Sep 28 2012

Review: Backcountry Mag’s Deep Issue

 

Backcountry Mag’s Deep Issue
Vol. 18, Issue 87

Once again my friends at Backcountry magazine have pumped out another worthy issue this season. Okay, I’ll admit that actually having the opportunity to pen a few words in there might be influencing my perspective a bit, but I’ll let you decide that when you browse your copy on the newsstand.

For starters it is nice to see Backcountry drop the proselytizing for global warming with their White issue and get back to the facts with an issue devoted to something we can all agree on, that riding in deep powder is one of the most incredible experiences available on planet earth. That’s what this Deep Issue is devoted to and I’ve only brushed the surface and am impressed with the lineup of thinkers tagged to comment on the subject with a clarity and depth only matched by the subject itself.
Keep making backcountry turns

Sep 27 2012

On the fence with NTN for 2012/13

 
There is little doubt that telemark bindings are going to go through a bit of turmoil for a few years. Keep in mind what I’m referring to is not the established technology for boots and bindings using the 75mm norm, but NTN, the new telemark norm.

Rottefella's Freedom NTN binding

The latest addition to the NTN family, Rottefella’s Freedom binding.

This season there will be four different bindings to chose from and if we’re lucky, five boot models as well, plus the F1 for those who chose to migrate to the NTN norm along the Dynafit style path illustrated by the Telemark Tech System (TTS), a hybrid NTN binding.
Keep making backcountry turns

Sep 26 2012

News: Avalanche on Manaslu – many lives lost

By now many of you have heard, and for those who haven’t, a large avalanche occured on Manaslu in Nepal Sunday morning. The avalanche occurred around 4:45am and swept through camp 3 at around 6800m elevation. In the aftermath of the avalanche there were 8 confirmed deaths, several missing people, and uncounted injuries.

One of the groups included famed skier Glen Plake who miraculously survived with only bruises and a few broken teeth. Unfortunately his tent-mate Greg Costa and friend Remy Lecluse are among the missing and at this point, presumed dead.
Keep making backcountry turns

Sep 26 2012

Red Truck – Truckee’s local lunch secret

 

Red Truck Truckee

Red Truck caters during the Labor Day consignment sale at Start Haus.

As the northern gateway to Lake Tahoe, or the last California town before the casinos of Reno, Truckee gets a fair amount of visitor traffic. As such there are a lot of restaurants that cater to the natural ignorance of a visitor and survive when they wouldn’t otherwise. While locals tend to guard their secret haunts for fear of them being overrun with tourons, my inclination is to share some of them so they survive.

Red Truck is one of those gems that I have little fear of losing to tourist overload for a couple of reasons. First, because they began as a restaurant on wheels, hence the source of their name. It’s a big red truck that used to be a regular sight on the busy side of Truckee during weekdays for lunch. Secondly, being mobile, they aren’t always in the same place. In fact they’ve become a bit scarce lately as word has leaked out and their presence is being requested elsewhere. 🙁
Keep making backcountry turns

Sep 24 2012

BC News: BD to buy Pieps

 

BD to buy Pieps and turbo-charge their
Avalanche and Electronic futures.
Tip: buy BD stock last week.

Black Diamond Equipment, Inc., announced this morning its intent to acquire Pieps, a leader in avalanche rescue transceivers in early October, 2012. The acquisition fulfills a decade-long goal to add avalanche transceivers to the palette of products Black Diamond offers for backcountry safety.

Over the years there has been much speculation as to whether BD would acquire an avalanche transceiver company, and which one, or start from scratch on their own. In answering “Why Pieps,” Black Diamond’s CEO, Peter Metcalf said, “Black Diamond’s acquisition of PIEPS reflects our ongoing strategy to assemble the best and brightest global companies that lead the charge in creating safer travel and backcountry adventure experiences.”
Keep making backcountry turns

Sep 19 2012

Review: G3’s Enzo

 

G3's new backcountry telemark binding - Enzo

G3’s new ice free, free pivoting, adjustable power Enzo. MSRP: $290.

It took me awhile to put the pieces together, but right from the get go I knew the tale Oliver Steffen, G3s founder, was spinning about the origins of the Enzo name coming from a box of supplies at an Andean mountain cafe were suspect at best. Even if that tale is true, it makes more sense that Enzo derives from Lorenzo Worster, one of G3’s most seasoned athletes and probably the person who whined the loudest (though he would never admit it) for a new G3 telebinding with all the features of the Enzo.

Aside from my speculation on the origins of the name, there is plenty of tangible evidence that Enzo comes with a lot of admirable traits that puts G3 back in the game with an up-to-date, easy to operate, high performance tele binding.

Except for weight, all the shortcomings of the Ascent, G3s first foray into the world of free-pivot telemark bindings, are overcome with the Enzo. It is powerful, easy to switch modes, and appears to be as immune to icing up as a backcountry binding can be.
Keep making backcountry turns

Sep 17 2012

Review: BD’s Outlaw AvaLung™ pack

 

BD’s AvaLung™ family gets a new suspension and 20% more airflow through the ‘Lung.
PS: I know, this is the Covert, not the Outlaw…keep reading.

Black Diamond has revamped their entire AvaLung pack line for this season, increasing the flow rate through the valve that is the heart of the AvaLung and adding their activErgo™ suspension system. There are a number of other refinements to each backcountry ski pack in the line, but the most common is the inclusion of a diagonal carry system that holds most skis 18° off vertical.

Since it’s introduction and my subsequent burial with one 6 years ago the Covert AvaLung has been my most reliable companion in the backcountry. The only reason I might not use it is when I’m testing another model of pack and believe me, I’m not easily persuaded to abandon something I’ve trusted my very breath with before. Even so, it only took a few hours ascending the slopes of Mt. Shasta for the new Outlaw AvaLung pack to become my new fave backcountry pack.
Keep making backcountry turns