Wasatch Mountains, UT, Backcountry Report: The Diving Board Report from Thursday, April 18, 2024 “Fear is the mind-killer,” is the phrase from Frank Herbert’s Dune that I kept reverberating to myself on a loop yesterday as I inched toward the crux section. Once I was in there I knew there’d be no going back. I’ve done stuff like this before, but it’s been a while and also not really to […] Conditions Report Martin Kuprianowicz | April 19, 2024 0 Comments
Mount St. Helens, WA, Backcountry Report: Volcano Season has Arrived Report from Wednesday, April 17, 2024 Mount St. Helens, Washington, may not be as big as it used to be, but it’s still a formidable PNW staple. I was excited to return to St. Helens after a wonderful, placid trip in 2023 and this Wednesday did not disappoint. The route from Portland to the Marble Mountain Sno Park was bare and […] Conditions Report Nicky Blumm | April 18, 2024 0 Comments
Avalanche Near Sölden Ski Resort, Austria, Sweeps Away Dutch Backcountry Group, Killing 3 An avalanche below near Sölden Ski Resort, Austria, struck a group of 17 Dutch backcountry skiers and their four Austrian mountain guides who were on their ascent to the Martin-Busch hut at 2,501 meters (8,205 feet) on Thursday, April 11. The Martin-Busch hut is a popular starting point for further excursions into the Ötztal glacier area. The spot where “Ötzi”, […] Avalanche Julia Schneemann | April 11, 2024 0 Comments
Avalanche Forecaster Triggered and Partially Buried in Avalanche While Skiing in Colorado Backcountry On April 8, a Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) forecaster was partially buried in an avalanche. The forecaster was skiing on a northeast slope of Mount Bethel, approximately two valleys east of the Eisenhower Tunnel, at around 11,800 ft. He made an SOS call, and two members of the CAIC staff, along with the Alpine Rescue Team, rushed to assist […] Avalanche AvyBrains | April 11, 2024 1 Comment
Mt. Hood, OR, Backcountry Report: It’s Hard to Hate Spring Report from Monday, April 8, 2024 Even though it’s hard to hate spring, I really do resent it. The extra hours of sun eat away at the snowpack and erase all the dust from the trees. Sure, it’s the natural seasonal cycle, but it feels like spring comes early every year. My first spring tour was up Mt. Hood’s east slopes. I […] Conditions Report Nicky Blumm | April 9, 2024 0 Comments
The 9 Best Resorts for Lift-Accessed Backcountry Riding in the U.S. These days more and more skiers and snowboarders are ditching the crowds and lift lines and taking their riding outside the traditional ski resort and into the backcountry. The allure of untracked powder and adventure is hard to resist for the most venturesome enthusiasts. One of the most convenient ways to access this wild playground is by using a ski […] Brains Brent Thomas | April 4, 2024 0 Comments
Lake Tahoe, CA, Backcountry Report: 1 Ridiculously Long Powder Run Report from March 24, 2024 Yesterday we skied one ridiculously long powder run above Lake Tahoe, CA. Fox and I were exhausted. Well, I was exhausted. Fox beat me to the summit by 12 minutes… We recharged on top then dropped this endless line. The snow was exquisite. I slashed and sprayed and hooted as I bounded downhill. We savored. […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | March 25, 2024 0 Comments
2 Backcountry Skiers Swept Away by Avalanche, Plunging 650 Feet to their Death near Klosters, Switzerland Two backcountry skiers were swept away by an avalanche, falling 650 feet off the mountain face into the valley near Klosters, Switzerland, on Friday, March 22. The pair was killed on impact and authorities could only confirm their death. On Friday afternoon, two backcountry skiers were caught by avalanches as they were making their way from the Silvretta hut towards […] Avalanche Julia Schneemann | March 25, 2024 0 Comments