AK

Thanks for the thoughts guys. The main thing that precipitated this is I have seen many people that: (1) had an avy pack and (2) were not making (in my view) safe decisions. This is an over-generalization, but I have seen so many people out getting turns with all the safety gear( e.g, avy pack, Avalung, helmet, etc) and making stupid…[Read more]

Awesome! interesting way to carry your skis under the arm…. I’ve never seen that done.

Sweet! I was in Valdez this weekend getting pow turns above 4500”.

No it is cool to mention your heli access. In terms of guiding I actually have never been out with a guide. My crew is just supper conservative and we all have our Avy 1 or 2.

Joe Stock is a baller of a dude who guides in the Anchorage area. You can find him here: http://www.stockalpine.com/

For Valdez you could contact Matt Kinney.…[Read more]

Good timing. We are getting a solid reset in most areas.
Definitely skip Fairbanks if you want to ride. But if you want to see the sights that’s cool.

Alyeska is getting snow. You need nothing special as far as a vehicle goes. I would get the cheapest car possible as roads are usually fine.
You should check out Hatcher Pass and Turnagain. Easily…[Read more]

I carry a small ziplock with the following regardless of trip. My summer kit is nearly identical.

Stainless steel bailing wire
Electrical tape (I prefer over duct tape)
Hardcore pain killers (e.g. percocet)
Multitool
Skistrap
Small headlamp
3-AAA batteries (for beacon and headlamp)
Emergency blanket
Lighter

Pretty confident I could deal with…[Read more]

Philip, I would be interested in seeing your gear list for that summer Old Harbor- Kodiak trip. What an amazing hike that looked like! I grew up on Kodiak and love seeing you getting after it!

I would say, depending on conditions, that Hatcher Pass is your best bet. Easily accessible and a gorgeous drive. Arctic Valley is fun if you only have a few hours. Ptarmigan Peak is a accessible as well if there is decent snow. This would be approached from the south. Google Earth it.

Good luck man!

So sweet man.

Stoke!

Awesome!

One option would be the Snowbird Hut which is located near Hatcher Pass: http://americanalpineclub.org/p/snowbird-hut

In my view, Thompson Pass is the place to be right now with Turnagain coming in second.
You could get to the Pass and just start skinning off the highway into some great terrain.
For intel you should try and get Matt Kinney’s book…[Read more]

Thanks for posting this and other amazing TR’s.

Sick bro!

I have been stoked with my 162 Panoramic. Probably rode it 30 days this year. This was my first board with rocker and I definitely like it. In retrospect I may have gone with a longer board but 90% of the time this board floats just fine. I core-shot the board while under full power and besides a slightly looser connection between the clips no…[Read more]

– Rider height 6′ 2”
– Rider weight 165lbs
– Board length 163
– Regular/Goofy Regular
– Stance 21.5
-Angles
Front 20 degrees,
Back 10 degrees

I’ve had my skins out at -30 with no issues. They were new though.