– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor Backcountry
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • WildSnow Ski Weight/Surface Comparison Chart — And More
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Ski Weight Comparo Charts
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Museum – Backcountry Ski Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures

– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog

Banner
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor Backcountry
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • WildSnow Ski Weight/Surface Comparison Chart — And More
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Ski Weight Comparo Charts
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Museum – Backcountry Ski Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures
   

Backcountry Skiing News Roundup – Spring 2013

by Lou Dawson May 20, 2013
written by Lou Dawson May 20, 2013
Backcountry skiing on Independence Pass, testing Dynafit Huascaran.

Last spring the Independence Pass Colorado backcountry skiing was good for a few weeks. It starts this coming Thursday when the road opens. Potluck barbecue planned for this coming Saturday May 26, rain day Sunday.

Oh Lordie! I should have been doing more of these. We get so distracted by all the gear and all the skiing. News? What news?

Over on the West, Sierra snowpack reports will become more accurate with more data gathered by aircraft. It’s indeed mind blowing how much information we backcountry skiers now have with steadily better and more available weather reports, snow surveys, avalanche forecasts and more. When we were celebrating Matt Kamper’s 54 fourteeners a few days ago, someone mentioned what it must have been like back in my day, going after some mountains with little more than general aviation weather and frequently inaccurate air mass predictions. The info is so good now, if you know what you’re doing you can check out NOAA weather for nearly any place in our fair land, interpret their synopsis and discussion and come up with a very effective take on when you’ll get a weather window. Only glitch is when the air masses shift faster or slower than predicted, but that usually only affects you if you’re trying to push either side of an obvious window.

Everyone of us has physical challenges. What’s important is how we overcome and lead quality lives. Check out this one legged backcountry skier. The disabled athlete as hero is becoming somewhat of a cliche, but still resonates when the person is core like Vasu Sojitra. In one photo he has a BD ski with a climbing skin on it. One has to assume he’s got skins on his ski poles for some situations. I hope BD is sending him skis, or, I mean, sending him _a ski_ now and then.

Uh huh, what would a WildSnow blog post be without some gear? It’s filtered out to most people now, but worth mentioning that Voile will be changing their branding. Hopefully their skis will stay bueno like the new V8 model for 2013/14, which was an easy pick for our coming Ultimate Quiver.

Here at WildSnow HQ we’re shifting out of ski mode, but our annual PNW trip is still in the works. My focus this summer will be some website back end work, along with playing Mr. Carpenter up at Field HQ — and here at home when Lisa reminds me about priorities. Projects at the portahut include finishing our water tank enclosure. We experimented with a 400 gallon tank last winter, buried half in the ground with an insulated cover. The tank never froze, but the outlet did during a cold snap. I buried the outlet line below the frost level, but the freezeless hose bib I terminated it with wasn’t good enough for negative 20 Fahrenheit. Solution is probably a small insulated cabinet over the outlet. The idea is to trap ground heat to keep things thawed enough to function. Report on that project is forthcoming.

Ski touring up to Geissler Mountain, Independence Pass.

Ski touring up to Geissler Mountain, Independence Pass.

Lastly, if you’re in the central Colorado area, the potluck Independence Pass barbecue is happening this coming weekend, 10:00 Saturday morning. Sounds like the upper hairpin turn on the west side of the pass will be the location. Come meet other backcountry skiers who are winding out the season with a few last days on Indy. And a reminder about Indy: If you’re new to the area you can get info at BackcountrySkiingCO.com.

8 comments
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
Plum Recommending Replacement of Binding Top Plate Screws
next post
G3 Alpinist Splitboard Climbing Skin Review

8 comments

Dave Johnson May 20, 2013 - 8:23 am

Hd a great descent of Mt. Shasta yesterday. High winds up high kept techs snow firm, but it was good corn down to snow line at 7,200′ on west side.

Lou Dawson May 20, 2013 - 8:34 am

Dave, thanks for chiming in. I was hoping some of you guys would add some conditions reports and other news items. Lou

Dave May 20, 2013 - 8:48 am

Here in the eastern Alaska Range we’ve had more late-season snow and things are more filled in than any other year in recent history. Another foot of fresh over the weekend. Lots of wind too unfortunately, but an epic year nonetheless.

Matt Kinney May 20, 2013 - 9:36 am

Valdez still rocking with 32″ on the ground as of today at sea level, thus the deepest snowpack this late ever in AK. The NOAA Snotel at sea level on the north shore reads 68″. Valdez NWS reports 405 inches for the season, most of which fell after Jan 1. Though we didn’t match last years snow amount, retention remains very good. You can still skin from your car door in the Odessey and Sapphire Arenas. Should be good for another month of more.

Our May water equiv. in Valdez is over 10″, smashing the previous record of 6.5″ and it’s only May 20th, which is usually our driest month. We continue to smash precip. records(monthly, daily, 45-day) over the past two year by some astonishing amounts. It’s neat as a weather geek, but actually quite alarming in relationship to human-caused global warming and all that implies for the future of snow and skiing.

John May 20, 2013 - 2:19 pm

Should I bring some Elk sausage?

Lou Dawson May 20, 2013 - 3:04 pm

Yum. Sure,

Ellen May 22, 2013 - 9:19 am

Hey Lou, jeffrey and I might see you on Saturday. Do you know what time on Thursday the road opens?

Lou Dawson May 22, 2013 - 9:54 am

Hi Ellen, no idea, sometimes they open it the night before, sometimes we’re back in town drinking coffee and waiting till later in the morning.

Saturday starting at 10:00 but we’re usually there through noon and on, depending mostly on weather. I like hanging out up there and not being in a rush.

Lou

Comments are closed.

Promotion Image

Gear Reviews

  • WildSnow Women’s Boot Roundup 2019-20

    November 21, 2019
  • Fritschi (Black Diamond) Xenic 10 Binding Technical Review

    November 11, 2019
  • FutureLight vs. Gore-tex — Ultimate Sweat Test

    October 17, 2019

Recent Comments

  • Nate on Fritschi (Black Diamond) Xenic 10 Binding Technical Review
  • XXX_er on DIY Boot Fitting Tricks for Ski Touring
  • Chris on Dynafit TLT-7-P Ski Boot Technical Review
  • Ben on DIY Boot Fitting Tricks for Ski Touring
  • Bill on Beacon Guidebooks in the Age of Information

Trip Reports

  • Trip Report — Early Turns in Jumbo, BC

    November 8, 2019
  • Denali 2019 — What Worked, What Didn’t Part I

    November 4, 2019
  • Early Season Turns and Mid Season Instability

    November 1, 2019

Totally Deep Podcast

  • Blake Gordon Comes Down From the Himal — TDP 69

    November 20, 2019
  • Angus Morrison Splitboard Car Talk – TDP 68

    October 30, 2019
  • Skiing the Lhotse Couloir — TDP 51 & Short Film

    October 23, 2019

Tips & Tricks

  • Field Treatment for Climbing Skin Failure

    December 3, 2019
  • Travel Tips for Your Next Ski Trip

    December 2, 2019
  • Ski Crampons — When To, When Not To and How

    November 26, 2019

Ski Touring Stories

  • Taking a Ski Mountaineering Course…Online

    November 29, 2019
  • Confessions of Snowman

    November 23, 2019
  • A Grand Traverse Gone Awry

    November 15, 2019

Newsletter Sign-Up

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • About Lou Dawson
  • Authors Page
  • About
  • Contact
  • Copyright & Legal
  • Website Security

@2019 - All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by WildsSnow


Back To Top

Read alsox

Ski Touring News Roundup December 2019

December 11, 2019

2019 Historic Colorado Avalanche Cycle Recap

November 18, 2019

Trip Report: Cordillera Vilcanota, Peru

September 13, 2019