Meet Tater, Jackson Hole’s Newest Ski Patrol Member Jackson Hole has a new puppy in training for the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol. Tater, an 8-week-old Golden Retriever, showed up in Jackson two days ago. His full name is Sir Tater Tot of the Tetons. An avalanche dog can search one hectare (2.5 acres) in about 30 minutes. It would take 20 humans around 4 hours to cover an equivalent area using avalanche probes. The speed with which an โavy dogโ locates an avalanche victim is absolutely vital. Around 90% of avalanche victims will survive if recovered in the first 15 minutes after burial […] ameliatraynor | April 16, 2015 2 Comments
Deer Valley Instructor Killed in Collision with Lift A Deer Valley ski instructor died after colliding with a pole on Sunday. Rafal “Rafi” Uzieblo, 42, collided with the Sterling Express Chairlift pole on the Birdโs Eye ski run. He was pronounced dead on scene. A seasoned veteran, Uzieblo had worked for Deer Valley seven years, according to resort officials. Sunday was the last day Deer Valley’s ski season. Capt. Rick Ryan of the Park City police said it is unknown how Uzieblo crashed into the lift, but they are ruling it as an accident. Uzieblo was not wearing any protective gear at the time. Our thoughts are with the friends and family of Mr. Uzieblo. ameliatraynor | April 15, 2015 0 Comments
Skier Killed in Avalanche Near Big Sky A 28-year old Bozeman man died in a small avalanche Saturday afternoon, just north of Big Sky, Montana. Jens Anderson, along with three friends, was skiing the Hanging Garden couloir on Beehive Peak. Anderson went first and triggered the slide. He was swept over a large rock face, and tragically died of trauma. Madison County Sheriff Roger Thompson said Anderson’s brother, a physician, was one of the three men skiing along with him. Anderson’s brother pronounced him dead at […] Avalanche ameliatraynor | April 14, 2015 2 Comments
Suzuki Nine Knights | Big Air Highlights Every year, the Suzuki Nine Knights week long super session wraps up with an a action packed Big Air contest day. It is no usual competition, as it is judged by the pros themselves, in a jam session format. The Mottolino Fun Mountain in Livingo saw the snowboarders join the event for the first time, making for an ever bigger show for the crowds. Watch the winning runs of Sven Thorgren, Tor Lundstrรถm and Seppe Smits, as well as of the all Swiss ski podium with Luca Schuler, Kai Mahler and Fabian Bรถsch. ameliatraynor | April 14, 2015 1 Comment
Republican Senate Votes to Sell National Forests A week ago, all but 3 Republican Senators voted for an amendment that could result in public land being sold into private hands. Amendment SA 838 was introduced to allow states to take over, transfer and sell public, federal lands, including National Forests, wildlife refuges, and wilderness areas. Proposed by a circus of Senators cramming every possible amendment into a Republican-sponsored budget, the amendment carries no weight of law. However, the budget is used to bring attention to issues, forcing Senators to take a public stance […] Featured Article ameliatraynor | April 10, 2015 31 Comments
VIDEO: Speed Rider Slides Chairlift Cable This is nuts. Speed Rider Valentin Delluc slides an out-of-use chairlift cable while ski-gliding down the mountain. The 22-year old frenchman has been skiing his whole life, and started paragliding at age 11. It was only a matter of time before the two came together… From Valentin’s vimeo (translated from French): WARNING: This slide into speed riding is very complicated and dangerous to carry !!! It really does not try to replicate this kind of thing . Only after thousands and thousands of hours of practice I could envisage making this slide . The […] ameliatraynor | April 9, 2015 1 Comment
ADK: Bennies Brook Trip Report The party is slowly winding down here in the Northeast, and it’s getting to be about last call time for some backcountry spots. So order that shot, drink up, pay up. This is not to say that one more late season storm (ie the weather pattern that blessed us for the better part of January and February) can’t happen and we’re all pulling for it to. But the pow conveyor belt that briefly turned Vermont/New England into the best place to ski in North America for a few weeks last month appears to have shut down with no word on its reopening. So, as we transition to spring skiing and scrape the scraps, there’s still time to get out and check a […] ameliatraynor | April 8, 2015 0 Comments
Ski the East | Tuckerman Ravine Trip Report After a long, cold and mostly awesome winter, spring is advancing in full force across New England. Approaches are starting to melt out, sunscreen is appearing in my pack, and I even spotted golf clubs in the corner of the gear room the other day.This means the time has come for the annual pilgrimage to the Presidential Range as the calendar turns to April. Three days of exploring, climbing and sliding through the Washington weather show – and mother nature did not disappoint, dealing out an entire season’s […] Trip Report ameliatraynor | April 8, 2015 1 Comment