Black Diamond for everything climbing and skiing.    Dynafit -- Speed Up!    Tracker beacons, Stash packs, shovels, more more more.    Terrific deals on randonnee AT rando backcountry skiing gear.    K2 has the skis that stay true to earning your turns.    Garmont boots -- excellent choice for backcountry skiing.

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 Ok, On the Subject of Workouts — Check this Out!

By Lou

Standing on a fitball in a tuck? Man! Or, I mean, Woman!

Some of these exercises are amazing. No wonder she wins! I’ve got a fitball here in the office. Just tried standing on it. NO WAY!

Posted by Lou on November 6, 2009 | Filed Under Backcountry Skiing | 7 Comments 

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 That Was Then — This Is Now — Farewell Klein #90

By Lou
That was then. Mountain Klein s.n. 090

That was then. Mountain Klein s.n. 090

Read more

Posted by Lou on November 6, 2009 | Filed Under Biking | 17 Comments 

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 Fritschi Diamier Eagle Template

By Lou

You guys asked for it so here you go. Just go to our Fritschi Diamir Eagle mounting instructions, and you’ll find a template link there. Best that way, as the mounting instructions have essential info on using the template.

Thanks to BD, I had the right resources for creating a good template. But be careful that you print it at full scale, and always compare to binding holes before drilling!

Thanks to BD, I had the right resources for creating a good template. But be careful that you print it at full scale.

Read more

Posted by Lou on November 5, 2009 | Filed Under Binding Reviews, Gear Mods | 1 Comment 

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 Backcountry Skiing News Roundup

By Lou
Backcountry Skiing News

Opinion varies on how much we should restrict mechanized use of non-wilderness land. But it’s clear that more restrictions on snowmobiles are likely. While all other motorized vehicles are highly regulated in USFS forest management plans, “over snow vehicles” are loopholed and not included with the other modes of transport. This is somewhat logical, as totally restricting snowmobiles to existing roads and trails would be a reach (for example, roads get obscured by snow or are not practical routes), and writing a specific management plan for sleds would be expensive and fraught with political landmines.

On the other hand, as snowmobile use inevitably increases so to will management of their land use. Mark Menlove and his group Winter Wildlands Alliance (WWA) are pushing for that (the management part). Sometimes they push too hard for my taste (I’m more into sharing non-wilderness land), but their mission has merit. Here are some words from Mark. Read more

Posted by Lou on November 5, 2009 | Filed Under Backcountry Skiing, News Backcountry, Snowmobiles | 37 Comments 

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 Comparo – K2 Baker SL and Wayback – Backcountry Skis

By Lou
K2 Baker Superlight and Wayback

K2 Baker Superlight and Wayback

You guys switched me to gear geek mode. So I grabbed my Baker SL and the Wayback for comparo. Here you go:

Weights:
Baker SL is 51.5 oz (1460 gr) per ski.
Wayback is 55.0 oz (1560 gr) per ski

So, an increase of 3.5 ounces per ski? It’s known that the same model of ski will vary slightly in weight depending on which pair you grab off the rack. But on a ski this light that’s a 6% difference, so I suspect this is more than a manufacturing variation. I’m hoping the increased mass will make the Wayback a bit smoother on the downhill, but I wish they’d stuck with the same weight. An almost 1/2 pound increase per pair of skis is significant if you’re traveling light.

Shape & length
Exactly the same, 124/88/108 – cord length (66 3/8) inches = 168.5925 centimeters

Flex
Similar, used Bakers are a bit softer and have less camber

Graphics
Wayback is K2 all the way, with a large retro red/white/blue K2 logo on the tip base to make those digital blog photos brand well. Baker has the familiar Pacific Northwest graphics based on Native American art. I don’t mind art, but never preferred the weird looking face staring at me from the Bakers. Color scheme of both skis is similar. Black base, yellow/white/black on top.

Posted by Lou on November 4, 2009 | Filed Under Ski Reviews | 26 Comments 

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 Lou’s Backcountry Skiing Starter Quiver 09/10

By Lou
Backcountry skiing ski selection.

Backcountry skiing ski selection. Left to right: Trab, Stigma, Wayback, Manaslu.

All this talk about avalanches makes me want to go backcountry skiing. So I lined up my starter selection for the season. All I need is a golf bag and my kit will achieve perfection not unlike the perfect orb of a new moon rising over the crepe of a fresh snowfall. Or something like that, anyway.

The 178 cm Manaslus are first generation, on their third season now but holding up well because I only use them for mid-winter powder laps. Still my favorite because they’re so light and wide. This setup weighs 69.9 (1980 gr) with ST bindings. 108/95/122

My 171 Trab Duo Freerando are the go-to for the occasional race or attempt at a personal uphilling best. My lightest rig at the moment, 56.2 oz (1590 gr), with pretty much stock TLT grabber other than custom alu top plate on the rear binding unit (one of our cooler projects before Louie went off to design school.) 112/79/96 Read more

Posted by Lou on November 3, 2009 | Filed Under Ski Reviews | 14 Comments 

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 Colorado’s October Season of Avalanches

By Lou

We get some snow in October, and people go crazy out there! We had an exceptional number of incidents and close calls this past month. The following synopsis is from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) website. Check there for more details. You can bet there was more going on out there than what was reported.

In October, 7 avalanches caught 9 people in Colorado (this is the count of reported avalanches by CAIC, and several more actually occurred that we know of). Of those 9 people, 3 were partially buried with their faces exposed, and 2 fully buried or their faces were covered. If you read the details (see link above), you’ll notice the usual litany of mistakes. More than one person exposed to hazard at one time seemed to be the most common, and continues to be a disturbing trend. But the attitude of simply going for it no matter what seems to be a thread as well. And of course, some of these folks probably did all the right stuff and got caught anyway. Read more

Posted by Lou on November 2, 2009 | Filed Under avalanches | 38 Comments 

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Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's backcountry skiing information and opinion website. Lou's passion for the past forty years has been alpinism, climbing, mountaineering and skiing -- along with all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about backcountry skiing and is well known as the first person to ski down all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, otherwise known as the Fourteeners! Books and free back country information here, and tons of Randonnee rando telemark info.

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Backcountry skiing is a dangerous sport. You may be killed or severely injured if you do any form of randone, randonnee and randonnée skiing. The information on this website is intended only as general information. While the authors and editors of the information on this website make every effort to present useful information, due to human error the information, text and images contained within this website may be inaccurate, false, or out-of-date. By using, reading or viewing the information provided on this website, you agree to absolve the owners of Wild Snow as well as content contributors of any liability for injuries or losses incurred while using such information. Furthermore, you agree to use any of this website's information, maps, photos, or binding mounting instructions or templates at your own risk, and waive Wild Snow its owners and contributors of any liability for use of said items for backcountry skiing or any other use.