September 2022

As a navigation tool, CalTopo offers a complex feature set that sometimes takes time to hone. With a little savvy, CalTopo offers some hidden gems to make backcountry skiing/riding trip planning more useful. Here are three specific features to dial in your ski and winter climbing plans.

If not the golden age of ski touring bindings, then it’s somewhere close to it. Consumers have many choices and numerous feature sets to consider when opting for a backcountry ski binding. We offer up four options in this ski touring binding gear guide that covers the full-spectrum from lightweight jewel to freeriding burly.

Welcome to the world of tech bindings. The emerging backcountry skier should be informed; it makes the conversation between you and the salesperson two-way rather than one-way. And, you’ll know what questions to ask to secure a product suited for you.

A 2020 Q&A with Hilaree Neslon, North Face team leader and 8000 meter peak skier on lessons learned over decades of ski mountaineering, favorite expedition gear and tips for aspiring ski mountaineers.

With sadness, WildSnow writes that Hilaree Nelson’s body was found and retrieved from Manaslu’s south face on Wednesday morning.

The Black Crows Mentis Freebird in its 80mm underfoot glory skis like a champ and is easy on the ups. Here’s our review after a season of use.