Temps have been warm and the snow is receding fast here in Jackson Hole. Many folks have started to change gears and have started to think about biking or their spring trip. Not me. I am going to keep the winter going. If it is to warm for skiing locally (it is going to get cold in Jackson again very soon) go North. That’s what I always say. Fortunately, I was very recently invited on a backcountry trip for a few days of skiing in B.C. If you need me next week I will be here:
This is a window at the Callaghan Loadge that looks out on some of the terrain. If you are having trouble seeing the terrain here is another look:
I’m looking forward to a little ski touring. I am going to give the Scarpa Skookum a test drive. I’ll let you know how the Skookums perform.
Here is the story of a man who was buried in an avalanche in Switzerland in January. He survived for 70 minutes under the snow using a Black Diamond Avalung Pack. This story can also be seen on Black Diamond’s website.
Report: Avalanche victim uses the AvaLung and survives a burial at Tessin, Switzerland
The following is a recent report from an avalanche survivor in the Bedretto Valley in Switzerland on January 30, 2010. It is a first person report that has been edited for brevity and clarity/translation.
Last Saturday I (and a group of friends) had a very bad experience. We were in Tessin (Italian part of Switzerland) and we decided to make all together a ski-tour. We were 20 people, the snow conditions were really good, fresh powder, but the wind was really high! We didn’t calculate this problem.
We made a tour around a peak in Bedretto Valley (north of Tessin) and with a friend we were the last two people of this group, a bit far from the others. Everything was good, sunny and fun day. I heard a “whoom” on the way up and normally when I go up I don’t have the Avalung outside. Usually, I use it just when I’m skiing. It’s not funny when you hear a “whoom”, it’s not a good sound and I decided to pull my AvaLung mouthpiece out of my backpack. I bought the AvavLung pack last year and I had never used it. You buy but you hope never to use.
We walked 4-5 minutes more and then I saw an avalanche that came in my direction. I couldn’t make nothing, I had skins under my skis and skiing was really impossible. In 5 seconds I was in the avalanche, scared and screamed and I’m not an expert and I didn’t know what I could make. At that moment your brain can do nothing. I put my hand in front of my face and in some seconds I was under the snow and I didn’t know if the sky was up or down. Total panic!
I managed to get some space in front of me and I could breathe. I thought to myself that my friends were here and they could find me. After 20 minutes nobody. I thought that everyone was under the snow. After this time I decided to use the Avalung system, I used to breathe and I tried to stay quiet and relaxed. I breathe slowly, waiting for someone. I could check my watch but in this situation it’s not a good idea. I used the Avalung for 1 hour 10 minutes and then I saw again the light. (I was) really happy to see the rescue people and very happy that I was alive.
My personal opinion, I think that I’m still here because I had the Avalung. Black Diamond saved my life and the rescue people made the rest. I like so much ski touring but for sure, now I will take an avalanche course. And next year try again. Winter 2010 for me is closed.
I have a quick question for you. When I breathe the Avalung made a strange “sound”, like….I don’t know…A sound. Is it normal? [Yes the "honking" sound is completely normal when breathing through the AvaLung. - BD crew]
Thanks a lot guys and hats off about your products!
The Jackson Hole Town Downhill event is this weekend at Snow King. The boys over at Wedco just sent me this sneak peek of the new crown that a former champion had commissioned. Why does the winner get a crown you ask. Well, when you live in a town populated by former olympians, world cup racers, collegiate national champions, a bunch of those guys from high school who were always the best and a bunch of people with chips on their shoulders who think they have something to prove you can imagine the level of competition out there. Not to mention the bragging rights involved. I actually had a local tell me that he was going to quit the event for life if he lost to one of his buddies again. Good luck to all the competitors who are brave enough to take on the mini hahnenkamm course. Especially, to TVS owner Bill Campbell.
This picture was taken at a recent trade show. We where in the Briko Sunglass booth. I don’t know if this picture is distorted because the we look so good or if the glasses are as magical as they look.
Here is a sneak peak at next year’s Volkl freeride collection. From left to right we have the Kuro, Chopstick, Katana, Gotama, Mantra, Bridge, Kendo. Also pictured are the Grizzly, AC50, AC30 and some kids skis.
Last week we received the most amazing present in the mail from a customer of ours in New York. Apparently, one of our order fulfillment specialist (a.k.a. warehouse dude) was feeling fresh one day when we were shipping the customers order and made mention of a beer that is brewed in the customers home town on the packing slip included with the product the customer ordered. Sure enough a week later a fresh 12 pack of delicious Utica Club beers arrived in the mail from the customer with a note saying we put a big smile on her face. Well Jeanine let me tell you the smile you have put on all of our faces here at the worldwide webquarters! We are only wondering if you want the cans back for the deposit $.
In this time of Olympic displays of prowess the finally tuned athletes/ski bums in Jackson Hole participated in the age old Jackson tradition of Gelande Quaffing. This is an actual competition with prizes for the winners, but it looks like everyone was a winner this year.
After Squaw I was pretty sore from crashing and had to take a few days off. I wanted to be ready for Kirkwood and be confident with my skiing. This has been a really tough year on me mentally and it has started to downward spiral my confidence. When you start to crash a lot it makes it hard to think about anything in the gate except crashing. Squaw was my 5 […]
I’m back home after a month of hauling 70 lb duffel bags, camera equipment, ski bags, and packs through airports, cities, villages, into the mountains of western Sichuan and back. At the end of it all, between the chaos of modernizing Chinese cities, gnarly jeep rides, packing and repacking of gear, ancient Buddhist temples and [...] […]
This is a window at the Callaghan Loadge that looks out on some of the terrain. If you are having trouble seeing the terrain here is another look:
I’m looking forward to a little ski touring. I am going to give the Scarpa Skookum a test drive. I’ll let you know how the Skookums perform.
The Jackson Hole Town Downhill event is this weekend at Snow King. The boys over at Wedco just sent me this sneak peek of the new crown that a former champion had commissioned. Why does the winner get a crown you ask. Well, when you live in a town populated by former olympians, world cup racers, collegiate national champions, a bunch of those guys from high school who were always the best and a bunch of people with chips on their shoulders who think they have something to prove you can imagine the level of competition out there. Not to mention the bragging rights involved. I actually had a local tell me that he was going to quit the event for life if he lost to one of his buddies again. Good luck to all the competitors who are brave enough to take on the mini hahnenkamm course. Especially, to 
This picture was taken at a recent trade show. We where in the Briko Sunglass booth. I don’t know if this picture is distorted because the we look so good or if the glasses are as magical as they look.
Alby wants to wish you all a happy weekend. If you see someone wearing a product from 
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