The 5 Steps of Avalanche Safety

As the snow continues to pile up in Colorado Ski Country, we think it's as good a time as any to provide you with some resources for how to stay safe in the backcountry as well as in-bounds at certain resorts where avalanches could potentially be a hazard.
There are some fantastic resources out there to help you navigate snow hazards, medical hazards, and even human hazards such as poor judgement and decision-making skills in the face of massive lines and fresh tracks. Two great resources to start with are Backcountry Access (BCA) and the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE).
BCA's website has a page called 'learn avalanche safety' where you can read up on tips for avoiding avalanches, rescuing victims, resources and trainings, as well as enlightening success stories. They also have an avalanche awareness guide for download. Both BCA and AIARE abide by a 5-step method to stay safe in any snow-heavy conditions.

1) Get the gear

Buy quality safety equipment if you're going into the backcountry (beacon, shovel, probe, avalanche airbag, emergency communication device), and have the best gear possible even in the front country in order to prevent potential hazards (first aid kit, extra layers, and maybe even a beacon, shovel, and probe in certain areas). Along with step 4, make sure you have terrain information and photos, a map, a gps device, and a charged smartphone or radio. Whether in the backcountry or front, make sure to practice with your equipment before heading out to avoid encountering an emergency situation and not knowing how to effectively, efficiently, and safely manage it.

2) Get the training

Take an avalanche safety and awareness course! They are held all over the state, usually put on by AIARE through community colleges, universities, community centers, gear shops, etc. These courses will help teach you how to read a slope and how to make the necessary decisions to keep you and your group safe in avalanche terrain. They will teach you the technical skills for using the required gear in rescue scenarios as well as the human influences that can change decisions, outlooks, and outcomes.
There are many different courses to choose from, including AIARE I: Three Day Course, AIARE I: Split Course, AIARE I: Hut Trip, AIARE Avalanche Rescue, AIARE II, Avalanche Field Review, and Avalanche Awareness Clinics. Check out avtraining.org for avalanche course dates, providers, resources for instructors, and scholarship opportunities for the training courses.
Another way to stay safe and ensure the best possible outcomes in any situation is to learn how to provide first aid to a victim, even if the injury was not from an avalanche. There are many different CPR courses happening around the state constantly, so make sure you chose the one that's best for you (courses for the public, for childcare, for healthcare professionals, etc). Search CPR courses in your area: the American Red Cross and CPR Choice Colorado are great websites to find courses all over the state.
Other trainings to obtain are in wilderness medicine such as Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and Wilderness First Responder (WFR). The care required for crises in the backcountry differs from that in the front country because you are farther from immediate, definitive medical care and your contact time with patients is generally higher. These medical trainings, especially WFR, are amazing resources to have, even if you never have to use them in a real emergency. Knowing how to remain calm and feel confident in your training is almost as valuable as the medical knowledge itself. Even if you're shredding the frontcountry, most ski patrol will be grateful to have someone with a little medical knowledge keeping the patient calm and managing any life threats in the time it takes them to reach the scene.

3) Get the forecast

Read the snow report for the last few days: CSCUSA's snow report page is a great resource for this! The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a good spot to find the weather forecast, and the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) gives avalanche reports for all areas of the state with new snow, as well as accident reports if there was an avalanche.

4) Get the picture

Make sure you know the route and research it thoroughly. CalTopo is a great resource for finding and creating personalized topographic maps of your planned route, as well as potential plan B, C, etc. Make a plan before you go of what terrain you aim to be on, what terrain you absolutely will avoid, as well as where you might need to make critical decisions once you get to the slopes.
This point also applies to the front country: know your group's skill level and comfort zones. Taking people out who are not prepared or comfortable in more advanced terrain is the first way that bad stories can happen. Keep everyone safe and happy both in-bounds and out-!

5) Get out of harm's way

This step mostly entails knowing the dangers and off-limits terrain and avoiding them. If you take any medical courses, one of the first things you will learn is to not create any more victims by putting yourself in danger to rescue someone else. This is good advice while skiing in-bounds as well: don't duck ropes. It's not worth potentially losing your pass and it's certainly not worth a life lost to carelessness. Just because it's still on the resort, doesn't mean it's maintained for avalanche safety. Stay in-bounds if you're in-bounds, and stay safe with as much training and know-how as possible if you're in the backcountry.

...

More of a visual learner? Check out http://avtraining.org/be-avalanche-aware/ to watch these steps played out with real people and their real stories.
If you are interested in updating First Aid kits, frontcountry gear, or looking into backcountry safety gear, here are some ideas for places to purchase:

• Your local mountaineering shop/secondhand gear shop (Make sure anything from here is reliable and in good condition)
• Arc'teryx
• REI - check out https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/avalanche-basics.html
• Backcountry Access (BCA)
• Black Diamond
• Mountain Hub
• Pieps
• Ortovox
• Deuter
• Recco
• Mammut
• Arva
• SnoWander 
• Backcountry - take a peek at https://www.backcountry.com/sc/avalanche-safety-101

No matter where you find yourself on a mountain, whether you're skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, in-bounds, or out-of-bounds, make sure to set yourself up for success. Have the training, have the gear, and remember that ultimately, Mother Nature is in charge. These steps and pointers above will help you have a better, more amiable connection to Her in times of epic pow days. Snow, although it looks like glitter from the sky, isn't magic. If you know what to avoid and how best to stay safe, you can increase your chances of success and an incredible day by huge margins. Stay safe and have fun with all this new fun stuff falling from the sky!

Planning a Hut Trip?

Winter Information

This is serious backcountry skiing. The average route is 6-7 miles long and climbs 1500-2500 feet in elevation from a trailhead that is at 8,000 feet or higher. Ski touring at high altitude is physically demanding and each person responds to high altitude differently. Be sensitive to any symptoms related to altitude sicknesses among members of your party.
The U.S. Forest Service recognizes that the public trails that access the huts generally require use of intermediate backcountry skiing skills. However, some trail sections are more difficult and may require more advanced skiing skills. You don't have to be an expert but you should at least be strong and stable on your skis, and have the right equipment. Skis with metal edges, climbing skins, backcountry poles, and heavy leather or plastic boots are recommended.

Parts of the trails are marked, but you must navigate with map and compass because such markers may not be obvious or extant.

Someone in each group must have leadership, route finding, avalanche awareness, and first aid skills. Route finding may be the most important skill you need. A detailed topographic map, a compass, and the ability to use them are absolutely essential for a successful trip. Suggested routes are only intermittently marked with blue diamonds except in National Forest Wilderness Areas where only tree blazes are allowed. You cannot expect to find a broken trail, and from one trail marker the next one is usually not visible. Even shorter trips, with minimal elevation gains, can become very challenging in whiteout conditions or if you have to break trail in deep snow.
The Colorado backcountry is known for widespread and long lasting snowpack instabilities. Avalanche hazard is a real concern for all winter travelers. A number of the suggested routes to 10th Mountain Division Huts pass through or are next to terrain that may be prone to avalanches. Accordingly, pick the suggested route that most suits your group and its abilities, carry appropriate equipment, and always exercise prudent backcountry travel techniques when passing through avalanche prone terrain. Remember, avalanches can occur in forested areas and can run into forested areas from open slopes. Each group must continuously evaluate the danger and practice prudent travel procedures. Routes are not marked or maintained for the Braun huts. These huts are in areas of known avalanche terrain with recurring avalanche cycles. For more information we strongly suggest you visit the Colorado Avalanche Information Center Website. They have the most up to date avalanche information as well as a ton of excellent weather and snow science information.
U.S. Forest Service permitted guide services are available if your group lacks the skills necessary to complete a safe trip or is interested in a catered trip. Along with their knowledge of the backcountry, routes, and huts, guides provide transportation, food, gear rentals, and instruction. Please see the Guides section of this site for more information on guide services.
If you would like to improve your skills, 10th Mountain, Summit Huts, and many other organizations sponsor backcountry skills and avalanche awareness workshops each winter. Please see the Community section of this site for information on upcoming classes.

Summer Information

Hiking and mountain biking at high elevations are very physically demanding activities. The average suggested summer route to a hut is 8+ miles long and climbs 1500-2500 feet in elevation from a trailhead that is at 8,000 feet or higher. Suggested summer routes are not marked or maintained. A detailed topographic map, a compass, and the ability to use them are absolutely essential for a successful trip. Someone in each group must be proficient in route finding, map/compass reading, and first aid.
Weather in the mountains can change rapidly. A warm summer morning at a trailhead can turn into a cold storm with lightning at 11,000 feet. Snow and hail are not uncommon at high elevations in the summer and temperatures can drop below freezing. Other days can be very hot. Rain and snowstorms can leave backcountry roads in bad condition and make travel difficult or impossible. Hut users need to be adequately prepared and bring extra food and water.
Motor vehicles are strongly discouraged except as group support. Some routes may remain snow covered and impassable by vehicles well into August and sudden thunderstorms can render roads undrivable at any time. All vehicles must park at the closure gate that marks the non-motorized envelope that surrounds each hut (usually 1/8 to 1/2 mile). There is a cart at each gate that can be used to ferry gear from your vehicle to the hut. Motorized or mechanized vehicles (i.e. mountain bikes) are not allowed in Wilderness areas. 10th Mountain does not guarantee vehicle access to any hut at any time. Do not count on a vehicle to execute your chosen itinerary.
Once you've decided on an appropriate trip, and are certain you have the skills for backcountry travel to your chosen hut or huts, please check the How to Make a Reservation option on the menu at the top of this page.

Steps for Trip Planning

Step 1: Gather Information.

Read through all of the information available on this site, study the overview map and specifics about each hut. We recommend that you study topographic maps of the areas you are considering. Additionally, privately produced guidebooks are available that provide route descriptions, estimations of difficulty and travel time, and suggested itineraries. Maps and guidebooks can be purchased through 10th Mountain's online store and at many outdoor retailers. Using these resources, calculate route distances and elevation changes to determine which huts best suit your abilities. Keep in mind that you will be carrying a large pack uphill at altitude and, in the winter, possibly breaking trail in stormy conditions. You do not want to overestimate your abilities, since the consequences might be spending a night out.  We can't plan your trip for you, since only you can evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your group, but we may be able to provide further details or compare new routes to trips you have done in the past to help you make a final decision. It is also helpful to remember these are communal-style huts that you may be sharing with other people. You can review our "Hut Etiquette" document for some helpful tips on how a little common-sense courtesy can make everyones hut trip a memorable experience.

Step 2: Check availability.

Hut availability is posted on this site and is updated every day. You can also call in for hut availability. To view availability online, click on the red button at the top of ech page that say "Check Hut Availability", or follow the link in the "Trip Planning" menu that says "Hut Availability".

Step 3: Designate a group organizer.

Decide who will be responsible for making the reservation and distributing all of the information to each member of the group. It is the responsibility of the group organizer to make sure that each person traveling to the hut returns a completed Waiver and Release form to 10th Mountain. Group Leaders: Due to an increase in members of groups not paying for hut nights or signing releases, additional responsibility and liability is being placed on the group leaders. In the Waiver and Release Agreement, group leaders will agree to indemnify 10th Mountain and other hut owners/operators for any liability for injuries, paralysis or death to any member of his/her group that does not sign a Waiver and Release Agreement. In addition, the group leader will be charged for the otherwise unpaid for hut nights. We trust this will encourage all hut users to pay for their nights and sign releases. Since the group organizer may not have the most experience in the backcountry, we suggest that your group discuss how decisions will be made in the field and who will be the leader, particularly if problems arise.

Step 4: Reserve your trip.

Now you are ready to book your trip. See How to Make a Reservation, on the menu above, for more details.

Step 5: Purchase topographic maps.

If you have not already purchased maps when planning your trip, make sure that you get the appropriate maps and study them with your group before you depart for your trip. The overview map, brochure map, and example maps included in this website are intended as an aid for trip planning only and are not to be used for navigation. People who have had to spend an unplanned night out, or who were unable to locate a hut, most often were using an inadequate map, lacked route-finding skills, or got a late start. Though useful in trip planning, please do not mistake our brochure for a topographic map or attempt to use it to navigate to a hut.

Step 6: Prepare If you are not experienced.

Take some backcountry ski day trips to get in shape and become familiar with the equipment. The first day of your hut trip is not the right day to try out new equipment! Study the maps. Decide which trailheads and routes you will use. Evaluate car shuttle requirements, if necessary. Discuss what your group will do if there is an emergency at the hut or on the trail. As part of your emergency preparation, we suggest that each member of your group purchase a Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue (CORSAR) card, available from outdoor retailers and 10th Mountain. Refer to the packing list provided by 10th Mountain and assemble the gear you will need. Plan the menu and shop for food. Before departing, check weather and avalanche reports. Avalanche information numbers are provided in the Avalanche Information section of this site.

Step 7: Return one signed waiver per person to 10th Mountain before departure.

Step 8: Bring your your trip confirmation letter showing your door lock combination(s) with you to the hut.

Getting it in Gear for the Ski season 

Clothing and gear

For road trips especially, I prefer soft luggage I can squish into the nooks and crannies of my Prius. Thule isn’t just a master at helping you haul gear atop your car on a rack. Much to my surprise, they make incredibly smart and rugged luggage. Their Subterra 28” rolling duffel is my new favorite ski bag. It’s literally two bags in one, divided, and they can be separated. That’s optimal if I want to separate my stuff from my son’s. And for just our ski/board apparel, I love Thule’s duffel which also functions as a backpack. As luggage has a tendency expand when on the road, I always travel with an empty duffel like Dakine’s EQ Bag 74L which packs up flat into its end pocket. It’s also ideal for storing laundry on longer trips.

Boot bags

I prefer those with enough room to haul my boots, helmet, gloves, neck gaiter, goggles and everything else I need on the slopes—all in one place. Since my son’s foot is now bigger than mine, I can no longer shove both our stuff in one bag. Thule’s Roundtrip Boot backpack 60L is an ideal choice for him particularly with its backpack functionality and designated spot for boots, googles, helmet and the rest of the essentials. Dakine’s Boot Locker 69L is my pick for this year’s snowboarding boots/gear. SporTube’s Toaster Elite Heated Boot Bag holds two pairs of ski boots and makes getting into them SO much easier, especially with my high arches. The bag’s cord plugs into a wall or car outlet. Your warm piggies will thank you as you step out in the cold morning air. For our other ski boot/gear bag, we like SporTube’s Freerider Padded Gear and Boot Bag which comes in fun patterns and has hideaway backpack straps.

Don’t lose it

As you can see, there’s quite a bit of gear to keep track of, so after an unfortunate drop of a glove from a chairlift or lost neck gaiter on the ski shuttle, I’ve found labeling stuff more than pays for itself. I’ve long been a fan of Mabel’s Label’s which stick on and hold up in the wash on clothing. I put these on every single item we take on the road from socks to helmets, skis, poles—everything. Their Starter Pack is a nice option that offers a ski or snowboard design. All you need is a first name and your mobile number so someone can track you down if they find a trail of your stuff.  My phone has happily rung, reuniting me with a missing item.

A Beginner's Guide to Skiing Powder

The tally of accumulating snow at your favorite resort continues to raise. Snow totals go up and up and up and your heart goes down, down, down despite all your friends' enthusiasm and stoke for fresh tracks. Perhaps you grew up on a coast without much true, dry, fluffy powder (not going to call out which one), or maybe you never had the time, money, or youth to learn how to float through seas of white, as they say. They also say that skiing fields of powder on a bluebird day or while more snow slowly floats to the ground is closer to heaven than most people are lucky to experience.
But how, how can I possibly let loose and surrender to the feeling of suddenly being less proficient at something I thought I was good at? Here are a few tips and tricks for skiing in powder:

GEAR

Fat skis and powder baskets, though the baskets get more flack for not being essential, they really do help when the going gets deep. If you don't happen to have an arsenal of ski choices out in the garage (cause let's be honest, that's expensive!), consider renting some for the day. If the stash is really that epic, it'll be worth the $30-$60 dollars extra. When and if money is tight, your normal skis will do just fine, though it will be more challenging to float on top of the snow than if you had a waist width above 100mm or so. Don't let lacking mm deter you though, shred on!

RELAXATION

Before ever dropping into a run with deep, fresh powder, you're going to want to take a few breaths. Consciously relax your shoulders, because I know they're tensed and hunched up around your helmet's ear flaps. Remember that not everyone can be good at everything, and even if you do take a tumble, you're falling into a soft pillow of clouds. What could inspire more confidence? Although, don't think floppy here; you will still need to maintain a tight core and control in order to navigate the fluff.

PATIENCE

When you muster up the courage to slide into the blanket of snow, you might fall at the outset, and that's fine! Realize that you're fine, it was actually pretty fun to fall, be patient with yourself, and that the rest of the run is waiting for you to try, try again. Powder skiing is very different from the on-piste skiing that we're all used to, and you'll need to slowly test out and master new styles and movements.

SPEED, STANCE, and STYLE

Powder skiing is slower, more graceful, and requires more speed than you would think in order to get moving. Point your skis further downhill than you would think with your skis a little closer together, positioning their surface areas in proximity for maximum surf capacity. One ski one turn! Make sure to rotate your trunk with each turn so that your body and widely-placed hands are always facing down the fall line of the run. With your hands in this more forward, wider position, it's easier to plant your poles before each turn and gives you more lateral balance, all the while helping your weight not fall behind.
To turn, you'll need to amp up your spidey-slope-senses, feeling the natural bumps underneath the snow. These places will naturally push you up, making it easier to stand up and unweight your skis to initiate your next turn. Skiing in powder is more like a dance with the snow than you've ever experienced before, and it's a passive art. Think slower tempo (but fast enough to gain sufficient speed for the conditions), round and natural turns, unweighting when the hill forces you to, and using your body weight and thigh angles to turn rather than forcing a turn on your edges. If you have to take a breather after every turn, look around at the view, think about the incredible day you get to have, and then gear up to try again! Powder skiing isn't rushed, you're just there for the epic experience, so soak it all in.
Good luck out there folks, and we at CSCUSA hope that these tips give you some insight, inspiration, and a little confidence to tackle this long-awaited powder.

How to Wax Your Skis

The first measurable snow of the season made its way through Summit County this past week, dropping more than a foot of snow in some areas and prompting Arapahoe Basin to announce it will open for the first day of the season this Friday, Oct. 18! Get your pass for the first ski day of the season! And now that old man winter is knocking at the door, it’s time to tune up your skis and snowboards in preparation for the fast approaching opening day of Summit County’s ski resorts.
How to Tune Your Own Skis
Sure you could take your skis or snowboard to the local wax shop and have them put a fresh coat of wax on your sticks or plank for you. But why do that when you can do the same thing in the comfort of your own home? Like a fly fisherman who ties his own flies knows, there is a sense of pride that comes with utilizing your own skills to enhance the sports you pursue.
What You’ll Need
A few tools are needed to wax your own skis. These include base cleaner or rubbing alcohol, wax, an iron, and a plastic scraper. When choosing a wax, you can choose from temperature-specific waxes or a universal wax. If you are looking for top performance, pick a temperature-specific wax that will suite the outdoor temperature during the time you plan to ride. I usually use a universal wax as it performs just fine for my needs in nearly all conditions. When choosing an iron, you can buy a waxing iron designed specifically for waxing skis from most ski shops or you can use an old clothes iron. Just be sure to label the old clothes iron so you don’t inadvertently try to use it to iron your favorite shirt! The plastic scraper can again be purchased from most ski shops and they come in all shapes, sizes, and prices.
Getting Started
The first thing you will want to do secure your skis to your workbench. If you are using a ski vise, tighten the vise around the center of the ski or snowboard. If you don’t have a vise, a couple of stacks of books placed under your skis or snowboard at either end of the binding works just fine. When waxing downhill skis, retract the ski brake by depressing the pedal, causing the brake arms to pop up, parallel with the ski. Use a strong rubber band and hook one brake arm and then take the rubber band over the top of the heelpiece of the binding and hook the other arm. This will keep the brakes out of the way while you work.
Clean the Base
Now you’ll want to clean all the old wax as well as any dirt or debris from the base of the ski using a clean rag moistened with rubbing alcohol or base cleaner. Wipe off any visible debris and old wax and allow to dry for around 20 minutes before applying wax.
Apply the Wax
Allow your iron to heat up. The iron should be hot enough to easily melt wax but not so hot that it is smoking. Once the temperature of your iron has stabilized, you can begin to drip wax on your skis or snowboard. Hold the chunk of wax to the iron and allow the melted wax droplets to drip onto the base while holding the iron around 2 to 4 inches above the base. You want to drip enough wax to cover the base of the ski or board almost completely.
Once you have the wax dripped onto the base place the iron on the base of the ski or snowboard and spread the wax over the entire base until a layer of wax coats the entire surface. Just like ironing a shirt, don’t hold the iron in one place for too long as this could case the base to blister. Make sure the wax melts and covers the entire base from edge to edge and tip to tail. If an area is still dry, apply more wax and smooth again.
Once the base is covered in a thin layer of wax allow it to completely cool for about 30 minutes to an hour. Don’t set your skis or snowboard outside to cool as the cold temperatures will push the wax back out of the pores in the base.
Scraping and Buffing
Once the wax has cooled, it’s time to move onto the scraping. Using a plastic scraper, scrape the base from tip to tail, removing excess wax in overlapping and continuous strokes. Continue scrapping until the base is nearly free of visible wax. Wax will remain in the pores of the base of your skis or snowboard.
Make sure to remove all wax from the metal edges of the ski or snowboard completely. Some scrapers have a notch cut into them to help with this process.
Next, buff the bottom of your base by using either a nylon brush or a scouring pad like a Scotch Brite pad.
That’s it! Now you are ready to hit the slopes with your freshly waxed skis or snowboard! Make sure to wear a helmet as you’ll be going much faster now that you can wax your setup anytime you want. 

Holiday Gift Guide for Skiers and Riders

With the holiday season fast approaching, the pressure is on to find the perfect gift for every loved one on your list. If you’re shopping for a skier or snowboarder, you’re in luck. We’ve compiled a list of the best gifts to the give the snow sports enthusiast in your life.

Give the Gift of Skiing or Riding

If you’d like to give your lucky loved one the gift of skiing, there are several Ski Country options to get them on the slopes having the time of their life.

• A Season Ski Pass. With the holidays approaching, many die-hard skiers have already decided on a pass. But if your gift recipient doesn’t have a season pass yet, consider springing for their season lift tickets. Season passes vary in price, and some skiers prefer multi-mountain season passes with more flexibility while others stick to their favorite resort all season. Be sure to check with your skier or snowboarder before you pull the trigger on this gift.
• A Gems Card. This is a great option for any Colorado skier or rider, even if they’ve already purchased a ski pass. A Gems Card provides either two 2-for-1 lift tickets or two 30% off lift tickets at each of the ten Colorado Gems Resorts. Give your loved one the gift of discounted lift tickets at Colorado’s best hidden treasures. And at only $25, this holiday gift is a steal.
• A Skiing or Riding Lesson. Whether your loved one is a beginner or an expert, a child or an adult, professional instruction is the best way to improve your skiing or riding ability. The recipient of this gift will be thrilled for the opportunity to hone their skills and tweak their technique for even better days on the slopes.
• Colorado Ski Country Passport: If your skier or snowboarder is in 5th or 6th Grade, consider the Passport program. 5th graders can enjoy 3 days of skiing at 22 ski areas completely free! Your 6th grader can have 4 days at the same 22 resorts for only $125. You can register until January 31, 2018.

Gear Gifts for Your Skier or Rider

As any passionate skier or rider will tell you, it’s impossible to have too much gear. Ripping the wrapping paper off one of these ski gear choices will warm the heart of anyone ready to hit the slopes.

• Ski Tuning Kit or Ski Tune. Keeping your skis or snowboard in top shape is an essential part of the skiing process. Lakewood, Colorado-based Christy Sports sells the SKS Ski Tuning Kit for do-it-yourself gear maintenance, and offers a 24-hour turnaround policy on in-store ski and snowboard tunes, mounts and boot fittings.
• A Ski Bag or Duffel Bag. Skiers and snowboarders are often struggling to keep up with their all their gear, and leaving something behind can lead to a pricey last-minute purchase or a cold day on the slopes. A ski bag or duffel bag can help keep your snowboard, skis, poles, boots, helmet, gloves, pants, jacket and accessories all in one place.
• Ski Goggles. New ski goggles are a highly-appreciated gear gift that won’t break the bank.  May we recommend a new pair of goggles from Boulder, Colorado-based HEAD?
• Cold-Weather Accessories. While most skiers are stocked up on ski pants and jackets by the holidays, ski accessories can help your loved one stay warm and stylish on the slopes. Denver-based Phunkshun Wear sells headbands, scarves, neck tubes and Ballerclavas® featuring tech applications and USA-milled recycled fiber content.
• Wool Socks. You can never go wrong with a nice, thick pair of wool socks. You can opt for specially-designed ski socks or stick to traditional wool socks, as long as they’re thick enough to keep your Colorado skier’s toes warm in their boots.

Treat Your Loved One to Ski Luxury

Your gift recipient will love the opportunity to kick back and appreciate the finer things in life with these holiday gifts.

• A Weekend Getaway to a Colorado ski resort. While day-tripping, car-camping and “roughing it” can be fun for a ski bum, nothing compares to a weekend stay at a Colorado ski resort. Surprise your loved one with a reservation for a weekend of ski-in ski-out luxury at one of our member resorts.
• A Post-Skiing Massage. Nothing eases the body and mind, alleviates aches and pains and caps off a day of skiing quite like a massage. Watch your skier’s eyes light up when they open this ticket to a day of pampering and luxury. 
• Extreme Skiing in Style. While Colorado’s world-class lift-served terrain is enough to keep any skier or rider happy, there’s no adrenaline rush quite like backcountry snow cat and heli-skiing. Treat your holiday gift recipient to the rare opportunity to ski or ride terrain off the beaten path.

Don’t Let Ski Slang Get The Best of You This Winter

Ski season has long-ago begun for some, and they’re stoked about shredding gnarly fresh pow lines or stomping sick new tricks with their park rat bros when the light’s a little flat and the snow slushes like mashed potatoes. For others, ski season can take its slow time and give a little snow here for Thanksgiving and a little snow there for Christmas, and leave us with blue bird afternoon cruiser runs the rest of the season. Regardless of which camp you ski in, ski jargon is a language unto itself that has developed alongside the onslaught of seasoned ski bums, new technology, and visiting tourists alike. It would seem like a perfect time for a quick run-down of some of the terms you might hear out there this season.
Après-ski: (ä-ˌprā-ˈskē) noun
    Literally means after-ski. The much anticipated celebratory post-ski day party at any base resort, restaurant, or bar where thawing bodies find themselves shooting pool and reminiscing on the turns they made on the slopes that day.
Bombing/bomb: (freshiesbäm) verb/noun
    To bomb as a noun (apart from when ski patrol lobs avalanche/avy bombs to keep skiers safe) is to ski or snowboard at a very rapid pace down a run, usually without turning, and often done in order to catch a few more lifts before the day ends.
Bony: (bō-nē) adjective
    Usually refers to spring or early season skiing when rocks and tree stumps protrude from minimal snow cover, endangering your head, your bodily health, and above all, the base of your skis.
Brain bucket: (brān ˈbə-kət) noun
    This is your helmet: wear it.
Bumps: (bəmps) noun
    Moguls. Those pesky mounds of pushed-up snow that make you feel like you’re really making it out there for about three turns before the rogue one pushes you over too soon and you quickly lose balance and/or coordination and your form disintegrates into you looking more like a limp noodle. At least that’s my experience.
Chatter: (cha-tər) noun/verb
           This is when snow cookies, or those round hardened marbles of snow, ice, and knee pain roll under your skis as you turn and cause the boards to quite literally chatter, sending earth-quaking vibrations up through your shred-weary bones.
Dirtbag: (dərt-ˌbag) noun
    A person who typically loves skiing more than anything or anyone else in life and will put it on the highest pedestal, to the point of living on couches or out of renovated vans in order to best maximize ski time. Admit it, we’ve all considered it at one point, even if as a distinctly impossible yet dreamy option.
Face shot: (fās shät) noun
    When the new snow is so light, delicious, and fluffy that it sprays up into your face every time you make a turn. Frequently, this type of snow will make it the best ski day of your life.
Flat: (flat) adjective
    This typically refers to low quality of light on the slopes, when everything morphs into a similar shade of grey and all the bumps and divots in the snow mysteriously disappear. Slightly dangerous and highly annoying. Antonym: high light, much preferable.
Freshy: (ˈfreshē, -shi) noun
    Also used in the phrase: fresh tracks. This is the glorious time when you are the first to ski a run and your tracks are the first and only on the new dumping of powder. Many wake up at unimaginable times of the morning to obtain these medallions of glory. Frequently associated with face shots.
Gaper/Gaper gap: (gā-pər , sometimesˈga-pər) adjective/noun
    Commonly someone who is new to skiing and unknowingly makes it clear with wardrobe selections and various mannerisms at the base area. Gaper gap refers to the inch or two of exposed and chilly forehead between the bottom of the helmet and those ten-year old pair of Scott goggles (not brand-specific). To be remedied by pushing the two back into unison, for style and also for a significantly warmer face.
Gnar: (när) adjective/noun
    Short for gnarly. Usually in reference to a difficult, beautiful, powdery run. I.e.: ‘shred the gnar,’ or ‘that was gnarly.’ Synonyms: sick, rad, radical, sweet.
Jibber/park rat: (jib-bər) noun
    Someone who spends the majority of their resort time in the park, jibbing (riding) rails and sending (jumping) jumps. Often a rival of the lovers of backcountry or in-resort powder skiing.
Liftie: (lift-ē) noun
    The gloriously kind people who run the lifts from open till close and help with all the caught tips, stuck poles, and general disarray surrounding loading and unloading the lifts. Thank them when you get the chance.
Line: (līn) noun
    The route that a skier elects to take down a run. Usually in reference to a meticulously planned-out big mountain path that involves trees, cliffs, and freshies (see above) to have the gnarliest (see above) run of the day.
Mashed Potatoes: (mashd pə-ˈtā-(ˌ)tō) noun/adjective
    This is the snow that literally feels like what you would imagine skiing on mashed potatoes feels like: sticky, goopy, and throws you off balance every time you enter another patch of it. A speed demon’s nemesis.
Pow: (pau̇) noun
    Powder, the glorious white fluffy snow that cold, dry nights often bring. An overnight Christmas miracle met with cries of joy, early morning departures, and too much coffee.
Ripper (Antonym: gaper) (ri-pər) adjective/noun
    AKA shredder. A person who is a very skilled skier and bombs (see above) their lines (see above) flawlessly. Generally a beautiful sight to witness.
Sick: (sik) adjective
    See: gnar
Six Pack (siks pak) noun
    Another way to refer to a lift that holds six people.
Snow snake (snō-snāk) noun
    Those pesky, invisible snow monsters that grab your skis in the middle of a run and cause havoc for your previously beautiful line. Usually results in some sort of small crash or embarrassing, out-of-nowhere leg wobble. See: yard sale.
Stomp (stämp, stȯmp ) verb
    To stomp a line or a trick is to execute it without flaw and to have everything go to plan.
Switch (swich) verb
    To ski or ride backwards, typically used by park rats to describe how they begin or end a trick.
Yard Sale (yard-sāl) verb
    When a skier crashes and their gear scatters across the hill: poles, probably a glove, usually both skis, hopefully not a helmet. Please, stop and help this person out of their embarrassment and into either their gear or safety.