Zeb Blais

How to Climb a Mountain in a Single Push: Mt. Baker, WA

A team of climbers ascending the Coleman-Deming Route on Mount Baker. photo: Zeb Blais.

Climbing a mountain in a single push has strong pros and cons. It can be very rewarding to be able to pick off a peak in a number of hours instead of a number of days. The flip side is that it is harder for most people and requires much better movement skills on the terrain. Below are a few thoughts on single push climbing that will help you figure out if you’d like to give it a shot. Speed is a […]
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Zeb Blais |
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What It’s Like to Climb the Kautz Route on Mt. Rainier, WA

Kautz route, Mt. Rainier.

The Kautz isn’t your standard mountaineering route. Especially on a low snow year like this. Early season the Kautz can be a walk up with snow covering the steepest part of the route. Sooner or later, this snow melts out and reveals the toughest part of the climb, the Ice Chute. When the chute is fully melted out, multiple pitches of alpine ice climbing are exposed and the Kautz becomes more difficult and more exciting to climb.
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Zeb Blais |
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Backcountry Skiing Argentina: Steak, Wine, & Snow

Argentina is AWESOME. Where else can you get a day of skiing, a five star steak dinner, some of the world’s best Malbec, and lodging at a backcountry hut all for less than you’d pay for a lift ticket in the US? If there is anywhere other than Argentina, I need to know immediately. As far as I can tell, backcountry skiing Argentina is the answer. Food, wine, and culture are just the icing on the cake. […]
Zeb Blais |
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Off-Season Training Tips: How to Train “Funner” Not Harder

Single track- can’t beat it for fun or fitness! Photo: Dave Silver Photography. (editor’s note:  Check out Zeb’s guide company blog and website for more details, especially if you’re interested in skiing or climbing Rainier or Shasta or Antarctica or anywhere really:  Alpine Mountain Works.  Zeb is currently guiding Mt. McKinley in Alaska) I’m no fitness expert, but I’ve put in […]
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Zeb Blais |
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Mt. Shasta, CA Conditions Report: The East Side’s Brewer Creek Delivers Yesterday

(editor’s note:  Check out Zeb’s guide company blog and website for more details, especially if you’re interested in skiing Portillo, Chile or Antarctica or anywhere really:  Alpine Mountain Works) What’s your excuse for not getting up to Shasta to rip the best turns going?  The entire East Side of Mount Shasta is buttery smooth with the only exception being sun […]
Zeb Blais |
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North Face of Mt. Lassen, CA Trip Report | 4,000-Feet of Smooth Corn & 2,000-Foot Wet Avalanches | May 18th Photo Tour

(editor’s note:  Check out Zeb’s guide company blog and website for more details, especially if you’re interested in skiing Portillo, Chile or Antarctica or anywhere really:  Alpine Mountain Works) Is today going to be skiing, climbing, biking, hiking, or even swimming?  Right now folks living in Norcal are faced with a lot of choices.  Duncan Sisson, Mattias Sullivan and I couldn’t narrow […]
Zeb Blais |
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