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Understanding the Forecast Was Never the Hard Part

Understanding the Forecast Was Never the Hard Part

First in an eight-part series on avalanche education, Caleb starts with the most misunderstood tool in the backcountry: the avalanche forecast. The number is the headline, but the problems and the bottom line are the story

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Alpine Layering System: 4-on-Top, 3-on-Bottom

Alpine Layering System: 4-on-Top, 3-on-Bottom

When I started mountaineering back in 1981, outfitting options were limited; thrift shops for Heavy wool sweaters, wool knickers, stiff cagoules or anoraks, and rudimentary foul-weather gear were the norm, and wool was mandatory. Today, outdoor fabric technology has...

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Your Winter Is Being Decided Right Now

Your Winter Is Being Decided Right Now

Caleb brings an honest look at the most overlooked month in avalanche safety: October. There’s no snow on the ground, but the weak layers that will matter in February are forming right now — in the snowpack, and in us.

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A good headlamp is a critical piece of safety equipment.

A good headlamp is a critical piece of safety equipment.

A reliable headlamp allows a person to navigate, manage ropes, assess terrain, and respond to problems when daylight is gone. On alpine climbs, we start hours before sunrise, and delays, changing weather, or an emergency can easily extend the descent into darkness....

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The Call Someone Has to Answer

The Call Someone Has to Answer

Caleb covers some background on Search and Rescue in the United States and why the billing of those needing rescue is set up as a public service.

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Eyewear For The Mountains

Eyewear For The Mountains

When I am guiding in the mountains, I think of eyewear as essential piece of safety equipment that is non-negotiable! Once we are above tree line, bright snow, wind, and intense UV exposure can quickly turn poor visibility into a serious...

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