SnowBrains Header logo
  • Store
  • Podcast
  • Snow Forecasts
  • Conditions Reports
  • Gear
  • Avalanche Forecast
  •  
SnowBrains Facebook Page SnowBrains Twitter Page SnowBrains Instagram Page SnowBrains YouTube Page SnowBrains RSS Feed

Mike Bartholow

Although he can often be found with his legs hanging off a chairlift, the sides of a snowmobile, or even out the door of a helicopter, Mike prefers to travel in the winter on skis. Mike has been a board member of the American Avalanche Association, a winter backcountry ranger for the US Forest Service. a helicopter avalanche technician, snow surveyor, and a professional ski patroller in Alaska, Colorado, and California.

Dodge Ridge, CA, Sold to Owners of Mountain High Resort

  Family-owned and operated since 1950, Dodge Ridge has had only two owners in its 70-year history. First developed and operated by Earl Purdy, Dodge Ridge was purchased by Frank Helm in 1976. The Helm family owned and operated this Central Sierra locals hideaway through the 2020-2021 season. Dodge Ridge has grown and expanded over the years and now boasts […]

Post Tag for Industry NewsIndustry News
Mike Bartholow | August 17, 2021
2 Comments

Settlement Pending in Court Case of Men Who Triggered Avalanche at Eisenhower Tunnel, CO in March 2020

Related Article: Update on Court Case of Men Who Triggered Avalanche at Eisenhower Tunnel, CO March 20, 2020 Evan Hannibal and Tyler DeWitt, two Summit Country backcountry snowboarders who triggered an avalanche last year that buried a CDOT maintenance road and damaged avalanche mitigation equipment, have worked out a deal with their attorney and the 5th Judicial District Attorney to […]

Post Tag for AvalancheAvalanche
Mike Bartholow | May 19, 2021
0 Comments

UPDATE May 6, 2021 : SR-108/Sonora Pass Will Open at Noon Today

Sonora Pass, sr-108, california

  UPDATE May 6, 2021 Caltrans District 10 announced this morning that SR-108/Sonora Pass will OPEN today, May 6th, at noon. Last year Sonora Pass opened on May 15, 2020. Caltrans District 10 manages three trans-Sierra passes in the central Sierra that are closed during winter and generally open in spring: Ebbetts Pass/SR-4 in Alpine County, Sonora Pass/SR-108 (Tuolumne County), and […]

Mike Bartholow | May 6, 2021
6 Comments

Black Diamond Recalls PIEPS DSP Avalanche Transcievers in the United States and Canada

On April 12, 2021, Black Diamond Equipment announced a voluntary recall of all PIEPS DSP Pro, DSP Ice, and DSP Sport avalanche transceivers in the US and Canada. In cooperation with the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, Black Diamond announced this voluntary recall in response to reports of transceivers switching modes unexpectedly. The voluntary recall consists […]

Post Tag for AvalancheAvalanche
Mike Bartholow | April 12, 2021
0 Comments

CAIC Releases Full Report on Avalanche Fatality at Lime Creek, CO March 22, 2021

Related Article: Vail, CO Resident Killed in Avalanche in Backcountry Outside Beaver Creek Resort The Colorado Avalanche Information Center today released the full accident report on the avalanche fatality that occurred in the Lime Creek area on March 22, 2021. Gary Smith, 37 of Vail, was the 35th person in the United States to die in an avalanche this season, […]

Post Tag for AvalancheAvalanche
Mike Bartholow | March 30, 2021
0 Comments

Trial Rescheduled in Colorado Criminal Court Case for 2020 Avalanche Near the I70 Eisenhower Tunnel

      Video of the avalanche that buried a service road and damaged CDOT avalanche mitigation equipment at the I70 Eisenhower Tunnel, CO. This video is being used as evidence in a criminal court case against Tyler DeWitt and Evan Hannibal, who triggered the slide while backcountry skiing a slope above the highway. Related Story: Judge Rules CAIC Employees […]

Post Tag for AvalancheAvalanche
Mike Bartholow | March 26, 2021
0 Comments

Sugar Bowl, CA Report: Still Winter on Donner Summit

Vintage Film Footage (1930) of backcountry skiing on Donner Summit, pre-Sugar Bowl | YouTube – Bela Vadasz Report from March 22, 2021 Brought to you by Sugar Bowl Resort The Spring Equinox was over the weekend, but it sure felt like winter at Sugar Bowl on Monday. After a weekend of instructor training with an AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Course […]

Post Tag for Conditions ReportConditions Report
Mike Bartholow | March 26, 2021
1 Comment

Different Approaches to Modern Snowflake Photography: The History Behind the Science of Snowflakes

  Video of Snowflakes Grown in Dr. Kenneth G. Libbrecht’s Lab | Courtesy NY Times In a recent New York Times Science article, Kenneth Chang wrote about two very different approaches to modern snowflake photography. Following in the footsteps of Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley and the ski tracks of Ed LaChapelle, Drs. Kenneth G. Libbrecht and Nathan P. Myhrvold and photographer […]

Post Tag for BrainsBrains
Mike Bartholow | March 18, 2021
0 Comments

Dodge Ridge, CA Report: Powder Monday – 14″ Overnight

  Brought to you by Ski California Report from Monday 15th March 2021 How many best days of the season are you allowed to have? Today was another in a string of amazing ski days at Dodge Ridge Ski Area, CA. With 14″ of snow reported overnight, I knew that today would follow up yesterday’s bluebird groomer zoomer day quite […]

Post Tag for Conditions ReportConditions Report
Mike Bartholow | March 16, 2021
0 Comments

Backcountry Access Introduces BC Air Ski and Snowboard Helmets

Backcountry Access recently introduced their new BC Air backcountry ski and snowboard helmet. If you’re like me, you do a lot of backcountry touring in terrain where you might want to be wearing your helmet on the way up while approaching your ski objective, as well as on the way down. I do a lot of Sierra spring and summer […]

Post Tag for GearGear
Mike Bartholow | March 12, 2021
0 Comments

Hometown Mountain Shoutout: Dodge Ridge, CA Celebrates 70th Season

Brought to you by Ski California Dodge Ridge, located on Highway 108 about 30 miles east of Sonora, CA, is quite simply the best ski area in the Central Sierra. What it lacks in steep skiing is easily made up for in the absence of crowds, excellent snow, and great terrain, and a family-friendly atmosphere. Having worked as a pro […]

Mike Bartholow | March 10, 2021
0 Comments

UPDATE On Court Case of Men Who Triggered Avalanche At Eisenhower Tunnel, CO in March 2020

Video of the avalanche that buried a service road and damaged CDOT avalanche mitigation equipment at the I70 Eisenhower Tunnel, CO. This video is being used as evidence in a criminal court case against Tyler DeWitt and Evan Hannibal, who triggered the slide while backcountry skiing a slope above the highway. Related Story: Court Case of Men Who Triggered Avalanche […]

Post Tag for AvalancheAvalanche
Mike Bartholow | March 8, 2021
0 Comments

Blackbird Mountain Guides Offers Unique AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course on Donner Summit, CA

Blackbird Mountain Guides in Truckee, CA, is offering lift-accessed AIARE Avalanche Rescue Courses at Donner Ski Ranch this winter. These courses are unique in the area in that they utilize lift-accessed terrain for recreational avalanche rescue scenarios. Rather than practicing on flat ground, students will use more realistic terrain that will help them understand and optimize their position in the […]

Post Tag for AvalancheAvalanche
Mike Bartholow | March 4, 2021
0 Comments

PIEPS Announces Voluntary Product Correction Program for DSP Avalanche Transceivers

On March 3, 2021, PIEPS Technology announced a Voluntary Product Correction Program in Europe, APAC, and Latin America related to the DSP Pro, DSP Pro Ice, and DSP Sport avalanche transceivers. This will soon be followed up with an announcement in the US in coordination with the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Black Diamond Equipment, which distributes PIEPS avalanche transceivers […]

Post Tag for Industry NewsIndustry News
Mike Bartholow | March 3, 2021
0 Comments

Homewood, CA Offering AIARE Avalanche Courses in Early-March 2021

Brought to you by Ski California In partnership with the North American Ski Training Center (NASTC) and the USFS Sierra Avalanche Center (SAC), Homewood Mountain Resort is offering AIARE Avalanche Level 1 and 2 courses in March 2021. Building on the backcountry experience provided by its snowcat skiing program, Homewood Mountain Resort is expanding learning opportunities for those who want […]

Post Tag for AvalancheAvalanche
Mike Bartholow | February 25, 2021
0 Comments

Fundraiser Started for Families of 3 Eagle County, CO Avalanche Victims

A fundraising event is being planned for the families of three Colorado men killed in an avalanche earlier this month. In response to the loss of three of Eagle’s community members in an avalanche in Silverton, CO, Cameron Douglas, an Eagle County restauranteur, has organized a county-wide effort to support the families of these victims through the liquid that brings […]

Post Tag for AvalancheAvalanche
Mike Bartholow | February 25, 2021
0 Comments

Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, CA Report: Spring in February

Brought to you by Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows Report from Monday, February 22, 2021  Monday, February 22, 2021 was a proper Spring day at Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley. I’m no Miles Clark, so you won’t see backflips and cliff drops in the Palisades in this post, but nonetheless, it was an excellent day. Following a fun day at Homewood […]

Post Tag for Conditions ReportConditions Report
Mike Bartholow | February 24, 2021
1 Comment

Homewood, CA Report – Homewood Mountain Resort Delivers Old-School Family Fun

[arve url="https://youtu.be/RKTtsML8-2U"]
Mike Bartholow | February 24, 2021
Likes
Tweets
0 Comments

Utah Avalanche Center: Danger in the Danger Ratings

In a Facebook and Instagram post today, the Utah Avalanche Center (UAC) shared a unique and informative graphic and message that applies to all of us who travel in the backcountry, regardless of where we are. Contrary to what you might think, recreational backcountry avalanche incidents are not more likely during periods of ‘High’ or ‘Extreme’ avalanche danger. According to […]

Post Tag for AvalancheAvalanche
Mike Bartholow | February 22, 2021
2 Comments

Court Case of Men Who Triggered Avalanche Near Eisenhower Tunnel, CO in March 2020 Continues

The criminal case against Evan Hannibal and Tyler DeWitt, two snowboarders charged with reckless endangerment related to their involvement in an avalanche that damaged Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) infrastructure on March 25, 2020, continued yesterday. During virtual motions, defense attorney Jason Flores-Williams argued that Hannibal and DeWitt’s 4th Amendment Constitutional rights were violated when the information they provided to […]

Post Tag for AvalancheAvalanche
Mike Bartholow | February 19, 2021
0 Comments

Posts navigation

Older posts

Share your story:

Submit A Link

Top 10 Trending right now:

  • Winter Park, CO, $2 Billion Development Plan Clears First Major Hurdle
    Winter Park, CO, $2 Billion Development Plan Clears First Major Hurdle
  • [PHOTOS] Dramatic 12-Hour Rescue Ensues for 3 Mountaineers Stuck on Vertical Wall Near Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
    [PHOTOS] Dramatic 12-Hour Rescue Ensues for 3 Mountaineers Stuck on Vertical Wall Near Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
  • Bodies of Missing Father & Daughter Found at Base of Bionnassay Peak, Mont Blanc, France
    Bodies of Missing Father & Daughter Found at Base of Bionnassay Peak, Mont Blanc, France
  • Ill-Equipped Korean Hikers Rescued from Italian Via Ferrata After Spending Night Stranded Without Gear
    Ill-Equipped Korean Hikers Rescued from Italian Via Ferrata After Spending Night Stranded Without Gear
  • Successful Connecticut Investment Banker Dies During ‘Everesting’ Challenge at Snow King Mountain in Wyoming
    Successful Connecticut Investment Banker Dies During ‘Everesting’ Challenge at Snow King Mountain in Wyoming
  • Top 7 Steepest Chairlifts in the United States
    Top 7 Steepest Chairlifts in the United States
  • The Top 9 Highest Paved Roads in the United States
    The Top 9 Highest Paved Roads in the United States
  • Hintertux Glacier, Austria, Conditions Report: Skiing During Europe's Heatwave
    Hintertux Glacier, Austria, Conditions Report: Skiing During Europe's Heatwave
  • 4 American States You Can't Ski in Anymore
    4 American States You Can't Ski in Anymore
  • [UPDATED: July 18] NOAA Winter 2025-26 Outlook: Long-Lead Seasonal Outlook Gives Sneak Peek of Next Winter
    [UPDATED: July 18] NOAA Winter 2025-26 Outlook: Long-Lead Seasonal Outlook Gives Sneak Peek of Next Winter
  • Meet the Team
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Policy
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy
  • Site Map
SnowBrains
Proudly powered by WordPress Theme: SnowBrains Child Theme.