Winter 2009

Pat Ormond- Climbs the Cassin Ridge

Pat Ormond- Climbs the Cassin Ridge

The Cassin Ridge route on Denali is perhaps the pinnacle of mountaineering in North America, and certainly one of the classics worldwide. Rising uninterrupted for 9000 feet right from the Kahiltna Glacier to the top of the continent, climbing the Cassin involves commitment, fitness, and the skill to climb steep, mixed terrain at altitude. This […]

A Comprehensive and Authoritative Guide to the Original Winter Sport of Sledding

A Comprehensive and Authoritative Guide to the Original Winter Sport of Sledding

The fossil record remains unclear as to what exactly started the trend, but approximately 240 million years ago the first winter sport was born. As the story is told, a tiny trilobite spied the icy slope with a degree of trepidation. He began to reconsider. Then the guy holding his beer shoved him from behind […]

Telemark vs. Alpine Touring- Who Rules?

Telemark vs. Alpine Touring- Who Rules?

To Drop The Knee of Lock the Heel? – That is the question… Nobody can doubt that Utah has some deep political and moral divides, they tend to make national headlines lately. But few are deeper and more bitterly held than the chasm that separates the various snow riders. The great ski vs snowboard debate […]

Skiing the Beehive's Backcountry Yurts

Skiing the Beehive’s Backcountry Yurts

Worlds away from the five-star restaurants, cush hotels, and general glitz of the modern mountain town experience, a night in a backcountry hut or yurt brings an element of adventure and connection with nature that’s often overlooked in the lift-powered, daytripping ski scene of today. Utah’s backcountry travelers are privy to a fairly extensive network […]

Taming the White Tiger

Taming the White Tiger

The History of Avalanche Control in Utah Into the predawn darkness they march. Packs loaded, they tiptoe along corniced ridges and wind-loaded slopes. Through this ominous landscape they continue on towards their goal. They are the avalanche hunters. All around them, hidden dangers lurk, ready to strike at any time and without notice. Their only […]

Skiing Utah's Biggest Lines

Skiing Utah’s Biggest Lines

Skiing Utah’s Biggest Lines What is the point of pushing oneself aerobically? Why do that extra lap or pedal another hill on a training day? For many it’s to pass another athlete in the late stages of a race, for others it’s the satisfaction of establishing a new personal best. For me- it’s the possibility […]