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Amelia Traynor

whiskey drinker + mountain enthusiast.

Skier Takes 500-Foot Ride in Avalanche in Park City, UT

A skier was caught in an avalanche Friday afternoon in the Dutch’s Draw area near Canyons Ski Resort. After triggering the slide up near the “Goal Posts”, he was carried about 500 feet, managing to stay on top of the wash. Buried up to his neck, the skier was dug out by his party, and he luckily walked away unharmed. According to the report from Utah Avalanche Center, the avalanche was 300 feet wide and ran 500 vertical feet. UAC received a report from the skier caught in the avalanche, who’s said to be “one of the most experienced […]

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ameliatraynor | December 28, 2014
5 Comments

“It’s Called Backcountry Skiing”: New Edit from Cody Townsend and Elyse Saugstad

The world’s greatest mountain power couple, Cody Townsend and Elyse Saugstad present their new video, “It’s Called Backcountry Skiing”. This hilarious edit comes from two of the top freeskiers in the world, wanting to see what happens when they decide to “try out” the backcountry. Cody and Elyse wed in Maui in 2011. This powder duo absolutely shreds, and Elyse brings us some of the best female footage yet this year.

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ameliatraynor | December 19, 2014
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Turnagain Pass Avalanche: Backcountry Skiier Survives Full Burial

According to the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center, an avalanche in Turnagain Pass, Alaska fully buried a backcountry skiier on Thursday afternoon. This skiier-triggered avalanche was 350 feet wide, and ran an estimated 1,000 feet downhill. In an incredible turn of events, the skiier was able to dig his head out of the snow and walk away unharmed. “Yesterday a skier triggered an avalanche on the Southwest face of Sunburst. The skier was caught, carried and […]

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ameliatraynor | December 19, 2014
1 Comment

New Video from DPS Cinematic: “Sun Dog”

Watch the award-winning short film Sun Dog, as dog and man go skiing in a winter wonderland. DPS Skis is proud to present Sun Dog, the third film in The Shadow Campaign series. Presented by DPS Cinematic in association with Outdoor Research and Gore-Tex, Sun Dog has already received film festival accolades from Banff Mountain Film Festival, Cold Smoke Winter Film Tour, and the Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival. The film has also been selected for the Banff Mountain Film Festival Global Tour. Deep within the snow-capped peaks overlooking Bariloche […]

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ameliatraynor | December 17, 2014
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VIDEO: Henrik Harlaut Double Cork 1080 Off Death Cliff

Swedish skier Henrik Harlaut threw a huge double cork 1080 off a cliff in Italy’s Dolomites mountain range in March 2014. You probably know him from his wild appearance at the Sochi Winter Olympics, where he wore TMNT gloves, nearly lost his pants, and infamously stated “Wu Tang is for the children”. Only 23 years old, Henrik is well known for throwing big: he took home the gold at the 2013 X-Games Ski Big Air competition, landing an unprecedented nose butter triple cork 1620. Henrik had never even tried the trick before – and he got a perfect score […]

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ameliatraynor | December 2, 2014
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Revelstoke, BC Opens Entire Mountain on Opening Day

Revelstoke Mountain Resort in British Columbia opened Saturday, November 29th, offering top-to-bottom runs and what they’re calling “excellent early season conditions”. Operators are reporting a base of 115cm (45 inches), which allowed skiers and riders to access all 5620 ft of vertical on opening weekend. These conditions are a stark change from last week, when coverage was thin and conditions were less than promising. Luckily, over 3 feet of fresh snow has fallen in the last week, allowing Revelstoke to welcome guests for the 2014-15 season in a huge way. RMR’s Operations […]

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ameliatraynor | December 1, 2014
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Mt. Baker Opening Day Update: “We’re Almost There…”

Mt. Baker today, November 29th, 2014

After a warm front slammed Mt. Baker with a rainstorm earlier this week, operators had to cancel their initial plans of a Thanksgiving opening. With a 30 inch base at the start of the week, the Mt. Baker crew felt confident in to open Thursday. Starting Monday, the storm caused them to lose about 2 feet of snow over three days. Today’s snow report out of Mt. Baker states they’ve got 9 inches of fresh snow in the last 24 hours. The weather finally turned on Friday, but they’re looking to have between a 24-30 inch base before they can open. Gwyn Howat, Operations Manager at the mountain, reported yesterday from the slopes.

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ameliatraynor | November 29, 2014
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Line of the Winter Contest: Win $20,000 from GoPro

GoPro has announced their 2015 Line of the Winter Contest, challenging skiers and riders to find and film their best lines for the grand prize of a whopping $20,000. The competition will also include a monthly winner who will take home $1,000. Teaming up with Newschoolers and TransWorld SNOWboarding, GoPro’s Line of the Winter Contest will run from December 1st, 2014 to April 30th, 2015. The final round of judging will take place from May 11th – 15th, 2015, when the winner of best line will receive the grand prize. All submissions must be taken with a GoPro […]

ameliatraynor | November 28, 2014
1 Comment

Top 10 Photos of New York’s 88-Inches of Lake-Effect Snow

As you most likely saw on the news, Buffalo and surrounding areas got rocked by as much as 7 feet of snow last week. Snow was coming down so fast and so heavy, over 140 motorists became stuck in their cars on I-90, stranded for over 30 hours on 132 miles of closed highway. Tragically, there have been 13 fatalities associated with the storm. Lake effect snow is a result of three combined factors: cold air; a large, warm lake; and heavy winds. Research has shown that November lake-effect events produce the highest amount of precipitation, due to the warm atmosphere holding more [..]

ameliatraynor | November 25, 2014
1 Comment

Alta Got So Much Snow, They Couldn’t Open Today…

A huge storm in Utah left Alta with so much snow, they couldn’t open today. On what would have been their third day this season, Alta decided to remain closed for the safety of their skiers. “After our morning of work, this great storm is still ahead of us. We are going to continue control work and grooming this afternoon and remain closed for skiing. We plan on opening Monday morning at 9:15. We are sorry you had to miss skiing today! – Alta” This early in the season, Alta is likely understaffed and just doesn’t have enough patrollers to perform avalanche control in a […]

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ameliatraynor | November 24, 2014
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1-3 FEET of Snow Forecast for Alta & Snowbird This Weekend | They Both OPEN Tomorrow…

If you’re in Utah, get ready to call in sick tomorrow. Both Alta and Snowbird have announced they will be opening for the season on Friday, November 21. Park City will follow suit on Saturday the 22nd.Brighton was the first resort in Utah to open, welcoming guests on Tuesday, November 18th. The resort now has four lifts serving nine runs. Thanks to low temperatures in the Wasatch Range over the last month, snow technicians at Utah’s resorts have been cranking their snow guns to prepare for the upcoming season. But a forecast of new snowfall this weekend may be the push many resorts need to open up their doors.

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ameliatraynor | November 20, 2014
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Subaru Freeride Series: 2015 Schedule Announced

Mountain Sports International has announced the schedule for the 2015 Subaru Freeride Series. This Freeride World Qualifier will take place from February to April, hosting the world’s best athletes on some of North America’s best terrain, and one venue in South America. At each location, both men’s and women’s ski and snowboard divisions will be offered. Heading into its 18th year, the FWT is unlike anything you’ll see in the Olympics – challenging competitors to navigate ungroomed snow down dangerously steep slopes. The event’s format will be comprised of three days: a qualifying day (with open registration!), semi-finals, and finals.

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ameliatraynor | November 18, 2014
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East Coast Kick Off: Opening Week at Killington

The day has finally come: east coast skiers and riders were welcomed to Killington Resort in Vermont to kick off the 2014-2015 season beginning Monday, November 3rd. Opening day was offered exclusively to season pass holders, but Killington opened to the general public on Tuesday, November 4th. Opening on October 25th for the 2013-14 season, Killington is known throughout the east as the first resort to open each year, offering skiers and riders that first sweet taste of powder. I was lucky enough to begin my riding season at Killington on Saturday. College students flocked to the resort for the season’s first opening weekend in Vermont.

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ameliatraynor | November 13, 2014
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Ski North Korea: The Hermit Kingdom’s Masik Pass Ski Resort

Located just a 2.5 hour drive east of Pyongyang, Masik Pass Ski Resort is North Korea’s first and only ski resort. Offering 11 ski runs, 4 lifts, and 120 rooms in a state-of-the-art hotel, the resort also includes amenities such as a swimming pool, bars, cafés, billiard tables, a karaoke room, a steam room and a dry sauna. The project has come under heavy criticism, with French, Austrian, and Swiss companies refusing to provide chairlift technology to the resort, which was called a “propaganda project” by the Swiss. Masik’s lifts were made in China. North Korea is infamous for indulging in extravagant, monumental projects while disregarding large economic issues like providing consistent electricity and reliable food for it’s citizens.

ameliatraynor | November 11, 2014
1 Comment

Squaw’s 2014-2015 Magazine Available Online

Squaw Magazine is now available online, featuring articles on skiing the Pacific Crest, the new Tahoe Super Pass, North Face’s guided backcountry trips, and the best places to eat and stay on your trip to the Olympic Valley. Squaw calls it the “ultimate guide” to Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows. Check out articles on Squaw’s spring skiing, as well as the sweet gallery of photos taken at Squaw and Alpine Meadows […]

ameliatraynor | November 7, 2014
2 Comments

Tahoe’s Resorts Suffer Due to Decreased Air Service

flight, plane, longest flight

Lake Tahoes acclaimed ski resorts have suffered a 40 percent drop in domestic visits over the last decade, compared to only a 4 percent decline for other Western ski resorts. Resort executives suspect the drop is a result of decreased air service to nearby airports. “There is one certainty, and that is if you’re inaccessible, no matter how much snow you have, you’re just not going to be desirable,” CEO of Squaw Valley Andy Wirth said. A sustained drop in domestic travel to resorts could be crippling for Tahoes economy, but many are confident that through increased marketing efforts and a push to improve air service, theyll be able to bounce back.

ameliatraynor | November 3, 2014
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