"beacon"

Avalanche beacon reviews introduction, critical backcountry skiing equipment that you must have

2006 Mammut Barryvox avalanche beacon review for backcountry skiing and mountaineering.

In an article about the 2024 Mammut and Black Diamond/Pieps beacon recalls, I said that ARVA was the only major transceiver company that hadn’t had a product recall. Unfortunately, that statement only remained true for a few months as the…

You already have the essentials covered. Beacon, shovel, probe, first aid kit, and so on. Maybe you’ve been on multi-day hut trips, or perhaps this is your first time packing for one. This article isn’t intended to explain the basics…

A good pair of touring pants are the foundation of a backcountry ski kit. They’re the only component of a touring wardrobe where adding or shedding a layer is impractical, so you need to land at the trailhead confident that…

I mailed two beacons back to their makers in the past week thanks to early-season product recalls on these critical safety devices. Both Mammut and Pieps (distributed by Black Diamond in North America) issued recalls on avalanche transceivers over the…

If you’re not a ski bibs person, I’m not here to argue with you. I’m a bib guy. This guide is for other ski bib appreciators, but for the bib-curious, I’ll explain the pros and cons. I primarily like backcountry…

Four of my hut companions and I leaned into plastic deck chairs facing the wind-scoured peaks looming over Silverton, passing around a flask of cheap mezcal, recounting the day’s ski runs. Calling the conditions harsh would have been an understatement.…

I’ve long been a shell guy when it comes to outerwear for ski touring but as I’ve picked up my pace on uphills and toured longer and longer into spring and summer, I’ve found myself searching for lighter layers that…

The differing styles of all the different ski tourers (tourists? Tourons?) is always interesting to me, running the gamut of the kitchen sink crew who, if needed, could live out of their touring pack in decadent luxury if the need…

I grew up with an Army vet Dad who liked to yell out a favorite maxim from his West Point days: “Proper prior planning prevents poor performance!” When I asked Joe Howdyshell, head coach at Summit Endurance Academy and former…

Booking a backcountry ski hut in Colorado is more like trying to score Taylor Swift or Phish tickets than it is booking a hotel room. If you weren’t smashing a keyboard the second they went on-sale, you probably aren’t getting…

For a mental reset, often nothing compares to a solo ski tour. Embarking on a solo mission requires self-awareness, a set of rules, and a willingness to follow those rules that at once may be personal but are in place to ensure safe travel. Alex Lee has some thoughts.

This is the first piece in a new WildSnow oral history project called Picture Show. Mike Gardner and Jason Thompson discuss a classic photo from Hyalite Canyon.

Prepare for the unexpected in the backcountry with systematic practice. Avalanche rescue skills are critical to being a competent partner, but are a reactive approach to safety. It is more important to take a proactive approach to managing your safety in the backcountry. Get educated, stay safe, and know how to effectively use your tools.