huts

My flight over here was as flawless as it can get. Hanging on the aisle with an empty seat next to me, slept nearly the whole time. Through customs and Ted meets me at Starbucks just like we’d planned. (and…

or years, this mountain melee Elk Mountains Traverse race was treated more as a nordic skate race than a ski mountaineering comp. But recent developments in lightweight backcountry skiing gear have converted the race into something more along the lines of a true radonnee skimo comp.

With all the fatal avalanches we’ve seen this season, a good chunk of them at resorts, there is renewed awareness that skiing inbounds doesn’t guarantee 100% safety. Patrollers do a great job keeping our resorts controlled, but avalanches don’t play by the rules. And while my ski crew is always safe and takes precautions, getting my AIARE Level 1 avalanche certification was in order so that I could make good decisions when skiing – either in the Bowl or in the backcountry – without relying on others to make those decisions for me.

Black Diamond Spot and Icon headlamps reviewed, great choices for night time backcountry skiing, biking, running or camping

Editor’s note: A while back we ran a few guest blog avalanche stories. This one came in recently and we thought it worthy. I’ve skied out Castle Creek many times and the big ones lurking above always catch my attention.…

Backcountry skiing news roundup covers lodges, and huts along with Andrew McLean.