vintage ski bindings
The Best Alpine Touring Bindings in 2019: Part 1 – 50/50 Bindings

The Best Alpine Touring Bindings in 2019: Part 1 – 50/50 Bindings

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Although there aren’t any game-changers like the Salomon/Atomic Shift this season, we’re still in what might be the best era ever in terms of choices for touring bindings. It’s a bit overwhelming, but we’ll try and narrow it down based on the type of skiing you do and what you need in a binding. This is the first of a 3 part series comparing the best bindings for backcountry skiing. Part 2 is about the best tech bindings for backcountry…

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flylow cooper jacket and smythe bib
Flylow Cooper Jacket and Smythe Bib Pants Review

Flylow Cooper Jacket and Smythe Bib Pants Review

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This past season I had the pleasure of testing the Cooper Jacket and the Smythe Bib Pants from Flylow. After hearing rave reviews of Flylow from friends (the Baker bibs seemed to be the most talked about) I knew I had to get my hands on something from this small company in the Pacific Northwest. These were my first pieces of Flylow gear but they definitely won’t be the last. Both the Cooper jacket and the Smythe pants are part…

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spring snow crocus
Avalanche Safety: Four Types of Spring Snowpack

Avalanche Safety: Four Types of Spring Snowpack

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Backcountry skiing or boarding in the spring can be a very rewarding experience, but the variability of the snowpack and rapidly changing conditions can make it a bit tricky to keep yourself out of avalanche danger. In this article we’re going to cover four pretty typical spring scenarios, the dangers associated with each and how to mitigate the risk. Even with the knowledge you gain from this article, always keep in mind that solar radiation and warm temperatures can elevate…

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denali ski touring
Cody Townsend’s “The Fifty” Project

Cody Townsend’s “The Fifty” Project

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Ski season is over or very close to it for most of us in the Northern Hemisphere, but don’t be too sad. We can still live vicariously through others’ adventures on YouTube, and The Fifty project might be the coolest series out there right now if you like backcountry or big mountain skiing. Cody Townsend is one of the most recognizable big mountain pro skiers, due in part to his ridiculously fast and gnarly line of the year in 2014….

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big sky mountain products climbing skins
Big Sky Mountain Products Climbing Skins: Quick Review

Big Sky Mountain Products Climbing Skins: Quick Review

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Last year I posted a review of Climbing Skins Direct skins and had mostly positive things to say about the skins. Unfortunately, since then I’ve gotten a lot of feedback from readers that the company is hard to get in touch with, takes a long time to ship products (even not shipping them in some cases), etc. The good news is that I think I’ve found a viable alternative to CSD for anyone looking for budget friendly but high quality…

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contour hybrid mix climbing skins at the top of a mountain
Contour Hybrid Mix Climbing Skins Review

Contour Hybrid Mix Climbing Skins Review

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Earlier this season I posted a first look at Contour’s Hybrid Mix climbing skins and mentioned that I would be doing a long term test this winter. Well, winter is over and it’s time to give you readers some feedback on these topographic map patterned skins. Long story short, the Hybrid Mix skins from Contour are pretty damn sweet. They check all the boxes – good grip, good glide, easy to fold up and store, and the glue has been…

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spring snowman skiing
Tips for Backcountry Skiing in the Spring

Tips for Backcountry Skiing in the Spring

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Ahhh springtime. The sun is shining, the birds have returned from hiding out down south for the winter and there are still plenty of good turns to be found in the backcountry. The snowpack can be quite stable this time of year if you tour at the right time, but you have to be a bit strategic about when and where you travel. Even though it feels like avalanches couldn’t possibly happen while the sun is shining, they most definitely…

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backcountry skiing skin track
How to Prepare for Backcountry Skiing

How to Prepare for Backcountry Skiing

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Getting ready to go backcountry skiing isn’t as simple as waking up and throwing your gear in the car. With the potential for avalanches, severe weather, and Sasquatches, it’s a good idea to do a bit of preparation before heading out for the day. This article will give you some guidance to what you should focus on to keep you and your friends safe on your next backcountry adventure. Things to Do All Season Long Check the Avalanche ForecastThis is…

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Backcountry Access (BCA) Tracker2 Avalanche Transceiver Review

Backcountry Access (BCA) Tracker2 Avalanche Transceiver Review

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The BCA Tracker DTS was one of the most popular avalanche transceivers in its day, and the Tracker2 is the next evolution of this device. Now with 3 antennae vs. the DTS Tracker’s 2 antennae contained in a lighter physical package, it’s easy to see the appeal of the Tracker2. BCA did a great job of keeping the desirable aspects of the old transceiver and improving upon its weaknesses in the Tracker2. BCA describes this transceiver as the ‘industry workhorse…

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deuter rise lite 28 pack
Deuter Rise Lite 28 Pack Review

Deuter Rise Lite 28 Pack Review

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The Deuter Rise Lite 28 is a lightweight ski touring pack that is meant for day-long ski touring trips. With 28 liters of volume, it’s big enough to stash all of the necessities for backcountry skiing and has plenty of attachment points for additional gear. At 1180 grams it’s one of the lighter ski-touring oriented day packs available and it still has most if not all of the features you could want in a day pack. I’ve used this pack…

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