Skiing

Learn from Zeb Blais, IFMGA Mountain Guide and Owner of Blackbird Mountain Guides, as he shares his expert knowledge on best practices for avoiding avalanche risks. Discover a comprehensive checklist of essential tips and advice to stay safe while enjoying the backcountry.

The piece of advice that’s stuck with me since I took my first avalanche course is the importance of mentorship. But mentorship has been hard to come by. Later, I learned that mentors are more likely to take on mentees who remind them of themselves. In an industry where men far outnumber women, could this have something to do with my struggle to find mentors in the industry?  

Four friends climbed a 7-kilometer trail leading to the remote Plummer Canyon Yurt. They quickly realized they were venturing into one of the continent's most stunning backcountry ski destinations.

Rab athlete, Amy David, is a big mountain skier. But that doesn’t come without an extensive understanding of snow and avalanches. An ongoing pursuit, that takes a lifetime to grasp… Maybe two lifetimes.

Boris and friends go on a trip to Pakistan to explore some high alpine skiing. This adventure entails pleasure, stress, and set backs.

Boris and friends go on a trip to Pakistan to explore some high alpine skiing. This adventure entails pleasure, stress, and set backs.

From our birthplace in the Scottish Highlands to our playground in the mountains of the world, we thrive in the worst that mother nature can dish out. With our Khroma collection, we’ve taken our years of experience, skill and knowledge in making mountain clothing that performs in all conditions and applied that to ski mountaineering apparel.

“How do we put the skis on Pal?” I wonder aloud as I look over the muscular dun colored gelding who will be our packhorse. Pal huffs quietly and gives me a patient look that says, “Take as long as you want, I’m in no rush to get up that mountain.”

In January 2020, ambassador Anna Blackwell travelled to Arctic Sweden. Once there, despite very little experience on skis, she found herself skiing into the backcountry for a multi-day camping trip with a friend.

We started our trip to Iceland in Munich in March 2020. During the approach to Reykjavik, our noses were sticking to the window of the airplane. The view over the first snow-covered hills reaching all the way down to the shore was incredibly impressive. I could already imagine the first turns in the untouched snow.

Most of the fun in any expedition is in the preparation. This isn’t just my opinion, it’s been proven scientifically. With this in mind, I try to extend the preparation process for our Lake Baikal (RU) traverse as much as possible. It’s too much fun!

Our journey starts in the village Byblos/Jubail, an old port on the Mediterranean Sea just north of Beirut. In 2850 b.c. Byblos was a colony of Egypt and an important trading place. Soon we realize that this will not be an ordinary tourist trip but also a journey through the history of a country of which we only know little.

Last November Joe Doherty became the first Scout in the world to ski to the South Pole and kite ski back. The journey began from the Messner Start (80o 67’ S 65o 00’ W) where he man hauled his 100kg Pulk 912km to the South Pole over 45 days. Upon reaching the Pole he headed for Union Glacier which took him 16 days and he covered 2045km in total.  (80o 05’ S 78o 30’ W)

In our 70s, pink candy-coloured Land Cruiser, it looks more like heading out from a summer camp. Our driver, as comfortable behind the wheel as he is on the turntables, happily shares with us his local playlist. In the back seat, smiling, Nuawas, Muaz and Nazir enthusiastically accompany the words (they take care of our logistics and, in particular, our kitchen at base camp).  Rocked by the road and the landscapes that pass by, I watch the scene just happy to be back in Pakistan.