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.

Backcountry Skiing, Snowboard and Adventure Articles

Bill Briggs Biography — Beyond the Grand Teton (Life of a ski mountaineer and pioneer backcountry skier.)
2007 NOLS Wind River Mountaineering Course – TR
Marker Duke randonnee AT ski binding, full report.
Inside the Fritschi Freeride Plus backcountry skiing binding
2-Way Radios for Backcountry Skiing
Backcountry Skiing Avalanche Risk Quiz
Out of Bounds and Out of Luck
Trip Report from Mike Marolt – Mustagh Ata
Backcountry Skiing Binding Museum
Silvretta Pure binding FAQ
Silvretta 505 and Easy Go Mounting Instructions
Shortcut between Western Colorado and Wyoming.
Photo collection, 24 Hours of Sunlight race.
Backcountry Skiing at a Colorado Cabin – 2005
How to install and remove Dynafit Comfort binding brakes.
1999 profile of extreme skier Doug Ward
Historic preservation and restoration in the old ski town.
Index – Naxo backcountry skiing binding information.
Index for Fritschi Diamir backcountry ski bindings.
Index of Dynafit Bindings Frequently Asked Questions.
Rating backcountry skiing – proposed D System (D-System).
Blog covering Greg Mace mountain rescue memorial.
Elk Mountains extreme backcountry skiing, Pete Sowar.
Blogging springtime Colorado backcountry skiing.
Eulogy: pilot Joel Zane
Avalanche Survival – Hayden Peak, Colorado
Art Burrows — A Life of Backcountry Skiing
Dynafit backcountry ski binding anti-ice modification.
Garage Mount Fritschi Diamir, Freeride, Explore Bindings.
Home Mount Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Binding.
Hamish Gowans winter fourteeners climbing attempt.
Super-Flex U-joint for customized Jeep.
Indigo adjustable ski pole for backcountry skiing.
Backcountry Skiing Blog Jan 3-15, avalanche safety etc.
Naxo randonnee binding Torque Plate modification.
Naxo and Freeride backcountry bindings — flex comparo.
Backcountry rider’s code of ethics.
Buff Headgear — a new twist on simplicity for backcountry skiing.
The Dawson trail Jeep Willys CJ-2A — does involve backcountry skiing.
First Look at new 04/05 Naxo backcountry ski binding.
Cargo rack for your SUV — how-to carry backcountry skiing gear.
Granite Gear Ultralight Packer backpacks — review
K2 Scepter Helmet — backcountry skiing review
Indigo Stow Away Shovel — review.
Toyota Tacoma Trailhead Approach Vehicle “TAV”
Scarpa F1 randonnee backcountry skiing AT boot review
Tacoma Toyota Truck Build
Retrofit Dynafit backcountry binding fittings in a Scarpa Denali boot.
In the footsteps of the 10th Mountain Division
Naxo binding mount, do some homebrew.
Dynafit Comfort backcountry skiing binding FAQ taking shape.
Naxo Binding Review and Information
How we built a hut — Friends Hut — Colorado
Naxo Press Release
Backcountry skiing El Diente Peak, May 2003
Black Diamond Avalung — air for the white tomb — avalanche safety.
Ski Boy reviews a hydration pack that won’t poison you with toxic mold.
Headlamp Thoughts and Review.
Husband as ski instructor, a Valentine’s Day muse by Lisa.
Dynafit Carve Lite ski review.
Snowboard quick release — safety and convenience.
Barryvox avalanche beacon, light and small, it works!
Troller glove review, see the wet towel test!
Cloudveil Serendipity soft shell review.
Backcountry Access, Stash BC pack review.
Castle Peak, Colorado, backcountry ski descent
.Skadi revealed, the original avalanche transceiver.
Unbuckle the chastity belt — the story of a first backcountry skiing trip.
Chronology of North American ski mountaineering history (caution, large file)
Romance on snow, keep marriage alive on a glacier? Columbia Icefield
Updated battery article, how to mix AA and AAA cells, how to recharge the best way?
Dynafit Tri-Step binding FAQ nearing completion. Check it out.
Mira ski by Black Diamond, a review.
South Face of South Maroon Peak, Jarrett Luttrell rides it in style!
Dynafit TLT and Tri-Step general info binding FAQ, total data dump!
Boy’s first randonnee AT backcountry skiing ski climb.
Environmental Issue Writings (Warning, not P.C.)
The Trooper Traverse, ski mountaineering from Leadville to Aspen, Colorado
Totally not snow, 4-wheeling Schofield Pass — SUMMER!
Wind River backpack trip, Wyoming dreams become reality.
Home mount the Dynafit Tourlite Tech randonnee AT backcountry mountaineering binding
Maroon Bells, Colorado — Snowboard the Bell Cord Couloir
Alpine tour randonnee backcountry ski mountaineering bindings, evolution of a dream.
An early March powder day in Marble, Colorado — backcountry ski.
Mount Hood — marriage bliss, skier’s dream, or both?
Mount Sopris, Colorado, winter climb and descent (lots of photos!)
Gear review — Black Diamond Lynx shovel
Dawson’s Backcountry Lou’s column from Couloir Magazine
Lou’s Avalanche Story — Highland Bowl, Colorado
Using Ski Gear to Reach Ice Climbs and Mountaineering Routes — How To
The wherefore and why of “alpine touring” ski gear
Spring Backcountry Skiing in Colorado, why?
Safety on Steep Snow — Ice Ax, Crampons, and more
A brief history of the 10th Mountain Division Skiing Soldiers
Rating Ski and Snowboard backcountry skiing descents with the S System
Olaus Magnus, the oldest reference to backcountry skiing.
Backcountry skiing tips and tricks (nuts-and-bolts articles).

         
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.