Mountains

You may know well the importance of education, experience, knowledge, skills, and carrying the right tools when traveling in avalanche terrain.However, it doesn’t matter how much rescue gear you have – you still need to know how to use...

It can be called chinook, foehn, or zonda. Winds that flow over mountains and onto the plains are usually strong, but warm and dry.In the middle of winter, however, if the temperature doesn’t rise dramatically, most winds are just...

Responsibility in the backcountry takes many forms. Having the right tools when misadventure strikes can be the difference between a manageable task and a nightmare. Anyone who has ever gotten injured or broken a piece of equipment knows that...

Doggone they’re good!Just watched Explore.com’s Adrenaline Junkie series about avalanches and the dogs were stars. I’ve never had the misfortune of being trapped in a real avalanche, but I have met a few stellar avalanche rescue dogs over the years.Foster was...

Did you hear that it snowed in 49 of the 50 States one day recently?  It’s cold out.  When the temperature gets down into the single digits, frostbite occurs easily.  If you are participating in an activity, like skiing,...

Tracks in the snow are an unavoidable sign of human presence in the middle of winter. Fortunately, they’ll disappear with the next snowfall, windstorm, or after a few day of hot sun.Energy bar wrappers and metal strips from wax...

The reverse is also true. There was a light breeze blowing when I left home at 7 a.m. on Saturday for the field portion of an introductory avalanche course. By the time we reached our destination an hour and a...

I’m a “must-have” morning coffee person. Tea doesn’t cut it, nor does hot chocolate or anything herbal – it’s gotta be strong black java. Pretty particular, huh? Just try and mess with my morning ritual and see what happens.So...

I may be a little biased – but Alberta has some of the most spectacular hikes I’ve ever encountered. With this Canadian province’s western border following the crags and valleys of the Rocky Mountains – neatly sectioned into national parks, provincial...

When icy blasts and nuking snow make setting up—and sleeping in—a tent seem like less than Type-2 Fun, think about building a snow shelter instead. With snow’s natural insulating properties, no matter how gnarly conditions get outside, the inside...