Decisions, decisions, decisions We make an uncountable number of decisions every day. For each of them, there are two different processes at work. The conscious and the subconscious. Some decisions, we make with logic and thought. This is the conscious. Spoiler alert, most of our decisions are not made with the conscious. As you can imagine, this greatly impacts our …
There is so much to be said about the lessons I’ve learned from my partners in the mountains that I could literally write a book from their teachings. Choosing the right backcountry ski partner is the most important choice you will make about your day, not just for safety, but for having fun and growing as a backcountry skier or …
Planning a backcountry ski tour requires more than just picking a destination—it’s about managing risks, understanding avalanche hazards, and navigating with precision. This guide breaks down essential tour planning steps, from interpreting topographic maps and slope angles to incorporating avalanche forecasts and timing strategies. Whether you’re new to the backcountry or honing your skills, this article will help you create …
Photos Courtesy of Aaron Diamond Like many splitboarders… …I started out in a traditional (soft) snowboard boot. These were the same boots I wore at the resort. They were comfortable, warm, rode well, and required no break-in. By many standards, they were an exceptional boot for touring. A few years splitboarding and a handful of avalanche classes later, my ambitions …
Lexie Anderson on a spring touring mission in the Tetons on the Voile Spartan Splitboard. Photo courtesy of Arron Diamond. The days are getting longer, temps are getting warmer, and if your anything like me your eyes have been gazing upwards, towards the alpine, all winter waiting for the peaks to become more friendly. The deep snows of winter are …
Patience. A word we have heard a lot about lately, especially in regards to spring ski mountaineering. As ski mountaineers, we exercise patience often as we wait for acceptable conditions to line up with our specific objectives. Sometimes that means waiting until spring. This spring, Zach and I had our sights set, once again, on skiing the Grand Teton together. …
Do you want to go on a hut trip to the remote backcountry of British Columbia with your buddies? How about an expedition to ski from the summit of Denali? If so, you’ll need to be your own avalanche forecaster. And if that sounds like work, it’s because it is. But don’t let this scare you. With practice and persistence …
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. Little did I know, one day I would be ski guiding the Grand Teton.
Dynamic. That’s the word I would use to describe my job backcountry ski guiding. No two days are exactly the same. Everything from the snow conditions, routes, weather, and client goals change from day to day. The only constant in the whole thing is that everyone there, including myself, is there for one reason; we’re there to have fun sliding …
