Tag: backcountry skiing

Dave Beck: Architect of the Sierra High Route

  I’m schlepping a 65-pound pack up Symmes Creek Gorge, playing Sherman to David Beck’s Mr. Peabody, helping him escort seven clients on a ski tour of California’s Sierra High Route. We’re just an hour into the first day’s climb of 4,000 feet, and I’m stressed, spent, and wondering why I agreed to be Beck’s …

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Powder Mountain delivers for BCM Gear Test

  Howie put the question to me, live, with a video camera rolling. I hate being put on the spot like that. I’m a writer because I know how easy it is to say the wrong thing in the heat of the moment. It’s much better to consider the ramifications of what you say with …

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BCTalk: TR – Durrand Glacier Lodge

James, of the BCTalk forum, is pushing the envelope of mobile communication and filing blow-by-blow reports from the field while on his backcountry ski trip at SME (Selkirk Military Mountain Experience) in British Columbia. The terrain here is mind blowing and I like the Euro atmosphere. — James

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Review: Volken’s BC Ski guidebook for WA

  There’s another guidebook for backcountry riders in Washington. This time the author is noted guide Martin Volken, a Swiss guide whose training in the Alps has served him well in the glaciated environs of Washington’s volcanos and Cascade range. The book begins with an historical retrospective that lends insight to knowledge that exists only …

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SIA reports record equipment sales

Snowsports Industries of America released sales figures for the current season at the start of the annual trade show for SIA members in Denver, Colorado. Amazingly sales are healthy despite drought conditions in California, and below average snowfall throughout western states. Record holiday sales of $2.2 billion for the August to December period were up …

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BCTalk: 2013/14 Coast Mountain Conditions

Now here’s a thread with a pleasing mix of photo stoke and nerdy snowpack analysis. We did get results at 1930m on a NNW aspect in a full pit. CTE (5) down 18 SP; CTM (11) down 62 SP; and CTM 14 down 119!!! SC. On an extended column test at the same pit, we …

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BC News: Resort skiing Down, Tele Up.

  SIA has released their annual survey results and the numbers are what you would expect, if you know how to interpret them. Any way you slice it, the number of people skiing was down for the 11/12 season compared to the 10/11 season. Considering last season got off to a late start, and the …

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