Sep 29, 2025 | AIARE Avalanche Education, Backcountry Skiing, Colorado, Education, Educational Program, Guided
Here’s some thoughts I frequently find myself giving to people asking how to get into the backcountry. The first thing is to understand it can be a long, complicated journey depending on your goals. It’s important to be realistic about your ability to commit the time,...
Sep 1, 2025 | Backcountry Skiing, Guided, Rock Climb, Ski Mountineering
I get a lot of people asking about how to get into ski mountaineering. But first, what is ski mountaineering, truly? Well… its mountaineering with skis… obviously. Let’s break that down though. One way we could look at it is: skiing in terrain where...
Aug 1, 2025 | Alpine Climb, Backcountry Skiing
In a recent article in the A3 journal, psychologist Maria Konnikova’s work around decision making was used an example to highlight the way our brains are hardwired to seek concrete answers. We want a clear cut answer, a concrete story about what is happening...
Apr 29, 2025 | Trip Reports
Alaska Range Ski Basecamp 2025 Alaska Range Ski Basecamp These programs are the essence of expedition trips. Ski plane flight into the glacier. Self supported basecamp and human powered touring. Remote glaciers in the legendary palace of snow and ice looking up at...
Mar 10, 2025 | Backcountry Skiing, Education, Educational Program, Ski Mountineering
I’ve gotten some questions about this from a number of people. I might go so far as to say it’s a troubling trend. You should really not think about it as ski “cutting” while on belay. You can sidestep, jump, stomp and observe on belay. But you...
Jan 15, 2025 | AIARE Avalanche Education, Colorado, Guided, Rocky Mountain National Park, Ski Mountineering
Skiing big terrain in winter in Colorado during considerable avalanche danger!?!? What can we make of skiers ripping big lines in winter during moderate or considerable danger when we have persistence on the problem list? First thing is to keep in mind that you...
Oct 10, 2024 | Expedition, Glacier, Guided, Trip Reports
Expedition October 2024 Pico de Orizaba Custom small team expedition to the 3rd highest peak in North America, Pico de Orizaba. IG Story Summary Expedition Overview For learning about high altitude climbing, this is an awesome objective. From the US it’s only a short...
Oct 9, 2024 | AIARE Avalanche Education, Backcountry Skiing, Colorado
When it comes to avalanche education, I only use the curriculum developed by the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE). The main reason for this is the curriculum support and instructor standards created by the non profit structure. Non...
Sep 22, 2024 | Uncategorized
The mountains can be a dangerous place but also a very rewarding one. The Planning Triangle is a useful framework for anyone leading trips in the mountains. In essence, it a way to think about the most important variables in planning a mission: The team’s...
Aug 31, 2024 | Alaska, Backcountry Skiing, Expedition, Guided, Trip Reports
The legendary Thompson Pass, Alaska. There is a reason this is a yearly trip. It always delivers. Get in touch early if your interested in joining, there are usually some prerequisites to make sure your ready. 2500-feet above sea level the pass provides amazing access...
