Basecamp would be Rich’s place in Victor, ID — just to the West of Teton Pass and a beautiful year-round adventure spot with fishing, camping, hiking, skiing, trail running and more around every corner.

Upon arrival, Ken and Rich poured over maps and trip reports from TetonAT.com. For only being five hours away, it’s sad that my previous Teton experience was fairly limited (two trips to Grand Targhee and one to Jackson Hole). It had been almost eight years since my last Teton trip, so yes, I was overdue and in good hands as both Ken and Rich have more combined Teton experience than many locals.

Day 1: Nez Perce Sliver Chute

At the outset, the plan was simple… head up Garnet Canyon and find something fun to ski. We arrived at the Taggart Lake Trailhead and followed the skintracks along a rib that splits Taggart and Bradley Lakes and runs towards the East face of Nez Perce. It seemed to go in the right direction and was well-placed. About an hour later, the ascent began in earnest as the line in the snow began to zigzag.

With every switchback, more and more of the heart of the Tetons came into view. One-by-one, the giants showed their faces as the weather forecast became increasingly-incorrect. Instead of snow showers, we experienced mixed clouds and sun with excellent views of the area.

The uphill slog continued and more cool features came into view, including this view of Turkey Chute that drops into Avalanche Canyon from the top of 25 Short (more on this in Day 2 below).

As the ridge we followed peaked out, we were one drainage away from The Sliver, highly-visible a bus-sized chute that graces the East face of Nez Perce. We dropped into the drainage for our first turns of the day (a few hundred feet of excellent pow), then Ken and Rich zeroed in on The Sliver. I opted to spin laps in the wide-open bowl and descend to scout our exit.

After booting up 1/3 of The Sliver (see below for bootpack with our entrance into the bowl in the background), they pulled the rip cord due to time and followed me down just as I was skinning back up to tell them the exit was perfect. A few hundred vertical feet of knee-deep settled pow and we skinned back towards our original skintrack and out a fun drainage towards Bradley Lake and onto the Taggart Lake Trailhead.

We were all pleasantly surprised at both the weather and the terrain from our inaugural tour. Of course, Ken and Rich were supremely bummed not to have had time to ascend the entire chute. But, it certainly leaves unfinished business for another trip.

Day 2: 25 Short

Feeling comfortable with the area, the next day we decided to head to the Northeast-facing tree shots off 25 Short, just South of Avalanche Canyon. Once again, the approach was at least an hour before ascending in earnest, but the skintrack didn’t mess around as we ascended quickly to the 25 Short ridgeline.

The weather was cloudy and began snowing just as we started our ascent. The perfect Christmas snow quickly turned into a Teton-esque solid snowfall that quietly filled the skintrack. As we reached the summit, the intent was to somehow poke our way into Turkey Chute and on into Avalanche Canyon. After dancing around the top of the chute, we quickly realized that even though the entrance isn’t that abrupt, it’s rocky and icy with little room for error for about 100 feet. So, we happily opted for the wide-open blower pow off 25 Short.

After dropping 1800 feet of knee-deep blower, Kendall set in a steep skintrack for another round before the avie conditions got out of hand. Round 2 was nearly 3000 vertical feet of over-the-head blower to boot-deep cream before the slog back to the parking lot. We will all relish these turns forever.

Salomon

First up was a visit to my pals at Salomon. Like every manufacturer, the list of new products was a sizeable, but the two items I latched onto were the new XR Crossmax trail running shoe and the XT Zipoff Vest.

What’s cool about the XR Crossmax shoes is their unique upper construction. Since full Gore-tex booties tend to be overkill for most applications, Salomon is introducing the first hybrid shoe with Climashield waterproof membrane in the front, lower tongue and sides, but no membrane in the rear 1/4 and upper tongue. For long wet-weather runs, these look to be just the ticket.

The XT Zip Off Vest is also quite the hybrid piece. It sports a zip-off sleeve/cape design that allows for a quick transition from jacket to vest. Simply unzip the two front zippers, pull off the sleeves and the snap at the rear of the collar keeps the cape from falling to the ground. Unsnap it and tuck it into the sizeable rear pocket. Available for men and women, the XT Zipoff Vest is very cool.

Teva

It’s always good to see what Teva is up to. The last big thing was the Illum Sandals. This year, we can look forward to freeride mountain bike shoes and (my favorite) the new Mush Frio — an ultralight shoe based on the Teva Mush sandals.

The top-of-the-line Teva Links Freeride shoes feature embedded Ion Mask waterproofing and lightweight, but strong, toe armor to keep your toes intact.

And the ultralight Mush Frio shoes had me at Mush. I’m a huge fan of the Mush Sandals and turning them into a lightweight pair of shoes sounds like a dream. Fall can’t come soon enough.

Woolrich

Yes, the plaid palace yielded one noteworthy item… the Exposure Jacket and Vest. Stuffed with 800-fill down, the new Woolrich Exposure Jacket and Vest look stylish and well-suited for around-town and occasional backcountry use. Both feature audio ports for rocking out on your iPod and the vest sports a baseball-style collar for reduced bulk when used as a mid-layer.

The North Face

Plenty of cool stuff here, but the number one was the new The North Face Powder Guide Vest ($189). We’ve all seen the MacGyver-style ski patroller with the home-made rope strap shovel carrier, well the Powder Guide Vest aims to eliminate that in style and versatility. For sidecountry or quick backcountry adventures, the Powder Guide may be just the ticket to carry all the essentials in a non-backpack form factor.

Another great hybrid (yeah, I heart hybrid jackets) is the new The North Face Zuper Zephyrus Hoodie ($179) for men and women and sports Primaloft insulation and body-mapped stretch venting panels for improved fit and movement.

Scarpa

Last year, the Maestrale stole the show with its amazingly-capable package at a modest price point. Along the same vein is the new, lighter Scarpa Rush. With amazing walkability and light weight, the Rush comes in at an affordable $559. This is focused on those who relish the tour, but it will still be capable enough to whip your rockered fatties into shape.

G3

I’ve had my eye on G3 for years, but this year will really stand out as a big year for the “Little Black Diamond” from the North. First off, the Onyx ($499) tech (a.k.a. Dyafit) touring binding has been refined and has some unique features you’ll only find here. As opposed to other tech bindings, the toepiece’s natural state is closed, so it clamps down on the boot unlike any other on the market. I’ve been told that their release values (pseudo DIN) are much more accurate than others on the market as well (consistently measuring within 1/2 step of the setting vs. DIN that can be plus/minus 2).

The G3 Onyx heelpiece is unique as well. It has a flip on the rear that slides it into ski mode or touring mode instead of rotating, like the leading competition does. The heel lifter system is much more straightforward than previous designs. I’m told that this binding is the tech binding for those who like to ski, not just tour.

Outdoor Research

A handful of great pieces from OR this Fall, but the easiest “wow” factor were the two gloves featuring TouchTec leather. Both the lightweight Sensor Gloves ($70) and the all-weather Ambit Gloves ($99) feature this touchscreen-capable leather. We’ve all taken our gloves off in nasty weather to take care of a phone call or check your email. Now, these gloves will allow you to interact with your smart phone without taking your gloves off.

I gave it a whirl and it works… well… pretty darn well. It’s not 100% perfect, but I think with a bit of practice I could get it to work more consistently. Honestly, I was on overload with all the great new products from OR, but these will suffice as the coolest.

Dynafit

The Fall 2011 Dynafit lineup is something to behold. The boot options are off-the-hook and the new binding design is revolutionary for tech bindings. The Dynafit Radical FT ($599) touring binding now comes with a step-in toepiece. Guided in by the twin “power towers”, the boot toe clips in quite easily. The metal wings are now 100% forged aluminum to save weight and increase rigidity. This one also includes a carbon torsional plate than can be engaged to stiffen up the ski underfoot for ultra-burly conditions. Add on top of this the Speed Step climbing bars and the new Dynafit bindings remain the ones to beat, but are also the most expensive.

Garmont

After nailing it with the Radium touring boot, Garmont pretty much made their old Endorphin/Adrenaline line obsolete. Who wouldn’t want a superior performing boot with less weight? Well, for Fall 2011, Garmont is introducing the Delirium FR 130 no-compromise touring boot for those who want a single boot for the resort and backcountry — it features interchangeable DIN and touring blocks (included). These Frankenstein-ish boots (check out the square toe) aren’t freaky by any means… they are burly and capable. I slipped them on and the toebox is quite roomy. So, for those who need extra room and are looking for that one boot quiver, the $799 Garmont Delirium may be your salvo. You can opt for the slightly softer Mystic FR 120 as another option as well.

Rab

While Rab hasn’t completely caught on here in the States, it is gaining in popularity. It’s product line continues to evolve and this year, expect them to launch an entirely-new base mid and base layer programs. In a midweight fabric, the Polartec Powerdry High Efficiency fabric in the AL Pull-on and Baseline Hoody err on the highly-breathable side of things.

As far as base layers go, the Rab Merino/Cocona lightweight base layers resist body odors naturally and provide a comfortable, durable wear. Look for 165 weight and 120 weight designs in long and short-sleeve designs.

Smith Optics

I’ve got 4 kids, so what caught my eye was the cool, integrated goggle/helmet combo that will be hitting the slopes next Fall. The kids Smith Cosmos helmet and Galaxy goggle has a hook latch on one side and the Tractor Beam magnetic clip on the other side. The result? The kids goggles will stay put and taking them off and on will result in less complaining from the little ones. Very cool.

Gore-Tex

New from Gore is the Active Shell material that is a realization that they were missing out on the more athletic side of the market. While Gore-Tex Pro Shell is undoubtedly bombproof in the field as a impenetrable hardshell, Active Shell is the lightweight and breathable side of Gore while still remaining waterproof.

Therm-a-Rest

With the wild success of the 3-season Therm-a-Rest Neo Air sleeping pad, Therm-a-Rest is now introducing an all-season version to keep you warm and toasty in the snow. Weight still comes in at a paltry 19 oz. and is built with additional layers of reflective material to improve the convective heating capabilities and keep you warm and toasty. Effective R-value is increased from 2.5 to 4.9 as compared to the classic Therm-a-Rest Neo Air.

Kaenon

Take notice… Kaenon has arrived in a big way. While they may still be seen as high-end and “niche”, Kaenon is finally getting their share of attention with bold styles and solid optics. I’m a huge fan and grab mine first over all others.  Check out the new Squeeze for women and the Trade for men. Solid.

Volkl

While Volkl has had backcountry-friendly skis in Europe, they have yet to make something relevant to the North American market. Look for that to change in 2011 with the top dog, Nunataq backcountry touring ski. With enough width, pre-cut skins, early-rise tip and flat camber, the Nunataq can more efficiently attack the Rockies unlike any Volkl before.

Adidas Outdoor

While Adidas outdoor has been strong in Europe for a few years, 2011 will mark their first full foray into North America. Expect the Three Stripes to appear on mountains and in the backcountry with efficient fit hard and softshells featuring Gore-Tex fabrics. The Terrex Feather Jacket is the head honcho of the line… a solid hardshell with some great features.

I also liked the casual Daroga Leather shoes for their versatile, kick-back styling.

Mountain Hardwear

Goodbye Gore-Tex! While Gore is enjoying solid acceptance still among many brands, Mountain Hardwear is switching gears and pulling the plug on everything Gore. This enables them to deliver their products and fabrics THEIR way. For Fall 2011, you’ll find great mixtures of fabrics (hard and soft) and insulation. The fabrics primarily fall into DryQ Active and DryQ Elite product lines with an emphasis on function. Having used a DryQ Active piece for several weeks now, I’m digging where Mountain Hardwear is going.

La Sportiva

Skis, boots AND bindings… whoa! So, La Sportiva is coming into the ski market with a randonee racing twist. Most of the line will only find a home in limited locations, but it all looks well-built and capable. The RT binding is the first tech binding to feature a Release Value (similar to DIN) in the toepiece. It’s a simple design and ultralight. And the Hi-5 ski has enough rocker and size to keep it fun in the deep.

Black Diamond

Talk about an overhaul… wow! The entire Black Diamond ski line gets re-done with more rocker, girth and power than ever before. The Power series gets new and shiny from top-to-bottom and the Efficient series gets the new ultralight Justice (my pick for a backountry slayer). The new top dog is the huge Gigawatt, which sits even wider than the Megawatt. Lots of new technology going on here.

Considering the impending patent expiration, Garmont saw the opportunity to raise the bar with their tech inserts and provide a safe, reliable and durable tech binding insert for their 2011 ski boot line. The new Masterlite and others will sport this newly-engineered insert this Fall.

While I’ve yet to see the light on Tech bindings (next year… next year… I promise), so many backcountry skiers swear by them and trust their lives to this little piece of metal. With no insert standard on the market, there are bound to be hiccups, so study up, amigos. Not all Tech-compatible boots will be created equal, but all will ultimately pass vigorous testing — hopefully just as rigorous as Hannibal 2.

You can get the lowdown here:

A major innovator in alpine touring boots, Garmont is pleased to introduce its own proprietary ”Tech Inserts” for fall 2010.

Since introducing the Tech system in its alpine touring boots in 2000, Garmont has exclusively featured Dynafit-manufactured Tech Inserts.   The program was hugely successful, as the combination of Garmont performance and Dynafit binding compatibility provided exceptional results for lightweight ski touring.

With the January 1, 2010 expiration of Dynafit’s patent on the design, Garmont has embraced the opportunity to bring a superior Tech Insert to the marketplace:  one that is specifically manufactured to support the increasing number of skiers turning to the system for aggressive freeride performance as well as lighter ski touring.

“We chose to develop our own Tech Insert as soon as we could, knowing that we could improve upon the quality and consistency of the current product,” said Paul Parker, Garmont Ski product manager    ”We feel that elevating the standard for Tech Inserts is essential, as the use of alpine touring systems has rapidly evolved from predominately light touring to aggressive freeride skiing.”

The new Garmont Tech Inserts are the culmination of two years of research and product development and extensive field testing.  Built from the highest quality die-cast steel alloy, the material construction of Garmont Tech Inserts has been meticulously researched, tested, and proven to be equal or superior to all other inserts on the market today.

Garmont’s proprietary Tech Insert design is based on the “Standard Insert” template, clearly the most robust and versatile option available.  A primary benefit of the “Standard Insert” over the “Quick Step-In” design is additional room for more sole rubber — providing better abrasion resistance in a zone which is particularly vulnerable in a rigid-sole boot, while still satisfying the ISO Touring norm.  The “Standard Insert” is also smooth-sided, as the ISO Touring Norm calls for no protrusions beyond the sides of the sole for full compatibility with step-in bindings.

In Garmont’s design, the thickness and perimeter for the Tech Insert’s fixation are identical to the well-proven “Standard Insert” to assure optimum retention. The “cones” of the interface have been improved as well, with thicker material adding more durability.

The new Tech Inserts will be guaranteed by Garmont, based on rigorous testing for life-cycle durability, safety and performance, using machinery and testing procedures that far exceed all anticipated industry standards. The Garmont testing procedure was established early in the product development process, with the development of a proprietary testing machine: “Hannibal 2”.   Unlike conventional tests, Hannibal 2 operates both in transverse and longitudinal axes with an elliptical motion that better simulates the imperfect nature of a walking stride.  The machine loads the toe of the boot with 150 Kg to simulate the additional stresses of freeride skiing. During the walking motion Hannibal’s excessive pre-load more than doubles the 100,000-cycle life-cycle test as, unlike walking, the insert is loaded during both the forward and rearward motion.

Garmont Tech Inserts will be available for 2011 in all Garmont Tech-compatible ski mountaineering boots.

More Info: Visit GarmontUSA.com

The prize-winning line was what we called “Heaven’s Halfpipe“. This line is flanked by cliffs on either side, which are really the last bit of elevation prior to the summits of Lone Peak and Bighorn Peak. It is one of the most visible bowls from the ridge and seems to beckon skiers to its slopes (well, it has surely beckoned me for years).

Heading out from the trailhead in Alpine, we slipped into the early morning and began ascending. After nearly 1500 vertical feet, the dirt road transitioned into a small white ribbon of snow. Continuing on with hiking shoes, we ascended all the way to the Second Hamagog before switching to skis and skins. By then, we were all more-than-happy to get the skis on our feet and off our backs.

At that point, the entire bowl comes into view and the plan was to skin straight up the gut. As we got closer, the varying terrain becomes more and more apparent. What looks like a smooth run from below is really slightly wavy with multiple fall-lines and a few ribs here and there. The South-facing snowpack had been well sunbaked and the terrain looked more and more like a Picasso painting with wavy, river-like snow patterns.

Once we got to the ascent, we felt it was just shallow enough to put it in 4WD LO and head straight up. My Surface Live Life skis with and Black Diamond Ascension skins confidently gripped the firm snowpack. Others didn’t have quite the luck I did, but I did have the fattest skis in the bunch.

With only a couple of sidestepped pitches, we reached the saddle and looked down into Upper Bells Canyon. The knife ridge isn’t much to stop on and the ascent to either Lone Peak or Bighorn Peak from there is best left to climbers with crampons and ice axes, so we dropped back down from the wind-hammered ridge about a hundred feet and ate our lunches while waiting for Mr. Sun to cook the corn for us.

Once we started descending, conditions had softened up just enough to make the uppermost 500 ft. grippy and the remaining 2000 ft perfect hero corn (oh yeah!). Carving high-speed arcs in perfect corn was absolutely delightful while playing with the variations in the terrain all the way back to the Second Hamagog.

From there, a quick sidestep allowed us to gain the ridge and ski directly down to the First Hamagog and out the way we came. In the end, we ascended 5000 ft and skied back down about 3500 ft before returning to dirt and back to our cars. A successful 5-hour tour indeed.

Untracked Jacket Features:

• 3-layer H2No stretch fabric with Deluge DWR on hood, shoulders and cuffs
• Lightweight stretch-woven polyester fabric with Deluge DWR on back panel and underarms
• Fixed, helmet-compatible hood with single-pull adjustment
• Pockets: Single chest pocket with MP3 compartment and headphone port, two handwarmer pockets, double mesh interior pockets and one interior zippered pocket
• Powder skirt with webbing attachments for Patagonia pants
• Articulated sleeves
• Weight: 21.1 oz
• Colors: Black, Bali Blue, Grey/Mustard/Natural (tested)
• MSRP: $ 349

Patagonia Untracked Jacket Review

A cool mix of two types of stretchy hardshell/softshell materials (strategically-placed 4-way and 2-way stretch), the Untracked jacket offers a slightly-different twist on the classic shell. With the mixture of materials, the underarms and back panel is built using a lighter-weight 2-way stretch material to enhance breathability while the remaining comfortable.

Since most of my ski days are had in the backcountry, this jacket has been tested on multiple backcountry ski tours. Most of the time, a shell isn’t needed while touring until it’s time for the down, but I was able to take the Untracked jacket on a variety of tours, including one where I wore the jacket throughout the entire tour (Read: Toledo Bowl to Little Superior).

When ascending up the skintrack or breaking trail, you can really work up a serious sweat, so breathability is paramount. I’ve found the Untracked to breathe extremely-well. While it lacks pit zips, that doesn’t stop it from breathing well–nice work. This is due to the thinner and more breathable back and underarms. Thinking about it, you’re going to be wearing a pack most of the time, which essentially acts like a layer, so it has been nice to have the lightweight back panel. Yes, it lacks pit zips, but this jacket seems not to need them as it breathes extremely-well (kind of like the Backcountry.com Stoic eVent jacket).

The collar height and diameter is absolutely perfect. Sometimes you get a collar that’s too short or too small in diameter–not so with this jacket. Adding to the comfortable collar, the attached helmet-compatible hood is easily adjusted with a single-pull.

While I don’t often use a jacket with a powder skirt, the skirt provided with the Untracked Jacket is superb and a nice addition without too much of a weight penalty. I don’t think it’s a must-have, but a nice-to-have that is welcome indeed.

Weather protection is as-expected with excellent sheltering during harsh windy and sideways snow conditions. The single-pull hood was my salvo from the storm as I skinned up to a wicked-windy ridgeline in Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Additionally, you’ll find a plethora of pockets for your gadgets and, very importantly, your climbing skins (two, deep interior mesh pockets are perfectly-sized for skin storage).

The only major downside to this new jacket is with the sleeves and cuffs. I would like to see the Velcro extended a little further to allow a tighter cinch without having the tab hanging off–ready to be pulled apart. As it was, it wasn’t detrimental, but I’d like to see that improved for a little tighter glove/jacket connection. The sleeves are pretty bulky and could be tapered down slightly while still allowing a nice puffy to fit comfortably underneath.

NOTE: This jacket was an early-production model, so some of my gripes about the sleeve fit may very well be corrected come mass production time.

Good Untracked Jacket

• Lightweight, stretchy fabric
• Very breathable
• Wears well with a pack
• Makes a bomber stormshell
• Excellent collar height and comfort
• Single-pull hood adjustment offers excellent fit and coverage
• Built-in snowskirt
• Pockets galore… including interior stash pockets for skins (a plus)
• iPod stash with headphone port (for those addicted to their tunes)

Bad Untracked

• Sleeve cuff tabs extend beyond Velcro when cinched properly, exposing them to get pulled open
• Sleeves could be cut just a tad slimmer
• All the extra pockets and such add to weight and reduce packability
• No pit zips (may not need them, but still)

Bottom Line: Patagonia Untracked Jacket

If you’re looking for a versatile inbounds and backcountry jacket, the new Untracked Jacket should be a solid choice with breathability and storage galore.

Buy Now: Search for Patagonia Jackets

This past Saturday, March 27, Kendall Card and I rallied to Little Cottonwood Canyon for our first joint ski tour of the season (our schedules just haven’t jived this year). With UDOT supposedly planning to bomb the daylights out of everything from Mt Superior to Grizzly Gulch, we originally opted for a tour up Scotty’s Bowl on the South side of Little Cottonwood, just West of Snowbird.

Arriving at the White Pine trailhead, we proceeded to gear up. After a few minutes another car arrived and we got to chatting. We were lamenting not being able to ski the South side of the Canyon due to UDOT’s show of force. They then broke the news to us… UDOT had decided not to bomb as planned.

We looked at each other and hopped back in the vehicle: opting to head up the canyon (a wise move indeed).

With only a few skiers ahead of us on the skintrack, we eagerly ascended up towards Flagstaff, then broke off and laid our own skintrack up Toledo Bowl to the saddle. Light conditions were flat and the wind was howling as the snow blew sideways–we were necessarily hard-shelled up for this ascent.

The first turns of the day were had in Holy Toledo, a Northwest-facing run with about 800 vertical feet of supremely-good powder. That was our warm-up as we then skinned back up to the ridgeline and West to hit the South-facing ribs off Little Superior. Off of Little, we were greeted with boot-to-knee-deep powder from top-to-bottom. I’m still re-living each turn and the beauty of the morning as the sun came out and we enjoyed some of the finest 2000 vertical feet of turns in a long, long time.

Here are a handful of images from the descent down Little Superior to the road. Lighting was perfect and I gladly posed for the camera as I enjoyed the pow all the way down. Definitely one of the most epic descents of my life with perfect snow conditions, excellent lighting and one of my best friends there to enjoy it all with. Epic, indeed.

Features of the Patagonia R1 Jacket:

• Recycled and recyclable polyester R1 fabric provides excellent stretch, warmth, wicking and breathability in a variety of temperatures, whether worn as lightweight insulation or a thermal baselayer
• Lightweight yarns wick moisture
• Outer microfiber yarns speed evaporation
• Interior grid enhances compressibility and airflow
• Jersey microfiber face for low-friction, nonbinding layering
• Zippered, brushed-polyester mesh chest pocket
• R1®: 6.5-oz Polartec® Power Dry® 93% polyester (60% recycled)/7% spandex. Recyclable through the Common Threads Recycling Program
• Weight: 328 g (11.6 oz)
• Colors: Henna Brown (tested), Feather Grey, Black, Gecko Green
• MSRP: $150

Patagonia R1 Jacket Review

Having used the R1 Hoody previously, I was stoked to get the new R1 Jacket. The Jacket version is quite a bit different than the Hoody, which, in my opinion, makes it a more versatile piece. The fit of the R1 Jacket is definitely athletic. With some manufacturers, this doesn’t mean much but with Patagonia it is a true athletic fit, so plan accordingly.

I appreciate a more streamlined fit–especially while backcountry skiing or trail running. Nothing is more annoying than a jacket that’s too bulky–nobody will ever fault the R1 Jacket for that. The Medium fits me perfectly (5’11″ and 175 lbs), with just enough sleeve length and torso coverage with a contoured fit.

I can rock the R1 around town, on the trail or in the snow equally-well. The subtle styling really makes this a great jacket to have in the closet.

I’ve primarily put the R1 Jacket through its paces while backcountry skiing. It works well as an insulating or outer layer for athletic activities. Skinning up a few thousand vertical feet in the early-morning hours really gets the blood and sweat flowing. It’s essential that you wear something that breathes well–even if it seems chilly at the start. I love the R1 Jacket for just this reason… it stays warm, but breathes extremely well.

The only downside to the excellent breathability is the lack of wind protection. Yes, it does shed light snow and some wind, but by no means will you want to stand on a windy, snowy ridgeline (like you see below… I was very cold) for very long–that’s when you slap on a lightweight shell (like the Patagonia M10 Jacket).

The length of the R1 Jacket is perfect on me–providing excellent coverage. While wearing a pack, the R1 feels comfortable and doesn’t ride up at all. There is no need for pit zips either, so that simplifies the construction and reduces weight as well.

The exterior of the jacket is durable enough to withstand the inevitable grab of scrub oak branches while breaking trail in the Winter.

I’m being nit-picky, but the only items I noticed that were detractors on this great jacket were: 1) the zipper seems to end 1/2″ too short on the collar and lacks a zipper garage and 2) the R1 logo stitched on the lower-left sleeve got caught on the aforementioned scrub oak and pulled out slightly and 3) it tends to retain the B.O. a little more than other jackets and could benefit from some sort of antimicrobial treatment.

Good R1 Jacket

• A true streamlined athletic fit
• Breathes extremely well
• Maintains warmth even when wet
• Excellent collar height and diameter
• Excellent for bunch-free layering
• Lightweight and packs down well
• Flatlock seams add to comfort and fit

Bad R1 Jacket

• Intentionally sacrifices wind protection for breathability
• Zipper seemingly should go up about 1/2″ higher and tuck into a “garage”
• Needs some sort of anti-microbial treatment… you must wash it after each serious use

Bottom Line: Patagonia R1 Jacket

A staple in the collection, the Patagonia R1 Jacket is a must-have for athletic Winter adventure and year-round versatility. I appreciate the warmth and comfort and the true athletic cut of the R1.

Buy Now: Search for Patagonia R1 Fleece

About the Salomon Quest Pebax Pro

The king of the new Salomon Quest line, the Pebax Pro is lightweight and powerful. The Pebax shell offers stiffness and better flex consistency across temperature variations–all in a lighter-weight (but pricier) package. Out the chute, the Pebax Pro includes A/T blocks with Dynafit-compatibility. Should you wish to go full-alpine, you can purchase DIN blocks for carving up Deer Valley’s finest corduroy.

Features

• 3-buckle design
• Magnesium backbone for walk/tour switching (patent-pending)
• Burly power strap
• Swappable DIN or Dynafit Touring blocks
• Ultralight Quicklace liner
• Contagrip soles
• 110 flex index
• Available Fall 2010 (Quest 12 is available now)
• Weight: 7.72 lbs (pair)
• MSRP: $810

Salomon Quest Pebax Pro Ski Boot Review

Lucky enough to get one of Salomon’s few available Pebax Pro boots, I was determined to head out and make the best of it. Since I don’t doubt the inbounds ability of these boots, my focus has been touring. Yes, some burly, hard-charging, cliff-hucking skiers will want to know how these boots handle the burl of the gnar-gnar, but that’s not what most skiers do and I’m way past those days. I want a burly boot that’s dependable and powerful on the down yet is still 100% walkable for the long skintrack assault.

My foot shape is fairly narrow with low arches. I really don’t have anything in particular to challenge Surefoot’s best bootfitters, so my intent was to ski these out-of-the-box. The initial fit seemed OK, so off I went.

The three buckle design is more than sufficient for touring and most inbounds duties. In fact, the forefoot buckle is most often there for show as it does little to impact the ski-ability of the boot. I kept that buckle just tight enough so as not to pop open, while keeping the instep and lower buckles snug and secure.

On the uphill, I was very impressed with the walkability of these boots. The Contagrip sole provides excellent rocker and the Magnesium Backbone allows the rear cuff to “unlock” and flex in a fairly natural stride. The stride is best with the uppermost buckle in the touring latch with the powerstrap loose, but remains acceptable when buckled to skiing snugness.

While I didn’t get the liner heat molded, I did at least swap out the standard (flimsy) insoles for Superfeet Red ski-specific insoles, which provided more support and better feel. I opted for the size 27.5 since they didn’t have 27.0′s and the 26.5′s would require some minor bootwork. As it was, the 27.5′s were a little large in the forefoot, which did impact the downhill feel of the boots. I also had a pressure-point in one boot, but I think this would largely be eliminated by a smaller size and a quick trip to the bootfitter.

Speaking of the down, these boots are solid. Flip the Magnesium Backbone in place, snug up the buckles and proceed to rip. The flex pattern is solid without any mushiness whatsoever. I felt like these were just as powerful as any alpine boot on the market, but way more versatile. As mentioned above, the forefoot volume in the test size was a tad large, but I suspect a more proper fit would eliminate that complaint.

NOTE: Every foot is different, so get to your local shop and try these on. While the fit will need some work for me to be slipper-like, you may have better or worse luck depending on your foot shape.

Good Pebax Pro

• Pebax shell offers lightness and consistent flex
• Magnesium Backbone really makes these ski like burly alpine boots
• Walk mode offers a smooth, comfortable stride
• Dynafit or A/T compatibility gives you plenty of binding options
• Beefy power strap
• Contagrip outsole provides excellent traction
• Weight-to-power ratio is very good

Bad Pebax Pro

• Expensive pricepoint, but it is a “do-it-all boot”
• First production year should be solid, but you never know
• Swappable soles are really a gimmick that not many will actually use

Bottom Line: Salomon Quest Pebax Pro

With a lightweight Pebax shell and burly Contagrip outsoles, the new Salomon Quest Pebax Pro touring boots nail it with a powerful flex and superb walkability. Three buckles are all you’ll need to drive your skis inbounds and in the backcountry.

Buy Now: Search for Salomon Quest Ski Boots

However, no one–not even professional ski patrollers–can guarantee any slope to be 100% safe all the time. A recent spate of inbounds avalanches and a sizeable avalanche in the well-traveled sidecountry of Bridger Bowl, MT will tell you that no matter how “safe” you may think the slope is, you can never be too careful. And, might I add, you can never have too much safety equipment.

The Avalung is just one of those little extra pieces of safety gear that, in the remote chance you are buried in an avalanche, you can survive for a long period of time while your buddies track you down.

About the Black Diamond Bandit Avalung

Built for strategic sidecountry sorties, the streamlined Black Diamond Bandit Avalung pack is built to carry just enough gear to take you safely into and back out of the backcountry. The built-in Avalung is one of the best selling points of all BD ski packs. While you can’t guarantee you’ll still be conscious if buried in a slide, you’ll darn well be grateful you’ve got the life-breathing snorkel if you do.

Bandit Avalung Features:

• Zippered panel opening
• Diagonal ski or horizontal board carry options
• Enclosed shovel/probe organization
• Insulated hydration sleeve
• Weight: 2 lbs 5 oz
• MSRP: $180

Black Diamond Bandit Avalung Review

The Bandit is the lowest-volume ski pack (a mere 690 cu in) in BD’s lineup and offers little in the way of frills. It’s simple back panel and minimalistic interior offers just enough for the sidecountry yo-yo skier or for those who ride the heli or cat on a frequent basis. I got to test the Seth Plaid version, but there are more mainstream color options as well.

I used the Bandit for quick backcountry tours and found the size to be quite tight for all my stuff. Granted, I tend to haul the kitchen sink, but still… I was forced to live without a few items because there was simply not enough room. The small outside pocket on the top of the lid was only capable of carrying a couple of ProBars and a slim camera, so keep that in mind.

That said, I appreciated the lightweight feel of the Bandit (due primarily to me not taking along so much stuff) and, of course, the built-in Avalung–it’s just one more thing to help you in case the worst happens. Particularly nice is the insulated hydration sleeve that worked great with my Hydrapak bladder.

Good Bandit

• Lightweight and simple
• Built-in Avalung
• Great for inbounds pursuits and sidecountry missions
• Just big enough for a 3-4 hour tour… barely
• Fits my full-size Voile shovel
• Built-in, insulated hydration sleeve (cha-ching)
• Simple ski carry system

Bad Bandit

• Tight fit if you’re like me and tend to carry extra gear into the backcountry
• Simple back panel could use some updating compared to the competition
• No separate toolkit divider for quick shovel and probe access
• A single, tiny outside pocket

Bottom Line: Black Diamond Bandit Avalung

If you’re looking for simplicity in a backcountry ski pack but still want to be as prepared as possible, check out the Bandit but leave Burt Reynolds at home.

Buy Now: Search for the Black Diamond Bandit Pack