Dec 13 2015

Pt VI: Taming the Greed Dragon

Freshies. So seductive.

Freshies. So seductive.

Continued from Taming Your Avalanche Dragon, published 17nov15.

Greed

Greed is an easy dragon to understand, especially on a powder day when the sun is shining. The statistical fact that more avalanche tragedies happen on sunny days with new snow underpins the concept of greed. The phrase, “There are no friends on a powder day” is funny, but illuminates the effect of greed.
Keep making backcountry turns

Dec 07 2015

Meidjo update details for v2.0

 

Meidjo 2.0, a 2-pin telemark binding with NTN technology.

Meidjo 2.0, a 2-pin telemark binding with NTN technology.

After one full season of use, the telemark binding that has tongues wagging is coming to market with semi-major changes to its design, but no major changes to the root functionality. To those who missed it, Meidjo is the first binding to use a low-tech toe with an NTN hook to hold your tele boot tight.

Meidjo allows AT touring efficiency with a two-pin tech toe, and the trademark edge control of NTN. In addition to this powerful one-two uphill/downhill blend of performance, it has an adjustable, albiet non-certified, safety release and weighs a pound plus (500 g) per binding.
Keep making backcountry turns

Dec 02 2015

Pt. V: Taming the Martyr Dragon

Continued from Taming Your Avalanche Dragon, published 17nov15.

Martyrdom

When there's a group, there are human factors at work.

When there’s a group, there are human factors at work.

Martyrs believe we are the “victims” of a situation and see ourselves as oppressed. As a victim, we feel like we have no choice in a situation; that others are deciding things for us and that we have no other option but to heed the directives of others. It is different from self-deprecation in that we feel that we have good ideas, but they are not heard or heeded by our colleagues or friends. The emphasis is on a sense of powerlessness, not that our ideas are bad.
Keep making backcountry turns

Dec 01 2015

Outlaw NTN updates for 2016

22D's Outlaw. Helping you break the rules.

22D’s Outlaw. Break the rules.

As a beta binding you expect some failures. Even when manufacturers don’t acknowledge it, like with first year bindings, it isn’t realistic to expect no problems. It’s worth repeating, 22 Design’s transparency with beta status deserves a medal. With any luck, that medal will be evident with a trouble-free launch and healthy sales of what Backcountry Magazine named Editor’s Choice for 2016.
Keep making backcountry turns

Nov 25 2015

Pt. IV: Taming the Impatience Dragon

Continued from Taming Your Avalanche Dragon, published 17nov15.

Impatience

Logan Talbot, ASI Guide, tries to trigger a cornice break. He was successful. We were glad he was "on belay."

Logan Talbot, ASI Guide, tries to trigger a cornice break. He was successful. We were glad he was “on belay.”

Impatience is characterized by needing to have something now and the phrase “Don’t get in the way” depicts how single minded we can be when consumed by this dragon. People with the impatience dragon are stricken with the fear that if things are not happening quickly, something bad will happen. However, being in a hurry can lead to a failure to take the required time to do a task safely and efficiently. In the mountains, speed is most often equated with safety. However, faster does not always mean safer. There are many times when going more slowly can help us maintain a higher level of diligence and therefore safety. There are situations when the only way to manage the risk is to go slowly.
Keep making backcountry turns

Nov 23 2015

Waxless Metal-edged Ski Roundup

Fischer fans the flames of phat XCD that Voile leads the charge on.

Fischer fans the flames of phat XCD that Voile leads the charge on.

 
It was over a decade ago that Fischer broke the mold with waxless metal edged skis when they introduced their S-Bound series. In the interim, Karhu pushed the envelope with their 78mm wide Guide, then Voile picked up the ball where Karhu left it, and kept expanding the waistline to 115mm with their Charger BC. As with alpine and telemark skis, waxless metal edged has been infected with waist inflation and I’m here to confirm, unlike the national debt, it’s a good thing.

Not only are today’s full fat, waxless metal edged skis gaining girth, they’re also building a loyal following. In do so, they’re shining example of how, when properly done, even a milquetoast, middle of the road ski that isn’t excellent at anything but is good at a lot of things can be good for something, like becoming the most popular ski in your quiver because it works in so many situations.
Keep making backcountry turns

Nov 22 2015

Pt. III: Taming the Self-Deprecation Avy Dragon

 
Continued from Taming Your Avalanche Dragon, published 17nov15.

Getting a read on Colorado's early season snow lizards.

Getting a read on Colorado’s early season snow lizards.

Self-Deprecation

If self-deprecation is our dragon we do not feel worthy. We suffer from a lack of self-confidence and feel that our contribution is not of value, so we do not speak up and share what we know. If we have this dragon and are paired with an individual with the arrogance dragon, watch out. If arrogance sets up an unhealthy hierarchy, a person who suffers from self-deprecation reinforces it.
Keep making backcountry turns