tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78492662011-11-26T01:23:08.020-07:00Backcountry Adventure from Backcountry.com customers, Gear Reviews and Outdoor Industry scuttlebutt for Backcountry addictsEl Cojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10539587597918018088noreply@blogger.comBlogger10211100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-89002640106858370372009-03-26T23:30:00.001-06:002009-03-26T23:31:18.619-06:00

Ok, so I have been a slacker with part 2, but that is because I got to the coast of BC and the weather went splitter for 36 hours...so I rallied a crew and we punched the Garibaldi Neve Traverse in a day. Oh well, like any good mountain person, responsibilities get thrown out the window for fun. But here is part two, with another post to come about the Neve Traverse!The next day dawned cold with

Evan Stevensnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-61271768600125970582009-03-24T00:05:00.000-06:002009-03-24T00:06:25.551-06:00

Last week I was fortunate enough to guide the Wapta Traverse for the Alpine Club of Canada. If you haven't heard of the Wapta Traverse, it is by far the most classic ski mountaineering traverse in North America, and I would say it is our version of the famous Haute Route in Europe. The traverse can take parties anywhere from a day(the super-humans), to an average 4 days, or a leisurely 5-7. The

Evan Stevensnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-20741866648763827662009-03-15T16:02:00.005-06:002009-03-20T17:52:53.955-06:00

---Update: Ollie Bell uploaded the video of my qualifier run to Vimeo for me!--- Thanks Ollie Bell! Last week came and went in a blur. The six day journey Nik and I took to New Mexico for the Freeride Championships was completely uncharted territory. New ski area, new event (Freeride World Tour), and a new judging system. Overall it was a very fun experience and something I'd like to do again

JakeCastnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-4671595453432259802009-03-14T08:25:00.000-06:002009-03-14T08:25:00.716-06:00

Winter has been interesting this year in Wyoming. Powder has been plentiful, avalanches abundant, and politics have been ripe. I definitely have had my share of ice cream headaches and pow-face burn (all with smiles), but I am ready for spring to refresh all of the above and a little, no a lot, of sunshine for a change. Spring is the time to leave behind so much worry about questionable

Jeramie Prinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-27660900126897874642009-03-13T08:28:00.004-06:002009-03-13T09:38:58.022-06:00

Today is the first day of the Freeskiing World Tour event at Snowbird, Utah. The event will be broadcasted live via webcast today and Saturday. The webcast will be going live at 12pm MST.

Jonny-ehnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-35976503571198522362009-03-06T17:01:00.003-07:002009-03-06T17:20:11.245-07:00

February 26 - 28, Backcountry.com went in with Black Diamond to bring Dudeness to the people. The Big LePowSki was a clinic-with-the-pros event at Brighton that benefited The Billy Poole Fund and the Winter Wildlands Alliance.The Powderwhores were there. Check it.The Big LePowSki from Noah howell on Vimeo.

fastgrrrlnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-78762456046832427972009-03-06T08:50:00.001-07:002009-03-06T08:52:36.993-07:00

I took advantage of the last day of our 3 week high pressure and bomber snowpack at Valhalla Mountain Touring, here is a video of the day...enjoy!Lots of other good time wasting material on my blog at evanstevens.blogspot.com

Evan Stevensnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-50552529146476933132009-02-25T16:02:00.000-07:002009-02-25T16:02:08.837-07:00

Date: February 20, 2009 Location: Powder Mountain, UT Featuring: Just Me (Jake Kirshner) Low-Res Vimeo Version: High-Res Version: http://www.jakecast.com/helmetcast/helmetCast13.m4v (right-click > save target/link as...) One run off the Lighting Ridge cat skiing at Powder Mountain in Ogden area of Utah. The run I ran in this video is off James Peak which is actually about a 20m hike or so

JakeCastnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-85619242627720065952009-02-24T16:48:00.004-07:002009-02-24T17:33:56.693-07:00

It's that time of year again. Gelande Quaffing season. And this Thursday marks the second World Championships of the World in Jackson Hole. The masters of the sport will converge on the Wyoming ski town armed with lightening-fast reflexes, unquenchable thirsts, and beer guts honed from years of training."My massage therapist tells me that she can identify an athlete's sport just by looking at the

fastgrrrlnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-74594480972622717332009-02-20T14:31:00.002-07:002009-02-20T14:34:30.984-07:00

Well, the high and dry has set in up north in British Columbia, which means it has been dumping down south. I don't mind so much, because it means its time to get back into the alpine and ski the BIG lines in more stable snow. When things set up right, you can really tuck your way up into the mountains inhospitable nooks and crannies, and do some amazing skiing.Here is a video from last week of

Evan Stevensnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-60729801707321495112009-02-20T09:07:00.001-07:002009-02-20T09:09:52.960-07:00

Backcountry.com Athlete Jeremy Jones, the freeriding legend, has pledged his future to O’Neill, who continue to support the big mountain rider in his continual quest to explore and push the boundaries of freeriding around the planet. Jeremy who has been with O’Neill for the past nine years has signed a contract for another five years, with the option thereafter to continue as either a

Jonny-ehnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-52418901539114116342009-02-18T17:21:00.004-07:002009-02-18T17:26:46.187-07:00

Our friend Gary Winberg from Nimbus Independent and Spacecraft checking in with a very very cool new webisode-Hey Fellas,I hope this email finds you doing well. Just wanted to drop a quick note and let you know we just released our latest webisode, En Route - Japan, along with a new website at: www.nimbusindependent.com. Check it out if you have some free time, hope you enjoy the vision we are

Jonny-ehnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-71186281571090141722009-02-16T20:25:00.006-07:002009-02-19T17:58:31.269-07:00

I'm not sure why I was so reluctant to replace my ski boots, especially considering that I've pretty much hated them from the very beginning. Most likely, I dreaded the time-consuming boot fitting and figured it would be more miserable than simply dealing with my pathetic old boots. But today I finally reached the limit of my patience and stormed down to Christy's Sports in search of Steve

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-74981222324614833572009-02-16T09:34:00.000-07:002009-02-16T09:34:53.540-07:00

Just a few quick photos from Snowbird on Valentine's day during some awesome shredding. I am going to post some photos from a mission to Telluride I did last weekend- Kris, not letting his shoulder injury keep him down I show off the top of my helmet Kris doing his best not to swing his arms like a madman I find some random pillows Cheers, Jake

JakeCastnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-61353458618313904172009-02-12T11:50:00.003-07:002009-02-12T11:58:48.515-07:00

Backcountry.com and Black Diamond Proudly Present:First Annual Big LePowSki USA- To Benefit the Billy Poole Fund and Winter WildlandsThe First Annual BigLePowSki event is aimed at all of the freeskiers out there who sell out the ski movie premiers, who pray for snow, who lick their lips at fresh tracks, who read Powder cover to cover, BUT, who don’t have the cash to head to AK and pay for the

Jonny-ehnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-59398076213435594302009-02-11T16:20:00.003-07:002009-02-11T16:34:12.723-07:00

Backcountry.com athlete Gregg Hill getting after it-When Chris mentioned that we should ski off Swiss peak, I was excited by the idea. In 04-05 Troy Jungen and I skied this line and were treated with deep powder turns down the 3000 foot north face. Starting off at 50' and holding steep for its entire length this alpine line is one of the most proud in the pass, it also the longest run in Roger's

Jonny-ehnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-89606970440109055532009-02-04T19:08:00.005-07:002009-02-04T19:26:07.517-07:00

Are you dirtbag and proud? Can you prove it?Cloudveil is ISO the most convincing Skid Crib vid so it's time to throw down. Shoot your own home (literally) video and email the embed to tmc@cloudveil.com. Then leave it up to the people to decide if you are the one true champion, deserving of a Cloudveil get-up (head to ankle), a pair of Dynastar Legend Pro skis, Look bindings, and a year free of

fastgrrrlnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-40951012624563573822009-02-03T14:03:00.003-07:002009-02-03T14:09:51.256-07:00

Backcountry.com athlete Nick Devore really isn't that funny. But he can ski real good.

fastgrrrlnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-52805793355212559942009-02-02T21:18:00.005-07:002009-02-02T21:56:44.060-07:00

Some folks in Salt Lake City see the high pressure on the weather map, hold their breath and hang up their skis. Others like Andrew McLean charge 10 in 10 days, or myself, I try and get after some longer higher tours that I haven't done in a while, especially since I live in British Columbia these days! Back home in BC, the storms are rolling in, with lots of weak layers being preserved by the

Evan Stevensnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-24897738380378376652009-01-30T07:03:00.017-07:002009-01-30T08:24:37.986-07:00

Date: December 29, 2008 - January 29, 2009 Location: Snowbird, UT Featuring: Me (Jake Kirshner), Nik Aksamitn, Dex Mills, Brady Newton, Alex Mazurkewycz Low-Res Vimeo Version: High-Res Version: http://www.jakecast.com/helmetcast/helmetCast12.m4v (right-click > save target/link as...) Things I have learned in the last month. 1) Getting skiing "out of your system" over winter break is damn near

JakeCastnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-48184247686970235822009-01-28T12:33:00.003-07:002009-01-28T12:37:53.906-07:00

The Powder Video awards are a highlight of every season for me. Now in its ninth year, it’s one of the only venues where professional freeskiers, filmers, and photographers are recognized for their hard work throughout the year. This season, several Backcountry athletes grabbed the spotlight.Ingrid Backstrom shut out the women’s field with Best Female Performance.Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, already a

particlenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-68163852190489064922009-01-22T07:05:00.003-07:002009-01-22T07:14:44.769-07:00

For the past week or so, there's been a lot of buzz around the Wasatch ski and climbing communities. All surrounding Andrew McLean's latest project: skiing 10 classic Wasatch lines in 10 days. Most of these involve well over 5,000' vertical climbing, and sometimes brutal descents. Today he reached #9, Little Pine Couloir. Read the full list of reports at StraightChuter.com.Andrew McLean and Doug

particlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-58628187719391238842009-01-19T13:41:00.003-07:002009-01-19T13:48:01.909-07:00

Athlete wrangler Jonny A recently convinced backcountry badass Greg Hill to join the team. I'll let him do his own intro (see below), but his vids speak for themselves:"I have always defined myself in the mountains, who i really am seems to come out while playing in the hills. I have felt that we define our own boundaries and should search them out. So for years I did just that, I pushed my

particlenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-24953033870937735642009-01-16T10:28:00.006-07:002009-01-19T09:23:17.801-07:00

Thanks for watching! The event was killer.

particlenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-92040179559750332702009-01-15T11:09:00.005-07:002009-01-15T11:23:01.518-07:00

So tomorrow we're going to post a killer new online broadcast series focused on the world of freeskiing. Backcountry's own athlete wrangler, Jonny A, will be interviewed and show highlights from IFSA competitors on the Backcountry athlete team. In short, it's gonna be sick - check back here Friday afternoon and kick off your weekend with some freeski stoke. Here are the official press release

particlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-41621884933371094002009-01-14T13:17:00.003-07:002009-01-14T13:22:51.281-07:00

Well, I have to say I love this time of year for the soft light on the mountains, lingering sunrises and sunsets, and increasing daylight. Now we are in the midst of a pineapple express to conclusively end 15 days of cold and clear . . . the last day before the storm was pretty darn sweet though. Enjoy the view!!!photos by Scott Fennell

Kellienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-91604966412066011112009-01-14T08:00:00.000-07:002009-01-14T07:58:57.350-07:00

Since Christmas, Wyoming has been blessed with many, many feet of fresh snow. A blessing for sure, but our avalanche danger has been quiet serious with the infamous rain crust on top of depth hore, and record amounts of snowfall sitting on top of this rotten ice cream sandwich. Reports most days have been high, warning people of disastrous consequences if caught. Seeing the Buck Mountain

Jeramie Prinenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-51190684365282987622009-01-13T06:02:00.002-07:002009-01-13T06:05:14.639-07:00

More goodness from the Backcountry.com athlete crew: getting slotted in the Pac Northwest with ripper Drew Tabke.Get slotted. from Drew Tabke on Vimeo.

particlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-49545146626716976832009-01-12T10:42:00.004-07:002009-01-12T12:19:04.728-07:00

Tats (a.k.a. Backcountry.com athlete Chris Tatsuno) just posted this great writeup on the state of freeskiing comps, definitely worth a read: It's Our Honor

particlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-66609785328400763962009-01-12T07:50:00.001-07:002009-01-12T07:50:00.306-07:00

While the coast has been getting rain of biblical proportions, the interior of British Columbia has been getting pounded by METERS of snow. We have had avalanches run that have not run in anyone's living memory. Up at Valhalla Mountain Touring, we have been braving the weather in the safe tree skiing right out our door, and not stepping any further away. Making ski decisions in times like this

Evan Stevensnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-18382643515789125252009-01-07T21:35:00.000-07:002009-01-07T21:36:09.372-07:00

I can't really say that I have been snowed in before at Valhalla Mountain Touring. We have so much safe tree skiing close to home, that even when the avalanche danger is High, we can still get out and have fun safely. But the pineapple express has something to say about that right now. Just a few hours to the west, the coast is getting pummeled, and people are building arks, leading their animals

Evan Stevensnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-39690973242572198972009-01-03T22:41:00.004-07:002009-01-03T22:56:11.520-07:00

The recent wave of avalanche activity in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah is a product of new snow overlying a pesky, persistent sandwich of weak layers that just won't go away. Rather than crowd into the well-known "safe slopes" in the central Wasatch (SLC area), times like these are a great opportunity to get away from the crowds and explore other areas to find some of your own safe, secret gems

Matthew Jespersonnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-4870745561949888932008-12-30T22:19:00.003-07:002008-12-30T22:28:27.004-07:00

It might sound like a joke, but lately the snow has been coming in by the foot, not by inches. The storm hose is pointed right on British Columbia, and the cold smoke just keeps piling up at Valhalla Mountain Touring. We are in full swing here, with the 3rd straight week of operations, and this week has a bunch of friends from UT and CO up here to ski the pow. But instead of ranting and raving,

Evan Stevensnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-22569164664749912382008-12-30T13:55:00.003-07:002008-12-30T13:56:57.493-07:00

Check out this rad Holiday update from Don, mid-climb as he sends out some Backcountry love...Exclusive video for backcountry.com from Calpinist.com on Vimeo.

particlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-62416160237287187582008-12-29T17:37:00.004-07:002008-12-29T17:43:05.752-07:00

Don Bowie and his team are attempting to be the first to summit Broad Peak in the Gasherbrun massif on the border of Pakistan and China. In spite of several attempts, none of Pakistan’s 8000ers have been summited in winter. He will be updating his blog regularly.For updates, check out: http://calpinist.com.Here's a vid from the first day at base camp:First Day at Base Camp from Calpinist.com on

particlenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-21635087470040252432008-12-28T23:36:00.002-07:002008-12-28T23:41:23.840-07:00

Well, after the volcanoes didn't go so swell, we headed toward Portillo and then on to Argentina to do some exploratory skiing . . . we didn't have much beta on the area, but it turns out we didn't need much - great roadside access and plenty to drool over :-)Here's a slideshow from my favorite day - more can be seen on my blog!

Kellienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-91038156993364481522008-12-28T17:33:00.002-07:002008-12-28T23:42:59.415-07:00

Well, I am super late in posting, but I figured the remainder of the South American adventure still belongs in blogland . . . so sorry if this gets in the way of current ski conditions, but enjoy the view anyhow!For more of the story, check out my blog . . .

Kellienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-26172366292824707692008-12-28T08:00:00.000-07:002008-12-28T08:00:01.096-07:00

Wyoming has been blessed with 5 feet of new snow this week, and everyone is in a powder frenzy due to the slow start to our season. Time to get out and get deep safely with all of your bros while mixing in face shots, but do so with caution.Bridger-Teton National Avalanche forecasting center has been warning skiers and boarders about deep instabilities coupled with all of the new snow resting on

Jeramie Prinenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-9420281717569732852008-12-27T15:56:00.008-07:002009-01-08T10:53:43.288-07:00

Oy! We got snow too! Last weekend the New England region experienced an epic dumping of gorgeous powder. Some places received as much as 42 inches…not too shabby for a December storm over here. Myself and 4 others spent the night of the storm on top of a peak in the Whites, and when we awoke the next morning we were well rewarded.Here are a few shots of us enjoying the ride down:

tylernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-8948067042436903822008-12-26T16:58:00.001-07:002008-12-26T17:01:32.087-07:00

Date: December 9-24, 2008 Location: Snowbird, UT Featuring: Me (Jake Kirshner), Daimon Bushi, Kyle Wehmanen Low-Res Vimeo Version: High-Res Version: http://www.jakecast.com/helmetcast/helmetCast11.m4v (right-click > save target/link as...) Tuesday was my perfect day. I had the biggest dumb grin on my face every turn and my teeth were all sparkly from all the snow hitting me in the face. This

JakeCastnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-31954356613222462942008-12-22T14:45:00.000-07:002008-12-22T14:55:51.452-07:00

Well school is officially out at the UofU, which means skiing is officially in! Time for deep pow and soft landings. Here are some photos from some post-final celebrating. I claim this fallen tree as my own! My Favorite Landing Ever. --- Allen gets his camouflage on. --- Tommy struggles for air...and vision... --- I'm in this photo. I outrun my own powder wave. --- Tommy cornering some

JakeCastnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-62142616801775291332008-12-20T13:35:00.003-07:002008-12-20T13:40:59.805-07:00

Down here in the south Wasatch, the ice is a bit late. But better late than never. Things are starting to get good!Stairway to Heaven, Provo CanyonPitch 1Pitch1Pitch 2 and above, still a bit thin.

Matthew Jespersonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-31907772139374431472008-12-18T08:34:00.004-07:002008-12-18T09:00:39.810-07:00

Be aware, this video is from Monday, and things have changed out there since then, however, it is a solid review of snow profile techniques.While the avalanche danger is rated as high through much of the Wasatch today, it's a good time to review testing techniques, wax your boards and re-read that book you haven't touched since your last avy course. First on my list of books to keep you on top

Grant Helgesonnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-25374026331960993152008-12-16T21:28:00.005-07:002008-12-16T22:17:06.321-07:00

The arctic air mass has taken over British Columbia. I know what you're thinking. It's Canada, you all live in igloos and it is cold all the time. But alas, no, SW BC is actually quite mild in the winter, and that is what makes skiing here so great-it's not frigidly cold! Right now it is so, so, so bitterly cold here that we can't even really ski on shady slopes. The snow is so cold that

Evan Stevensnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-73211011301840439232008-12-16T18:13:00.007-07:002008-12-16T18:29:40.127-07:00

Here in the Wasatch, we're dealing with a particularly tricky snowpack this season. Sunday brought an in-bounds avalanche in Little Cottonwood. There was also a size 2 avalanche along the Park City ridge line that left a young man in the hospital. The Utah Avalanche Center has posted their investigation and report from the PC ridge line avalanche on their website. You can check it out here.

Grant Helgesonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-73776732359763605592008-12-15T21:34:00.004-07:002008-12-15T22:11:07.634-07:00

When the sun came out Sunday afternoon, a few friends and I decided to throw our skis and skins into the truck and drive up to Summit Park on the outskirts of Park City to find out how our favorite playground fared with the weekend storm.After seeing first hand the results of a snow pit in the Cottonwoods a week ago, I wasn’t interested in going anywhere near steep, wind-loaded slopes.Our biggest

CTVnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-39656741599522048982008-12-08T20:29:00.000-07:002008-12-08T20:31:37.554-07:00

Living on the coast of British Columbia has its pluses and its minuses. The rainy fall, when the snow line hasn't lowered down, can be quite tough. I have spent the last two weeks desperately trying to find some winter outdoor recreation: 3 skiing attempts, and 1 ice climbing attempt. Actually, the 2 days of clear and dry weather were some of the best days of bouldering I have had in Squamish!

Evan Stevensnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-41185575586920197842008-12-07T23:42:00.008-07:002008-12-08T00:09:36.865-07:00

This weekend a group of us were sitting in Park City, UT wondering what to do on a Saturday afternoon when the resort we work for asked employees not to ski because of limited open terrain.Someone threw out Antelope Island down in Salt Lake as a possible mountain bike ride.http://www.utah.com/bike/trails/antelope_island_map.htmI’d never been to the island, but it seemed like a good plan with low

CTVnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-43358282562240189212008-12-07T15:53:00.000-07:002008-12-07T17:17:14.156-07:00

Date: December 5-6, 2008 Location: Snowbird, UT Featuring: Me (Jake Kirshner), Nik Aksamit, Sam Fox, Kyle Wehmanen Low-Res Vimeo Version: High-Res Version: http://www.jakecast.com/helmetcast/helmetCast10.m4v (right-click > save target/link as...) With close to a foot of fresh Snow and the Cirque Traverse finally open it is finally starting to feel like winter again at Snowbird. Seems like a

JakeCastnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-38849383221085746812008-12-07T00:35:00.002-07:002008-12-07T00:36:48.644-07:00

Well, I just got back from a 6 week adventure in South America in service of a Ski Cruise to Antarctica . . . Since I'm still sorting my pictures, this report is going to come in installments! Enjoy the view (and let me know what you think about the slide show feature!)

Kellienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-76077113201179982012008-11-25T18:42:00.009-07:002008-11-25T19:31:19.961-07:00

Since the early November powderfest in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, the weather has given us nothing but warm and dry conditions. It is rather depressing from a skiing perspective, yet from a climbing perspective, these conditions are wonderful! The snowpack is saddled with a thick sun/rain crust that makes backcountry approaches quite easy; and, the winter routes are in good condition for some

Matthew Jespersonnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-30825846025610611812008-11-22T10:11:00.001-07:002008-11-22T10:11:01.617-07:00

P { MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px } BODY { SCROLLBAR-HIGHLIGHT-COLOR: #cecfce; SCROLLBAR-ARROW-COLOR: #3f52b8; SCROLLBAR-TRACK-COLOR: #fffbff; SCROLLBAR-DARKSHADOW-COLOR: #fafafa; SCROLLBAR-BASE-COLOR: #f7f7f7 } I was out running here in Park City to get in shape for ski season (which hasn't started yet, I don't care what y'all say), and as I came down the hill to my house I spotted this

gearheadnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-59781914685480115602008-11-19T11:17:00.005-07:002008-11-19T11:31:32.610-07:00

A few of the Backcountry.com team athletes and blog contributors recently headed to Antarctica for a ski and snowboard expedition. Unfortunately, many of them never made it - the cruise ship from Argentina broke down and the original trip was canceled. However, a few hardcores persevered and found another boat to make the trip happen.Sean Busby on his trip and travails, and bagging some turns in

particlenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-53613526131983493812008-11-12T09:59:00.000-07:002008-11-12T09:59:00.531-07:00

Finally, the snow has arrived! Here in Wyoming I have been watching my friend, Steve Romeo getting out and making the best of the early season at TetonAT. Well, our season has started and the early birds get the worm. I have to admit, I love early season turns almost as much as rippin' pow in cold, deep January. What is there not love? There are no crowds, you get to set the skin track, and it is

Jeramie Prinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-78156396097322751722008-11-11T18:42:00.000-07:002008-11-11T18:49:03.734-07:00

Yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes! February is back in Utah* *I use a powder calendar, not a Gregorian one... 2 Pix & 1 Clip to Prove it! Shane fighting his way out of a waist deep bucket of awesome! Shane does his best Dan Treadway imitation... Shane surfs his way off the snow! I break in my new skis with style! I thought rockered skis were supposed to float?!?! I time travel into

JakeCastnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-41981009357245688612008-11-10T05:47:00.000-07:002008-11-10T05:47:00.275-07:00

Blogger after blogger on this site shows you the craziest adventures in the coolest places around, myself included. But is it time to actually get out and do these things yourself? One of the reasons I post here is to inspire more folks to get out and enjoy these amazing persuits; I mean if we all did these things this world would be a way better place!Getting the Goods at VMT! Tommy Chandler

Evan Stevensnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-46017025974361904502008-11-09T13:43:00.008-07:002008-11-09T18:25:08.386-07:00

Most of the other contributors on this blog have the good fortune of living in such splendid locales as, well, anywhere in the Western half of the US. Mountains, good snow, mountains, and well, mountains are the supreme benefit of this. For some of us however, we must make use of the (comparatively sized) molehills on the other half of the nifty fifty. Now, these hills are nothing to scoff at; Mt

tylernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-37770549700384952922008-11-06T01:27:00.000-07:002008-11-06T01:28:20.515-07:00

November 5. Doesn't get much better than this...

JakeCastnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-26155180637669312252008-11-03T23:39:00.004-07:002008-11-03T23:59:47.087-07:00

I woke up this morning at the base of the Wasatch, looked out the window, and had a rush of excitement. A good dense layer of snow covered the upper elevation of the Wasatch Mountains, and the next wave is coming tonight. Here's some of last season's photos to charge some stoke for this winter. YES, YES, YES!!! Pray for snow!TimpanogosSuperiorCascadePfeifferhornSupreme

Matthew Jespersonnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-80447254863799133122008-11-03T22:16:00.005-07:002008-11-03T22:42:18.109-07:00

Less than a month ago several of us decided to take a trip up to Ketchum, ID to get in a long weekend of mountain biking in beautiful Indian Summer weather before the late fall blew in and the weather turned.I’d heard over the past couple of years how great the mountain biking up in the Sun Valley area is.The trip started out in perfectly – the mountains were alive with sparkling gold aspen

CTVnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-2855428626039230732008-10-30T06:04:00.002-06:002008-10-30T06:08:13.634-06:00

Well, I uploaded a few photos from Vulcan Llaima and haven´t found a computer to get the rest up, but here´s some of the climb . . . I¨ll try and get the ski at some point!Heading up . . . we chose to go around the far climber´s right side since it looked a little less steep and exposed than the main face. It was still glaciated, however, and much less direct . . . I guess that´s not a huge

Kellienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-58856685471185880702008-10-29T15:38:00.006-06:002008-10-29T16:16:52.718-06:00

Okay, so Yosemite served up a HUGE portion of Humble Pie, much like it always does. Free climbing El Cap is HARD work, and I don't know if I was fully prepared for it. But in the end, getting sick to the point of vomiting and temperatures in the 30s prevented us from doing any free climbing, and forced a hasty retreat from 22 pitches up the wall. Oh well, the big stone isn't going anywhere, so

Evan Stevensnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-89445842607445653052008-10-23T11:13:00.009-06:002008-10-25T11:20:18.464-06:00

Downtown Manali. The many barricades and the seemingly inauspicious presence of armed police was apparently necessary to help maintain a controlled and tranquil scene at the 2008 Kullu Dussehra Celebrations, Ben Ditto and I (Pat Goodman) had the honor of attending. Police at the 2008 Kullu Dussehra.The recent bomb blasts in New Delhi and the enduring conflict between India and Pakistan have

:) Pat Goodmannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-15916971102844564232008-10-21T14:12:00.003-06:002008-10-21T14:20:57.176-06:00

A cool update from Drew...One month ago I left Salt Lake City with my car packed to the ceiling. I was headed for Seattle, my new home for the winter (and longer?). Here are a few pictures of what I've been up to so far.Camping in the Hoh Rainforest National Park on the Olympic PenninsulaClimbing and skiing on the Coleman Glacier on Mt. Baker.Climbing and skiing the Muir Snowfield on Mt.

particlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-37994901736065791772008-10-20T16:40:00.004-06:002008-10-20T16:44:57.641-06:00

The sun has already begun warming up the rocks and loosening up snow thousands of feet above. Hang fire sluff begins ripping out of couloirs around us as we all reconvene on Primavera, a stunning bit of apron that unfolds right above the lake. We get the cameras situated in two different spots and the crew begins ripping fast, monster turns through the untracked outer margins of the run.Nick

particlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-33861387053083896042008-10-19T15:20:00.001-06:002008-10-19T15:22:32.441-06:00

Well, I left Anchorage last Monday in a snowstorm and travelled 3 consecutive nights to arrive in Pucon on Thursday morning at 8am and meet my old friend Scott and new friend Christian. Our intention is to spend 2 weeks skiing volcanoes in Chile . . .So, true to KO form, I got off the bus and on my skis, as we headed to Villarica that afternoon. It was just over 5000 ft climb and descent in super

Kellienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-41345380057669516042008-10-17T16:08:00.005-06:002008-10-17T16:16:19.264-06:00

Shralping Portillo Chile with Backcountry.com athlete Nick DevoreEpic conditions and high spirits characterize the first annual Portillo Big Mountain Telemark Campby Kayo OgilbyNick’s head pops up over the edge of my top bunk and I know there is no more ignoring the 7:00 alarm. He cranes his neck out of the narrow window of our room in the Inca Lodge and gives the report: “Bluebird”.We drag our

particlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-20423772130374000482008-10-13T20:07:00.001-06:002008-10-13T20:52:07.073-06:00

Date: October 12, 2008 Location: Rocky Point, UT Featuring: Me (Jake Kirshner), Nik Aksamit, Kris Aksamit Low-Res YouTube Version: High-Res Version: http://www.jakecast.com/helmetcast/helmetCast9.m4v (right-click > save target/link as...) Winter is back... Jake

JakeCastnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-9078200358721991242008-10-13T16:44:00.004-06:002008-10-13T16:53:16.545-06:00

Jen Ader Brill sent out an update from Silverton Mountain today with some early pow turns. It's like clockwork - Silverton always seems to get the first pow turns of the year in Colorado. Here's what she had to say:"Howdy Snow Fans, This weekend dropped more than a foot of snow at Silverton Mountain . As the ski patrol arrived at the mountain today to do some pre- season work they discovered

particlenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-79862122225674515102008-10-11T02:43:00.010-06:002008-10-14T02:46:50.807-06:00

For a bit of history regarding the beginning of this adventure follow this link – http://blog.mountainhardwear.com/2008/10/success_in_india.htmlBen Ditto soaking up some wicked Himalayan views.“Oh my God, he’s got to be dead”, I thought as I ran up to the overturned vehicle only to find no one inside – then suddenly a parade of barefoot Baba’s came strolling past me, marching through the deep

:) Pat Goodmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-76931678274473572672008-10-08T18:16:00.003-06:002008-10-08T18:28:22.217-06:00

Okay, so I have been a slacker with blogging. September came and I actually had to work a bunch. Well if you call teaching a bunch of keen 20 year olds how to climb in Squamish and the Coast Mountains Work, then so be it. But it was all in the name of 3 months of no work and all play before the winter snows have me pounding out the vertical on the skis.Part 1 of my journey has taken Jasmin, my

Evan Stevensnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-41419636477652282822008-10-07T15:30:00.005-06:002008-10-07T16:14:23.438-06:00

During seasonal transition times, my energy always gets a little weird. This year my solution was a combo of yoga and diverse cardio adventures in the form of mountain biking, skiing, and mountain running.Getting in ski shape . . . On a run in the front range, just after my bike broke - perfect timing at the end of summer! On the way to Whittier, and using tunnel time to learn handstand :-)And,

Kellienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-88004261223653060232008-10-05T19:48:00.002-06:002008-10-05T20:01:51.939-06:00

It's a white fall here in Utah.  Nothing like a little skiing to help pass the time until...well, skiing. Alta, caught between Fall & Winter.Me, caught between Biking & Skiing My Bike, caught between Dirt & Water.My grin, caught between Stoked & Totally Stoked.My photographer, caught between Tired & Confused.My ski poles, caught between Rocks & Snow.Bike trails, caught between Mud & Ice.My skis,

JakeCastnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-31960469267945737422008-10-03T23:15:00.008-06:002008-10-04T03:10:07.851-06:00

To read a recap regarding the beginning of this adventure please follow this link. http://blog.mountainhardwear.com/2008/09/letter_from_india.html The view from the roof top of the Deep Forest Hotel.As luck would have it Freddie Wilkinson, Janet Bergman, Ben Ditto, and I (Pat Goodman) found the one Hotel in Kasol that has a splendid roof top view of our climbing objectives in the Manikaran Spire

:) Pat Goodmannoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-35029402452689457822008-10-03T09:25:00.003-06:002008-10-03T09:33:01.342-06:00

The last Red Bull Rampage was held in 2004. Since then, the sport of mountain biking has come a long way. Slopestyle tricks have progressed unbelievably. I'm not sure how "backcountry" this event is, other than the fact that it's held in a remote area outside Virgin, Utah. But it definitely promises to bring the 'big mountain' back to freeride mountain biking.

particlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-62926109653101936422008-09-25T12:43:00.002-06:002008-09-25T12:55:21.389-06:00

Well, it's been a rainy and cold summer in Alaska, which means earlier-than-normal glacier skiing :-) A group of us headed up to the Lane Glacier near Hatcher Pass for what turned out to be totally legitimate powder skiing! We got 4 runs in before calling it a day and hiking out in a blizzard!Seasons in transition . . . lovely fall colors!Getting closer to winter . . .Oh, how we love Alaska

Kellienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-17722797258818132332008-09-24T17:07:00.015-06:002008-09-24T22:01:23.764-06:00

.BLOG_mobile_video_class{display:none;}8000 meters that is. Vert. On foot. Traveling 38 miles.Each year, JanSport issues a challenge to outdoor retailers who sell their products.The challenge is to ascend three peaks in Southern California, with a combined total vertical of 8000m (24,000 feet), up and down. The winner of the challenge is the retailer who can get the most employees up all three

Backcountry Adventure Contestnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-83925203607167167392008-09-23T14:32:00.006-06:002008-09-23T14:53:58.130-06:00

With a few snows having dusted the upper Wasatch, I was anxious to get out and climb at least two more rock routes before winter closes in: Sundial Peak and Mt. Olympus. For this weekend, we decided Guert's Ridge on Mt. Olympus would be the best because we had the ability to watch the storms come in and adjust our climbing route accordingly.Driving to the trailhead, the skies were heavy. When we

Matthew Jespersonnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-90474240175406233182008-09-22T13:25:00.001-06:002008-09-22T13:51:01.564-06:00

So it seems Fall has arrived in Utah now and the rainstorms it brings have followed suits. Other than teasing us with light snow dust above 10,000' it provides us with some awesome mountain biking conditions. The combination of the rain, dry earth in UT, and red tires results in some awesome trail riding. Here are some photos from the Mid-Mountain & Spiro Trails in Park City last weekend. Mike

JakeCastnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-75178197557747924492008-09-19T14:54:00.010-06:002008-09-22T10:40:43.353-06:00

I've heard other cyclists speak longingly of Portland (now ranked number 2 in the world's friendliest bike cities) and other places like Boulder, Davis, and San Franciso. Unfortunately, Salt Lake is rarely considered by locals to be safe for cyclists. This is rather incongruent with the fact that Salt Lake is generally considered one of the outdoor meccas of the United States, if not the world.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-66621298720695957022008-09-17T11:27:00.004-06:002008-09-17T11:36:30.868-06:00

I cruised up Timpanogos on Monday with my wife. Her first summit! The day was phenemonal, perfect weather, chilly temperatures, and the colors are beginning to change.Primrose Cirque, Timpanogos.Mountain goats in Timpanogos Basin with their fat winter coats from the Timpanogos hike on Monday.Fall colors from 2007. Good for some fall hiking/climbing stoke.Timpanogos from Cascade Mountain.Second

Matthew Jespersonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-81529607367161612292008-09-15T11:13:00.005-06:002008-09-15T12:25:23.447-06:00

After a summer of cross-country travel, Sherrie and I decided to check out one of Alaska's most amazing trails: Kesugi Ridge. We chose the 28-mile version from Little Coal Creek to Byer's Lake. The trail climbs and then hits a plateau that offers almost unbostructed view of Denali and the Alaska Range. Sherrie coming up off the first climb, Denali in the backgroundWhat a ridge!The Alaska Range

Kellienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-91674183572267918852008-09-14T17:38:00.001-06:002008-09-14T18:03:42.581-06:00

Date: August 19 - 30, 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, UT - Big Cottonwood Canyon, UT Featuring: Me (Jake Kirshner), Mike Saltsman While the Dew Action Sports Tour may be all the rage in Salt Lake City, mountain biking in the Wasatch is where the real fun is being had. Here is some footage to prove it! Low Res YouTube Version: High-Res Version: http://www.jakecast.com/helmetcast/helmetCast8.

JakeCastnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-86157488178355625672008-09-13T10:14:00.005-06:002008-09-13T11:07:25.028-06:00

Traveling in the mountains combines so many variables that one of the great thrills is meeting that uncertainty head-on, recognizing that the problem solving and decision making are half the fun. Unfortunately, the accomplishment of your mountain goal doesn't always mirror your efforts. You can be caught in a whiteout just prior to an epic line after hours of brutal trailbreaking; or, be

Matthew Jespersonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-30629205681805260962008-09-12T10:38:00.004-06:002008-09-12T11:13:03.664-06:00

I recently did the Sanctuary River loop with my friend Sherrie. We took 3 days so we could hang out in the high country and explore. The route is from Cantwell to Denali Park, where you catch the bus back to the park entrance. It's about equal parts hiking and floating . . . enjoy the view!Me hiking up the Windy River. I had recently gotten flowers and had nothing to do with them, so I took

Kellienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-62920816165079583612008-09-10T22:15:00.009-06:002008-09-11T11:43:08.395-06:00

A little more than a week ago I flew to California for the Michigan State vs. California football game. Arriving on a Thursday meant that my normal workout routine was interrupted. Normally during the fall, I have yoga Monday, ski conditioning Tuesday and Thursday, ride my horse on Wednesday and Friday and go for a couple of big mountain bike rides on Saturday and Sunday. Exceptions to the rule

CTVnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-66894548518595736922008-09-03T23:24:00.002-06:002008-09-03T23:32:18.074-06:00

The Teton Range is the birthplace of American Alpinism. The terrain, the culture, and the history all lead to making the Tetons one of the great mountain ranges of the United States. The gem of the Tetons is the Grand Teton, one of the most famous mountains in the world. I've always wanted to climb this mountain, so last month my climbing buddy and I took some time off of work and made it

Matthew Jespersonnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-57688234988341067732008-09-03T16:48:00.005-06:002008-09-03T18:53:42.673-06:00

These are some pictures I took with my friend mike while riding the flying dog trail at Jeremy Ranch late last month. Enjoi! Entrance to single-track bliss. Earning my turns. Mike climbing too fast for my camera.Scenic trail.Mike pushing for the top.I ride with a very nice background. Full Gallery Well, that's it for now. Look for the 8th HelmetCast later this week or whenever I get more than

JakeCastnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-62020117913323127752008-09-03T11:21:00.003-06:002008-09-03T11:58:10.150-06:00

There is such a crazy story associated with this trip, but you'll have to read the whole deal here.In summary, Chrissy May, Gretchen Roffler, and I did a trip from Anaktuvuk Pass ($170 flight from Fairbanks into the Brooks Range) to Wiseman on the Dalton Highway. It involved about 90 miles of travel, split almost evenly between floating and hiking. The scenery was amazing, and the options and

Kellienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-39526897546504616082008-09-02T19:14:00.006-06:002008-09-02T19:55:40.228-06:00

So the contest is coming to an end and Soon I will be heading home. As all trips go by to fast , so has this one. The snow has treated us well and the last part of the week has been good pow. A talented photographer named Jordan Manley won the slide show that we put on for the guests of the Hotel, but I have to say that there were some amazing photographs that came out of the contest. I wish I

steven lloydnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-49825815439167714132008-08-28T17:16:00.010-06:002008-08-28T18:11:28.876-06:00

I have the great fortune to be one of five photographers invited to portillo to shoot in Skiing magazines photo contest. First I just want to thank Backcountry.com for making it possible for me to come down here. I don't think I would have made it without there support. With that being said on to portillo. Each photographer is to chose one athlete to take with them. I chose my long time friend

steven lloydnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-41705059807691616522008-08-28T08:47:00.010-06:002008-08-28T10:02:01.958-06:00

Summer seems to have ended way too early here in coastal British Columbia. Normally August is a month filled with sun, warm weather and endless high pressure, allowing trip after trip into the mountains. Instead, every few days has brought a storm with an inch or two of rain, followed by days of unsettled showers. As a result my mountain trips have canceled and I have been heading to the steep

Evan Stevensnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-67623924046514980892008-08-26T10:08:00.000-06:002008-08-26T10:08:00.175-06:00

After reading CTV's post about bicycle rage on the Wasatch Crest Trail, I had to read it again to make sure I wasn't dreaming. I just couldn't fathom fellow cyclists pushing bad vibes on each other, and while on the trail of all places. Don't we all get outside and play to have an enjoyable and positive experience away from life's chaos? I guess it is a good reminder to respect others, even if we

Jeramie Prinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-3322909897113233062008-08-26T09:45:00.007-06:002008-08-26T12:32:09.074-06:00

Just got a sweet little promo video from VIO helmet cams partnering with TGR. "It kind of made me sick to watch it…in a good way!"

particlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-30879936375903948062008-08-22T12:18:00.005-06:002008-08-22T12:45:43.309-06:00

Like every good adventure ultimately the trail ends, the sun sets or the powder, well, the powder gets tracked up and you call it a day.For almost 4 years I've been posting here on the Backcountry Blog, kept it rolling forward and connected customers and adventurers alike to this blog so we all could hear of their adventures, their successes and perhaps their failures. They've shared evidence of

powstashnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-56559792470869367532008-08-20T04:57:00.001-06:002008-08-20T05:16:58.692-06:00

Date: August 8 - 16, 2008 Location: Park City, UT - Little Cottonwood Canyon, UT Featuring: Me (Jake Kirshner), Mike Saltsman, Josh Matta Low Res YouTube Version: High-Res Version: http://www.jakecast.com/helmetcast/helmetCast7.m4v (right-click > save target/link as...) Recipe for lame crashes: (1) parts: first biking of the season (1) parts: first time in clipless pedals (1) parts: narrow

JakeCastnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-62341749494085548592008-08-19T08:46:00.007-06:002008-08-19T22:39:22.181-06:00

Most of the time when camping or backpacking I eat freeze dried meals like those from Mountain House or Mary Janes so the only needs I have for eating is a titanium spork and my favorite stove of all - the Jetboil.But lately I've been doing more car camping and backpacking with the family and while the freeze dried foods have remained steady dinner options (along with the time proven tin-foil

powstashnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-85221619521841658862008-08-18T12:35:00.007-06:002008-08-18T13:13:44.844-06:00

Last time I left you (scroll down) I had just been HAMMERED by weather trying to free climb the Blackfriar. We spent the next day drying out and licking our wounds, ready to pounce the next day for another free attempt of this 2,000 foot wall.Staring down Blackfriar from campThe day dawned clear and cold and we headed over to try our luck again. Freezing cold temps met us as we climbed in the

Evan Stevensnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-72511461224951354542008-08-16T11:43:00.006-06:002008-08-16T12:00:56.677-06:00

So, to anyone considering a trip to Alaska, I highly recommend some time in Cooper Landing . . . It's one-stop shopping for so many classic Alaskan activities. Centered in the Kenai Mountains at Kenai Lake and the head of the Kenai River, with the Russian River confluence forming the southern border, it's the home of much hiking, biking, floating, and animal watching (bears!).Hiking above Kenai

Kellienoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849266.post-90221443264961639712008-08-15T20:09:00.012-06:002008-08-21T19:46:29.274-06:00

Climbing Denali is a lot of work. The verdict is still out whether or not the West Buttress (AK Grade2+)[our route] is climbing or hiking. I would have to say both, hiking up to 13,000 and climbing to 20000+ feet. This was my first time to the Alaska range and I must say I'm hooked. I've never seen mountains on this scale before, they refer to it as the "Alaska Factor". Mountains that look

Going-Upnoreply@blogger.com2