Jason Albert

1 month ago | the-high-route.com | Jason Albert

A soggy Monday morning in this corner of the PNW warrants a moment to get the head out of the sand. With eyes wide open, sand free, and two cups of coffee down, I am thinking of gatekeeping. Which, after a few false starts Googling terms like “backcountry skiing and gatekeeping” looped me back to @jackkuenzle’s IG statement on the topic. It’s not that the algorithm linked to Kuenzle’s “content,” but I recalled Kuenzle mentioning The High Route in a post.

1 month ago | the-high-route.com | Jason Albert

Clarus Corporation, owner of Black Diamond and Pieps, announces the pending sale of Pieps amidst CPSC/Department of Justice litigation. , an Austrian company known for avalanche transceivers. At the time, Black Diamond’s reputation for climbing and alpine hard goods was well established, with their touring lines carving out a hearty niche with skins, skis, poles, boots, shovels, and probes. Pieps, on the other hand, offered BD a jumpstart into airbags and transceivers.

1 month ago | the-high-route.com | Jason Albert

We go into the hills for many reasons. One is for an escape. And so we beg forgiveness for intruding on an aspect of your escape. Here’s a story on tariffs and pricing and the gear you may or may not be thinking about. Even the most diehard head-in-the-sand backcountry tourists among us must know, I’m certain, that tariffs will cause prices of most (all?) goods to increase. A few dynamics are at play.

2 months ago | the-high-route.com | Jason Albert

Sometimes all the variables align: timing the corn cycle right can make ski touring in spring all that much better. Impatience is a thing. As discussed with a partner on a recent ski tour, we agreed that impatience could ruin an otherwise fine day of spring touring. Here’s one scenario. You get up at 3 AM. You headlamp through breakfast and coffee and much of your approach. There’s the sound of chainmail across the snow (ski crampons) and then a creamsicle sky to the east.

2 months ago | the-high-route.com | Jason Albert

This article is about crampons for splitboarders and two individuals’ experiences on their respective paths. Because we delve into crampons, which go on the feet, we’ll also discuss hardboots and softboots. However, there’s no going to the mat here. We’ll leave the debate over splitboarding footwear for another time. On one hand, we have Daniel Crist, a dedicated SLC-based splitboarder (and hardbooter) who is nearing the completion of his AMGA Ski Guide certification as a splitboarder.