Steve Andrews

Vail Resorts Closes $50 Million Acquisition of Blackcomb Glacier Provincial Park

1 Comment / Announcements /

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 Blackcomb Glacier Provincial Park “This is a monumental exchange that will bring much needed revenue to the BC government, while at the same time providing […]

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a snowboarder rides down a slope of corn snow at baldface in british columbia

Spring Has Sprung: How To Navigate Mountains Safely In A Season of Change

Leave a Comment / Backcountry Skills /

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 some less-than-welcome droughts, only to be hit with surprise storms that unleashed a ton of precipitation in a matter of days, and then dry up

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a group of students on an avalanche course plan out their trip around a table using a topographic map

Why Backcountry Guides Must End the “Trust Me” Model

Leave a Comment / Mindfulness and Resilience, Risk Assessment and Decision Making, Survival Psychology /

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 is a vital service, the “trust me” model is increasingly at odds with a public that is more educated and empowered than ever before. This

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Heuristic Traps: Navigating Invisible Human Factors In The Backcountry

Leave a Comment / Backcountry Skills, Mindfulness and Resilience, Mindfulness Practices, Survival Psychology /

We spend countless hours pouring over avalanche forecasts, analyzing snowpits, and meticulously packing our backpacks. But out in the backcountry, one of the most dangerous hazards doesn’t come from a buried persistent weak layer or a sudden spike in temperature. It comes from inside our own heads. As human beings, our brains are wired to

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a set of glacier glasses we reviewed for backcountry skiing, splitboarding, and mountaineering

The Best Glacier Glasses For Ski Touring and Mountaineering

Leave a Comment / Gear Reviews, Sunglasses /

Ultraviolet Light is a silent threat in the mountains. We spent plenty of our time and money trying to research the best baselayers, jackets, and hardgoods to help us conquer the mountains, but our eyes often get overshadowed. Actually in this case, they often get undershadowed: the snow of the alpine environment reflects the UV

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The Best Hardshell Jackets For Backcountry Skiing Or Splitboarding

Leave a Comment / Clothing, Gear Reviews /

Choosing the right jacket for backcountry skiing or snowboarding is more than a fashion statement. Hopefully that’s the last thing on your mind. But when it comes down to it, a proper hardshell jacket can be a possible life-saver to keep you warm and dry in critical moments. Or at the very minimum it’ll keep

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