The OR trade show is over, and those who dig talking about gear are buzzing over the new goodies! Here are some products that looked interesting to us.

Several of the guides here use ABS packs, as they have been a proven lifesaver in avy situations. Now BCA has thrown their hat into the ring with their own version. Should be interesting to check out - Watch it inflate here.

Folks who are AT inclined have the new G3 onyx bindings to talk about, another tech style binding makes its way.

Not to mention new skis all around and poles and skins from Black Diamond.

Lots of new stuff to check out and this is only scratching the surface. It is always interesting the ways technology develops. Regardless of what gear you’re on, make sure you’re having fun!

-Kirsten

 After a week long January spring-like thaw, winter once again came back to Crested Butte with a fury, dropping over 2 feet of snow over the past weekend !! With the return of winter, long-time Crested Butte Mountain Guides guest, Jason Leonard, also returned to town once again to get in on the fresh and incredible backcountry skiing.

We met up Monday morning for a crusher mission of breaking trail in over knee deep snow to be the first to get the goods at local Crested Butte backcountry stash, Coney’s. After almost 3 hours of trail breaking we topped out on the ridge and were greeted with almost 3 feet of untracked powder !

After some initial snow stablity test pits, and poking around we eased into our day and were soon pounding down a pristine backcountry ski line, with chest shots the whole way. Jason may be from the flatlands of Oklahoma, but this guy is fit….and I mean fit ! By the end of the day we had milked 4 laps, and a total of 3500′ of vert out of the place, and had an incredible day of untracked Crested Butte bakcountry skiing.  

Once again Jason, thanks for a great day of skiing. Next time you’re breakin’ trail……

—Jayson Simons-Jones (Guide)

This past weekend Crested Butte Mountain Guides ran our first Avalanche Level 2 Course of the season, amidst another intense winter storm, and over 2 feet of fresh snow of which to investigate an analyze. The AIARE Lvl 2 curriculum is an intensive 4-day course, centered around the science of analyzing snow instability, and the professional recording standards amongst the snow geek industry.

Our course brought together 10 participants with a great depth of backcountry knowledge; from local hardcore backcountry enthusisats, to a few ski patrollers, to some cat skiing guides.  It is the general goal of the Level 2 Course to build upon the introductory avalanche descion-making tools taught in the Level 1 Course, in a way that participants begin to learn about and understand forecasting of snow stability and the subtleties of terrain and snowpack analysis.

Because of the intensity and skill level brought on by this course, we strive to spend as much time as possible in the field, studying the science behind the changing snowpack, and practicing the various tests and recording standards that are learned in this coure. Field sessions are longer and tours are bigger then in the Level 1 Course, and a greater variety of terrain is traveled through and experinced on our Avalanche Level 2 Course.

Over these past four days we had a lot of fun with a great and enthusiastic group in which many, many snow pits were dug, lots and lots of new snowflakes fell from the sky for studying, and some great skiing was had also. We are looking forward to our next Level 2 Course coming up in mid-February. There are still seats are available so don’t delay, sign up today.

—Thanks for a fun-filled course

Steve Banks & Jayson Simons-Jones (Instructors)

We are deep in the midst of our standard January thaw here in Crested Butte, with beautiful Colorado sunshine and mild temps. Post holiday season and New Year’ s rush around here, it is time for the brief bit of respite we get in our tourism based town during the winter season, as Martin Luther King holiday ushers in the remainder of the busy season until Easter time.

So some of us guides and locals alike have taken a quick opportunity to get out and trade our typical winter freezer burn for a mid-winter sunburn, and enjoy some Crested Butte backcountry skiing  through sunglasses instead of goggles.

Snow is in the distant forecast for the end of next week, but in the meantime “We’re Out There”  enjoying the warm weather, a mostly stable snowpack, and some great powder skiing.

Don’t miss out, come enjoy the mid-winter defrost with us and experience now backcountry skiing  under bluebird skies and bright Colorado sunshine.

—-CBMG Staff