5 Extra Pieces of Gear to Consider for Your Backcountry Setup A trip into the backcountry requires unique pieces of gear different from what you’d need on a typical day at the resort. Even the obvious, like skis or a snowboard, can be totally different, with many riders preferring a lighter setup to reduce weight for the uphill portion of their excursion. Other items like a beacon probe and shovel […] Backcountry Kenneth Condon | December 15, 2023 0 Comments
Trip Report: 11,812′ Mt. Laurel, CA – 3,500-Vertical-Foot “Pinner Couloir” Report from May 15, 2023 Brought to you by Mono County Tourism 4am. Crescent moon. Hiking by 5:10am. Glassy Convict Lake disturbed only by soothing fish ripples and gentle wind waves. Piercing sunrise reflected off Red Slate Peak’s tempting North Couloir. Brutal isothermic snow on the bootpack up to the northeast ridge. Devastating summit views of Red Slate Peak, Bloody Mountain, […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | May 15, 2023 1 Comment
[VIDEO] Suicide Chute on 11,000′ Mt. Superior in Powder Snow Report from December 8, 2022 I got back from ski guiding in Antarctica late last night. It took me four days to get home from Antarctica via boat, plane, and automobile. I showed up in Park City spent, tired, and it was snowing. The forecast showed 4″ of snow overnight, then the next day was the only sunny day of […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | December 8, 2022 0 Comments
Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina Report: A World Class 40º Steep, 1000-Vertical-Foot Chute in Moody Weather Report from November 27, 2022 Yesterday was our last ski day in South America for the season. Crazy that we’ve been here so much this year… We did eight weeks in August and September in Bariloche. Now, we’ve just completed another 15 days down here split between Ushuaia, Argentina, Torres Del Paine, Chile, & El Chalten, Argentina. It’s been unreal […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | November 27, 2022 0 Comments
Antarctica 2022 Report Day #5: Big Wind, Rowdy Zodiac Rides, & Wind Blown Powder View this post on Instagram A post shared by SnowBrains (@snowbrains) Report from November 11, 2022 On our fifth ski day in Antarctica, we had ripping winds and cloudy skies. From the boat, we could see a gully with wind-blown snow in it that looked soft and fun. We climbed up near the ridgeline, transitioned, and skied down into that […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | November 27, 2022 0 Comments
Antarctica Report Day #4: Skiing Through Seracs, Skiing to a Shipwreck, & a BBQ on the Back Deck View this post on Instagram A post shared by SnowBrains (@snowbrains) Report from November 10, 2022 This day started with a spectacular descent through seracs and crevasses on the west side of Nansen Island. The light was flat but the skiing was good. The old powder skied well and got a little funky and catchy toward the bottom. We headed […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | November 27, 2022 0 Comments
Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina Report: Martial Glacier Spice During Training For Antarctica Report from November 25, 2022 Yesterday, I got my rope team up on the Martial Glacier in Ushuaia, Argentina for glacier travel practice and some great skiing. We started off in rain and sleet and wind… As we rose, the weather improved until it was sunny, windy, and nice. My crew did great with rope travel, crampons, and ice axes. […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | November 27, 2022 0 Comments
Antarctica 2022 Report Day #3: Full-On Powder Skiing, Leopard Seal & Pup, Humpback Whale Attack, Penguins Galore, & Stunning Icebergs View this post on Instagram A post shared by SnowBrains (@snowbrains) Report from November 9, 2022 Nope, a full-on powder day in Antarctica is not a normal thing… But, that’s precisely what happened on November 9, 2022. My group was the last Zodiac off the ship. There was powder everywhere… As the groups in front of us toiled up the […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | November 27, 2022 0 Comments
Antarctica 2022 Report Day #1: Heavy Snowfall, Ripping Winds Then Good Soft Skiing & Penguins View this post on Instagram A post shared by SnowBrains (@snowbrains) Report from November 7, 2022 Our 1st day in Antarctica with Ice Axe Expeditions in 3 years brought us to the continent itself. Charlotte Bay. We awoke to driving snow and ripping winds. We went back to bed… When we came back, the weather had calmed. We found about […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | November 21, 2022 3 Comments
Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina Report: Grade-A Corn in a 40º Chute With Ocean Views! Report from 11/16/22 When we pulled into Ushuaia, Argentina’s port yesterday morning from Antarctica, I immediately saw that the Godoy Central Couloir still went… Right then, I made my plan to ski it the next day. We got our of the hotel at a casual 10am today and zipped straight up to the Martial Glacier and started hiking. Our hope […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | November 17, 2022 0 Comments
[VIDEO] Suicide Chute on Mt. Superior, UT | Powder Bliss Hanging in Space Report from October 28, 2022 Drone shots by Skydio I got up late and rolled into Little Cottonwood Canyon, UT around 10:30am yesterday. I wasn’t sure what to ski. Both Alta & Snowbird were allowing uphill travel but I’d seen some guys boot up and ski Suicide Chute the previous day. Suicide is one of my favorite chutes in the […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | October 29, 2022 4 Comments
Bariloche, Argentina Backcountry Report: “Wide Open” Freeride in Chute #4 in the Patagonia Chutes & Corn Project 2022 Report from September 13, 2022 Filmed with the Skydio 2 Drone Yesterday we got up and into our 4th chute in our 6-chute Patagonia Chutes & Corn Project. Bariloche, Argentina Backcountry Report: One of the Coolest Chutes We’ve Ever Skied – ‘T Daddy’ Bariloche, Argentina Backcountry Report: Chute #2 of 6 in Our Patagonia Chutes & Corn Project 2022 [VIDEO] […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | September 15, 2022 0 Comments
Bariloche, Argentina Backcountry Report: A Gorgeous Day in Chutes & Towers Report from August 22, 2022 On Monday, Greggy and I went for a walk. We weren’t sure what we’d find out there but we had misplaced faith that a due north line we like would be just soft enough to ski. We just had a seven-day storm here last week that dropped about 6 feet of snow. Then, the sun […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | August 25, 2022 1 Comment
What’s in the Pack? | SnowBrains’ Late Spring Backcountry Ski Backpack Mountain guide Miles Clark goes over what he carries in his backpack & pockets when backcountry skiing in late spring. Related: What’s In The Pack? | Alaska Heli-Ski Guide Backpack Gear: Scott Superguide Ski 105 Scott Scrapper Pro SRS Poles Scott Explorair GTX Pro 3L Men’s Jacket Scott Vertic GTX 3L Stretch Pants Scott Couloir Helmet Scott LCG Evo Goggle […] Miles Clark | June 22, 2022 0 Comments
VIDEO: How to Make a DIY Whippet Ice Axe Ski Pole for Steep Skiing Ever end up in a situation where you need a whippet ice axe ski pole but don’t have one? Happens to me now and again and this is my solution and it works well. These can be very helpful in steep skiing situations. I just used this one in the North Couloir of 12,424′ North Peak, CA on May 24, […] Backcountry Miles Clark | May 27, 2022 1 Comment
Tahoe Backcountry Report: Electrical Fire & a Spectacular Day Above the Lake Report from December 18, 2021 “Fire! Electrical Fire!” 6am. I run into the bathroom and watch fire dripping from the ceiling. I instantly realize that if the fire is already in the ceiling (heated fan), this building is going to burn down if we can’t stop it now. I ran out of the bathroom and frantically looked for a fire […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | December 18, 2021 0 Comments
Trip Report: 11,045′ Mt. Superior, UT | The Legendary “South Face” Brought to you by 10 Barrel Brewing Report From May 4, 2021 Yesterday, May 4, 2021, Daryn & I walked up 11,045′ Mt. Superior in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah and skied its legendary South Face directly fall line off the top – which I’d never done. This past January, I skied 4 lines off Mt. Superior in 5-days and had […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | May 5, 2021 1 Comment
Chugach Range, AK Report: Gorgeous Long Lines in the Best Snow We’ve Found This Week Brought to you by 10 Barrel Brewing Report from April 7, 2021 I went for a long walk in the Chugach Range, AK yesterday and found some good snow for the first time this week. A wind event came through and beat up most of the zone I’m in on Sunday/Monday and it’s been a battle to find good snow since […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | April 8, 2021 0 Comments
Chugach Range, AK Report: Wind-board, Ice, Crust, a Little Powder, & Insane Views Brought to you by 10 Barrel Brewing Report from April 6, 2021 There was a fierce wind event here in the Chugach on Sunday and Monday. It blew away a lot of the good snow. Bob & I decided to go for a walkabout today anyway and give it a good scratch and sniff. The day started cold but warmed […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | April 7, 2021 0 Comments
Guidelines For Backcountry Use During the Coronavirus Crisis Brought to you by SCARPA Backcountry Week If you must use the backcountry during the coronavirus crisis, we strongly implore you to follow the guidelines below. The key takeaway is: If you don’t live very near a backcountry recreation area, please do not travel to visit one – stay in your local area. If you live very close to a […] Industry News SnowBrains | February 11, 2021 1 Comment
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