Feb 24 2012

Rerun: Buried Alive!


 
Reprinted from Couloir Magazine, Vol. XVIII-5, Winter 2006
© 2006
 

Very quickly, the ability to move ended. As the snow built up around my torso I squirmed to maintain some sense of mobility, but it was futile.

Getting dug out after a 1-hour burial.

Even the simple act of breathing was becoming a struggle as the snow’s weight bore down on my chest, making it difficult to draw even a breath. My heart began racing, rising like the tide of snow that was enveloping me. I fought back by taking a few deep breaths, expanding my chest as far as possible before the snow set up like a cast around my entire body.

Then silence.
Keep making backcountry turns

Pages:

Feb 22 2012

Preview: 22 Designs Vice (& ski crampon)

Just want a Vice to hold your foot to the ski?
22 Designs has one.


At the recent Outdoor Retailer show 22 Designs introduced the Vice, a non-touring version of the Axl that signals the inevitable end of the Hammerhead design. The decision to retire the Hammerhead is purely economic since it has been one of the most influential designs in recent telemark history and carries significant sentimental appeal based on a large customer base that is adamantly vocal about the binding’s superior power and control. Except that Axl has demonstrated the same level of control with even easier power adjustment.
Keep making backcountry turns

Feb 20 2012

Steven’s Pass Avy claims 3

An avalanche at Steven’s Pass ski resort yesterday has claimed the lives of three people. All victims were experienced backcountry skiers. A fourth person who was also caught deployed their airbag and survived.

The avalanche started small, then grew and ended up traveling over 2,000 vertical feet. The survivor was buried up to her head near two of the other victims.

More details from ESPN.

More details from The Wenatchee World.

More details from Powder Magazine.

More details from KIRO-TV (local station).

This is very sad news. Condolences to family and friends. Even though it seems to be a relatively low snow year, the number of avalanche incidents seems to be as high as a normal year. Please put on your avy eyes when skiing, especially out of bounds.

Preliminary Report from NWAC on Tunnel Creek Avalanche Accident

© 2012
 

Feb 18 2012

NCAA Wrestling Champ and Adaptive Sports Hero to Try Skiing For the First Time

Truckee, CA – 18feb12, MakeAHero.org and Northstar California Resort in Truckee will introduce Arizona State University wrestling phenom Anthony Robles to snow. He will be taught at Northstar by adaptive sports instructor Bill Bowness.

Born with just one leg, Robles, 23, went on to win the 2010-11 NCAA individual wrestling championship (against all able-bodied competitors) in the 125-pound weight class. Robles is a two-time ESPY award winner, an inductee to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, and the exclusive motivational speaker for the Washington Speakers Bureau.

Bowness, also an adaptive skier…

Full story at First Tracks! Online via NCAA Wrestling Champ and Adaptive Sports Hero to Try Skiing For the First Time.

Feb 16 2012

TR: Pepper’s Run (Day 10)

Dude man makes the most of a small storm.

There hasn’t been much snow this season so the key to epic turns has been the ability to react swiftly when opportunity knocks.

To be honest, I didn’t really think the last snow event to grace the Tahoe area would amount to much. Snow-Forecast.com has been mighty accurate over the years, but when the margin of error can be plus or minus six inches and only six are forecast it’s not easy to get psyched.

Waking up to a full four inches of cold smoke on the driveway meant my pessimistic view was wrong but all it took to save the day was a call from Dude-man to go earn some turns. I hung up saying, “meet you in an hour at The Back Country.”
Keep making backcountry turns

Feb 15 2012

First Look: Gecko Climbing Skins

 
As skis have gotten fatter, the criteria for judging skin glue has changed. Back in the day when today’s skinny skis felt fat, it was hard to find a climbing skin with glue that was too sticky. Stickier was always better, unless, of course, the glue was going bad and then the issue wasn’t the inability to pull skins apart after storing glue-to-glue, but the goo it left everywhere, especially on dry ski bases.

Ordinarily this would be a terminal case of glue contamination. Not for Gecko skins.

Those who own fat skins know it is possible to have too much of a good thing. The first clue that the glue is too sticky is when you need to use those silly mesh strips for storing your skins. What a royal pain those strips are, especially on a windy ridge. If you can’t store your skins glue-to-glue without worrying about separating your shoulder to pull them apart then something is wrong.

Gecko skins change the root chemical formula to get friendlier bonding properties, using a silicone based adhesive. I’m no chemistry major, but the results appear positive. Not only do the skins not stick to each other with much strength, neither do pine needles or dirt. And, should you drop them where other skins would be permanently compromised, you can simply wash them off with running water and put ’em back to work.
Keep making backcountry turns

Feb 13 2012

PR: Ortovox to offer ABS packs in 2013

Ortovox Thunder35.
NOT ABS compatible.

Ortovox has announced plans to partner with ABS Gmbh, originators of the avalanche airbag pack system, to provide an Ortovox branded avalanche backpack. The new licensing agreement enables Munich-based Ortovox to integrate the ABS system into its own backpacks, further developing safety concepts with an eye on comfort and fit. The system will not be built on the popular Vario system. Instead Ortovox will be designing a complete pack which incorporates the ABS airbag components in the pack as a complete, stand alone pack.
Keep making backcountry turns