mountain - Explore Big Sky

EXPLORING LIFE, LAND AND CULTURE FROM THE HEART OF THE YELLOWSTONE REGION
MOUNTAIN
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WINTER 2014
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MOUNTAIN
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M A K E O V E R
PORTRAITS BY JON MARSHALL
Mountain towns wouldn’t function without
dedicated locals.
These are the schoolteachers, waitresses, fundraisers, rescue workers and lift operators who quietly go about their
business, logging overtime hours to support the communities they love.
Most of them live in ski towns, well, because they love
to ski. However, they typically don’t get snazzy new
equipment every year. We worked with four community
members from our hometown of Big Sky, Montana, and
decked them out with the most badass 2013/14 gear we
could find.
PHOTO BY TYLER BUSBY
“I was drawn to this project because of [Pete’s] raw
nature and his passion for human-powered skiing,”
said Dynafit Communications Manager Eric Henderson, who lined tester Pete Owens out with boots and
bindings.
K2 Skis aims to lead in designing skis made for
women and by women, said MJ Carroll of K2. This
year’s new Remedy 102s are featured in tester Patty
Hamblin’s kit.
For Mountain Outlaw, the goal was to shed light on
our testers’ work, to say thanks, and hopefully, to rip
a few turns with them this winter. – The Editors
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PATTY HAMBLIN
ENGLISH TEACHER, LONE PEAK HIGH SCHOOL
ALPINE SKIING
GEAR
After 17 years in Big Sky, Patty Hamblin knows
her favorite spot on the mountain: Bavarian Forest.
Originally from Preston, Idaho (think Napoleon
Dynamite), the English teacher spends her free
time taking care of her baby daughter and “generally having a great time in the outdoors.”
“I like the tight-knit feel of Big Sky – being able
to drive down the road and wave at every other
car because you know them is magical,” says
Hamblin, 38. “I also love how active our community is.”
For Hamblin, being a teacher is a way to give
back – from planning the Lone Peak High School
Outdoor Expedition to serving as the Student
Council Advisor, “there are so many great opportunities that go along with the job.”
Patagonia Untracked Anorak and Pants
I was skeptical of the Anorak’s pullover style, but
have been pleasantly surprised that the side-zip
allows effortless entry/exit. Both items have the
right amount of room for extra layers on cold
winter days. If you’re warm hiking Big Sky’s A-Z
chutes, the pit zips are easy to pull up and down
with gloves on, and the leg vents are well placed.
To give the Gore-Tex an honest try, I sat in my
chairlift swing through a crazy fall rainstorm.
The jacket (with its helmet compatible hood) and
pants kept the wet out, and the warm in.
One of my complaints with past iterations of
Patagonia ski pants was length. This awesome
company heard its customers and remedied the
problem – these are just right. Anorak $550,
pants $449 patagonia.com
Salomon Xtend Goggle
The Xtends have a wonderful lens that dims the
sun and comes in great colors. Available in several sizes. salomon.com
Patagonia Women’s Capilene 4 Expedition
Weight One Piece Suit
This incredibly cozy, comfy base layer receives an
A+ in my book. And the first question most of you
may ask: What about the bathroom? Phew – there
is a drop-seat that zips down both sides. An extrahigh neck and thumbholes to keep the sleeves in
place round out a onesie you won’t regret slipping
on. $199 patagonia.com
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K2 Remedy 102
These skis have received rave reviews. With camber underfoot, they’re stable on
groomers; the rockered tip and 16-meter turn radius makes them maneuverable in all sorts of terrain, especially deep pow pow! You will definitely see me
on the slopes taking the Remedies for a ride. $599.95 k2skis.com
Marker Griffon bindings
At 67 ounces, the Griffons are lightweight: key for me this winter, as I’m nine
months out of ACL surgery. Same goes for the lower DIN range, which is beneficial for lighter weight skiers, but not ideal for someone burlier. My knees are
also happy with the Griffon’s easy entry and release. $295 markerusa.com
K2 HighStyle poles
Sometimes, the simplest tasks, like
putting pole straps around my wrist,
frustrate me. Sizing them to different gloves is too hard. Those days
are over with the K2 HighStyles.
Lightweight, they have easily adjustable straps, plus retro ‘80s hot pink
á la Better off Dead and a comfortable grip. $99.95 k2skis.com
Union Factory T Rice binding
This new binding from Union was designed by “the man,” Travis Rice! The binding
is a bit stiffer than most, but offers great board control. With a 2mm lift in the front,
the footbed has a slight gas pedal feel, allowing quick transition in and out of turns.
Strap and highback adjustments are all done without a tool, which makes changing
them on the fly super easy. $269.95 unionbindingcompany.com
Mitch Hamel moved to Big Sky planning
to stay a winter, and after six years he’s still
here.
Originally from Groton, New York, Hamel
learned to snowboard while working as
a ticket checker at Bromley Mountain,
Vermont. He moved to Big Sky from Burlington, where he worked as a counselor at a
juvenile detention center.
“Big Sky has felt like home since the day
we moved here,” the 31-year-old says. “It
has and continues to be a very welcoming
community.”
Smith Vice Goggles
Who knew goggles could be so
techy? Spherical, Carbonic-X Lens,
TLT Optics, Articulating Outrigger
Positioning System, Patented
Vaporator Lens Technology, Porex™
Filter, 5X Anti-Fog Inner Lens… umm,
all you need to know is that the Vice’s
minimal frame and oversized lens
give you a huge field of vision, and
the inner triple layer of foam makes
them comfy. Both lenses have 5X
anti-fog to keep them clear: the
Blackout lens is best for sun, while
the Red Sensor Mirror kills it in low
light. $170 smithoptics.com
An all-around fun-loving guy, Hamel also
likes to hike, trail run, camp, bike and canoe.
SNOWBOARDING
Never Summer Raptor
This is an ideal Big Sky board: It’s a mid-stiff, directional board with a rockered
tip and tail and camber underfoot. I love the setback stance, which allows better
flotation in deep snow. The carbon and rubber stringers combined with the
durasurf base and sintered p-tex sidewalls keep it nice and light, while also adding
strength and durability – perfect for any rocks Lone Mountain throws at it! $589.99
neversummer.com
MITCH HAMEL
FIREFIGHTER AND EMT,
BIG SKY FIRE DEPARTMENT
Dakine Force Jacket
The Force has tons of features: a
chest pocket for your phone, hood
drawcords, adjustable cuffs, doubled
wrist gaiters, a zippered pass
pocket, a mesh goggle pocket and
thumb holes. More importantly, the
zippers are stormproof, the pit zips
are huge, the hood fits over your
helmet, and the whole rig is insulated
and waterproof. The fit on Dakine
outerwear runs big, so make sure
you try it on first or check their sizing
guide. $300 dakine.com
Dakine Ace Pant
These are great pants from Dakine with stormproof/fully taped zippers and extra primaloft
in the areas that contact the snow most – the
knees and butt. Powder skirt loops allow easy
hook-up with a jacket, and boot gaiters help
keep snow out. Oversized leg vents accommodate even the rare warm day. $250 dakine.com
Dakine Excursion Glove
I run hot and don’t have an issue with cold
hands, so these sleek gloves are just right – I
especially like the dexterity, which makes getting in and out of bindings easier. Specs: 170
grams of Primaloft; water repellent leather/
soft shell outers; breathable Gore Tex waterproof inner; wool lining. $85 dakine.com
Airblaster Ninja Suit
You won’t win any fashion contests in the
Ninja Suit, but from a functional standpoint, this full-piece base layer system
with hood has you covered. You’ll never
deal with exposed skin or snow down your
underpants again. $79.99 poly; $189.99
merino wool) myairblaster.com
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GEAR
GEAR FOR ANY SPORT
Hammer Perpetuem
If George Jetson were a skier,
he would take Perpetuem on
his big adventures. This large
chewable pill is usable as your
sole food source.
Read the label to figure out
how much to take hourly (according to your body size), put
the pills in your pocket, and
set off on a multi-day ski tour
around Yellowstone. Don’t forget to drink a lot of water with
this space-age product.
hammernutrition.com
Darn Tough Socks
With 1441 stitches of fine merino wool per square inch (the most in the industry), Darn Tough socks stay cushy all day. No seams = no blisters. Top it off with
an unconditional lifetime warranty.
Testers Mitch and Patty tried DT’s Over-the-Calf Cushion Padded Shin Ski/
Ride Socks for their on-mountain ripping this year; Jessie’s cruising the Lone
Mountain Ranch trails with her Nordic Micro Crew Ultralights, and Pete is skinning up a backcountry ridge somewhere, reveling in his Padded Over-the-Calf
Ultralight Ski/Ride Socks. darntough.com
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EXPLORE BIG SKY
E X P L O R E B I G S K Y. C O M
(BIANNUAL)
( B I W E E K LY )
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1 Sept. 20-Oct. 3, 2013
HEADER
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Life and land from the heart of the Yellowstone Region
Explore Big Sky
Big Sky
FALL ON THE FLY:
The fishing issue
S T R AT E G I C P L A N N I N G
A N D C O N S U LT I N G
PHOTO BY DAVE EDWARDS
Sept. 20-Oct. 3, 2013
Volume 4 // Issue #19
Sam Byrne
talks investment
at Montana
economic summit
BUSINESS PROFILE:
Willie's Distillery takes
Ennis by storm
A summer of
Music in the Mountains
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GRAPHIC DESIGN
WEB DEVELOPMENT
P U B L I C R E L AT I O N S A N D
AGENCY SERVICES
EVENT PLANNING AND
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Gov. Bullock meets with top Montana companies
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A Bismarck, North Dakota, native and
five-year Big Sky resident, Jessie Wiese,
32, puts her master’s in Land Resources and
Environmental Sciences to use as director
of Big Sky’s parks and trails organization,
the Big Sky Community Corporation.
Salomon S-Lab Skate Pro boot
Never has a top-of-the-line skate boot offered such comfort and warmth without
compromising performance. The stiff sole and forward heel cup combined with
a state-of-the-art micro-adjusting buckle system took my skiing from slightly
sloppy to very tight. $399 salomon.com
She frequents the Lone Mountain Ranch
Nordic trails, clocking 8-10 miles a day,
five days a week on her skate skis.
“It’s important to me not to live to work,
but to live for my passions, enjoy my
surroundings, and try to help people and
communities reach their potential and
goals,” she said.
Smartwool Cortina Hoody
This merino knit hoody offers
sun protection up to UPF 25, and
it pops with color and style. The
performance-driven design includes
flatlock seams to eliminate chafing, and thumbholes that increase
coverage. The built-in flip mitts
fold over my hands, keeping them
covered when I need a little extra
warmth. $110 smartwool.com
Smartwool NTS Light 195 bottom
These windproof, reflective tights
are my new best friend on cold,
snowy days. Although form fitting,
the merino wool material is not
constricting, and the wide, women’s
specific waistband is a comfortable
addition. The secure rear pocket
works well for storing gear or food.
$85 smartwool.com
JESSIE WIESE
Smartwool PhD
Cortina Jacket
This is the jacket to own
in the southwest Montana climate. The nylon
outer and merino inner
keep me toasty on a long
downhill Nordic ski run,
and I loved it for fall
bike rides and climbing
peaks mid-summer.
The front pocket is perfect for storing music
or a snack on longer
Nordic treks. $160
smartwool.com
Wiese is a Big Sky Rotary Club member, a
board member on the local Mountain Bike
Alliance, Natural Resource Council and
park district, and has also helped coach the
local Nordic team.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
BIG SKY COMMUNITY CORPORATION
Salomon S-Lab Carbon Pole
This incredibly light and
super stiff carbon pole transfers more power through
each pole plant. The new,
perfectly fitting ergonomic
strap gave me excellent
control and the optional
smaller, lighter baskets
minimize drag. $299.99
salomon.com
NORDIC SKIING
Salomon S-LAB Equipe 10 Skate SG
Not only are these skis light, they’re also responsive and highly stable. The
Nomex honeycomb core is wrapped with a carbon fiberglass laminate and
sandwiched between wood sidewalls – which means every bit of energy you put
in becomes powerful forward momentum. The G5 Zeolit race base has an additive that increases glide and wax retention, and balanced pressure and camber
make every snow condition – especially cold – feel fast. Incredible rebound
energy makes me feel like I’m ready for a 50k. $649.99 salomon.com
Julbo Whoops sunglasses
Designed for smaller faces, the
Whoops’ photochromatic lenses
excel in many light conditions, and
the scratch resistant, anti-fog coating keeps them performing despite
changing temps. $90-$160
julbousa.com
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PETE OWENS
BIG SKY SEARCH AND RESCUE
“I can put skins on at my house, climb as far
as I want and never run into anyone,” he said.
“The shot is southeast facing, and you ski
everything – deep powder, crust and dirt and
rock, sometimes all in one run.”
Classic Owens: positive attitude, hair-brained
schemes.
A volunteer with the local search and rescue
team, he is currently taking classes toward
Occupational Therapy at Montana State
University, and spends much of his free time
bagging peaks near Big Sky.
Mammut/Barryvox Element avalanche beacon
The directions for the Element are only one
page long (even I will read that). Without practice, I performed a multiple beacon search
flawlessly. User friendly, this is a great beacon
for beginners and is similar to the Mammut/
Barryvox Pulse, but without the advanced
options for professionals (which come with a
larger user manual and price tag). The Element’s screen is not backlit, so you’ll need a
headlamp on a dark night… but you probably want one of those anyways. $489.95
mammut.ch
G3 Spade Tech Shovel
Digging buried people out is the most time consuming part of avalanche recovery, and shovel
design has come a long way the past five years.
The Spade Tech looks like a tiny toy you’d pack
to save weight, but with its straight shaft/blade,
paddling softer snow like a canoe and carving
blocks from firm debris won’t flex the shovel a
hair. $59.95 genuineguidegear.com
G3 300 Carbon Speed Tech Probe
G3’s Speed Tech 300 locks into place with a
pull cord. If you’re looking to volunteer or work
for a rescue organization, you’ll need a 300 cm
probe. This one comes in 43 cm segments and
weighs 284 g, with cm’s marked for pit digging.
$84.95 genuineguidegear.com
G3 Bone Saw
Since becoming commonplace, the extended
column test has provided improved accuracy
for avalanche decision-making. With that,
the snow saw has gone from a geeky nonessential, to an every-outing-necessity. At 169
grams, G3 has answered the call of a simple,
light, solid tool. $59.95 genuineguidegear.com
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WHAT PETE’S PACKIN’
Pete Owens has been skiing for 29 years and
living in Big Sky for nine. The former professional ski patroller loves touring up the low
angle terrain on Tick Ridge with friends.
MOUNTAIN
PHOTO BY JON MARSHALL
BACKCOUNTRY SKIING
GEAR
Black Diamond Anarchist Pack w/ Avalung (Pete wearing at right)
With 2,624 cubic inches of space and weighing 4.5 lbs. (including the Avalung
avalanche safety breathing device), the Anarchist is a go-anywhere pack. With
it, everything is at my fingertips: Snacks/light layers in the belt pocket, goggles
in the top pocket, pit kit in the bigger top compartment, and avalanche gear in a
dedicated front pouch. The hip strap still on, I can swing the pack around front
and access the back zippered compartment. $299.95 genuineguidegear.com
Black Diamond Ascension Nylon STS skins
These skins can put in a skin track so steep your partners’ hips will hurt just
looking at it. They’ve stuck to my skis at -20 F, worked after I fell into a creek,
and after walking a half-mile over rock, too tired to remove my skis. On that
note: Always bring two of the rubber, belt-like ski straps – lifesavers if your
skins do fail. $139.95 blackdiamondequipment.com
Julbo Orbiter goggles
The Orbiters’ photochromatic lens changes tint with changing light and their
frame is so comfortable I sometimes forget to remove them on the skin up.
$180-200 julbousa.com
Ibex Indie Arm Warmer
An instant layer change, these arm warmers fit in my pack hip pocket. I grab
them on the fly when cold, or stash them when sweaty. $40 shop.ibex.com
Brooks Range pit kit:
This is a vast improvement for anyone still carrying a crammed stuff sac of
snow crystal cards and waterproof paper. Brooks Range’s sleek bag lets you organize your stability rating tools with dedicated pockets for every item. $151.95
brooks-range.com
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Black Diamond Justice skis
The BD Justice is the voice of reason
in a fast evolving ski world that almost
left us at the trailhead with two Ushaped snowboard-looking “skis” on
our feet. With its “semi-rockered” tail,
I feel solid in steep, firm couloirs; the
moderate sidecut is great for getting an
edge in on the skin track.
At 6’2” and 190 lbs., I was apprehensive about the capped sidewall (tricky
to repair) and the max length of 185
cm. However, with 115 cm underfoot, a
rockered tip, and enough useable edge,
it was perfect for spring tours.
By incorporating paulownia wood with
carbon fiber, the Justice has that “real
ski” wooden feel, without the weight (8
lbs., 6 oz per pair/185 cm). I even found a
rock to hit, and am happy to say both the
rock and the ski survived just fine. The
Justice is set to change in future seasons,
so get them now while they’re hot. $437
blackdiamondequipment.com
Dynafit Mercury TF Alpine Touring Boot
Unbuckle the boot cuff with Dynafit’s new
central buckle system, and the Mercurys
have running shoe-like range of motion.
Buckle the cuff down, and you have an aggressive ski boot. I’ll never again confuse ski
and walk mode. If you call the back of your
truck your second home, this boot is all the
chairlift you need. $799.95
dynafit.com
Dynafit TLT Radical ST binding
Dynafit has made believers out of us skiers
who long assumed the small unsuspecting pin
binding could never hold us or our huge egos.
Turns out, they do the job quite well. The TLT
Radical ST is for those looking for light bindings
in and out of bounds, without having to wear
leashes. Ultra-light geeks, be forewarned: The
brakes cannot be removed. $499.95 dynafit.com
Outdoor Research Ferrosi Hoody
Water resistant and with great wicking capacity,
this is one of the most versatile jackets I’ve ever
worn. At 399 grams, it’s uber-light (I sometimes
imagine ripping it off like Hulk Hogan entering a
wrestling ring), but it’s tough and even survived a
crash into a rock pile. $125
outdoorresearch.com
Outdoor Research Trailbreaker Pants
These lightweight, durable, water resistant pants
have slim fit and a great range of motion, but aren’t so
tight people look at you and think, “That guy’s a tool.”
The right pocket is “beacon rated,” a new trend in the
avalanche world where you clip your transceiver in your
pocket for quick access. As with any avalanche skill,
practice is the only thing that makes your search faster.
$195 outdoorresearch.com
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