Thanks April!
This winter in the Pacific Northwest started late and fizzled early. It is safe to say it was a bad winter of epic proportions. Our local ski area at Snoqualmie Pass, WA saw an all time record low snowfall of just 104 inches this winter. Two of our snowiest months on average, February and March brought a combined 10 inches total. We thought last season was bad and we received about 3 times as much snowfall! On a typical season we'll see upwards of 4, 5, even 600 inches of snowfall, and much more at higher elevations. (Numbers gathered from: http://www.wsdot.com/winter/files/HistoricalSnowfallData1415season.pdf?v=15)
Trip Report: Hanging Glacier Headwall/NW Couloir, Mt. Shuksan
(Words and Photos from Russell Cunningham): Before I start this writeup, I need to say that this Trip Report is entirely dedicated to my dear friend Liz Daley. She and I had talked for years about tagging the first ever snowboard descent on Mount Shuksan's Hanging Glacier Headwall, and without her infectious stoke even in her afterlife, I doubt that this trip would have happened. She was better and more proficient at this game of snowboard alpinism than all of us combined. Love you forever, Liz!! This past week I took a couple days off work at Karakoram to go
Liz Daley Tribute Video: Chamonixoxo
Get a look at this wonderful tribute video to Liz Daley put together by photographer Kt Miller and ski mountaineer Caroline Gleich. The three went on a trip together in Chamonix, France in February of 2014 to climb and ride some highly technical lines. Liz was caught in an avalanche in Patagonia this past September and her presence has been and will always be missed. [video_responsive] Chamonixoxo from Kt Miller on Vimeo. [/video_responsive]
Snowboarding and Splitboarding in Switzerland
In February we were wrapping up the long trade show season. As usual our feet hurt from standing in convention centers and talking to people all day long. Talking about splitboarding is great and all, but after two straight weeks, you kind of go stir crazy. We couldn't wait to get out into the Alps to refresh our spirits. After ISPO Munich Tyler and I decided to check out Klosters Switzerland since it's a great name. At ISPO we meet downhill skateboarder Patrick Switzer who live near Klosters. Patrick likes snowboarding and we like snowboarding, so we decided to shred some powder together.
The 2015 Mt. Baker Splitfest: It happened!
Yes! Despite the lack of snow this winter we we're still able to make the Mt. Baker Splitboard Festival happen. The lack of snow more so exists at the lower elevations of our mountains but up higher the snowpack is hanging in there. One of the concepts of a splitboard anyway is to get up higher, so there was no reason not to hold the event! Bryce making his way down a fun little ramp. Photo: Paul Stanley On day 1, we had enough time beforehand to go for a quick ride in some interesting and somewhat dangerous