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 […]
Spring Has Sprung: How To Navigate Mountains Safely In A Season of Change Read More »
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
Heuristic Traps: Navigating Invisible Human Factors In The Backcountry Read More »
When reading an avalanche bulliten, you might come across the term surface hoar when it comes to discussing avalanche problems or troublesome layers. This can be one of the most annoying and deadly features of a snowpack. Read on to learn more about how surface hoar forms and how to mitigate the risk if you
Avalanche Glossary: Surface Hoar Read More »
If you’re exploring the backcountry, knowing how to use a topographic map and compass is essential. GPS devices can fail or lose battery, and you don’t want that happening when it matters the most. Here in British Columbia, there is much more wilderness than occupied land. Getting lost isn’t a difficult thing to do, and
You Can Get Free Topographic Maps of British Columbia Here Read More »
One of the primary and most obvious contributors to an avalanche is fresh snowfall. When learning about backcountry safety and avalanche awareness, it’s crucial to understand how the amount of snow mixed with the other main variables (terrain, aspect, wind, and other layers) come into play. This page discusses why it’s important to factor in
Avalanche Awareness 101: Snowfall Read More »
Why Temperature Matters Temperature is one of the most easily observable variables in the backcountry, but also one of the most overlooked when it comes to avalanche risk. Unlike complex snowpack tests or hard-to-read terrain features, temperature is something anyone can track with the right mindset and tools. For skiers and snowboarders who want to
Avalanche Awareness 101: Temperature Read More »
Why Wind Is a Big Deal For Avalanche Safety Of all the variables that can lead to an avalanche, wind might be the most overlooked risk factor. People tend to put a lot of emphasis on fresh snowfall—which is a huge factor—but the wind can be a bit more uncertain if you don’t know what
Avalanche Awareness 101: Wind Read More »
Over the past 20 years the advent of technology has truly changed the way we explore the backcountry. Not all of it is for the better. The devices we all hold in our pocket so dear have brought about knowledge in ways that our ancesters would have never thought possible, and we have assimilated it
Your GPS Device Is Weakening Your Senses In The Backcountry Read More »
What is a Persistent Slab Avalanche? In the world of avalanche safety, a persistent slab avalanche is one of the most notorious hazards because of how long it can linger. Unlike storm or wind slabs that may stabilize quickly, persistent slabs are caused by weak layers deep within the snowpack, such as buried surface hoar
Avalanche Glossary: Persistent Weak Layers Read More »
Spring is arguably the best season of the year for backcountry skiing and splitboarding. Warmer temps, longer days, and a solid snowpack are usually in the cards. Winter is great for snowfall, but as we know, too much snow can be a bad thing in the backcountry. So in the mountains, spring is where we
Level Up With Our Spring Backcountry Ascension Clinics Read More »