At Alpine Islands, we’re all about practice to attain mastery. The key with practice, though, is that without feedback, you […]
Access Our Free Beacon Practice Drill App Here ➡ Read More »
Avalanche Safety and Rescue
Guided by Steve Andrews Zone Blackcomb backcountry, Whistler BC Season Winter · ski & splitboard Belt range Blue → Red
Guide to Ski Touring and Splitboarding Blackcomb Mountain Read More »
Backcountry Beta, Destination Guides, Navigation and Wayfinding, Trip Planning
Smartphones are great navigation tools until they aren’t. And the chances are, if you spend any amount of time in
What to do When Your Phone Dies: Analog Navigation 101 Read More »
Backcountry Skills, Navigation and Wayfinding
Life hands you some pretty interesting opportunities, sometimes. Ten years ago, I entered a contest after seeing an ad on
The Free Heli Trip That Almost Ended In Disaster Read More »
Navigation and Wayfinding, Success Stories
Built by Steve Andrews Region Sea to Sky, British Columbia Data from Simulation Belt All Levels Updated September 2026 An
Use This Free Tool To Train Your Senses To Read Weather Patterns For Red Flags Read More »
Backcountry Skills, Tools, Trip Planning Tools, Weather and Conditions
It has been an interesting season in the Northern Hemisphere. 2026 will go down as one of variability. Much of
Spring Has Sprung: How To Navigate Mountains Safely In A Season of Change Read More »
Backcountry SkillsWe spend countless hours pouring over avalanche forecasts, analyzing snowpits, and meticulously packing our backpacks. But out in the backcountry,
Heuristic Traps: Navigating Invisible Human Factors In The Backcountry Read More »
Backcountry Skills, Mindfulness and Resilience, Mindfulness Practices, Survival Psychology
When reading an avalanche bulliten, you might come across the term surface hoar when it comes to discussing avalanche problems
Avalanche Glossary: Surface Hoar Read More »
Avalanche Safety and Rescue, Snow
If you’re exploring the backcountry, knowing how to use a topographic map and compass is essential. GPS devices can fail
You Can Get Free Topographic Maps of British Columbia Here Read More »
Backcountry Skills, Navigation and Wayfinding
One of the primary and most obvious contributors to an avalanche is fresh snowfall. When learning about backcountry safety and
Avalanche Awareness 101: Snowfall Read More »
Avalanche Safety and Rescue, Backcountry Skills, Snow
Why Temperature Matters Temperature is one of the most easily observable variables in the backcountry, but also one of the
Avalanche Awareness 101: Temperature Read More »
Avalanche Safety and Rescue, Backcountry Skills, Risk Assessment and Decision Making, Snow
Why Wind Is a Big Deal For Avalanche Safety Of all the variables that can lead to an avalanche, wind
Avalanche Awareness 101: Wind Read More »
Avalanche Safety and Rescue, Backcountry Skills, Risk Assessment and Decision Making