CLICK HERE TO READ THIS SHORT ARTICLE FROM OUTDOOR RESEARCH ... BEFORE YOU HEAD INTO THE BACKCOUNTRY.

Glacial Retreat In The Andes

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS IMPORTANT ARTICLE.

Glen Plake coming to NCS

Sunset Ski Tour

Hock and Lucy with skins and ski mo gear doing the 3k, 300' loop around our ski hill ... Great for practice laps and training.

Blast from the past ... was he the greatest alpinist ever?

A must watch video, Werner Herzog's documentary about Messner and his traverse of Gasherbrum I & II. This was from back in the day, when he was nailing the fourteen 8,000 meter peaks, and doing fast, light, solo ascents everywhere.

Stellar dendrites, snow physics, and avalanche dynamics

Lucy has just finished up her 8the grade earth science unit on the mechanics of snow. This course taught by Larry is equivalent to a Level 1 or 2 avalanche course. Along with significant reading and lectures, there is much practical work analyzing snow pits, and running search patterns with beacons. The culminating project is a research presentation on a significant avalanche event, reviewing everything from meteorological history to neglected warning signs and human error. Lucy's presentation was on the Hatch Peak avalanche in the Talkeetna range during March 2011. She took this picture while observing snowflakes through her microscope.

Dawn Patrol

I took out the ski mountaineering gear to get first tracks on our ski hill ... Conditions were perfect as it snowed all night. Later in the day I managed another hour of skiing while Lucy was racing at the Dewey Mountain Nordic Center.

Ice Climbing World Cup Competition in France

UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup in Champagny en Vanoise 2012 | Official Movie from UIAA - Mountaineering & Climbing on Vimeo.

High Avalanche Touring Protocol

Given the spate of avalanche deaths, and the knowledge that there is deep instability in the western snowpack, it is imperative that we refresh our memories about all the decision-making choices we can control. CLICK HERE TO READ AN IMPORTANT REPRINT IN OFF PISTE MAGAZINE.

Yahoo it's snowing!

It snowed most of the day, so after work I spent an hour skiing laps up and down our ski hill. Tomorrow we have another 6-10 inches expected.

In the tradition of the famous 1972 Chouinard catalog

From the time of Great Pacific Ironworks, on to the 1972 Chouinard mail order catalog (I still have a copy on my bookshelf), and now The Black Diamond Alpine website catalog. The company has been the gold standard in terms of good gear, and good communication about the sport, and how to use the gear. CLICK HERE TO SEE THIS NEW CYBER-CATALOG, SET IN CHAMONIX WITH STUNNING IMAGES AND FOOTAGE OF REAL ALPINE CLIMBING.

New Winter Route Activity On Cannon

Pitchoff Right

Gary was up to do some work on his cabin, so I left work earlier, and we did laps for a couple of hours ... No wind, warm, and soft plastic ice ... a great little outing. Oh, and I test drove the used tools - first generation quarks - that I just bought, and they are awesome.

Tracking the White reindeer

Tracking the white reinder from hamid sardar on Vimeo.

Skiing the Trap Dike

2/20/2012 from ADKBCSKI on Vimeo.

Skiing in Kashmir ... Unusual coincidence

Last night I just finished reading a early 1950s murder mystery/spy thriller. Many of you may know M.M. Kaye and her delightful novel Far Pavilions. I have always been interested in novels about climbing and skiing, or novels set in mountain towns and regions. Moreover, the Gulmarg region has always been a place I have wanted to climb and trek in. Hours after I put the "whom-done-it" down, I came across this short video about the burgeoning ski culture and business in Gulmarg.

Is he the best ski alpinist?

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT.

Backcountry descent of the Dix slide

CLICK HERE TO READ A RECENT TRIP REPORT.

Hard winter route on Ben Nevis

State of the art mixed climbing on the Ben.

Don't Die Of Ignorance, Ben Nevis, Greg Boswell on the second ascent from James Dunn Visuals on Vimeo.

It's Lambing Season

Nine births so far, and maybe 8-10 still to come.

Ueli Steck Training In Chamonix

CLICK HERE TO SEE HIS CARDIO WORKOUT ON THE NORTH FACE OF THE AIGUILLE DU PLAN ... BACK FOR LUNCH ... WHAT DID HE DO IN THE AFTERNOON?

Avalanche Air Bags

Given that these are the worst avalanche conditions in the Rockies in over 30 years, there has been a significant amount of journalism devoted to the subject. The enclosed diagrams are from a recent article in the Denver Post. (CLICK TO ENLARGE THE IMAGE.)

Online Guide to Teton Rock Climbs

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THIS FANTASTIC DATABASE WITH TOPOS, APPROACH AND DESCENT INFORMATION, AS WELL AS CLIMBER COMMENTARY.

The Legendary 1960s Climbing Road Trip

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE SHORT DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE LEGENDARY CLIMBING (AND SURFING) ROAD TRIP TO PATAGONIA IN THE LATE 1960s.THE FUN HOGS INCLUDE: Yvon Chouinard, Doug Tompkins, Dick Dorworth, and Chris Jones.

Beautiful Ski Up The Whiteface Toll Road

Deja Vu

In the 1970s, I broke countless pairs of First generation Chouinard rigid crampons. Stress fractures, but luckily no devastating consequences. Cold Thistle blog has an exposé about Black Diamond stainless steel crampons, and Dane as pee usual pulls no punches. CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE.

History of New England Ice Climbing

CLICK HERE TO WATCH ... A must see video, about the revolution in the 1960s and 70s in the sport, through the eyes of Rick Wilcox, one of the key players.

Cerro Torre ... Coonyard mouths off

CLICK HERE TO READ A SHORT ESSAY WHERE CHOUINARD WEIGHS IN ON THE RECENT CERRO TORRE BROUHAHA.

EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY ... new research

CLICK HERE TO READ THE NEW YORK TIMES SUMMARY OF RECENT STUDIES THAT ANSWER THE QUESTION: HOW LITTLE AND HOW EFFICIENTLY CAN YOU EXERCISE?

Skiing to the South Pole

One of the greatest ski racers of all time - Vergard Ulvang - skis 1300 kilometers to the South Pole to commerate the 100th anniversary of Amundsen's expedition.

A fossil feeling his age

Just a comparative photographic record. After skiing 68 hard kilometers last Saturday, Lucy and her ski buddy Hannah, look like they just came from a walk in the park. I on the other hand, look like I have just survived Napolean's retreat from Moascow!

Training for ice climbing

Eisprinz - Chapter one (with Markus Bendler) from Berni Kogler on Vimeo.

This guy is a serious stud ... Trying to remember ... Back in the day did we ever work out that hard?

The Western States 100

My knees are shot, my belt size is too big, and I am not really running anymore ... when I was marathoning this was always on my hit list ... guess it will have to wait until my next life!

2012 Canadian Ski Marathon

Good conditions, sunny but very chilly weather (lows went from below zero to a high of 12 degrees), enabled us to ski 100k in six sections. The girls tied the 1989 NCS record for the most sections, however they broke the record for a single day ... 68K in four sections! Let it be known, that the coach, the Hockmeister, the coureur de bois was dragging by the end of Saturday's tour. Hannah and Lucy are clearly way stronger, fitter, and more technically proficient than last year. I recovered well, and thoroughly enjoyed the 30K tour that we did on Sunday.

Ueli Steck ... Light is Right

UKC/UKH at ISPO 2012 - Ueli Steck and Mountain Hardwear from UKClimbing.com TV on Vimeo.

Canadian Ski Marathon

European Ski Mountaineering Championships

THIS GUYS ARE FLYING UP AND DOWN THE HILL.

Top Ten AT Gear Items

CLICK HERE TO READ THE OUTSIDE ARTICLE.

Will Gadd Sounding Off

The stuff we climbers do not talk about so much, click here to read "The Grand Delusion."

SCIENCE OF THE Winter Olympics

Click here to watch this short NBC video about Nordic endurance athletes and VO2 Max.

How to sharpen Ice Screws ... and I thought there were only two options send them out to a professional or buy new screws!

As most of my buddies, climbing partners, spouse, kids, and students will attest ... I am hopeless with mechanical objects. With the possible exception of working on my nordic racing skis, there is very little that I can do with hand tools. No doubt, with this "how to" video even I could manage to get tHe job done.

Final easy ski sessions

Self Belaying Essentials

Even though I use a soloist system when I self belay a top-roped rock climb, Petzl has performed a very useful service with their analytical essay. CLCIK HERE TO READ THE ESSAY, AND BE SURE TO WATCH THE SOBERING VIDEO AT THE END.

Messner Speaks Out

CAFE ANDINO

Should have known they had a Facebook page ... who is on for a summer Andean trip?

They are having different weather in Chamonix than New England!

CLICK HERE TO SEE A RECENT CHAMONIX TRIP REPORT. NOTICE THE SHORTIES FOR THE DESCENT OFF THE BACKSIDE .... EVERY ALPINIST SHOULD HAVE A PAIR IN THE QUIVER.

My 50th Day On Snow This Season

I took some NCS students to race a paintball biathlon, and manged to ski about 10k while coaching. Lucy skied fast, however one of our students Sam cleaned all 20 targets, and came away with the best overall time. DESPITE THE CRUMMY WINTER I HAVE BEEN GETTING OUT.

Adirondack Ice ... Endangered Species

Endangered Species OR from Bayard Russell on Vimeo.

Saas Fee world cup ice climbing comp

Ice Climbing World Cup in Saas Fee 2012 | Official Movie from UIAA - Mountaineering & Climbing on Vimeo.

Tuning up for the Canadian Ski Marathon

A nice 15k ski, including a lap on the Ladies 5k race course, and a trip up Harry's Hill in the picture. Hoping to log 100-120k next weekend.

American nordic women continue their fine season

All bundled up after the sprint in Moscow where the temperatures were just barely above the legal racing minimums. The gals finished 6-7-12-39th. Next up two World Cup races in Rybinsk. GOOD LUCK.

Can you trust that ice anchor?

An in-depth analysis done by the staff of the Glenmore Lodge. CLICK HERE TO READ THIS IMPORTANT ARTICLE.

Avalanche airbag deployed

A PRETTY GOOD REMINDER THAT THIS MIGHT BE A GREAT NEXT PURCHASE FOR AN AVID SKI MOUNTAINEER.

How to dig a hasty pit

Dean Cummings Quick Pit Test at Arapahoe Basin from Skiing Magazine on Vimeo.

Mount Blanc Alpinism

Teaser 'Voie Bonatti' from Christophe Dumarest on Vimeo.

Blast from the past ... Back when I was fit, fast, and scruffy

What a difference 24 hours makes!

Yesterday was superb Nordic and alpine skiing. I had a wonderful time with students at Whiteface, last night a chinook wind moved in, and as you can see we have standing water in the Olympic Nordic stadium at Mount Van Hoevenberg. UGH.

Hard Mixed Climbing ... second ascent of a Colorado M9

Silver Surfer Second Ascent from Rock & Ice on Vimeo.