Author Archives: Penn

A recent flurry of television coverage resembles the forecast for this weekend.

Avalanches and the Black Diamond AvaLung continue to be a hot topic popping up on Good Morning America with Andrew McClean and Marit Fisher as well SLC’s FOX 13.

1% For The Planet also got some air time with the contrarian story of the rise of sustainable giving when charitable giving is at a near all time low. CNBC spoke to 1% Co-Founder Yvon Chouinard about the emerging trend and asks – is our capitalistic society beginning to think sustainably?

1% For The Planet recently surpassed the 1000 member mark. To celebrate this Terry Kellogg (CEO 1%), Yvon Chouinard and Craig Mathews (Co-Founders 1%) and Tom Brokaw will host a gathering in NYC.

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The CAIC released an official report of a skier and two backcountry snowboarders who set off a slide and self rescued near the Eiseman Hut north of Vail on 1/16/09.

With Winter 08/09 already off to an auspicious start in terms of avalanche fatalities, this incident serves as a case study in evaluating terrain hazard and is remarkable that all three survived with one member of the group being buried 6 – 7 feet deep.

AvaLung anyone?

Winter 08 – 09 will be remembered in terms of its avalanches. In bounds slides have been documented in Utah, California, Colorado, Wyoming and Washington. Meanwhile the overall number of avalanche deaths in North America is on a record pace.

With this in mind we offer avalanche advisories on theory and reality.

1 – If you have wondered what it is like to get buried – come join us on January 21 at 11AM at Snow Basin Resort, UT. Black Diamond Equipment Ltd. will bury Outdoor Retailer Show Director Kenji Haroutunian. Kenji will use the Black Diamond AvaLung device which allows victims caught in avalanches to breath for up to an hour. The demonstration will be conducted to highlight safe backcountry travel protocol and Utah Avalanche Center Director Bruce Tremper will be on hand. To learn more about the burial contact Penn@backbonemedia.net

2 – If you prefer the cyber is reality approach – watch the dramatic footage of skier Chris Cardello getting caught and buried by a slide while skiing in Haines, AK last April. This is real footage and represents a best case scenario in terms of the search time yet nonetheless is a powerful case study in how quickly the joy of powder skiing can turn into a life and death situation.

See you out on the hill and be mindful out there.

This past week I was deep in the Colorado backcountry and nabbed some spy shots of BD athletes Nick Devore, Will Cardamone, Jacqui Edgerly and Mark Welgos putting new BD AvaLung packs, poles, gloves, hats, skins and skis through their paces.

Jacqui E checking swing weight

The snow was deep but the crew did take to the air allowing me to catch some glimpses of the new Justice ski.

What's up with that plaid pack?

Nicky D seemed to always find the deep forest through the trees.

Could those be some new rockered tip skis?

Welgos was rocking the the award winning BD Factor boots which seemed to be living up to their reputation.

Mark letting it run

To learn more go skiing in deep snow in UT, CO, VT, CALI or WA and keep your eyes peeled!

There are various Holiday and end of year traditions

Ours here at Backbone includes a holiday party and company ski day with end of year annual reviews hosted on the Gondola – aka 14 minutes of pain. This year the Jackson office rallied over tough road conditions each way to hit 10+ inches of POW on Aspen Mountain.

Can anyone spot Lindsay Brown?

Stats included:  5 tele skiers, 7 alpine, and 1 knuckledragger; minimum underfoot width: 88mm,  2 pocket tequila shots and 0 backbone employee collisions (a first).

Best consumed chilled and before 12 noon

Happy Holidays!

Best Of Adventure - Black Diamond Enforcer glove

With the holidays and gift giving season fast approaching, Black Diamond has been fortunate to glean some shiny hardware and accolades from lumps of coal. Specifically, BD has won national awards for product design across categories for their new Freeride Boot line, Skis, Skins, Headlamps and Lanterns, Gloves, Packs, Tents and Harnesses.

Select examples include:

Outside Magazine Gear of the Year (GOY) 2009 – Bandit pack; 2008 GOY – Verdict Ski; Best in category Backcountry Boots Factor AT and Push Telemark boots

National Geographic Adventure – Best of Adventure – Enforcer Glove

Skiing Magazine Best of Winter – BD Factor Boot and Bod harness*

The venerable BD Bod harness

Field & Stream Best in Test Award – Icon Headlamp

Outdoor Award Friedrichshafen – Orbit Lantern

Backpacker Magazine Best All-Around Ultralight Tent – BD Mirage

Backcountry Magazine – Best in Test – BD Factor Boot, BD Push Telemark Boot, Ascension STS skins

Powder Magazine Skier’s Choice – Megawatt Ski (also top scorer in Freeskier, Outside, Backcountry, and Skiing tests)

Climbing Magazine Editor’s Choice – Quantum pack

Of all these awards, perhaps the most exciting and enduring is the BD Bod harness.

Why?

Well, besides personally owning and wearing one since 1988, the Bod debuted in 1986 and is perhaps the best selling harness ever built.

The PR take/irony is not lost that new is not always better.