Alpine Islands delivers a new mindset for backcountry education. We combine expert skill development with intuitive wisdom, helping backcountry skiers and snowboarders connect more deeply with their surroundings. Our unique progression system supports all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned veterans. Through hands-on workshops, mindful practices, and real-time safety updates, we provide both technical knowledge and instinctual awareness for confident, tech-free mountain awareness. Join us to sharpen your skills, build meaningful connections, and explore the wild like never before.
Becoming more adapted to nature is a lifelong pursuit. We humans have a distorted relationship with nature as a whole. But through individual growth we can inspire the world around us to be more mindful, more cautious, and more harmonious with nature’s forces.
WHISTLER, BC, APR. 1, 2026 BC Parks officials announced earlier this morning a landmark deal between Vail Resorts, parent company of Whistler/Blackcomb, and the BC Government for a transfer of
In the world of hardshell jackets, Gore-Tex is the gold standard. Let’s get that out of the way right now. But Gore-Tex is a material, and material only goes so
A good helmet needs to be protective but not noticeable. Anon’s Merak does that better than any I’ve tested, period. Thankfully, it’s more strange to see someone skiing or snowboarding
It has been an interesting season in the Northern Hemisphere. 2026 will go down as one of variability. Much of North America had some unseasonable warmth at some point, and
One of the great joys of snowboarding vs. skiing is having soft boots. Of course, there are many more reasons in this author’s humble opinion… but we can stick to
Author’s Note: This article stems from a core belief that has guided my work in backcountry education: there should be no gatekeepers in the mountains, only mentors. While professional guiding
Fly in to a campsite and learn to love a zone intimately for a week or two.
