Freedom Riders follows a core group of riders who evolved to creating a precedent setting relationship with the Forest Service and in doing so created the first freeride specific trails on public lands in the lower 48.

What would typically be a no brainer for FeedTheHabit.com to premier and host, this film has actually found a better fit with WAFTA (Wasatch Area Freeride Trails Association) as the presenter and benefactor of some of the proceeds. WAFTA helps work with communities here in Utah to build freeride trails.

Be sure to get yourself to Brewvies next week to catch this film. See you there.

When: Thursday May 28, 7-9pm

Where: Brewviews – 761 South 200 West, Salt Lake City

What: Cool film, good eats, beverages, tons of swag including a frame from GoRide.com. Ages 21+ only.

Cost: $10 at the door, includes raffle ticket

Show Times: 7pm and 9pm

In the realm of winter camping and mountaineering sleeping bags, the range spans from the second mortgage required for purchase types to the downright heavy and bulky flavor. In wading through the masses I was drawn to the Kelty Foraker sleeping bag which stands above so many bags in the category. Especially when you start to compare features to the cost – the Foraker keeps pace with other bags in it’s class without keeping pace with their price tags.

Specs include:

• 750 Fill Goose Down
• DWR treated microfiber shell comprised of two different textures
• Full draft collar
• Available in 0 degree and negative 15 degree ratings
• 3 lb 7 oz  of the Foraker Zero Regular
• Piping in a piece of fabric on both sides of the zipper keep it from catching the bag

The Kelty Foraker comes in either 15 degree or 0 degree rating and since I have an older North Face bag in the 15 degree range, I opted to increase the range of  bags in my gear closet by getting a zero degree that I could comfortably take on winter and cold fall/spring outings.

Just getting inside the bag at home had me itching to try  it.  In fact I opted to sleep in it twice at home because of how comfortable it was.

Kelty Foraker Sleeping Bag Review

My first experience with the Kelty Foraker came early this winter when camping with my son. It had snowed about 8″ and the temps were near 5 degrees overnight as we settled in for a winter camp.  When I pulled it out of the stuff sack and set it up in my Marmot Swallow I of course noticed how full it looked.

Typically when winter camping I sleep in a base layer bottom/top and quite possibly a down vest or jacket if it’s ultra cold, but in order to test the full effect and test the bag’s true rating I opted for just the undies, no socks.  To my surprise I was totally warm all night long.  The soft microfiber fabric around the baffle added to the comfort of the bag resulting in one of the best nights sleep I’ve ever had in a sleeping bag.  And this wasn’t the only time that this happend.

The thick diagonal baffles are designed to lock in the warmed air and that it did. I was amazed when waking up that first morning to frost inside the tent and I was toasty warm in my bag.

Another chance to sleep in the Foraker found me winter camping in a snow cave, a great test for the toughness of the DWR finish and the welded seams of the foot and head areas.  Again I found myself toasty warm and despite my feet slipping out from the tarp and coming in contact with the walls of the cave I didn’t get wet nor did the cold seep in to cool me off.

How’s the fit? I’m 6′4″ with somewhat broad shoulders and I didn’t feel constricted in the Large Foraker. In fact, getting in and out of the bag was a breeze compared to other bags that constrict and make bending your knees near impossible.  A cool feature is the piping on the fabric adjacent to the zipper which keeps the facbric from catching in the zipper.  This is best performing zipper-non-catching approach I’ve seen that actually works Combinethe wide shoulders area and I was in and out of the bag without a hitch.  I can’t remember the last winter camp where come morning I felt refreshed and was perfectly content to hang out in my cozy and comfortable bag.

Good Foraker

• Soft material – the material that is in contact with your skin around the baffle and the neck is the softest performance sleeping bag I’ve ever slept in
• Quality compression sack included
• Welded waterproof construction in the hood and feet areas
• Generous collar baffle with 750 down fill throughout the bag
• Deep 3D hood is actually built for your noggin to fit inside.

Bad Foraker

• So far there isn’t anything to nit pick about, seriously.

Bottom Line: Kelty Foraker 0-degree Sleeping Bag

Comfort, affordability, solid construction, and one of the best night sleeps ever – the Kelty Foraker is upstaging the “big name” brands and will be my go to bag for winter and cold fall/spring camping.

Buy Now: Search for the Kelty Foraker Sleeping Bag

Despite the blanket of white, I still wasn’t motivated to get out and ski. That was until my friend Matt phoned me up Sunday night at 10pm to ask if I was up for a dawn patrol. I ho and I humed and mentally sorted through my pile of somewhat valid excuses but in the end I had a hunch that it would be good.

By way of review it was extra cold on Sunday and had snowed all day and this after a somewhat slightly warmer Saturday storm.  The skies were clearing meaning the cold temps would suck even more moisture out of the snowpack.  Conditions were pretty stable.  All thing pointed to it being good but I just didn’t know it would be that good! The alarm went off (Mission Impossible alarm on my iPhone) at 4:45am and I staggered out of the wrapper to make our 5:45 meet time at the Little Cottonwood Canyon Park and Ride.

Had it been a February morning the lot would be a frenzy of dawn patrollers meeting up and rallying for a few precious turns before the man had his way with them. Aside from a white shuttle van Matt was the only car there. A deserted Park and Ride was evidence of a Monday morning and lack of motivation. Upon reaching the upper reaches of LCC, we soon realized that on this Monday morning there were just a couple of people ahead of us. In fact, we’d put in skin tracks up Flagstaff, Days and Toledo, skiing until noon while only talking to 3 people on what is easily considered the most popular backcountry ski spot in all of Utah. Half way up the skin track on Flagstaff I realized that if it weren’t for the lone snowcat making its way up Chips at Snowbird the entire canyon would have been dead silent.

Yes, it was quiet, very quiet in the mountains today. Typing that indeed sounds odd, but in what some consider to be Wasangeles the drone of the lifts, snowmobiles, traffic, etc combine with what is typically enough skiers to make a slope look like a resort run by 11am, this day and the silence was an anomaly. I suspect that this was how it used to be when a crowd of skiers meant sharing Days Fork with one other guy, and the number of people you’d see in a day could be counted on both hands, or perhaps one.

In all we counted 8 people and miles of untracked lines that also are usually tracked out by mid morning. As for the snow?  Well, it was smooth, fast and as dry as mid February. What made it even better were the bluebird skies with views of the entire range and the Uintas to the east.  The calendar may have indicated that winter is done but Monday in the Wasatch I had a date with winter and it felt like old times…it felt good.

—images by Matt Rink

It’s not the sexiest pack on the shelf, but what it lacks in “cool” factor and color variety it more than makes up with piles of redeeming features that were definately the result of hours of field testing and time in the R&D design room. What they came up with is worth your hard earned dollars.

Gregory Targhee Overview

At first site the 2200 cu in (I’m in the Large pack, the range is 1900-2000 size dependent) appears that it will fill up fast, but the pockets and other storage areas keep on giving. It’s size doesn’t really lend well to the yo-yo lift pack category but I like this size for the one and done as well as the extended day tour.

The fit is made even better with years of Gregory technology in pack building which gives it a feel that is second to none and more importantly barely felt.  A good pack in my opinion needs to be forgotten once on and the Targhee does just that. Put it on and you can get on to the skiing and climbing.  The back is supported by one metal stay that rests inside a plastic contoured frame which tappers from the shoulders to the waist, just like the shape of your body.  Imagine that.

You want pockets? The Targhee has an exterior gear stash pocket, one interior gear stash, the main compartment  accessible by the top and the side, front shovel pocket that inside has two other micro pockets for things like TP and your snow science kit and finally a side pocket that stowes your probe and avie shovel arm.  There’s no reason to be rolling through the mountains unorganized.

Before I get going on listing the many cool “I should of thought of that” features,  I will point out that the side pocket for your probe and shovel arm is a bit long with a smallish opening and in the event of an avalanche it may prove to be a little harder than not to get the life saving tools out of the pack.  That said, practice makes perfect and I found myself practicing a few times (with a full pack) to not fumble with the access.

Some well thought out features include:

1. The ski cross carry and snowboard carry straps all stow away nicely avoiding the common strapitis.
2. The ski cross carry strap is reinforced to protect it from edges but cooler than that is the handy slider that will cinch down to prevent the strap from loosening up thereby yielding the strap ineffective.
3. The top of the front shovel blade pocket has a pass through hole for the handle part. This keeps the shovel from determining the total shape of the pack
4. The bottom of the pack has two mini metal stays. This helps maintain the shape of the pack but more importantly it transfers the weight of the skis or board to the pack’s suspension system – a FIRST in ski pack design. It also helps to protect your goodies inside the pack from getting crushed when you set it down

There are more features both big and small that you’ll continue to find as you get to know the Targhee.  In summary the Targhee is a well thought out pack.

Gregory Targhee Backcountry Ski Pack Review

Shouldering the Targhee for my first ski tour I was pleased at how well it rode. There are a number of adjustments from the shoulder straps and waist belt that keep the pack snug and against your body. If a pack is measured by the way it seems to become one with you despite how much bouncing around and movement you encounter, this pack is tops. In addition to the adjustments is the metal stay in the suspension that when removed is actually shaped like the spine of your back. The result was a comfortable ride that didn’t inhibit at all!

In the 20 or so days I put on this pack I never had it leak or items get wet inside. The shovel pocket has a couple of drain holes which was nice after digging pits and then stowing the shovel. While spinning some yo-yo laps at The Canyons I barely lost any time putting my skis on the pack while the rest of my crew shouldered them for the booter. The adjustable anchor on the ski strap is worth it’s weight in gold as it keeps the skis from loosening the buckle, an issue I’ve had with just about every pack I’ve owned. From booting up steep chutes, long tours and one and done laps I was very pleased.

A couple of things that I encountered on the flip side of the coin. I did end up breaking two of the zipper pulls which was a little disconcerting but more an annoyance than anything. The one feature that I think is the only detriment to the pack is the side access zipper. It’s a very necessary feature as it provides you with two access points to the main compartment but I think it either needs to be shortened by about 3″ or adjusted along a different trajectory.

The reason being is that the pack contours at the bottom right where the zipper terminates. Even with minimal gear in the pack if you take the side zip all the way down it is a pain to zip back up and more than once I felt like I was about to rip the zipper off. Perhaps the waterproof zipper is a compounding element but this is the one thing I think they should re-tool for the pack.

I don’t mean to dwell on that issue, but it’s something to think about.

Good Targhee

• Pockets, Pockets, Pockets
• Excellent fit and comfort
• A-frame or cross carry – both options are well thought out and fit super fat skis.
• Lightweight construction without excessive straps

Bad Targhee

• Need to change the bottom of the side zipper
• 2 zipper pulls that just break – an annoyance for sure

Bottom Line on the Gregory Targhee

Like I said before, the Targhee may not be the hottest looking pack on the market but few packs will outperform this one in the skin track or on the descent. I’ll certainly be shouldering the Targhee through the spring mountaineering season and beyond.

Buy Now: Score the Gregory Targhee Backpack at Backcountry.com

Pack Fit: Watch this video on Gregory Pack Fit before you get your next Gregory Pack

Garmont Radium Alpine Touring ski boots

While I’ve still got some big lines to ski this spring as ski mountaineering season kicks in, it’s time for a proper review from what has so far been a great season of backcountry skiing here in Utah.

Garmont Radium Ski Boot Overview

In January 2008 we had our first look at the Radium while at the Winter Outdoor Retailer show and Jason did a quick overview of the Radium and its features based on checking it out at the show. The Radium is a new style of backcountry ski boot that combines elements of what you need in the backcountry with the comfort and performance of the overlap plastic–which is common in alpine ski boots (unless you’re still rocking the rear entry classics).

Sure I was excited to slip my foot into the Radium but I was a little hesitant as this was the first backcountry ski boot with a traditional overlap and four buckle that I had skied in. The dual Pebax plastic with Garmont’s overlap boot technology takes a traditional mold but the tradition pretty much stops there. The standard part of the boot is normal height but in front of the tongue is a tall extension of the overlap plastic. This is only one sided as the under layer of wrapped plastic stops about mid shin. This combination provides just enough additional flex strength when you’re headed downhill but keeps the boot light and nimble. At 6′4″ and just over 200 pounds these are important for me.

One other thing that had me was the additional weight I would be taking on. I have been used to lightweight 3 buckle designs (Scarpa Spirit 3) and have shaved weight by switching to Dynafit bindings a few years ago. The Radium comes in at 4 pounds each on the 27.0 (which is only 6 ounces heavier than my Scarpa Spirit 3’s that I’ve been using for long tours and mountaineering adventures). My hope was that the 6 ounces would be worth the stability and extra support. I wasn’t disappointed.

Garmont Radium Review

Literally there was no period of getting “used to” the Radium. Fresh out of the box and after a session at our favorite boot shop Surefoot at The Canyons I was skinning on long tours without any fickle fit or comfort issues. With the anatomical fit of the shell, I was sure to have the boys at Surefoot put a toe tap on my feet when doing the heat fit of the liner so that I had ample room. I’d recommend this as I now have a perfect fitting boot.

In the field I first noticed that the walk mode provided ample flex for even the long Uinta tours I’m accustomed to. Easy kick and glide performance as well as booting up a steep ridge–the flexibility was nice. For skinning I typically unbuckle the buckles leaving the power strap engaged. The patented locking mechanism on the two upper buckles did their job to keep the buckles engaged but open. It’s a cool feature but by the same token I’ve done this before with other boots without much worry of them coming fully unbuckled.

On thing I saw with the liner is that down near the toe there is little if no overlap of the tongue and sides of the liner. I thought for sure this would be a leak point from outside water but the Radium has what’s called a “G-Water Seal” which is the addition of some VERY small ridges on the bottom layer of plastic where the overlap takes place. These ridges kept the water out and not once did I get leaking in 22 days on the Radiums.

As for the downhill, the strength from the overlap construction let me open things up like I was skiing in alpine boots. Case in point – just a few weeks ago when at The Canyons I headed up 9990 and was going to get out the gate into the backcountry. The lifts had barely opened and with 22″ of new, so I dropped my pack at the top of the lift and spun 3 quick laps–hitting the steep headwall and a Mr. Roper to Fantasy gate just as I would on my alpine set up. It was cool to be making the same exact turns, choosing the same lines I would charge on my alpine boots but this time in an AT setup. The result – big smiles and charging it just like old times.

After that we headed out the gate doing 2 quick laps off the bootpack, two skins up Dutches, a trio of Desolation laps (image above) and two Square Top laps coming back through the resort each time. Typically a day like that of lifts, in-bounds powder skiing, skin tracks, booting and groomers would mean you have a boot that is deficient in one or more of those scenarios, but not with the Radium.

One thing that seemed different from the Garmont Axon or the Scarpa boots that I’ve skied is the Dynafit toe attachment points seemed farther forward on the boot. Aside from throwing me off while stepping in a few times, I didn’t notice a decrease or increase in performance or efficiency while skinning. Perhaps it was just me.

As the season is coming to a close, for the first time in a few seasons I know that going into next season I have ZERO need to upgrade my backcountry ski boots. It’s that kind of season-to-season confidence and longevity that I think all of us seek when making a substantial purchase that is ski boots these days.
Good Garmont Radium

• ALL around performance – the Radium lives up to the hype and is a performer in and out of bounds, including long tours and mountaineering.
• G-Fit liner is comfy and the easiest on/off boot I’ve had.
• The Garmont proprietary sole is bomber for scrambling and ridge walking.
• Anatomical foot design gets rid of excess space but still gives ample room for even wide forefeet like mine (I typically wear a 101mm alpine boot width and didn’t have to do anything to the boot after heat molding the liner)

Bad Garmont Radium

• I’d add just a little width and length to the plastic on the tongue of the liner to give it a bit more forward flex stability for the big guys
• The Walk/Ski mode flip is tough to move from ski to walk with gloves on. I’d make a slight change to this by giving it a little more angle at the end of the lever

The Bottom Line: Garmont Radium

Garmont was able to take the backcountry skiers needs of a lightweight, Dynafit-compatible boot and combine it with a 4 buckle overlap design that was still nimble enough for the long dedicated ski tours but could still rock the down in any condition. A tall order to fill. I’d say that the Radium is going to be a tough act to follow for Garmont or any other boot manufacturer looking to keep backcountry skiers happy while adding performance for the folks that like to mix in a few laps on the swings.

Buy Now: Search for Garmont Radium Boots

“Yea, they are pretty awesome. Wanna give them a try?” I responded. He quickly took me up on my offer.

It had been a number of years since I tried a Spy goggle and from what I remembered they neither fit my face (remember the HUGE wrap around Spy goggles of the mid 90’s?) nor did they stand out to me as anything special. Fact of the matter was, since being a Smith man for what seemed like a decade and then recently converting to Scott I didn’t really contemplate giving Spy a chance. Boy am I regretting that decision.

Review of the Spy Soldier Ski Goggle

Out of the package the Wall Street design that I have came with the bronze lens (pictured below) which like the blue flash lens is spherical. I didn’t even give it a chance as I knew that I would love the blue spectra, and I was right. That said, I was looking for a lens that would do it all and the extra cost of a blue spectra lens is well worth the investment.

I use a Giro 10 helmet and my fears of a wide wrap around goggle reminiscent of the 90’s was cooled as I put them on – perfect fit and VERY comfortable thanks to the fleece lined foam. Speaking of the foam, it’s thick enough that I don’t feel anything but softness but not too thick. Just sitting there in my gear room I suspected I had a winner in the Spy Solider and was anxious to try it out.

My first chance to ski them was at Solitude Mountain Resort in Big Cottonwood Resort. The conditions were ultra cold, windy, snowy and somewhat flat light due to the falling snow and low clouds. I thought the lens may be too dark for the day, but they were the money call. Bumps, rocks, even small terrain features that can throw you off in flat light were accentuated. We skied pretty hard that day and I didn’t experience any fogging.

After a number of storm days (about with the Solider, it was finally during the first week of February that I had the chance to ski them in a brilliant bluebird day while cat skiing at Powder Mountain as I mentioned before.  After Bruce commented on my goggles, I had pity on him and let him take them for a few runs.  He was instantly blown away and commented on how comfortable they felt (he was wearing a Smith helmet) but also how clear the lens was and how well he could see.  I donned my spare pair of goggles and realized exactly what he meant.

I let him rock them the rest of the day as his enthusiasm for the goggles had him talking them up to the rest of our group, a number of whom were the investors who bought Powder Mountain a couple of years ago. A couple of times during the ride up in the cat they were passing them around.

Since that day at Powder Mountain I’ve found myself exclusively reaching for the Spy while my other goggles are gathering dust.

This past Tuesday at Brighton where we were skiing 25″ of powder, they did start to fog up ever slightly in the corner.  I was a bit over dressed and after a dozen runs filled with faceshots and cliff drops, I think it was due in part to my overheating as well as the amount of snow built up on my helmet and face.

Aside from that experience, I really can’t find any faults with the Soldier.

Features of the Spy Soldier

• Flexible frame that conforms to any face – even my big nose face
• Patented scoop ventilation system to eliminate lens fogging
• Low profile, spherical dual lens with anti-fog and anti-scratch protection
• 100% UV protection
• Triple layer Isotron face foam with moisture wicking dri-force fleece
• Silicon ribbed goggle strap that WILL NOT MOVE on your helmet, a nice addition

Bottom Line: Spy Solider Ski Goggles

Like a good solider the Spy Soldier Ski Goggle is tough as nails, soft as Utah powder and is hard to find fault with. Comfortable, extremely good lens clarity, good looking low profile design, great helmet or hat fit and nearly flawless in the fog department – I’m pretty stoked.

Buy Now: Search for Spy Soldier Goggles

When he came out with the first edition of his book “Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain” most of the mainstream media and general population had little concern or care for avalanches. It wasn’t until January 14, 2005 that a shift in that interest and desire for information.

In fact, it was just a couple of weeks ago that Backcountry.com athlete Andrew McClain was a guest on the Good Morning America Now show (if you click the link you’ll see the video on the right) talking about avalanches and related gear like the Avalung and the Pieps DPS Beacon, both of which I also happen to use.

I remember back on that date in January of 2005 when a huge avalanche in the adjacent sidecountry of The Canyons Resort resulted in a frenzy of news stories, internet speculation and misinformation that up to 15 people had been caught in the slide. Sadly and ultimately it claimed the life of just one man. A popular sidecountry destination, Dutch Draw has been the site of many close calls, including one that I Jason and I were witness to.

Despite the media and general populous gaining more interest and knowledge of avalanches, albeit superficial and often time incorrect, that was not the reason for Bruce to come out with a Second Edition of Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain. The fact is that Avalanche Safety is a science, one that is continually evolving and the skills and knowledge necessary to keep you safe in the backcountry are being refined each day by pros like Bruce.

Review of Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce Tremper

When comparing this the second edition to the first, there are more than a few changes. Content, layout, some of the figures and charts have been updated (although some are still old, which is one of my only criticisms) and some personal notes and suggestions from Bruce are added.

New techniques like the Shovel Tilt Test which Bruce and other UAC forecasters developed are covered in this new addition. That and other new information accounts for the page number increase from 284 pages to 310.  Also of note is the expansion in Chapter 10, The Human Factor.

The Human Factor

Avalanche accidents and safety in the backcountry more often than not involves the human factor more than was previously attributed.  People often cite an avalanche for where it broke, on what layer, and how.  Tremper dives into a number of personal experiences as well as the Dutch Draw slide and others to cite how the human factors play an even bigger role in an avalanche and should be more widely considered when in the backcountry.

I suppose it’s sort of psychology 101 or better 310 when it comes to decision making and group dynamics.  For example, below are the contributing factors cited from the book  along with the number of times they were directly attributed as the main factor in an avalanche fatatily from 1990-2000:

• Overconfidence – 15
• Attitude – 12
• Group Management – 8
• Complacency – 6
• Poor Communication – 6
• No Error

The book then dives into how to identify when these things are present within a group.  I for one almost became a victim of complacency when late in a day I and a partner decided to ski a slope that we both had suspect feelings about but dismissed it since other slopes had been solid all day.  My partner was swept over a small cliff and lost a pole in the ensuing slide.

I like how the book presents a large number of images, charts, illustrations and graphs that add to the learning. Like I said above, if I had a criticism it would be that a number of the charts could use some additional updated information.

Hot Tips

One of the highlights for me throughout the book are the “Hot Tips”, generally found in each chapter, where Tremper often opens up with personal insights. It’s almost like you’re taking a class from him and he gives you the “by the way…”.   This is exactly how Bruce teaches in the field – without ego and with a lot of personal experiences.

The Bottom Line on Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain

Of course, reading this book won’t make you an avalanche expert overnight like real life field experience over years and years can and will. But a good text (I consider this more text book than casual reading) it’s definately worth picking up and reading and rereading and nothing I’ve read or seen can top Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce Tremper.

Buy Now: Pick up Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce Tremper and get yourself educated.

We started skinning just after 7am and headed up Toledo Bowl, across the street from Alta. As we crested the first little rise to put us above the Little Cottonwood highway, the alpenglow sunrise on Mount Superior was as impressive as I ever recall. But the -5 degrees had me with my hands in pockets skinning along (sorry, no photo). Someone commented that we should go ski it and so it was, our final destination was set.

We kept on up Toledo Bowl as the sun began to rise higher, finally giving us some added warmth but also providing added motivation to get down to business. Upon reaching the top with bluebird skies, views for hundreds of miles and over 2′ of snow in the previous 48 hours, we knew it would be money.

Upon arriving at the top of Toledo Bowl and looking down into Holy Toledo I knew it would be good. Thing was, my buddies are in much better shape than I so theirs were the first tracks to be had. With bluebird skies and views for hundreds of miles, I took in th view, (with my new Kaenon Kore sunglasses that I’m loving! while my buddies were dropping in, the first of 5 runs we’d take. Playing catch up is also the reason why none of my images are of the action.

While skinning up the middle ridge in Cardiff, the winds were starting to pick up on the upper reaches. We knew that we’d need to get going before the forecasted winds wrecked the powder. The views were once again stunning.

After a quick run through the trees with ultra cold smoke snow, we were staring up at Cardiac Ridge, Cardiac Bowl and the backside of Mount Superior.  Like any self respecting backcountry skier, with not a track to be seen, we did headed up for a lap.  Below is the lower section with the ridge in the distance showing the equivalent of the elevation we’d skied from.

photo credit – Derek Weiss

After coming back up to the top of Superior we looked over the ridge to see that about 30 of our closest friends had already visited the South Face of Superior. While the upper was rocky and resembled Silver Fox more than Superior, the middle apron and lower were money! Nothing like 2′ of cold smoke for 2000′.

I was rocking the Old School Bluehouse Districts, happily.  They were built for powder and powder is what they got.

With traveling across the country the past two weeks I haven’t missed out on much but I do have a serious jones for skiing pow. Aside from the regular text message updates and voice messages from friends, I’ve been getting my fix by repeatedly watching The Pact, a telemark film from the Powderwhores.

Powderwhores?

The Powderwhores, a collection of die hard powder seeking telemark skiers, was born of pure passion and the love of telemark skiing. I think in the beginning it was never about making a big name for themselves or making a bunch of cash. The cool thing is, even after basically establishing themselves as the premier telemark and backcountry skiing film company, they are as down to earth and hard charging as ever.

In the skin track they are as friendly as the next guy and are what I would consider great ambassadors of the pursuit of powder.

Since introducing their first film PW05 their following has grown, often as a result of untold hours of promotion and work. I can respect and understand the amount of work they put into the film tour each fall as they’ve grown it to be nationwide.

The Pact

After PW05, PW07 and PW08 they went against the grain and came out with The Pact this season. What is the pact?

According to the Powderwhore’s website:

“The Pact” is born of early mornings, broken trails, frostbite, sunrises, worn meniscus, close calls, and countless face-shots. In the end, it’s about commitment to the endless search for untracked snow and those who have chosen to break that trail.

Although at first I found the format of The Pact to be a bit awkward, the talent of skiing and the ridiculously deep powder shot after powder shot soon had my attention. Mid way through the film after seeing the Japan segment it helped seal the deal that I need to get to Japan to ski.

Another segment that stands out for me is the final segment about EJ Poplawski and his amazing recovery and return to skiing following a spooky crash and the amputation of his leg. Whether you ski or not, this story will have you admiring the determination of the human spirit.

I am usually all about skiing lines in the backcountry but Jonah Howell’s Meadow Skipping segment not only delivered the stoke but it also took a little shot at those that poo-poo the simple pleasure that is meadow skipping.

–image credit Jay Beyer

Lastly, the music in the film is worth keeping it playing in the background even if you’re not watching. I’ve had it playing a couple of times on my laptop just to hear the music. One of the bands I liked is Emancipator.

Bottom Line on The Pact from Powderwhores

Irregardless of if you’re a tele skier or not, The Pact is top 3 this season for all ski films and something worth having in your collection. Beyond the continual stoke and enjoyment of watching The Pact is the feel good of supporting guys like you and me who make ski films that are passion driven.

Ski Utah, Backcountry.com have teamed up with the Utah Avalanche Center to offer lift tickets from 8 of the 13 Utah resorts.  100% of the proceeds go to the Utah Avalanche Center.  Yes, I said 100%!

An obvious omission from the list of resorts offering tickets into the mix are Alta, Snowbird and Solitude. Unless they sold out before I could get to the deal page, which could very well be the case.

But be sure to get them fast as the cause the deals are HOT and quantity is limited.
In fact, The Canyons, Powder Mountain and Snowbasin lift tickets are gone, already! I’m not sure just how many there were, but given the fact that the deal was announced this morning on the Utah Avalanche Center’s daily update these were hot deals:

• $43 (normal price is $63) for Snowbasin
• $40 (normal price is $56) for Powder Mountain
• $50 (normally $75) for The Canyons.

I’m not sure if begging, pleading and sniveling will help but you could always chime in over on the Ski Utah blog and see what they say. Perhaps if enough people beg and plead Powder Mountain, The Canyons and Snowbasin will offer up a few more lift tickets so those like me can pick up some for stocking stuffers.

After all, it’s for a fantastic organization – the Utah Avalanche Center.