May 2013 archive

Burger Barn: Good East Side Eats

  For travelers heading down from Tahoe to the East Side, there aren’t a whole lot of decent food options along the road. Most everyone has learned about Whoa Nellie Deli in the Mobil station at the eastern turn off from Hwy 395 up to Tioga Pass and Yosemite National Park on Hwy. 120. It …

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Beacon Review: Ortovox D3

  Note: Though discontinued this review is published for the benefit of those who are considering purchasing a used D3 beacon. Overview For those who just want a beacon that you simply turn on and follow the lights to the victim, the D3 is hard to pass up. Ergonomics The D3 maintains the classic, integrated …

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Review: Oakley’s SnowMad RAS pack

For the moment I’ve lost track of how many companies are planning to offer a BC airbag pack. According to a catalog I was browsing last week, there will be 26 brands of airbag packs in Europe alone, or maybe that was the number of licensees for avy packs working with the original ABS. With …

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Mono Lake’s Black Point

  The main goal was to simply get outa Dodge. A secondary goal was to go prepared to make some turns. It was possible, but we had to admit, the fanaticism to ski mediocre conditions has left us. We’ve become snot-nosed, cherry-pickin’ Tahoe locals who turn our noses up when we have to hoist our …

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Technique: Use a boot horn for cold boots

  One of the most common problems skiers experience is the simple act of getting in to their boots. This is especially true when the boot is cold and has an overlapping tongue design. Plastic ski boots do get stiffer as they get colder and if you left them in the car overnight you’re sure …

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Review: Burnt Mt. Design’s teledog – Spike!

  To the discerning telemarker, as oxymoronic as that may sound, there is a lot that goes into selecting the components of the best tele system. In the end it really doesn’t matter, you can’t make gear an excuse for poor technique but the right combination of a boot and binding can make a world …

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Technique: Prevent Blisters w/Knee Highs

  One of the most common foot ailments of skiers and hikers are blisters. Half the problem stems from imperfectly fitting shoes or boots. The other half from the manner in which blisters form. With a half-decent fitting pair of shoes or boots, blisters should be a rare phenomenon. However, even with good fitting boots …

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