Avalanche Safety Check with SCOTT Sports Brought to you by SCOTT Sports Beacon, check. Probe, check. Shovel, check. Touring partners, check and check. Safe snowpack with no red flags… check? It has been unfortunate that the start of the 2020-2021 winter season has been riddled with avalanche activity and the news of multiple deaths in every major winter state. Is this just because we have more […] Avalanche Alex K | February 23, 2021 0 Comments
Backcountry Skiing: How Well Do You Know the Forecast? Brought to you by SCARPA Backcountry Week One of the best tools we have for staying safe and making prudent decisions in the backcountry is by reading the avalanche forecast every morning before heading out. These forecasts are made by professionals who have dedicated their entire lives to keeping recreationists safe in the backcountry. It is our responsibility to understand these […] Backcountry Clay Malott | February 12, 2021 1 Comment
The Ultimate Guide to Backcountry Skiing & Ski Mountaineering Brought to you by SCARPA Backcountry Week The Ultimate Guide to Backcountry Skiing & Ski Mountaineering is a deep dive into all aspects of the sport. Countless hours have been invested by photographer, filmmaker, and IFMGA guide Mark Smiley making this a one-stop resource for beginners just starting, intermediate users who want to up their game, and even pros wanting […] Backcountry SnowBrains | February 10, 2021 0 Comments
5 Things You Need To Do Before Heading Into The Backcountry Whether you’re a seasoned expert or new to it all, there are several ways to prepare for your trip that you need to do before leaving home to heading into the backcountry. The most important thing before heading out into avalanche terrain is knowing […] Avalanche Eric Behn | February 10, 2021 3 Comments
How SCARPA Makes the Best Backcountry Boots Brought to you by SCARPA As more and more people opt out of liftlines, crowded lodges, and overpriced beer in favor of the thrill of earning (untracked) turns in the backcountry, one question remains: which backcountry boot is the best? I spoke with SCARPA CEO Kim Miller to uncover the reasons why their backcountry boots are arguably the best in […] Featured Article Lynn Barlow | February 9, 2021 0 Comments
Where and How to Sign Up for a Level 1 Avalanche Safety Course New to the backcountry this season? Take your Level 1. Skied the backcountry before but haven’t taken an official course? Take your Level 1. Like skiing out of bounds? Take your Level 1. Do you nerd out about snow? Then take your Level 1. Taking your Level 1 avalanche certification course is crucial for getting your foot in the door […] Avalanche Martin Kuprianowicz | February 9, 2021 0 Comments
Backcountry Safety 101: Understanding Avalanche Terrain Brought to you by SCARPA Avalanches are not a force to be reckoned with. However, with proper backcountry habits, avalanche risk can be minimized. Related: Backcountry Safety Basics Part 5: Conclusion The diagram below is known as the avalanche triangle. To trigger an avalanche, you need all three things. The snowpack needs to be unstable and the location needs to […] Avalanche Clay Malott | February 8, 2021 0 Comments
VIDEO: Ski Cutting in the Backcountry: 9 Ways to Reduce the Obvious Risk [arve url="https://youtu.be/ma4m0l6oGOQ"] SnowBrains | February 8, 2021 Likes Tweets 0 Comments
Backcountry Safety Basics Part 1: Snow Science [arve url="https://youtu.be/Eqkz1KQDFNM"] Clay Malott | February 8, 2021 Likes Tweets 0 Comments
A List of the Most Dangerous National Parks In The United States For most, a visit to one of the many national parks in the United States is a time to escape reality and get out of the house. However, some people meet a far more unfortunate demise when they enter these parks without properly preparing first. We have compiled a list of the most dangerous national parks in the United States. […] Brains Nick Retterer | February 5, 2021 0 Comments
VIDEO: Woman Hospitalized After Sending it Off a Backcountry Booter in Utah A 19-year old woman was hospitalized after hitting a jump in the Utah backcountry with her friends. The group built the jump near Aspen Grove on Mount Timpanogos where she broke three ribs and punctured a lung. The group called 911 with a chief complaint of rib pain and lower back pain. At 4:59 PM on January 31, 2021, Utah […] Crash Dominic Gawel | February 4, 2021 0 Comments
Crested Butte, CO Backcountry Report: Deep, Dry, and Perfect Powder Brought to you by 10 Barrel Brewing Report from January 25, 2021 Crested Butte, CO – We skied some of the best powder of our lives today. After a long dry spell, conditions have significantly improved and we went to be the first to get the goods. We set our objective high—skiing the north face of Carbon Peak. Carbon Peak […] Conditions Report Dominic Gawel | January 26, 2021 1 Comment
Sun Valley Resort, Idaho Promotes Safety on the Slopes Brought to you by Sun Valley Resort Ski Resort Participates in National Safety Month Initiative Led by the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) Sun Valley Resort, North America’s No.1 Ski Resort (SKI Magazine), celebrates the NSAA’s annual National Safety Month by promoting a Safety Week initiative in an effort to increase guest awareness of safety protocols and procedures. Related: Sun […] SnowBrains | January 26, 2021 0 Comments
How to Make a Basic Ski Tour Plan Using CalTopo Making a tour plan is one of the best ways to mitigate risk while traveling in the backcountry – in the winter or summer. CalTopo is a free online software that allows users to map backcountry routes, print maps, and use them on their new GPS app. CalTopo offers a ton of features that make it an ideal software for […] Brains Dominic Gawel | January 15, 2021 0 Comments
Colorado Search and Rescue Teams See Increased Volume of Missions in 2020 Colorado Search and Rescue Teams have been busy this year—and there are no signs of letting up. People around the world have been turning to outdoor recreation during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lake County Search and Rescue saw nearly a 300% increase in call volume between 2019 and 2020. Outdoor recreation is generally COVID-19 safe while other forms of recreation have […] Industry News Dominic Gawel | December 21, 2020 4 Comments
Colorado Backcountry Guide Service: AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course The Colorado Backcountry Guide Service is based out of Crested Butte, Colorado, and offers a variety of backcountry trips including avalanche education. They are an AIARE (American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education) provider. Their Avalanche Rescue Course is a great intro to avalanche rescue and is now a prerequisite for AIARE Level 2 Courses. Related: Where and How to […] Avalanche Dominic Gawel | December 21, 2020 0 Comments
Preliminary Report: Backcountry Skier Killed in Avalanche near Crested Butte, CO Crested Butte, CO – On Friday, December 18th, 2020, a solo skier was caught and killed in a persistent slab avalanche on the northwest end of the Anthracite Range. A group of two skiers noticed he had not returned to his snowmobile and saw a recent avalanche where the victim intended to ski. The two skiers extracted the skier using […] Avalanche Dominic Gawel | December 18, 2020 0 Comments
New This Month: The SnowBrains Avalanche Forecast Tab New this month is our Avalanche Forecast tab, courtesy of Avalanche.org! Avalanche education/awareness is a HUGE component of SnowBrains and now you are only one click away from every avalanche forecast available in the United States. Related: The SnowBrains Podcast – Episode #4 – What’s The #1 Tool Available To Skiers & Riders in Avalanche Terrain? If planning on skiing […] Avalanche AvyBrains | December 15, 2020 0 Comments
Central Oregon Avalanche Center Expands to Forecasting 4 Days a Week This Season The Central Oregon Avalanche Center (COAC) is looking to expand its operation as more skiers and snowboarders head into the backcountry this season. Mt. Bachelor is requiring parking permits this season and Bend has been seeing a steady increase in population which will cause inexperienced backcountry skiers and snowboarders to head into the Central Oregon backcountry. Currently, the COAC does […] Avalanche Dominic Gawel | December 10, 2020 2 Comments
New Comprehensive Guide to Avalanche Safety Online Course Now Available | 30% Off With SnowBrains This winter it is expected that many more people than usual will attempt backcountry skiing. Sales of backcountry gear exploded in March when resorts shut down, and the industry is expecting more of the same this Fall. However, new gear is not the only thing required for a great day in the backcountry, a basic understanding of avalanche safety is essential. […] Avalanche AvyBrains | October 14, 2020 0 Comments