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BCA Monarch Cat Skiing Day

On St. Patty’s day a crew of BCA folks enjoyed some skiing in Monarch’s back bowls. After watching a safety video and getting a rundown on what to expect, we were heading up the mountain. We did a beacon check at the top and then loaded in the cat.

The accommodations were pretty posh on the cat, comfy seats, good tunes and a killer view…oh and not having to skin uphill. The snowfall has certainly been less than usual, but we found good turns in the Dog Heaven and Bold Dog areas, including the Krudski Chutes. It was hard crusty snow conditions in the morning, but by noon the snow… Read more

Decision Making for the Experienced Backcountry Traveler

Below are two videos from a recent seminar put on by prolific guide and all around backcountry guru Margaret Wheeler and the Friends of the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center. Wheeler is the co-author of the comprehensive guidebook, Backcountry Skiing: Skills for Ski Touring and Ski Mountaineering and a UIAGM certified guide for Pro Guiding Service out in Washington.
The first video caters (as the title says) to the more experienced backcountry traveler and hence contains more in-depth and ultimately very informative tips on the planning (avalanche conditions, weather patterns, and terrain selection) and observational (snow pit and snow assessment) aspects of a typical tour. Wheeler also delves into how… Read more

Silverton loves simplicity

Below are some words from Doug Krause, the Snow Safety Director of Silverton Mountain. Doug works day in and out with avalanche mitigation, and it’s a huge honor for him to speak so highly of the Tracker 2.

As a Ski Patrol we are responsible for mitigating avalanche hazard in over 1800 acres of Class A avalanche terrain filled with one of the most dangerous snowpacks on earth. Our mountain is riddled with couloirs, cliff bands, large alpine bowls and steep below treeline gladed skiing. It snows a lot here and when it does the slabs come crashing down the mountains.
Avalanche hazard assessment and reduction is an everyday job… Read more

Microburst in RMNP

Rocky Mountain National Park had been getting some decent snowfall for a change, so I planned to check it out with a fellow Avy Level 1 classmate, Julie Harris. We pulled into the Glacier Gorge trailhead on an early Sunday morning of March 3rd to find a very desolate parking lot and wicked wind. It wasn’t hard to figure out what was keeping away the crowds.
The plan was for a 10 mile round trip tour that would hit Green Lake. The map showed good skiing in the area, but we were aware of the high avy danger reported from CAIC. The area had received 8-16” of new snow in… Read more

Gathering Observations to Manage Hazards & Ride Powder

Matt Wade, of Peak Mountain Guides, wrote up this nice piece after teaching a recent avalanche course. To learn more about Peak Mountain Guides, visit here

Tap, tap, tap. . . . Matt’s pencil rapped against the table and his brow furrowed. “Wait, wait, say that again – surface hoar forms when the relative humidity is high at the snow surface?” It was the beginning of a Level 2 Avalanche Course with Peak Mountain Guides and we were beginning a quest to become good observers of all things avalanche: weather, snow, and avalanche activity. It would be brain bending at times, but most importantly it would help us ride good… Read more

Snow Study Tool Rundown – Part Two

In our second installment of the rundown, Donny takes us through how to use the Digital Thermometer, Crystal Card and the Magnifier Loupe.… Read more

Snow Study Tool Rundown – Part One

We’re back with another video from Donny Roth shot down in Bariloche, Argentina where he takes us through a few of the items found in our Snow Study Kit. Stay tuned for Part Two.… Read more

Kootenay Pass TR

Following the hectic tradeshow season, I decided it was time to get out and do some skiing. With the state of the Colorado snowpack being in shambles though, I opted to head north. My buddy Derek, who is in Spokane studying the law, had been sending me photos of the immense snowpack just north from there, so I opted to fly up there to check it out. We headed past the border and set up camp in a small cabin near Kootenay Pass and spent the next three days lapping excellent, stable powder; it was awesome.… Read more

Rutschblock Test with Donny Roth

Donny Roth takes us through the steps to conduct a proper Rutschblock Test. When not traveling in search of skiing, climbing and cycling destinations, Donny can be found at home in Boulder, CO. He has been entertaining himself in the backcountry for 18 years and is now a guide and runs the website Independent Descents.… Read more

The Austin Report

Good dude and all around shredder, Austin Gibney, sent over this nice piece of split board action. Austin is based out of Crested Butte, and rides bigger lines than you. Last week Austin hopped a flight to Japan to get his own piece of their powder pie. After spending a month with Austin in Krygyzstan, I’m betting his luggage is packed full of Starburst and Hershey bars to keep him powered up.… Read more