For Kath
The meat of each issue we publish is the stories. Each time the whole book comes together, from the contents pages to Biff America, 500 words remain to be written, just under the wire: the Editor’s Note. It’s an editor’s final tap into the reservoir—a dredging up of a one poignant kernel to be jotted down, signed and sent out.
I wonder how often people take time to read the Ed Note—whether readers stop to see what the folks behind the magazine have to say—or if the excitement of getting straight to the meat overpowers any interest in our words in the front of the book. I might be biased, but personally, those 500 are some of my favorite to read. They’re relatable, funny, moving and personal, each with a unique charm. Like many, the last Ed Note of the volume held special meaning. In case you missed it, it’s worth a read now—as is the rest of 157, so grab a copy if you haven’t already.
Greta
What’s on Your Coffee Table?
Are you a collector? Do you have a favorite issue? Snap a photo with it and tell us why in a few words—send it to greta@backcountrymagazine.com—and we’ll share it in our newsletter and on social media!
Get The Historic Issue
There is something to be said for the interwoven exploration of history and land. Whether it’s from the perspective of fur traders and glade-cutting teleskiers on Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula; via the curious lens of a photographer traversing Morocco’s Mgoun Massif; recognizing the impact of the 10th Mountain Division on U.S. backcountry skiing and mountaineering; or from a thoughtful writer’s investigation of what “home” means in Colorado’s mountains.
Then there are those looking to the future. The former U.S. Snowboard Team slalom racer who, after being diagnosed with myriad autoimmune diseases, including Type 1 Diabetes, has splitboarded around the world and founded an organization to help get more kids with diabetes into sports. And there’s the tele skier who found community in the National Brotherhood of Skiers and is working to get more Black people on the skintrack.
These are the histories, the stories and the efforts that bridge past and present and shape a better future for our sport. Subscribe now to get the issue.
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Stories |Passports: Five Springtime, Roadside Attractions
Break out the warm-weather wax and buy another propane tank for your portable grill—it’s corn, couloir and road-lap season. East to west, snow-removal crews are hard at work clearing high-mountain routes that have been impassable during the winter months. And soon, they’ll be ready to ski, offering high-elevation, late-season turns, hot laps and roadside grilling…
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Mountain Skills: Anticipating Point Release Avalanches
As the spring approaches, many of us turn our attention to steeper, more technical lines higher in the mountains. The layers of snow that formed throughout the winter begin to gain strength and the avalanche problem is less complicated—it’s ski mountaineering season! But as the temperatures climb, wet avalanches become a more regular, primary concern.
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Editor’s Note: For Kathy
At the bottom of the world, Adam Howard finds fellow Vermonter and Swiss Guide Hans Solmssen
Gear
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Gearbox: 2024 Backcountry Packs
From hot laps to long traverses, these packs are built to match varied objectives, store all the necessary gear and keep you moving in comfort and style.
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Gearbox: 2024 Sport Watches
Whatever the objective, these sports watches are pretty smart. They’ll help you track your stats in any climate, on any adventure.
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Gearbox: 2024 Helmets
Check out the buckets designed to keep your noggin protected while staying comfortable and light.
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Gearbox: 2024 Goggles
In a range of sizes and shades, these goggles can react to the light, be easily replaced and will keep your eyes protected whatever the conditions.
MORE GEAR
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Gearbox: 2024 Avalanche Airbag Packs
They might come with a heavy price tag, but airbags, both in packs and vests, can be a lifesaving piece of gear in a worst-case scenario.
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Gearbox: 2024 Avalanche Safety Gear
Whether you’re looking to dig a pit, need a new probe, or want to be prepared with a saw in your pack, these pieces of avalanche safety equipment will complete your kit.
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Gearbox: 2024 Beacons
From user-friendly to professional-level, these beacons have you and your backcountry needs covered. Find the right transceiver for you.
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Editors’ Choice Apparel Reviews
This year’s lineup is the largest scope of apparel we’ve ever received. Here’s what stood out.
The Backcountry Podcast
From legendary athletes to iconic product designers, activists to guides, our world is filled with new views, wisdom, determination and crustiness.
Latest Podcast Episodes
From playing NCAA soccer to a successful modeling and acting career to being the top polar explorer of his time, Doug Stoup is an enigma. Host Adam Howard recently journeyed to Antarctica with Stoup and their conversation ranges from Doug’s personal training of A-list Hollywood actors to near death experiences; adventures with Doug Coombs; and taking novice skiers to the South Pole.
Tele Mike Russell: Turns for All
Tele Mike Russell grew up as a sharecropper’s son in Delaware before attending college and becoming an executive in the pharmaceutical industry. Then he watched the second plane hit the World Trade Center and decided he’d better follow another path, this one to skiing in Colorado, where he’d go on to find a family in the National Brotherhood of Skiers and help found its backcountry program.
Eric Blehm’s roots in snowboarding run deep. He started riding during the sport’s infancy, and after college became an editor at Transworld SNOWboarding Magazine. Years later, he was in a lift line when a fellow rider saw the “Craig Kelly is my Co-Pilot” sticker on his board, and asked Blehm: “Who is Craig Kelly?” He was floored by the notion that there were snowboarders out there who didn’t know who Craig was. And this inspired him to write The Darkest White.
Mountain Skills
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Mountain Skills: Anticipating Point Release Avalanches
As the spring approaches, many of us turn our attention to steeper, more technical lines higher in the mountains. The layers of snow that formed throughout the winter begin to gain strength and the avalanche problem is less complicated—it’s ski mountaineering season! But as the temperatures climb, wet avalanches become a more regular, primary concern.
Resort Skinning Policies
We’ve compiled a database of U.S. resorts with a little about each individual policy—where and when skinning is allowed, whether or not it’s free during operating hours and the link directly to the resort’s guidelines.
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Mountain Skills: Take the time to be prepared for early season turns
It’s late fall and many mountains throughout the U.S. have seen some decent early season snow. As a result, stoke is high and people are itching to ski. Guide Steve Banks shares his thoughts on how to capitalize on the early bounty.
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Mountain Skills: How to Prepare for Your Level 1 Avalanche Course
Beacon. Shovel. Probe. For years, these have been the standard required tools for heading into the backcountry. But what good are they without the proper training in how to recognize hazards and use them effectively? That’s where a 24-hour Level 1 avalanche certificate course comes into play.
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Mountain Skills: Why You Should Upgrade Your Avalanche Transceiver
Imagine your best friend buried under frozen avalanche debris. Precious minutes have passed, and you are still fumbling around on the debris surface because the outdated transceiver you are searching with is unreliable and malfunctioning. According to Dale Atkins, former president of the American Avalanche Association and a 30-year avalanche professional, any transceiver more than…
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Mountain Skills: The tools and tricks to stay motivated in the skintrack
In 2016, Aaron Rice skied 2.5 million human-powered vertical feet, and there were definitely times when he just didn’t feel like skinning. He often wanted to ski one less run or even lay down in the snow and cry. But he knew that, to reach his goal, he had to become a master of motivating…
