The Unique Charm of Upside Down Ski Areas Imagine starting your ski day skiing and not standing in the lift queue or waiting to pick up your pass. That is exactly what happens when you visit one of the United States’ few upside-down ski resorts. At these unique ski areas, patrons park at the top of the hill and ski down to the base lifts. These inverted resorts […] Brains Robert Hansen | January 6, 2022 17 Comments
Silverton, CO vs. La Grave, France La Grave in France may have a baby brother: Silverton Mountain, Colorado. Both offer an unmitigated high alpine environment accessed by a single major lift system. The regions are hotspots for advanced backcountry travelers and guided groups looking to play in the most rugged terrain. Silverton Mountain may be a much younger area but the mountains are world-class. Silverton and La […] Brains Robert Hansen | May 27, 2020 0 Comments
Bluebird Backcountry, CO Will Open in February and is the First Ever Human-Powered Resort Bluebird Backcountry will be Colorado’s newest ski area. However, It may be a bit of a different ski area then the mega-resorts of Summit County. Bluebird Backcountry is to be the first human-powered ski area. It is located in northern Colorado, north of Kremmling and South of Steamboat Springs. The ski area will feature no lifts, helicopters or snowcats. It […] Backcountry Robert Hansen | January 28, 2020 1 Comment
Curing Vertigo: a Testament to the Power of the Ski Edit Have you ever watched a POV ski edit? If you are reading this then the answer is likely yes, many of them. We all love to imagine ourselves as Candide Thovex or Leo Taillefer. These clips are nice on the eyes and are an easy way to cure the summer time blues. Meet a woman who uses them to cure […] Brains Robert Hansen | January 13, 2020 1 Comment
Wolves Beat Voters to the Punch, Reintroduce Themselves in Colorado Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced Wednesday that they believe a pack of gray wolves are now living in Colorado. The announcement comes just days after the reintroduction of wolves officially made it onto the 2020 ballot. CPW reports that a pack of six wolves were seen traveling together last October and an elk carcass was devoured near Moffat County’s Irish […] Brains Robert Hansen | January 9, 2020 1 Comment
Silverton, CO Backcountry Report: Steep and Deep on The Million Dollar Highway Silverton is a Victorian mining town nestled deep in Colorado’s San Juan Mountain range. The town is a host to a ski area as well as endless aesthetic ski options. The connector between Silverton and Ouray, the notorious Million Dollar Highway, offers awesome access to many of these routes. Do not expect to have the area to yourself as the word […] Trip Report Robert Hansen | January 8, 2020 0 Comments
Hometown Mountain Shoutout: Mount Baldy, CA Mount Baldy Ski Lifts in Southern California is getting hammered right now. With the Ski Area closed today (December 26th), they are set to open with all time conditions tomorrow, the 27th. Baldy received 15+ inches on the 23rd allowing the opening of new terrain that day and on Christmas Eve. Christmas certainly came early for this Southern Californian ski […] Brains Robert Hansen | December 26, 2019 0 Comments
Taos, NM to Host World Pro Tour Championships Taos New Mexico announced on Wednesday that they will be hosting the 2020 World Pro Ski Tour World Championships. The World Pro Ski Tour has made a comeback in recent years after falling out of fashion in the late ’90s. The made for television circuit is interesting because it pits racers against each other in a head-to-head dual GS format. Spectators can see the real-time […] Industry News Robert Hansen | December 20, 2019 0 Comments
“Snowstang” – The Newest Solution to I-70 Traffic New this winter, Snowstang is a series of bus routes attempting to alleviate traffic in the I-70 corridor. The three routes are the newest of the innercity Bustang routes rolled out by CDOT four years ago. Snowstang will ferry passengers to Loveland, Arapahoe Basin, and Steamboat ski areas. Roundtrip tickets will start at $25 for Loveland and Arapahoe Basin and $40 for […] Industry News Robert Hansen | December 18, 2019 5 Comments
The Resurgence of Rear-Entry Boots 20 years since Salomon scrapped the project, rear-entry boots are making a comeback. Ski boot manufacturers are looking for ways to keep people skiing longer. A recent poll conducted by SIA has shown that alpine skiers from 45-65 have increased in number. Similarly, skiers around 70 make up 7% of the market. Since this group of older rippers has become a […] Gear Robert Hansen | December 12, 2019 35 Comments
Jackson Hole, WY Athlete Tim Durtschi to Join All-Star FWT Lineup The Freeride World Tour has announced that legendary big mountain skier Tim Durtschi will be joining the tour as a season-long wild card this year. Durtschi has competed in many different competitions over the years but is best known for his segments in Teton Gravity Research films. The Alaska native joins a powerhouse lineup of freeriders including Tanner Hall, Andrew […] Industry News Robert Hansen | December 5, 2019 0 Comments
New Belgium Beer Company Purchased New Belgium Brewing announced last week that it will be purchased by Australian based Lion Little World Beverage Company. New Belgium is the fourth-largest craft brewery in the United States and the largest in Colorado. The sale is expected to finalize by the end of the year assuming the approval of all stockholders. The company had been completely employee-owned until […] Industry News Robert Hansen | December 2, 2019 0 Comments
Mountain Life Steeped in Canadian Mining History More and more people are moving away from cities and starting simpler lives in the mountains. This resurgence of mountain life has taken hold in one mountain community, Bralorne, British Columbia. Nestled amongst giant peaks 70 kilometers north of Whistler, Bralorne started its life as a gold mining town. In fact, 4.15 million ounces of gold were pulled from her […] Brains Robert Hansen | November 22, 2019 1 Comment
Yeti Pass – Ski Every Resort in Utah for Just $43 a Day The Yeti Pass is the perfect way to explore Utah’s 15 stellar ski destinations. The pass is good for one day at each resort and costs $649. That is just $43 dollars a day if you get to all 15 resorts on the pass. A bit more expensive then a traditional season pass but could be a good option for those […] Industry News Robert Hansen | November 22, 2019 1 Comment
Do Big Waves = Big Savings on Flights? For the first time ever, big waves do equal big savings on flights from one major airline! Alaska Airlines is teaming up with international surf prediction website Surfline to run a surf based discount for their travelers. The promotion is aligned with Hawaii’s big wave season and will run through November 20th. As swells grow, prices on roundtrip tickets drop […] Surf Robert Hansen | November 20, 2019 0 Comments
Susan King’s Work Chosen for Aspen’s New Lift Tickets Susan King has teamed up with Aspen Snowmass to make six vivid and unique passes for the upcoming season. The New Zealand artist has been showcased all over the world. Her contemporary depictions spark “a similar joy to spending time in our beautiful mountains and in this incredible community,” says Mike Kaplan, Aspen’s CEO and President. King’s Journey began at a […] Industry News Robert Hansen | November 15, 2019 0 Comments
HAPE: The Number One Killer in the High Alpine High Alpine Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) is a life-threatening ailment and the number one killer at altitude. HAPE occurs as fluid accumulates in the lungs. The typical individual that HAPE afflicts is someone who lives at low elevations and travels above 2500 meters. It is thought that 1 in 10,000 skiers who ski at moderate altitudes in Colorado will develop HAPE. […] Brains Robert Hansen | November 8, 2018 0 Comments
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