April 2011 archive

Springtime escape to the Sierra

It has been an epic season. One that is still going strong, except, that is, for the number of people still skiing. Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t like I don’t still see other people when I’m out skiing the backcountry. But there aren’t as many, and the ones who remain are friendlier. I don’t …

Keep making backcountry turns

Avalanche claims Kip Garre & Allison Kreutzen

Very disturbing news. Kip Garre, local Tahoe area ski mountaineer and Allison Kreutzen were found dead this morning (28apr11) by friends in an avalanche debris pile at the bottom of a couloir on Split Mountain in the Sierra Nevada range. More details from Powder.com For more insight on Kip check out Backcountry Magazine’s story on …

Keep making backcountry turns

Review: Verdict on Telemark Tech System

Some may pooh-pooh this as being a fringe element of telemark skiing. Indeed it is. But the future is determined by those who push to redefine boundaries, not those who accept what is.

Face Off: BD’s O1 vs Voile’s Switchback-X2

Clouds were still spitting snow on the slopes around Tahoe and the trend has been for fewer and fewer customers as spring marches on toward summer, despite continuing to flirt with old man winter. The result was three to five inches of whipped cream on a smooth base of glazed corn. It felt sort of …

Keep making backcountry turns

Review: Colltex Climbing Skins – 65/35 mixed

First Impressions – April 2011 What struck me first was the deep blue hue. For 2011, that’s the color of Colltex’ 65/35 Mohair/Nylon mixed plush. More than that though it was nice to see a simple, solid-colored plush that wasn’t too bold, yet was distinctive. The next thing I was relieved to notice was that …

Keep making backcountry turns

Review: Black Diamond’s Glidelite Skins

After four years of comparing various climbing skins side by side it was time to settle on my fave pair. The choice was easy. Black Diamond’s Glidelite nylon climbing skins had excellent grip, decent glide, weren’t immune to icing but were less prone to it than G3’s Expedition skins, Colltex’ nylon skins, and especially Low-Fat …

Keep making backcountry turns

Review: G3 Zest

As one who came late to the front rockered ski party, I’ve had just over a season on a pair of Voile Drifters, and finally came to appreciate the early tip rise in powder, crust, sastrugi, spring mank and even windbuff.  As the Drifter is truly a fat powder ski, I was curious to see …

Keep making backcountry turns