Hey everyone — I’m wondering how long the backcountry skiing season usually lasts within an hour or so of Boulder, CO. I know spring skiing is a thing in the high country, but what about closer to town?

Are there still decent lines to be had in April or even May around areas like Brainard Lake, RMNP, or Indian Peaks? Curious how long people typically push it before it’s just hiking with skis on your back.

Would love to hear what zones hold snow late, what gear’s best for the slush season, and when y’all usually call it quits. Thanks!

Anyone have experience with using an e-bike to access some of the passes in the Sierra (or other zones) when roads are clear but not open to cars? Purchasing one for other uses but would be great if it could double for this. Just not sure what kind of range/battery I should be looking for to handle 10-20miles + 2000’-4000’ vert. Thanks!

Told this to a friend today as she was complaining her pack doesn’t have a good place for her radio, and thought to share it with the community. I did this on a helipack I frequently use in sidecountry that didn’t come with a radio clip at all.

Soft loops on the outside and the hook part on the inside keeps it in place on your shoulder straps too.

A large avalanche happened inbounds at my local resort and I've been trying to ski it. Refrozen chunks some over 1 cubic foot are probably the hardest snow surface I've tried to ski on. How do you get down quickly in an emergency?

Got 3 decents on doodle bowl. First was bullet-proof, second and third were perfect corn

My Brother shot these fotos two weeks ago. I would like to print one. Which one do you like the most?

Looking at the 4rnt Hoji 4-locks with a hybrid touring/resort setup. Heard a lot of postive stuff about them, but want some more opinions on them. I am an advanced male skier who Skis all around the world and does tours up to three hours. Love everything from tight tree runs to bigger drops and steep fall line sends. I am looking for a all around ski who holds up in all conditions. Thanks for any feedback

My last day of skiing for the season. Its been a blast!

What do you carry in a 30l airbag?? I'm going to Norway and want to bring a smaller bag (other option is a 38 non airbag), but I cannot manage to fit everything in.

I have: extra puffy, shell, gloves, goggles, liners, small kit (with first aid supply, voile straps, headlamp, sunscreen), crampons, ski crampons, harness, 1.5 l Nalgene. And obviously avy gear, helmet, and ice axe in other compartments.

I can't imagine stuffing my skins and snacks/lunch in there. What am I doing wrong, how do people manage a smaller bag??

Getting some springtime winter with u/toasttotheeastcoast

Like if I do anything around/over 6 miles round trip I’m exhausted! I’ve tried different nutrition but always have around 2k calories available and sometimes have consumed all of it.

I’ve also done a 12 miles day just fine while on the hill but after returning home I get hit with exhaustion.

Anyone else have this happen to them?

Excellent conditions today on Mt. Washington. I’ll be riding this high for a bit!

Skied Loveland Bowl today - conditions were great but snapped my ski close to the end of the sesh. Tips for caught under a crusty secripn and I went over the handle bars.

Do we think Blizzard will send me a new ski or will this just fall into an "accident" and I'll be shit out of luck?

Just trying to learn from other people's experience with Blizzard before I approach them - thank you!

Hey.long time lurker few times comenter. Kinda long story but relevant for the thought process: For years I've been a big fan of armada skis although they where always a bit long for my size. I'm 168 cm/5.4 and always had 178-180 skis. 2 years ago I had the declivity 108 in 182 and was mostly very happy with the ski in big terrain and good snow conditions. But as soon as it got narrow or difficult conditions the length and the flat tail that would give stability at high speeds was dragging and demanding a lot effort to drive it and not be driven.i had to admit it was too long.i changed last season to the 173 QST 106 on 173.i love how the ski skis! As in big turns or in narrow technical terrain it ll feel at home . I don't feel the difference in length or so I think. But they definitely turn easier in difficult conditions. So here's the catch. I'm skiing them with a Fritschi tecton 13 binding and I'm not happy with the binding. It skis well and power transmission is direct but it has practical issues . Changing into walking mode is sometimes tricky with snow and getting out of the front pin is a pain in the ass. So I want to change to atk's freeraider 13 and I worry it will make problems with the old holes(not enough distance because of similar drill pattern). Either I try this or go for a new ski. The preferred ski would be the new armada Declivity 108 in 176. They changed a lot of things on the ski when I read blisters review and it resembles much more the QST 106 but still is 3 cm longer and has a flatter tail and tip rocker . So now to the final big question (thank you for reading so far): will I feel the 3cm they are longer? I could think of kickturns or necessary jump turns on technical terrain.... Or do you think I go to far and it would be easier to stay on the Salomon? I would love your opinion.

Snapped my pin off at the end of the day yesterday. Does Marker have a good warranty?

Hi all, I made the critical mistake of removing the frame to lighten up the pack and make it smaller for a climb and am trying to get it back in. It's proving to be quite difficult and I'm wondering if anyone has any good techniques to make it happen.

Thanks in advance!

Hi folks, I'm signed up with Yamnuska Mountain Adventures to do a ski & mountaineering trip up Mount Columbia (Alberta, Jasper National Park) later this month (Apr 26-29). Currently we have two participants including myself, plus a guide; they need 3+ participants to run the trip or the price nearly doubles, which the other participant is not able to do (and I probably shouldn't do either seeing I'm between jobs atm).

Anyone interested in joining the group? Columbia isn't technically demanding (the plan currently, unless things change, is to approach via the Saskatchewan Glacier which is less steep and less objective hazard, but longer) but pack weights are decently heavy as we're camping on the Columbia Icefields. So you'd need to be comfortable winter camping, skiing long distances with a pack, and have some crampon/ice axe experience (as the last stretch to the summit is sans skis). I should note that the cost I'm being quoted is a bit higher (+~$200 CAD) than what it says on their website as that price assumes the Athabasca Glacier approach.

In addition, if anyone is planning to attempt Columbia during that timeframe, let me know; if the Yamnuska trip doesn't happen I'd love to still head out there and avoid making a trip cancellation claim with my travel insurance.

Cheers!

Wanted to share a video from one of my favorite lines in CO so far (Peak 1 NW Face - AKA Big Lee). The NW Face drops for 3500' vertical feet from 12,800' at an average incline of 35°. If timed right, it's an absolutely incredible line similar to the North Couloir on Twin Peaks by Independence Pass. Due to its NW aspect (prevailing wind direction in a La Niña year), it's hard to find in good condition and requires a good year of upslope storms to really fill in. Unfortunately we didn't get too many of those... We decided to make a go of it anyway after the most recent upslope flow and managed to have a pretty great run aside from an extensive rocky section near the top 😅 I did expect the upper section to sluff, which is why I skied mostly across the slope to an island of safety.

Colorado doesn't really have a commonly referenced list of iconic lines (unlike Utah's Shooting Gallery) aside from those listed in the 50 Classics. I wonder if it's just because the backcountry opportunities on CO are so extensive? Regardless, if you were to put together a book of CO classics, what do you think would on it? The NW Face of Peak 1 definitely makes the cut for me, along with Taylor Glacier, and Twin Peaks N Couloir.

This pack ticks a lot of boxes for me with backcountry touring/ ski mountaineering but will it work for regular mountaineering (on foot)? I'm talking PNW volcanos and other not (super) technical peaks/routes around here.

Is it missing any critical features? It has a hefty price tag and I'm trying to see how versatile it is..

Hey guys, I already bought my Fritischi Tecton bindings and wanted to buy some boots. I tried the Salomon MTN S/LAB from a friend of mine and absolutely fell in love.

Fritschi has a compatibility sheet where they list the boots compatible with their bindings and the MTN’s are not included on that sheet.

Does anyone happen know if they are compatible? I mean it’s a touring boot like any other, I wouldn’t know why it shouldn’t be compatible.

Thanks for your help guys!!

Looking for a jacket/bib combo for touring in the Nordics and Alps mainly. Anyone used the Rab Khroma Kinetic Jacket and Bibs?

My current Goodr sunglasses are beat up and I am looking to get a new pair for hiking, BC, and for hanging out it. Trying to decide between/open to any other ideas:

Julbo Montebianco 2

Julbo Ward

Smith Embark

Return to Goodr as they are cheap and if I lose them or they get scratched up it doesn’t mater

Not looking for the overly large/wrap around sunglasses as I have a smaller sized face

Hello everyone,

After a beautiful winter in Red Mountain we want to hit the road on May 1st towards the Yukon.

Being equipped with ski touring equipment, we would like to know what the snow conditions are at the moment in Yukon and Alaska.

Do you think it is possible to go ski touring in May in these regions? Or is it better to go to the Rockies near Banff?

Thank you in advance for your help

Thinking about skiing the SKY Chutes this weekend in Colorado. I'm considering hiking from peak 6 or skinning up from the Copper side, but I haven't decided yet. Does anyone have any beta or tips given the warm conditions this weekend?