Get Cheap Lift Tickets – Support the Sierra Avalanche Center
The Sierra Avalanche Center is an indispensable resource for those of us who frequent backcountry slopes in the Tahoe area.
Have an Ice Day in Ouray!
Emilie Cortes is back in action checking out the scene at the annual Ouray Ice Festival...
Get Cheap Lift Tickets – Support the Sierra Avalanche Center
The Sierra Avalanche Center is an indispensable resource for those of us who frequent backcountry slopes in the Tahoe area. When there’s snow on the ground, they’re out there at dawn assessing he snowpack so they can pass the information to you. And it’s free to you and me. Pretty good deal, huh? A really good way to help support the SAC, is really no sacrifice at all –... [Read more]
Have an Ice Day in Ouray!
It’s been five years since the last time I was in Ouray for the annual Ice Festival. The Ouray Ice Festival was first organized in 1996 by Jeff Lowe, and events such as the elite ice climbing competition, myriads of climbing clinics, slideshows and dinners generate proceeds toward the maintenance of the Ouray Ice Park. I had a fabulous time in 2007, but I wasn’t sure if my newly reconstructed... [Read more]
Finally – There’s Snow in the Tahoe Forecast
Finally, at long last, there is precipitation in the forecast for the Tahoe area. Some reports are very optimistic, expecting 5+ feet of the white stuff from several storms lining up this week and into the weekend. If you really want to get your stoke on, read UnofficialNetworks‘ report (the most optimistic of the bunch). See below for some other reports. At this point, I hope we get feet and... [Read more]
Adventure and Technology: To Tweet or Not to Tweet
This article in the New York Times really got me thinking. The use of cell phones has been an issue among my climbing and skiing friends for some time. And my own take on the issue has evolved over the years. When I started climbing and skiing, it was in the era when flip-phones were the norm, cell-phone signals were hard to come by outside of highly populated areas, Facebook was still a fledgling... [Read more]
Squaw Valley and Alpine Studying Backcountry Access
This is the best news I’ve heard in a long time. Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows have teamed up to study the possibility of opening up backcountry access gates for those of us who like to wander beyond the boundaries. This could potentially open up a HUGE amount of side-country, lift accessed terrain. Since Squaw and Alpine merged, one of the biggest questions has been what their plans are for... [Read more]
Taft Point Highline Free Solo
Whoa. This dude, Mich Kemeter, free soloed a 100 foot span at Taft Point - with no safety harness. Check it out it below. Via NY Daily News: Mich Kemeter – Taft Point Highline Free Solo Trailer from Flo Murnig on Vimeo. Read More →
Airbags and i-Probes and Avalungs, Oh My
Believe it or not, we’re talking about backcountry ski gear. Specifically, avalanche safety gear. With hundreds of products on the market these days it’s hard to know what it all does, and just what it is that you really need when you’re skiing beyond the boundaries. A shovel, beacon, and probe are still the standard, but what about all this other innovative gear? I’d argue that a lot... [Read more]
Sierra and Tahoe Area Ski Resorts Opening Dates 2011
The season’s already begun! Boreal is officially open for skiing and riding. Mammoth is opening tomorrow. The rest are coming soon. See below for a list of opening dates for area resorts. This is all subject to change, of course, depending on weather. If we somehow get massive dumps in the next couple weeks, some of these dates will be moved up, and vice versa, if the white stuff never shows,... [Read more]
Review: Surefoot Custom Ski Boots
Never in my entire life have I had a comfortable pair of ski boots. My feet are wide and high-volume, my calves are big, and I have pain-in-the-ass navicular bones on the inside of my ankles, among other problems. I’ve tried everything, but nothing has ever worked. I’ve had shells modified, heat-moldable liners cooked, and etc. Still, I spend my time skiing in mild to extreme discomfort,... [Read more]
Video: Hilarious Classic Beer Commercial Shot at Squaw Valley
This is awesome. We harken back to “Miller Time” in 1981 as two Squaw Valley ski patrollers finish sweep and head for the bar. As a member of the Squaw ski patrol, I can tell you this is precisely how we end our days: heading for the bar with perfect powder turns on 210cm rossis and one-piece suits, followed by line-dancing in Christmas sweaters with perfectly-feathered hair. Read More →
