December 2004

Scarpa F1 AT boot and Cloudveil clothing for backcountry skiing

Telemark boom, did it really happen, is it still happening, is it a mecca? We do the research on telemark skiing words and culture so you do not have to.

Colorado’s lost resorts used for backcountry skiing, Scarpa Laser tongue modification

We’re off to do some uphilling, with a couple of new heart rate monitors (HRMs) to try and get that perfect aerobic training so we can really get strong for our dream Wasatch backcountry skiing trip in January! Hint, you can get a reasonably priced Polar heart rate monitor at Walmart — highly recommended if you feel like your fitness level has plateaued out, or you want to build super fitness without injuring yourself.

Got our latest issue of Couloir Magazine — as always it’s a stunning tribute to all we love about backcountry skiing, from deep powder to cool gear. My yearly Randonnee binding review is in this issue. It is somewhat brief, but I tried to give a good overview of the choices and attempted to be a bit more hard hitting than last year (as requested by readers), and will continue to provide extensive details here and at the Couloir website.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort to continue guiding clients on Teton Pass, with increased use numbers. Many local backcountry skiers are opposed to the decision.