Independence Pass, located in Colorado, embodies the rugged spirit and natural beauty that defines the American West. Straddling the Continental Divide at an elevation of 12,095 feet, it is among the highest paved mountain passes in the United States and aptly named after the nearby Independence ghost town, which sprang up during the mining boom … Continue reading POTW: Independence Pass
Tahoe avalanches: What causes innocent-looking snow slopes to collapse? A physicist and skier explains, with tips for surviving A skier at Palisades Tahoe, home of the 1960 Winter Olympics and site of a small but deadly avalanche in 2024. AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli Nathalie Vriend, University of Colorado Boulder An avalanche swept up skiers at Lake Tahoe’s … Continue reading Tahoe Avalanches
Welcome to my annual refresher about Backcountry Avalanche Awareness 2023/2024. I am no subject matter expert, but Stella and I are always eager to explore new terrain in search of an off-the-beaten-path adventure. Thus, when you leave the cozy confines of the groomed trails at the ski resorts/nordic centers, you must understand your environment and … Continue reading Backcountry Avalanche Awareness 2023/2024
Ski pants, snow pants, what's the difference? And why are cross-country ski pants so expensive? If you are thinking that any pair of snow pants will work just fine for cross-country skiing, you are right…to a degree. Anything to protect your legs from the elements will work. However, there is a reason why there are … Continue reading Bjorn DAEHLIE P0wer Pants (Women)
Some of you may be wondering why BaseCamp@GrandLake has not posted anything for winter adventures, especially considering the abundance of snow. Normally, we travel extensively in the winter but this season has been quite different. We have only taken one winter trip thus far, to Jackson Hole the week prior to Christmas, and it ended … Continue reading 2023 Winter Adventures: What’s Going On?
Last winter (2022) when Larry and I (Stella) were in Crested Butte, we discussed purchasing a different type of cross-country ski. We wanted skis that were much wider and possessed more float to provide a better experience while backcountry skiing in really deep snow and on hills. We had researched three different companies that manufacture … Continue reading Madshus Panorama M78
Winter starts now! In the blink of an eye winter has evolved from sparse snowfall across the western states to an abundance of wonderful powder everywhere. Welcome to my annual reminder about Backcountry Avalanche Awareness. I am no expert on the subject, but my wife and I are aways eager to traverse wilderness terrain in … Continue reading Backcountry Avalanche Awareness 2021/2022