We flew in under a grey-blue ceiling to the most spectacular playground I have ever seen. On the Pika Glacier, rock buttresses rise like sharks’ teeth from the valley, their ridges separated by perfect ribbons of snow that plunge into the glacier below.
Ski Mountaineers “Must Be Present to Win”
Over a three-week period in 2016, Aaron and I attempted a particular summit five different times. All five attempts were thwarted. This year, with a limited amount of free time, Aaron Diamond and I figured that we could reasonably make the peak’s first ski descent… if we were lucky.
Ski Guiding the Grand Teton
The Grand Teton has captivated me since I saw it ten years ago on a family ski vacation. It’s an iconic mountain for all sorts of alpinists, but it’s the skiing that really draws the winter climbers.
Using Digitital Terrain Tools to Your Advantage
Have you ever gone to a new area and been totally skunked? It happens. But how can you maximize your free time outside and make the most of your vacation/hut trip/ski trip? Do your homework… and use the tools available.
Four Reasons to Get Fishy in the Backcountry
Every couple of years I travel from Aspen to Vail by scale. It is on this route that time and time again I have realized the joys and efficiencies of travel on Voile’s Traction Pattern Base.
Tech Alert: Updated Splitboard Hardware
This season we spent some time focusing on the foundational elements of our splitboard program. The result is one recall, and one update that will completely transform the gear you already own (and for less than $10)…
From Ashes to Stashes in Patagonia
Chasing winter in the summer is exciting for many reasons, and this year clean air was among them. Hot and dry weather was already fuelling record-breaking forest fires that have continued in western North America. While there were no fires that immediately threatened my hometown of Whistler at the time, we were still inundated with thick smoke and ash. Luckily, …
Type 2 Fun: Circumnavigating Crater Lake
Thinking of words to describe the experience of circumnavigating Crater Lake by alpine touring skis in two days is difficult. Perhaps there hasn’t been enough time since having the experience to fully process it. Perhaps there just aren’t words to describe the ups and downs – both figurative and literal – of such a venture. Let’s just start from the …
Pinch Me: An Ode to Tight Places
As the season for charging powder filled bowls and popping pillow lines comes to a close, my mind wanders to narrower corners of the backcountry. The big boards have been hung up for the winter, but smaller rides like the Vector, Objective and WSP are back in the regular rotation. A consolidating snowpack and peaking snow depth mean it’s high …
Mentorship is Essential to Thriving in the Backcountry
Being in the backcountry, surrounded by mountains as far as the eye can see is a truly magical feeling. Learning to access and move safely in the backcountry is a continual and ever evolving experience. Throughout my life, I have been lucky enough to learn from amazing mentors in both formal and informal settings. These people are friends, family, and …