A traverse of the Cascade crest from Mt. Baker to Mt. Rainer was first envisioned in the early 1980s by legendary Cascade skier, mountaineer, and historian Lowell Skoog. Skoog's version of the traverse was comprised of ~18 segments, and after working on the project for 25 years, he finally completed it in 2007. His vision and accomplishment has been an inspiration for younger … [Read more...] about Hummel and Miller Traverse the Cascade Crest
Skiing
Snowgoat Skimo Series
Skimo in Washington state is getting a dose of adrenaline this season, thanks to the efforts of ultra athletes Richard Kresser and Maudie Jordan. 2019 is the inaugural year of their Snowgoat SkiMo Series. “Skimo” is shorthand for ski mountaineering, a race format that emphasizes climbing on skis. Usually held at ski areas, these races follow a course over challenging … [Read more...] about Snowgoat Skimo Series
Destination: Mt. Bachelor Ski Area
Located about 20 miles west of Bend and Sunriver, Mt. Bachelor is THE place in Oregon for serious skiers and boarders. Mt. Bachelor is a volcano that lies at the northern end of the Mt. Bachelor Volcanic Chain. It gets its name because it "stands apart" from the "Three Sisters" to the north. The ski area has operated since 1958, and activity options include … [Read more...] about Destination: Mt. Bachelor Ski Area
Mt. Baker Backcountry in Grayscale
It's easy for me to get distracted away from cycling this time of year. Although January and February 2011 didn't amount to much for skiing, as is often the case, March delivered prodigious snowfall and (mostly) outstanding skiing. It had been a while since I'd ventured into the backcountry, and last weekend turned into an opportunity for a little adventure with old friends. … [Read more...] about Mt. Baker Backcountry in Grayscale
Daron Rahlves: World Cup Ski Cross St Johann, Austria
Sitting around with 2 broken limbs and feeling sorry for myself, the inbox brought me a dose of just what I needed: A hit of rear-view skier cross: Pretty cool, eh? Wondering whether there is anything comparable we can do with road bikes this season... … [Read more...] about Daron Rahlves: World Cup Ski Cross St Johann, Austria
Snowbird Powder Skiing
Instead of going skiing in the Cascades today I listened to the rain drip outside and put together a video of our trip to Snowbird the week of February 9: Isn't it painful to look at all that powder while our snowpack washes into the sea? … [Read more...] about Snowbird Powder Skiing
Smokin’ in the Crystal Mt. Sidecountry
Superbowl Sunday is usually one of the best skiing days of the season since most of the US population is watching TV. Meanwhile, Rocky Mountain quality powder continues to dump, and backcountry skiing conditions in the Northwest have stabilized (in some locations). Activists have begun to get out and play in their favorite powder stashes. Playtime this Sunday included turns … [Read more...] about Smokin’ in the Crystal Mt. Sidecountry
December 30 @ Stevens
The immediate objective for Sunday's skiing adventure was to do a little "cross-training" with Redmond Cycling Club president Shane Balkovetz, who was joined by his wife and some extended family members. As our thighs warmed up during the first couple of runs, we agreed that the transition from cycling or jogging to skiing is physically painful. You can be in shape for one … [Read more...] about December 30 @ Stevens
Sowing the Seeds of Modern Telemark Gear
Once upon a time, telemark skis were skinny and the boots were leather. In the mid-1980's, home-grown telemark equipment that incorporated the features of alpine gear started to appear. At that time, the state of the art off-the-shelf telemark boots included the Asolo Extreme, which was a lace-up ankle-high leather boot with a plastic stiffener around the ankle area. … [Read more...] about Sowing the Seeds of Modern Telemark Gear