Author: Matt Kinney

Last season’s fatalities of backcountry ski blogger Steve Romero and his partner Steve Onufer in Teton National Park were two more in a disturbing trend of avalanche fatalities involving backcountry skiers. Across the western United States there has been a definitive increase in avalanche fatalities paralleling the growth of backcountry skiing, mechanized ski access and the opening of sidecountry gates […]

by Matt Kinney Funny how outdoor gear selections evolve. I might see a revolutionary new ski leaning on a car at a trailhead and from that point on, I must have it. Selecting shoes for everyday use, however, is an entirely different matter. Call them running, trail, jogging or tennis shoes if you like—they’re all the same to me. We […]

The north face of Odessey Peak was the prime venue for the third event. It was the best day in years with a bright sun and not a trace of wind. As WESC entered its third year, it was becoming the premier ski event in North America. The small group of Valdezeans who had dedicated so much energy were overwhelmed […]

Doug Coombs (1957-2006) of Jackson Hole, Wyoming dominated the early years of WESC winning a number of championships and totally humbling many of the local skiers who thought we knew about skiing. I was lucky enough to see him ski many venues with fascination and awe. To see him and some of the best skiers in the world ski lines […]

Bob Shelton continues his two-part series below which includes the treacherous descent from Pleasant Col to the Valdez Glacier. Mt. Shouplina was considered unapproachable from the north, thus had not seen any attempts and frustrated many trying to solve the route. There had been some pioneering the area in the 1960’s by Alaskan climber Vin Hoeman who is credited with […]