July 2013 archive

Fridtjof Nansen: Visionary Skier

Nansen embodied the “idraet” ideal of Norwegian skiing, an almost mystical belief that skiing perfected not just the physical body but the individual spirit as well. The mountains were filled with sun, energy and joy for Nansen, a shining nirvana far from the constraints and “corruptive frills” of society. A manic depressive given to intense moodiness, he felt release and joy in the mountains.

Fey Bros. take over Crispi US Distribution

Fans of Crispi boots can breath a sigh of relief that their favorite brand will be available this season (13/14). The Fey brothers, owners of Telemarkdown.com and the promoters of teleboarding, the telemark version of snowboarding, have acquired exclusive distribution rights to Crispi ski boots in the United States. Crispi ski boots will be available …

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Review: Kelty Carport (take 2)

The utility of Kelty’s Carport should seem obvious. Though made to create a vestibule to a car, for car camping, it also doubles for whatever you can make of a three-sided, lightweight roof. When you know what you’re doing, it assembles in about ten minutes. On my last kiting adventure it was used to create …

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Bill Johnson, Olympic downhill champ, ends treatment

Former Olympic downhill champion Bill Johnson no longer wants to go through treatment after dealing with a life-threatening infection that has attacked his major organs. Hospitalized since June 29, the one-time daredevil skier refuses a feeding tube, even though it hurts to swallow, his mom said in a phone interview Wednesday. He no longer wants …

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Technique: Primary Search for Avy Victims

So you’re in the nasty position of having a member of your group caught in an avalanche. After cursing, now what do you do? Here’s the details for phase one of your search – obtaining a signal without overlooking any place in the slide path.

Profile: Yvon Chouinard

What’s wrong with getting lost? It may be the best trip of your life. You can’t get lost in this world anyway! In the lower 48, the most remote spot is a little piece of land in the Teton Wilderness—between Jackson and Yellowstone, 23 miles from the nearest road. That is as remote as you can get.

So that means you are within a day’s walk of a road. You can’t get lost. In fact, you should get lost. You know, if you don’t stick your neck out, don’t leave the ten essentials behind, you’re never going to have an adventure. You’ll never have what I consider to be a great day.

Review: Exped’s Dreamwalker (take 2)

Imagine a sleeping bag that you can get up and walk around in. Wouldn’t that be a dream come true? Wake up and smell the coffee – it exists already. All you need to do to enjoy this level of comfort and functionality is endure a bit of ridicule. For independent thinkers only. Sheeple need not apply.