Trip Report: Mt. Jefferson, OR (10,497 feet)

After punting on Mt. Hood a mere 1000 feet from our ski objective (the Wy’East Face) due to rain, wind, and general shit weather, we traveled south in search of redemption on Oregon’s 2nd highest volcano, Mt. Jefferson (10,497 feet). We did indeed find that redemption on the massive Cascade volcano, but in true Pacific Northwest fashion it came at the cost of some major physical output. After 9 of 12 days of backcountry skiing, long Cascade horizontal approaches, and plenty of obtuse weather, I was admittedly a bit knackered. But as this was our last day before heading back to sunny Lake Tahoe (and markedly less snow), we just had to go big. Earlier in the trip, as we drove north, I had spied “Jeff” in the distance. It’s proud summit pyramid, once your eyes are laid on it, is undeniable. You simply must go there to experience its proudly kept adventure.

From Wikipedia: “Mount Jefferson is a stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc, part of the Cascade Range and is the second highest mountain in Oregon. Mount Jefferson is in a rugged wilderness and is thus one of the hardest volcanoes to reach in the Cascades. Jefferson’s craggy, deeply glacially scarred appearance is especially beautiful and photogenic, and the peak has frequently served as a backdrop for automobile advertisements.”

Pamelia Lake Trailhead

In a well-noted continuation of the overriding weather during our trip, it was snaining as we launched ourselves down the scenic Pamelia Lake trail. While it would have been easier to travel the 3-plus miles to Pamelia Lake in hiking boots, we rolled in true Tahoe ski-mountaineering fashion wearing our ski boots. If you are going into a physically demanding day, why not up the ante and do it all in your ski boots? But I digress…..

Sunrise in the temperate rainforest.

Creek crossing made simple.

The miles and a bit of vertical passed quickly and in pleasurable fashion as we all enjoyed a landscape drastically different from that which we are used to in the Sierra. The temperate rainforest of the Pacific Northwest is absolutely stunning. Additionally, it is so fertile that critters, birds, and trippy Jurassic Park-style plants abound. Moving at your own pace, under your own power, under the watchful eye of these gorgeous moss covered giants is a special thing. Passing through wild areas is always unique, but when you are lucky enough to do it in a landscape that your senses are not used to, the sensory overload is quite profound.

Slippery forest ascent.

As we were attempting the SW Ridge of Mt. Jefferson, we headed upslope upon arriving at Pamelia Lake. Here we experienced the slippery goodness of light snow on a ton of deadfall sticks and branches. This made for difficult travel, to say the least. Our party of three thrashed upslope for around 1000 feet before we hit the Pacific Crest Trail, and shortly thereafter, good snow. The rain in the parking lot was of course snow at the higher elevations, which made all of us pretty fired up for powder skiing. However, it quickly became apparent that the snow-covered forest approach was morphing into a dust-on-crust ridge skin. Ski crampons were mandatory, followed shortly thereafter by boot crampons.

Matt Gelso (U.S.A. Nordic) on the SW Ridge.

Frozen branches.

After struggling up the ridge for some time, we were treated to freezing fog and our first views of the massive west flank of Mt. Jefferson from the SW Ridge. Any whining that was uttered during the treacherous skin was quickly quieted under the hulking mass above us.  Our ski objectives were wide open, and when the proud west flank came into view, we were in complete awe.

5000 feet of proud Mt. Jefferson West Face

Traveling up the avalanche-protected ridges of ancient giants such as Mount Jefferson is a Lilliputian affair. After a quick bite to eat and an assessment of the snowpack at 8000 feet, the group switched to boot crampons and launched onto the massive, twisting serpentine ridge that constitutes the upper half of the ascent route. While the ridge looked short, and the summit in plain-view, the SW Ridge of Jefferson is characterized by the classic foreshortening common on all volcanoes. The most aesthetic part of the climb, the upper ridge shown below ascends for nearly 2500 feet to the summit.

SW Ridge of Mt. Jefferson

Ascending the SW Ridge with the west flank in the background.

Climbing on the ridge proper was fast-going and exhilarating. Crampon points pulled us higher with successive steps. Towards the summit pyramid, there was just enough exposure and alpine feel to give the ascent a mildly spicy sensation. Perhaps a 4 on the Thai/ski mountaineering spectrum. The Cascades are seemingly littered with sastrugi, and the SW Ridge was no different. Frozen broccoli florets, albatross feathers, and various assorted fruits and vegetables watched our ascent as we kicked steps around them. These features make the Cascade classics even more intriguing.

Ben moving through the frozen landscape.

Ascending the SW Ridge.

Taking a breather on the SW Ridge

Upon reaching around 10,000 feet, we decided against any more vertical progress. The route turned into an ice climb, and for us weak-constitution backcountry skiers, this wasn’t an ideal descent. We polished off the remainder of our Nutella, almond butter, and honey sandwiches, hammered some Clif Blocks, and began to suss out our descent. Our snowpack assessment earlier in the day had shown massive instabilities in the shape of a foot of wind-loaded powder on top of a sugary crust. Accordingly, we decided to descend to the skier’s left of the ascent ridge. This wasn’t an easy decision, however, and each one of us had to implement sound judgement in order to balance the good and bad backcountry angels sitting on our shoulders. While the west flank looked like something straight out of an Alaska heli-drop, it had an eerie feel of no-bueno to it. Bad angel: ”Man, that west face is a gem line, one of a lifetime in powder.” Good angel: “You jackass! Look at the avy run-out into the forest 7,000 feet below!” Good observations, conservative decisions, and intuition allow you to ski another day.

Matt on the final few feet of our ascent with the rime covered summit in the background.

While the snow on the descent wasn’t epic, it had that big-mountain feel which always transcends poor snow quality. We took our time getting down the SW face, as the flat light and intermittent patches of blue ice made the going slightly attention-grabbing. But after approximately 1000 feet, we hit great powder, followed by hero corn at the lower elevations. Skiing off the Cascade giant was truly a massive treat. When we hit the Pacific Crest Trail, all three fo us could smell the stable 5 miles away. More importantly, after thrashing up 7,000 plus feet and many horizontal miles, we could almost hear the ice-cold Rainier talking to us….

PCT exit route.

We made it back to the car in just shy of 12 hours – happy, tired, and content. We celebrated with many Rainier brews and great Mexican food in the little town of Sisters, Oregon. All in all the trip was a success, although the list of desired ski lines only sought to grow in number as the trip progressed. If you have a chance to make it to the Cascades Ring of Fire, we strongly suggest it. Bring your hiking legs, Gore Tex, positive attitude and gas money. The majority of the Cascade volcanoes are worthy, stiff, physical endeavors. This makes the experience that much more awesome; after all, what is adventure if there is no struggle involved? A mentor once told me, “If it ain’t thrashin’ it ain’t backcountry skiing!” All the Cascade volcanoes are worth the effort, and if you put the muscle into an ascent, you will have experiences to last a lifetime. Happy travels.

The Haute Route, THE Classic European Ski Tour

Rich Meyer, Shasta Mountain Guide, AIARE Instructor, and Alpenglow Sports ambassador, recently guided the uber-classic Haute Route from Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland. Rich’s trip, a must-do for any backcountry ski enthusiast, is documented from the perspective of the professional mountain guide. Accordingly, Rich offers great tips for the aspiring Haute Route traveler and gets any ski enthusiast fired up with his amazing photography. Enjoy! For more information on Rich Meyer and his future trips, click here.

Starting in Chamonix, France and ending in Zermatt, Switzerland, the Haute Route is often described as the ultimate European ski tour – and for good reason.  It does not disappoint. There are a handful of variations of the route and some serious terrain, but it is VERY accessible for experienced backcountry skiers. The Alps are littered with high elevation mountain huts that allow you to travel from hut to hut with a very light pack. This is NOT backpacking on skis.

 

Ski touring from one glacier to the next, and from one hut to the next makes the Haute Route a unique experience.  Most folks are blown away by the remote alpine beauty and massive terrain that doesn’t ever seem to let up.  The tour culminates with a brilliant ski descent down to town of Zermatt, with views of the Matterhorn the entire way.

 

While it is possible to ski the route own your own, most skiers elect to do the trip with a guide.  The benefits of going guided are plentiful.  The serious alpine terrain requires expertise in ski mountaineering, route finding, glacier travel & crevasse rescue, avalanche awareness, whiteout navigation, and a host of logistical hurdles.  Those logistics alone might be reason enough to hire a guide.

Most guided adventures begin in Chamonix with a classic ski of the Valle Blanche.   The Aiguilles du Midi Tram can take you from town to over 12,600 ft in 20 min!  If the stunning views of Mont Blanc and the surrounding peaks aren’t enough to blow you away, the heavily glaciated ski run back down to Chamonix will. This day is often used to access skills, acclimatize, and prep guests for the next seven days of ski touring.

After another night in Chamonix most parties begin the Haute route with another tram ride boost up to 10,700 ft at the Grand Montets ski area.  Once folks ski out onto the Argentiere Glacier it is a succession of high mountain passes and huts all the way to Zermatt, over 100 miles away.

 

The Huts all have their own unique character and design.  All await your arrival with treats like cold beer and Rosti, both of which are an excellent choice after a day of ski touring.   “Rosti” is a Swiss-German dish of potatoes, often served with cheese, onions, bacon/ham, and the occasional fried egg on top!

 

 As you might expect, most days begin early with a basic breakfast and an amazing sunrise, with the goal of moving safely and efficiently thru the day’s objectives.  Managing the peaks, passes, glaciers, avalanche hazards, and other dangers requires due diligence.

Some days might cover as much as 10-20 miles and 3000-4000 vertical feet of climbing, others much less.  Along the way you might summit a 3rd or 4th class peak like the Rosablanche, or rappel down from the Col du Chardonnet.   Each has its own character.    The high point of the tour is the summit of Pigne d’Arolla (12,455 ft) on the way to the Vignettes Hut.

 

After arriving at the hut there is typically plenty of time to hang out with new friends, enjoy a cold beverage, go for a little bonus ski tour, take a nap, or just relax on the sunny deck.  The final day of the tour takes you (literally) into the town of Zermatt.  Where you could easily hang out for days skiing and relaxing under the watchful eye of the Matterhorn.  Don’t worry, your guide has arranged for your bags to be waiting for you.

 

Sound good?  Here are some tips for your Haute Route adventure:

Bring the right gear.  This alone can make or break your trip. You will enjoy the trip significantly more if you ditch many of those little extras.  Think fast and light!  Don’t worry: the huts will provide pillows, blankets, hut shoes, and all the food & drink you need.  Keep in mind; it’s perfectly acceptable to hang out in smelly ski clothes.  That’s what the guys at the table next to you are doing.

Consider skis 85-95 mm under foot and not too long.  To quote a long time ski mountaineering friend, “Of course you can turn a longer/fatter ski, the question is whether you need to?”   For this years trip I brought a pair of K2 Sideshow Skis that were 92mm under foot, and only 181cm – a small ski for me.  I also used Dynafit bindings and Dynafit ski crampons, which are very light and very durable.  Along with C.A.M.P. light aluminum crampons and ice axe.

Practice your ski touring skills.  Good skinning technique is learned and comes with a lot mileage…  Especially those kick turns!

Be prepared for all conditions.  You will inevitability encounter variable snow and weather. Some days will be epic corn and powder, some will not. Be ready for: cold, wind, sun, firm snow, wet snow, whiteout travel, and all sorts of crusts in between. This year I partnered with Dave Miller (Good friend and fully certified IFMGA guide) and we had to divert into a local town so as to avoid a really nasty storm!   Having a well-prepared tour plan and the appropriate gear made it a minor inconvenience, instead of an epic.

Get out there and get after it! Photo Credits: Chris Carr

Trip Report: Mt. Adams (12,281 feet)

After our jaunt up Mt. St. Helens, our crew was hungry for some larger mountain skiing. With this in mind, we headed to Washington’s second highest (12,280 feet) stratovolcano, Mt. Adams. Adams  fits the bill of “big mountain skiing,” and is located in a remote wilderness 31 miles east of Mt. St. Helens and just a few miles north of Hood River, Oregon. Air travelers flying the busy routes above the area sometimes confuse Mount Adams with nearby Mount Rainier, which has a similar flat-topped shape. The mountain itself is made up of an interesting subdivision of acreage: the upper mountain consists of the Mt. Adams Wilderness, the east component belongs to the Yakima nation, and below the wilderness boundary, snowmobiles run wild. The area is obviously cherished, as the Pacific Crest Trail passes through the zone in the summer. An interesting side note is that the glaciated aspects of the mountain have decreased by 49% since 1904. For more cool information on the peak, click here.

Most of the research we conducted prior to our arrival consisted of phone calls to the local climbing ranger, and beta gleaned from www.turns-all-year.com. If you head to the PNW, this is an awesome resource for everything Cascades, from trip reports to conditions to weather. What PNW backcountry skiers told us was that we were too early to ski Mt. Adams. Apparently the peak normally gets skied in June and July, when skiers can virtually drive to timberline. But being fit skiers from Tahoe, and extremely fired up, we decided an attempt on one of the most sought-after descents in the Cascades was worth it. But…we definitely had to work for it. We arrived in the late afternoon on day 1 to realize that our intended trailhead of departure was buried under multiple feet of snow and was literally miles away. We were a little apprehensive with this, as it meant a monster approach consisting of 5 miles of relatively flat and rolling terrain. But since we had the time to bang it out, and thought that a quick bivy at 5k on a volcano would be pretty sweet, we packed our bags, wiped our noses, and got on with it.

While none of us would categorize the slog into our intended bivy at 5000 feet as fun, it was adventurous and the scenery was beautiful. Plus, we came to the mountains for adventure, and no one said that was ever easy. As we gained elevation ever so slightly, we passed into the Lava Flow and headed towards our intended ascent route, the Suksdorf Ridge vicinity. En route, we gained what the local sledders called “the burn,” a ghostly landscape of several hundred acres of wildfire detritus. This area was quite beautiful pitched against the backdrop of Mt. Adams, and was enough to keep our minds off the sweltering temperatures and miles of flat terrain.

After three or so hours, 8 miles, and 3500 feet of vertical gain, we reached our camp on top of the Lava Flow. Camp was pitched and we were quickly enjoying our burritos along with a wonderful Cascades sunset. We set our alarms and start time, and quickly fell asleep under the watchful eye of the mountain. Out goal come morning was to blast up the Suksdorf Ridge proximity, assess the snow, and see if we could get down the classic South West Chutes and back to camp in a sane fashion.

The morning dawned clear and cold, and conditions were perfect for a quick ascent. Our team of three moved fast and seamlessly through timberline and up the south headwall to Piker’s Peak at 11,600 feet. Like most volcanoes, a fair amount of “foreshortening” occurs in the Pacific Northwest. As you ascend these hulking masses, your mind begins to play tricks on your visual acuity and just when you think you are ready to top out, there is another ridge. And then another. And then another. Eventually you just settle into making it to the next rock band or an anomaly in the snow surface, kick some tunes, and enjoy the scenery amidst your companions.

Before we new it, we were standing on the summit of Mt. Adams at just over 12,280 feet. While a bit hazy, we enjoyed views of Mt. Hood, St. Helens, and the always impressive Mt. Rainier while refueling with our Nutella/almond butter/honey sando’s. There is always something special about sitting atop a big peak with close friends – the conversations are always a little clearer and more real, and downright special – ones you’ll keep with you forever.

The hard work which put us on the summit was now about to open the door to some incredible snow sliding. While we had hoped to descend the South West Chutes, we deemed it ill-advised if we were going to be able to make it back to our camp in a sane fashion. The road closures and big winter, which pushed us too far east, dictated that this descent would have to wait for another day. Having said that, these chutes look SICK and if you ever have the chance to ski them, you must. So we descended our ascent line, which is always a safe approach, and had a blast doing so. The snow ranged from frozen broccoli heads to breakable crust to velvety corn. True big mountain skiing, the conditions covered the entire spectrum.

And the skiing was phenomenal…

We arrived back at the car roughly 24 hours after we had left. The vertical gain hovered around 9000 feet for the day, with plenty of horizontal miles. Cold beers and glass-bottle Coca-Cola’s awaited us, both of which were a treat after the long skate ski out from our basecamp in sweltering temperatures. While we all secretly hoped for a snowmobile pull out, we were all happy and proud when we reached the truck on our own volition. Another North American classic ski descent in the books, we motored back to Hood River tired and content. And of course, eager for the next adventure on our tour!

Trip Report: Mt. Saint Helens (8365 feet)

Each spring, the Alpenglow Sports crew spends a few weeks in the Eastern Sierra skiing peaks and enjoying the High Sierra. This spring, however, with the East Side hovering around 35% of normal snowpack, the call was made to head to the Cascades of Oregon and Washington. After spending three days skiing spring corn at the Three Sisters Backcountry Yurt at a Black Diamond Equipment Dealer Camp, it was off to Mt. St. Helens in Washington. Before we could get on the mountain, however, we were forced to spend two days waiting out the weather in Hood River, Oregon. The Pacific Northwest is notoriously wet, but it was a good time to rest, fuel, and hydrate for the upcoming trip.

When the rain finally stopped, we were all secretly hoping for powder at the higher elevations. But as none of us had skied in the Northwest, we resigned ourselves to just go and suss it out and whatever we found, we would ski and enjoy. Needless to say, our party of three was extremely exited to ski such a famous volcano, especially considering that the peak is still active and could erupt again. Best known for its catastrophic eruption in 1980, Mt. St. Helens stands as the most deadly and economically destructive volcanic event in the history of the United States. A massive debris avalanche triggered by an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale caused an eruption that reduced the mountain’s elevation from 9,677 feet to 8365 feet and replaced it with a 1 mile wide horseshoe-shaped crater.

We left the Marble Mountain Sno-Park (elev. 2650 feet) around 830am after a casual drive from Hood River, Oregon. As we worked our way through the lower forest towards timberline, we were all in head-to-toe Gore-Tex as the rain hadn’t quite subsided. However, when we popped out a few miles above the trailhead, we were treated to wonderful bluebird views of our objective. We ascended the standard winter climbing route, and the higher we ascended, the more we realized how big of a treat we were in for. Boot-top powder and wonderful windbuff allowed us to skin all the way to the summit without having to use even ski crampons or deploy axe or whippet. The climb went quickly, and in a matter of hours, we were taking in the amazing views from the summit.

From the summit, the views of the 1980 Crater down to Spirit Lake were absolutely amazing, despite a stiff, cold 30+ mph wind. The Lava Dome in the center of the crater is still very pronounced and was spouting fumes the entire time we were on the summit. The catastrophic nature of the eruption stretched north for many miles and is truly “devastated.” It is still so gnarly there that summer hiking is required to stay on developed trails. What caught our eye the most, however, were the amazing couloirs and spines that descended into the crater itself. But as the area is crevassed, still volcanically active, AND illegal, we thought it best to stick to our original descent line.

The roughly 6000 foot descent was rip-able windbuff and boot top powder. Hoots and hollers were let out over the ancient volcanic giant as our skis ate up the vertical. The snow quality was some of the best of the season, and our group was completely fired up. Only when our legs were gassed at around 3000 feet did the snow turn just slightly sticky. Cold beers awaited us at the car, and we rallied back to Hood River to enjoy micro-brew, good food, and begin planning for the next objective, Mt. Adams. At 12,281 and the second highest peak in Washington, Mt. Adams made Mt. St. Helens look like a mere warm-up. But it was a great warm-up at that, one that set the tone for the next adventure!

Black Diamond/Gore-tex Spring Dealer Camp – Three Sisters Backcountry Yurts, Oregon

From April 21-24 we were lucky enough to attend a Black Diamond Equipment and Gore-Tex Dealer Camp at the Three Sisters Backcountry Yurt outside of Bend, Oregon. Located in a proud stand of old-growth Hemlocks at the base of the Tam McArthur Rim, the area boasts some of central Oregon’s best backcountry volcano skiing. The goal of the trip was to test the Winter 2012-13 skis, packs, skins and poles from Black Diamond, meet like-minded members of our outdoor industry clan, and enjoy some amazing scenery….all while skiing velvety Oregon corn. A massive bonus to the trip was a full-on Gore-Tex seminar, it’s history, and the role it plays in the outdoor industry. It was a wonderful adventure with some amazing people, and we can’t thank Black Diamond enough for inviting us.

The Three Sisters Backcountry Yurts are run by Jonas Tarlen and Shane Fox, both AIRE Level III certified guides. Jonas and Shane are professional-grade backcountry guides that can do it all – from skiing the steeps to cooking the best yurt food you’ll ever eat. Most importantly, they are just flat out great people. If you are looking for a BC hut experience, we can’t recommend them enough. You will have a blast!

After the group was fitted for boots, skis, and packs, we were motored into the yurt by snowmobile. As the approaches in Oregon are long and flat due to road closures, this was a much welcomed aid. The first day consisted of settling in and skiing amazing spring corn around the close proximity of the yurt. The laps were broken up by getting-to-know-one-another chat and was very pleasurable.

Folks from some of the finest mountain shops around were at hand for amazing discussions – Alpine Experiences, Backcountry Essentials, Alltrec, Idaho Mountain Touring, and more – the lifeblood small shops of the outdoor industry. The evenings consisted great, stimulating conversation centered around industry talk, powder days, people’s past and families, expeditions, and naturally, gear. These conversations took place in the comfortable confines of the yurts themselves, beautifully crafted structures that both Jonas and Shane built with their own two hands. Both yurts and a sauna were at our disposal, and as Jonas and Shane are artistically-inclined, all were visually pleasing and extremely well-constructed.

The second two days were a full-on corn slaying fest. With Broken Top and the gorgeous Three Sisters as a backdrop, the entire group had lap after lap of great spring snow. The groups started early and worked hard throughout the day to earn wonderful laps in the Tam McArthur Rim. Amidst breaks for fuel and conversation, Jonas even surprised us with a keg from the Deschutes Brewery! Between laps, the brew was extremely enjoyable!

All in all, the three days were an amazing experience. Great people, skiing, and equipment all added up for a spring trip for the history books. A big shout out to Black Diamond heroes Mike Kurlich and Roger Strong, as well as Jonas, Shane, and Annie from the Three Sisters Backcountry Yurt. We were able to test the 185 BD Justice, new carbon-fibre flicklock poles, Anarchist pack (w/ ErgoActive suspension), and skins. Stay tuned in the fall for reviews of all items! In short, they rocked.

Behind the scenes with Salomon Running

“Get behind the scenes during this year’s Advanced Week in Greece.
Learn more about the mix of commitment, fun, hi-tech research and interaction, that makes this crowd a very special one!” Salomon Trail Running

Free Entry to National Parks April 21 – 29

photo from www.nps.gov

In celebration of Earth Day and National Park Week  the National Park Service will be offering free entry from April 21 to 29th!  Check out the Park Service’s official announcement and also a list of activities at Yosemite going on HERE . It looks like the NPS is making this a nation wide deal, not just at Yosemite but everywhere, so take advantage and check out your favorite or somewhere new this week! It looks like most parks are having quite a few kids activities scheduled so if you’ve got little ones it’s a great opportunity, and if you don’t have any little ones you can save some cash.

A few weeks climbing with Ueli Steck… from John Griffith

Salomon Running and Killian Jornet To Unveil New S-Lab Sense LIVE TODAY!

Make sure you tune in to Salomon Running this morning as they unveil the new Killian Jornet-inspired S-LAB Sense!

This is one sexy shoe, with seamless construction, open mesh, and a 13mm-9mm drop. $200. 6.9oz, low, light and fast. This is the shoe that Killian wore when he rocked the 2011 Western States Endurance 100. The idea is centered around minimalist running, but both Salomon and Killian maintain that in an ultra race, especially when fatigued, some heel strike protection is mandatory.

Word on the street is that Killian is coming back to Tahoe this summer to break the Western States record. It’s always cool when he’s acclimating in Tahoe City and comes by the shop to talk randonnee racing and trail running! Such a great guy – he’s the Michael Jordan of ultra-running and just an ordinary dude, super humble and fun to be around.

For Winter 2012-13, Salomon also brings two other exciting models to market. Perhaps the most unique is the Snowcross CS (ClimaShield). This shoe looks like the sickest winter runner around with built in studs. At 12.7oz and adapted to winter training, this will be a great shoe. Built in gaiter, waterproof, 9 spikes, and a 20mm-9mm drop. $200. With the light dusting of snow on our firm base this morning, this shoe would be ideal.

Another cool new model for Winter 2012-13 is the Salomon running XT S-Lab 5, the all new racing version of the XT wings. Seamless upper mated to a stable chassis, 20mm-9mm drop, 11.5 oz, and smooth. $170.

Backcountry Safety Ramblings and Backcountry Access Float Air Bag In Action

Here at Alpenglow Sports, backcountry skiing is core to our existence. There is nothing better than skiing epic Tahoe backcountry powder with a good group of friends. Having said that, no ski run is worth risking your life. This winter we’ve been shaken by several local avalanche fatalities that have been influenced by a departure from our traditional bomber Sierra snow pack. While any loss of life is extremely sad, it is an opportunity to for the entire backcountry community to reassess any and all backcountry travel skills. Even though our Alpenglow crew are out virtually every morning well before sunrise, we are scared to death of avalanches. Accordingly, we exercise caution and conservative decision making, all of which are based on formal education. Below is a rambling of backcountry safety and education.

Backcountry skiing is currently exploding in popularity, and it is easy to be lulled into a false sense of security because you can afford the requisite backcountry safety items OR you’ve been doing it forever. If you are new OR old to the sport, you owe it to yourself, your wife, and your family to make sure that you are AIRE level 1 and 2 avalanche course certified. If you are an outdoor industry person, check out Rich Meyer’s Industry Pro Backcountry Workshops. If you need to sign up for an avy course, Rich is a certified ski guide/AIRE level 1 and 2 instructor and does amazing work through the North American Ski Training Center. With this knowledge, you can travel in the backcountry  in a safe, educated fashion.

Additionally, don’t sleep on your avalanche rescue skills. Make sure you are up to date on the latest beacon technology, excavation and probing techniques, and  keep your rescue skills honed to a T. Keep rereading Snow Sense and the Avalanche Handbook by Mountaineers Books or take a avalanche refresher course. The in-depth daily forecast provided by the Sierra Avalanche Center comes complete with snow pit analysis, pictures, and videos and is a wealth of free knowledge. When it hits the fan, it’s likely that you are digging out your friend and you will need all skills possible at your disposal.

With a string of high profile avalanche fatalities this winter, the role of air bags in backcountry travel has become quite popular. While these have existed for a number of years from Mammut, ABS, Snowpulse, and Backcountry Access, we are only now embracing how vital they can be in an avalanche scenario. The air bag is another extremely viable tool in the arsenal of avalanche safety gear and within another 4-5 years they will probably be quite widespread. Industry leader Backcountry Access offers their Float Series at perhaps the most affordable price tag. If you’ve never seen an actual air bag deployment, watch the two videos below to see their effectiveness in an avalanche scenario, both courtesy of BCA.

Ultimately, the choices you make in the backcountry are up to you and your partners. Here at Alpenglow Sports, we’re of the belief that if you are educated, exercise conservative decision making, and listen to your intuition, you can ski in the backcountry in a safe and fun fashion. Live to ski (safely).