Winter is coming… unseasonably cool weather this August may portend things to come for ski season, at least we can hope. Let’s keep that hope alive by celebrating our backcountry skiing community and benefiting the Utah Avalanche Center at the 2014 Black Diamond Fall Fundraiser Party. In its 21st year (which means the party is…
Tag: avalanche
Sherpa fundraiser to help Everest avalanche victims
The single most deadly accident ever to befall Mount Everest happened on April 18th, when a block of ice broke loose above the Khumbu Icefall above base camp, which unleashed a massive avalanche that killed 16 Sherpa guides. The slide at 20,000 feet buried Sherpas who were setting up ropes and camps along the route…
Video: How to Avoid an Avalanche
Avalanche danger is downright spooky right now in Utah, so it is fitting that KSL Outdoors featured a story about how to stay safe in avalanche terrain. In it, they follow the Utah Avalanche Center’s Craig Gordon as he leads the Freeride Avalanche Workshop at Snowbasin. It’s a short bit that really generalizes the intricate…
Thoughts on the Freeride Avalanche Workshop at Snowbasin
The Snowbasin Freeride Avalanche Workshop happened over the last few days, and I was lucky enough to be able to attend Tuesday’s session while on assignment for KSL Outdoors. When I wasn’t busy shooting video for a TV story, I soaked in all the good avalanche and safety information I could, which was invaluable. The…
SheJumps and UAC offer Women’s Backcountry 101
Backcountry skiing is at an all-time high right now, as more and more people buy AT gear and skin into the mountains. But things like avalanches can be intimidating or even a deal-breaker, so education is key. The Utah Avalanche Center, along with SheJumps, are teaming up to offer the Women’s Backcountry 101 course. If…
Arva Neo avalanche transceiver review
Arva, the European avalanche transceiver company, is making a big push into the U.S. market, and evidence of this is the brand new Neo, an intuitive, user-friendly, and affordable beacon that will appeal to the average backcountry user, which is pretty much all of us. The Arva Neo is packed full of features, including: 100%…
Backcountry.com offers Women’s Avalanche Safety Workshop
Avalanche safety instruction is vital when backcountry skiing, and more options for learning pop up every year. Now online gear retailer, backcountry.com, is jumping into the fray by offering more than just gear with their S.A.F.E. A.S. Women’s Intro to Avalanche Safety clinics. Held 4 times in December, these clinics will be led by pro…
Avoiding the backcountry horde at Catherine Pass
Utah backcountry skiers are chomping at the bit. Before ski resorts open, most skin up Alta and Snowbird to get pre-season turns. But with Alta shutting off all uphill traffic on Sunday for opening-day preparations, the bounty of in-bounds skiing and riding was shut off. With a big storm that dropped over a foot of…
Video: 2012-2013 Utah Backcountry Review
Ah, those guys over at the Utah Avalanche Center sure know how to take a serious thing like avalanches and make them lighthearted and fun. Well, more avalanche forecaster Craig Gordon than anyone else. Of course he doesn’t really take slides lightly, but for the past few years, he and his cohort, Trent Meisenheimer, compiled…
Get backcountry ready at Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop
It’s time once again for the annual Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop. In this, the 6th annual workshop, the best and brightest minds in the avalanche and backcountry ski community will converge to discuss current avalanche issues, as well as take a look at accidents and avalanche deaths from the previous season so everyone can…