The Blackbird Blog
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News
Snowfall Lodge: Openings in January 2024!
Openings at Snowfall Lodge in British Columbia this January! We've got a few spots available for this incredible trip of a lifetime! Read on to see why we love BC lodge trips so much!
Summit Success on Mont Blanc
Blackbird teams led by IFMGA Mountain Guide Zeb Blais scored 100% success on Mont Blanc this month. All members from each team made it to the top and back down safely. Read on for routes and pictures!
Solo Summit of the Matterhorn via Hornli Ridge
A jagged tusk of gneiss towering at an elevation of 14,692' (4,478m), the Matterhorn might be the most recognizable mountain in the world. From Zermatt, the small Swiss town below, it looks impossibly steep. Surprising as it might seem, the Matterhorn is relatively easy in terms of technical difficulty. But let's...
Backcountry Ski & Splitboard
Hardboots vs Softboots: Splitboard Setup Advice
Splitboarding has seen wild growth over the last ten years as riders seek out remote lines, the crowds at resorts grow, and technology makes the sport more approachable. A microcosm within the realm of splitboarding is the world of “hardbooting”, or using a soft-flexing ski touring boot instead of the...
What to Pack for a Frog Lake Huts Trip
So you're headed into the Frog Lake Backcountry Ski Huts in Truckee and you want to know "what do I need to bring?!" The Frog Lake Huts are unlike any other backcountry huts - here's the lowdown!
Tips for Safe Early Season Backcountry Skiing
As the backcountry ski season lunges forward with some quality skiing in early November, here are some tips to stay safe while exploring the backcountry in the early season!
What's in a Wilderness First Aid Kit?
A Wilderness First Aid Kit is a piece of gear that should come on every backcountry trip. Whether you're backcountry skiing, splitboarding, rock climbing, mountain biking or any outdoor activity with potential for injury, a wilderness first aid kit is an essential component of any outdoor enthusiasts' gear list.
4 Reasons a BC Ski Lodge Should be Your Next Ski Trip
Spending a week at a backcountry ski lodge in British Columbia should be high on every backcountry skier's tick list. These remote lodges offer a Canadian take on experiencing the backcountry, allowing guests to get deep in the mountains without embarking on a grueling winter mountaineering expedition. This post explores our...
5 Essential Bodyweight Exercises for Backcountry Skiers and Snowboarders
Looking to get fit for backcountry ski season? In this video article, Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Nutrition Coach and Certified Cross-Country Ski Coach, Martin Benes walks us through 5 Essential Bodyweight Exercises for Backcountry skiers and snowboarders to help you prepare for backcountry skiing this season.
Avalanche Education
What is the AIARE 2 Avalanche Course?
Avalanches are hard to predict and avalanche education is a lifelong pursuit. After the AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Course and Avalanche Rescue Course, the AIARE Level 2 is the next step. We explore what the next chapter in your avalanche education is all about!
When is the best time of year to take an avalanche course?
Like snowflakes, no two courses are the same. Whatever time frame you choose to take an avalanche course, get the most out of your time in the field and take advantage of the conditions at hand! We cover the pros and cons of taking an avalanche course in each part of...
Do I really need an Avalanche Rescue Course?
Avalanche Level 1 originally intended to do two things. It aimed to provide a baseline understanding of avalanches and decision making to avoid avalanches and to provide rescue skills in the event of an accident. As it turns out, this was a lot to cram into the original 3 day AIARE 1. ...
Why is Avalanche Education important?
It seems that most everyone has received the message at this point: if you're going into the backcountry, you need to take an Avy Course. But why is this so important? Is it really all that complicated? Is it really that dangerous? What do we learn in these classes anyway?
SKI MOUNTAINEERING
Mt Shasta West Face with Daron Rahlves
We couldn't have timed conditions better for our West Face summit and ski descent on Mt Shasta with Daron Rahlves. With warm temps at night and high winds forecast, had us on guard about climbing and skiing conditions, but conditions turned out to be incredible!
Baker in a Day: Single Push Ski Mountaineering on the most Glaciated Peak in the North Cascades
Our mission was to summit Mount Baker and ski from the top in a day. Originally, we had been planning to spend few days on the mountain, skiing various routes, but with stormy weather incoming for the next couple days we knew we had to make it work in a day. It was...
The best ski route on Mount Shasta? A Trip Report from the Hotlum Wintun Route
Memorial Day weekend continued the trend of wacky weather with frigid temperatures around 10 degrees at 12,000’. Even with the strong California sun doing its magic on the snow, it was hard to imagine the surface softening significantly. It seemed that the weekend might be a bust, but we shrugged off...
Ski Mountaineering Isn't That Hard
Zeb Blais, IFMGA Mountain Guide and Director of Blackbird Mountain Guides, taking a crew of ski mountaineers for a climb during a recent Ski Mountaineering Skills course on Donner Summit in Truckee. Photo: Ali Agee. Ski Mountaineering is intimidating. It doesn't even sound like a sport. It sounds like a Bachelor...
ALPINE CLIMBING
Temple Crag: Classic High Sierra Alpine Climbing
When the weather is nice in the High Sierra Alpine, there's no better place to climb than Temple Crag. With huge alpine rock routes spanning well over 1,500', Temple crag boasts some of the longest continuous climbing in the High Sierra. The 4 major routes on the north face of Temple Crag,...
Mt Shuksan Fisher Chimneys: Small Mountain, Big Punch
For a relatively small mountain, Mount Shuksan packs a big punch. Stretching only 9,131’ above sea level, one might easily overlook this gem of the North Cascades. Luckily for Mt Shuksan, mountain climbing is more than mere altitude.
Summit on Mount Rainier
Blackbird Mountain Guides made the summit of Mount Rainier during the Rainier Summit & Skills Expedition on July 20th. The summit was made during the 5 day skills seminar & after a number of days of mountaineering skills including crampons, ice axe arrest, glacier travel, knots, anchors, crevasse rescue &...
Tocllaraju: Our Final Climb in the Cordillera Blanca
We woke early, knowing that if we wanted a chance to summit Tocllaraju, we were in for a long day. The morning started off like the evening: clear, cold and still. As we gained altitude on the glacier, the winds picked up and soon gusts were blowing snow into our faces...
The Ishinca Traverse: Peak 3 of 4, Cordillera Blanca
After a wild and windy summit on Urus Este, we were feeling well acclimatized, and ready for our next objective: the Ishinca Traverse. This is a classic climb in Peru's Cordillera Blanca and offers incredible views of Ranrapalca, Ocshapalca, Tocllaraju, Palcaraju and our last peak Urus Este.
The Ishinca Valley: Urus Este, Nevado Ishinca and Tocllaraju
After acclimatizing and refreshing ice climbing and mountaineering skills on Yanapaccha, our team took a well deserved rest day in Huaraz to prepare for our next objective: The Ishinca Valley. The Quebrada Ishinca, as it is known in Peru, is one of the Cordillera Blanca’s most famous valleys and is...
ROCK CLIMBING
Best Spots for Beginner Rock Climbing in Tahoe
Whether you're new to outdoor rock climbing, sport climbing, trad climbing, or multi pitch climbing, check out our list of the best crags in the Tahoe area for beginner rock climbers! We've got the lowdown on all the best spots to learn rock climbing or build your rock-climbing skills in the Truckee...