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.

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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.

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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!

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Here is a quick look at Salomon’s new ski boot line.  The Quest Series for 2011

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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.

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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.

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