there are times when I definitely DO want the full-monty of safety gear and creature comforts, but it is hard to say exactly when that is.  For instance, during the past few days the avalanche danger in the Wasatch […]

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A Frame vs. Diagonal Ski Carry

A Frame vs. Diagonal Ski Carry

| December 17, 2010 | 19 Comments

Few topics get the fur flying among backcountry skiers more than discussing the merits of A-frame vs. diagonal ski carrying modes on backpacks. Blood will be spilled.

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Keep’er Steeper Skinning

Keep’er Steeper Skinning

| December 3, 2010 | 15 Comments

The other day I was out skiing with a woman I didn’t know very well and she mentioned something about “macho assholes who set steep skin tracks.”   Good thing it wasn’t a first date as she was most likely talking about me.  I love steep skin tracks in the same way that I love steep, […]

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First Run Strategy

First Run Strategy

| November 30, 2010 | 0 Comments

Within any single backcountry ski run there usually exists multiple options for skiing more or less avalanche prone terrain.  On the first run of the day, I’ve often formed an opinion on the snowpack by doing mini tests and making observations on the way up (as well as reading the UAC report in the morning), […]

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Warm & Blister-free Boot Fitting

Warm & Blister-free Boot Fitting

| November 8, 2010 | 17 Comments

I’m happy to say that I haven’t had a ski boot related blister for years and the last one I did get came from trying to mold my own liners.  Some things are better left to the pros. Here’s the not-so secrets to my blister free success… 1) Go with boots that fit your feet.  […]

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Bolted Rap Anchors for Skiing

Bolted Rap Anchors for Skiing

| April 5, 2010 | 11 Comments

Establishing rappel anchors on a ski descent is a labor of love and an art form.  On a first descent, you may have no idea what the route will require, so you bring along a selection of nuts, slings, cams & pitons and hope for the best.  Most skiing lines which require a rappel aren’t […]

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My Cook Kit

My Cook Kit

| March 30, 2010 | 9 Comments

Here is a blow-by-blow description of my cook kit.  I’ve developed this over many years and it is definitely geared towards melting lots of snow and cooking simple meals which don’t require simmering.

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Low Angle Circuits

Low Angle Circuits

| March 3, 2010 | 7 Comments

Due to the strange snowpack we have this year in the Wasatch, I’ve been skiing new, although not necessarily exciting, terrain.  I have yet to dig a pit as almost every time I go out I’ve felt collapsing, seen natural slides, triggered avalanches with ski cuts or dropped cornices, and/or seen shooting cracks.  Between that […]

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