Outdoor Research Verticulture » Evan Stevens http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com Get Stoked! Outdoor Research Verticulture Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:31:57 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 White Out Navigation http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/2011/02/white-out-navigation/ http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/2011/02/white-out-navigation/#comments Mon, 07 Feb 2011 20:48:13 +0000 Teresa Bruffey http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/?p=5798 If you’re a backcountry skier or split-boarder, its key to plan ahead and travel prepared for the unexpected if conditions change without warning. Dont get stuck in the “dark” (or white); Evan Stevens, IFMGA Guide and owner of Valhalla Mountain Touring offers tips on how to navigate through a white out in the backcountry.

As featured on Backcountry Magazine’s “Mountain Skills” video series. For more videos, check out their site.

]]> http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/2011/02/white-out-navigation/feed/ 0 Snow Pit Basics w/ Evan Stevens http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/2011/01/snow-pit-basics-w-evan-stevens/ http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/2011/01/snow-pit-basics-w-evan-stevens/#comments Tue, 18 Jan 2011 22:07:41 +0000 Teresa Bruffey http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/?p=5618 Knowing how to use tools and interpret finding is key to understanding the snow pack and making good decisions for safe travel through avalanche terrain. IFMGA guide Evan Stevens takes us through the basics of digging a good snow pit and performing a compression test. Have a great, safe ski season!

As featured on Backcountry Magazine’s “Mountain Skills” video series. For more videos, check out their site.

]]> http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/2011/01/snow-pit-basics-w-evan-stevens/feed/ 0 If at First You Dont Succeed… http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/2010/09/if-at-first-you-dont-succeed/ http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/2010/09/if-at-first-you-dont-succeed/#comments Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:00:46 +0000 Evan Stevens http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/?p=4484 Evan Stevens, Jeremy Blumel and Craig McGee flew into the Adamant Mountains of British Columbia this summer to attempt new routes and new free routes on the 2,000′ walls of the Austerity Glacier. After having been there in 2008, they had a better clue of what they needed to do to open up some 15-20 pitch new alpine big wall free routes, and were planning to attempt free climbs on The Turret and Blackfriar. Here is their story.

In 2008, this journey began with Evan, Craig, and those fickle weather gods…

Never admit defeat! Evan, Craig, and Jeremy went back for more in July.
And then back again in August.
Third time’s the charm?

When the mountains give you lemons, make lemonade at Man Camp.

Read about more of Evan’s escapades into the great playgrounds of Canada, south of the border, Europe, and everywhere and anywhere else he can find stellar rock and snow on his blog.

]]> http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/2010/09/if-at-first-you-dont-succeed/feed/ 0 Behind the Scenes: Outdoor Research http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/2010/03/behind-the-scenes-outdoor-research/ http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/2010/03/behind-the-scenes-outdoor-research/#comments Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:25:47 +0000 Evan Stevens http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/?p=2471 This past week a group of athletes, designers, product developers and marketing folks from Outdoor Research came up to Valhalla Mountain Touring to try and help push Outdoor Research even further to the forefront of making some great gear. The idea behind the week was to get out during the day ski touring, putting some gear to the grindstone, and then talk about the progression and development of everything at night. In my mind it was an incredible week of getting this group of different people to work together to see and hear what everyone has to say about the products from the snowpits to the factory floor.

The week was a mix of sunny high pressure, light amounts of new snow, and some touchy days of avalanche activity. Overall, a mix of cold and dry, warm and wet, and a few temperature ranges in between. What could be better for testing gear out? Everyday we all swapped, gloves, pants, coats, etc…and then brainstormed and fine tuned what we put to the test.




But don’t be fooled we had a ton of great powder skiing, a few summits, amazing food cooked by Annie, great tunes played by Alex K (VP of marketing) and Jasmin on the uke and guitar, and tons of pics and video to document the whole week.

I gotta say, there is some great gear and some really cool projects coming down the pipes right now from Outdoor Research. Two items of note are the Trailbreaker Pants and the Radiant Hybrid Hooded top. The TrailBreakers use a waterproof laminate on the lower legs, and a woven soft shell on the thighs, with huge thigh vents and great pockets – obviously these were made by Uber ski touring/IFMGA mountain guide Martin Volken! The Radiant Hoody is the ultimate cold weather fleece. Highly breathable grid fleece under the arms, and smoother, warmer fleece on the rest, it is a great piece for alpine and ice climbing with its integrated hood that easily fits under your helmet.

During the week, myself and fellow IFMGA mountain guide Martin Volken filmed a few ‘How To’ videos on common backcountry skills, and we got some great skiing footage to get you stoked. Not to mention some of the new and improved product ideas! It was an amazing experience for me, and a testament to OR’s commitment to work with people like you in the field and make some great gear to facilitate some even better times in the hills. Enjoy the photos from OR employee Charles Lozner!

]]> http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/2010/03/behind-the-scenes-outdoor-research/feed/ 0 IFMGA Guide Tips: Backcountry Safety http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/2010/01/ifmga-guide-tips/ http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/2010/01/ifmga-guide-tips/#comments Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:50:26 +0000 Evan Stevens http://outdoorresearchverticulture.com/?p=1482 So much snow, so little time

So much snow, so little time.

Last week was yet another stellar week of skiing at Valhalla Mountain Touring. Often times I repeated my mantra of why the interior of BC is the best place on planet earth for ski touring: mountains + climate + lack of people = UNBELIEVABLE. I mean really, can you name somewhere else with the terrain and snow quality that we consistently have in the Selkirks? Blows my mind away all the time.

Wednesday and Thursday some cold high pressure settled in on us, and we took advantage of it by tagging some summits and skiing endless and effortless powder in the cold January sun.

So now we are settling in to a new week at VMT with some long time locals. I think it is one guests’ 10th or 11th time up here. He is 71 from Rossland, BC, retired and can’t out ski most of you reading this post. Right on!

But to continue my ramblings…I find my self surfing the web for good sites with ski touring adventure on them. There are a few quality ones like Andrew Mclean, Greg Hill, Lou Dawson, Steve Romeo, Joe Stock, Jason Kruk, my wife and Andrew Wexler. But I am always on the look out for some good climbing/skiing adventure content…any one know of some good blogs I am missing?

On the way up to Rugged - "5 star day for the highlight reel"

On the way up to Rugged - "5 star day for the highlight reel"

And on another note…I read and see lots of stuff on the web and in magazines about tips and techniques, but not too many from certified guides. Ya, there is great stuff from these people I mentioned before in the ski world, and their experience speaks volumes, but I get a lot of the same questions out there sometimes, [so] I will try and answer some of the common stuff I see come up here!

The one that came up this week was from a relatively novice backcountry skier who was expressing her fear and intimidation of the backcountry. How to grasp all of that when you can only get out there 10-20 days a year? The obvious is to take an avalanche course, but what are the most important things to take away from a course like that? I came up with 2 really important things to keep close to you for getting out there and coming home safely:

1. Know how to recognize avalanche terrain. If you aren’t in avalanche terrain, then you won’t get caught! Use all of your tools, like maps, photos, history, local knowledge, inclometers, tree flagging, etc, and determine with out a doubt that you are in a place that most likely will not be avalanche terrain. Have your tools and your identification techniques and know how to use them.

2. Choose the right people to go out with. The human factor is one of the most important parts of staying out of avalanches. Go with someone who will listen to your fears, explain what they think and see (and listen to what you think and see) and who will stick with you no matter what. Even though I often guide groups of 12 in the backcountry, I often recommend people to be in no larger than a group of 4 or 5 in the backcountry with 3 or 4 being ideal. That way no one is left lagging and decisions are easy to make.

Fred going for the summit of Rugged

Fred going for the summit of Rugged

Those are my 2 tips for those starting out in the backcountry. If all else fails, take a course, or higher a CERTIFIED guide to take you there!

Check out more of Evan’s adventures as an IFMGA certified guide for Valhalla Mountain Touring at www.evanstevens.blogspot.com.

]]> http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/2010/01/ifmga-guide-tips/feed/ 0 The Equation http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/2009/12/the-equation/ http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/2009/12/the-equation/#comments Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:33:14 +0000 Evan Stevens http://outdoorresearchverticulture.com/?p=607 Evan, swimming in pow for Valhalla Mountain Touring, British Columbia

Evan, swimming in pow for Valhalla Mountain Touring, British Columbia

For the last few winters, I have waged war with nutrition. From about Dec 15th to April 15th every season, ski touring defines my existence. At 5:30am the alarm usually goes of, and the battle begins. The stomach starts to rumble as I check the weather station and the forecast at my winter stronghold in the Valhalla Mountains of British Columbia. By 6am there is no more waiting as I stumble over to the main lodge of Valhalla Mountain Touring to help the cook with breakfast and lunch prep. The table is set, a cold breakfast is laid out and the lunch and snack goodies for the day are prepared. Slowly the guests start to filter down stairs getting psyched for another day of ski touring in powder heaven. We all suit up, skin up, boot up and fuel up for another day of 5 to 7 thousand vertical feet of backcountry skiing. And here is where The Equation comes into play.

The concept was introduced to me by my friend who ski tours, trail runs and climbs hard all the time, and basically it boils down to this:

1 Vertical Foot of Elevation Gained = 1 Calorie consumed.

Simple, I know, but extremely difficult to execute. When the season starts it isn’t that hard to stay on track with food, calories consumed and energy expended. Maybe it’s the light layer of extra girth on my frame from a fall of sport climbing and campsite beer sessions that is there to burn off. Or maybe its because I can’t really get more than 3-5 grand of vertical feet in the short days and tired lungs of December. Either way, as the season progresses, the fat reserves are gone, the fitness increases and the days get longer and the battle to maintain the equilibrium of the equation ensues.

So back to my typical morning at Valhalla Mountain Touring and how I maintain the balance.

Breaky on the table. Yum.

Breaky on the table. Yum.

6am: As I put out the cold breakfast, I eat one. This usually means a bowl of granola with yogurt, followed by some fruit salad and coffee (of course!).
Calorie count: 500

7am: Hot breakfast is served. This is usually something like eggs benny, waffles, or breakfast burritos.
Calorie count: 800

730am: Make lunch, and snack on the days goodies. This is what I call ‘breakfast desert’ as I am a firm believer that every meal must end with something sweet. Most likely victims of this meal are brownies, chocolate chip cookies or date squares. Lunch usually consists of 2 sandwiches (either PB & J, cheese and fixings or dinner left overs) and piles of fresh baking and trail mix.
Calorie count: 300

8am: Start touring

9am: Eat the first wave of snacks. Usually a brownie
Calories: 300

Counting up vertical.

Counting up vertical.

10am: Eat half of the first sandwich.
Calories: 200

1030am: Rip the first 1 to 2 grand of epic powder.

11am: Eat the other half of the first sandwich and don’t forget to follow with something sweet, every meal gets desert!
Calories: 200

1200: More snacks and start nibbling on the next sandwich.
Calories: 200

1230: Ski another mind boggling dose of powder.

1pm: Start wondering if I brought enough food to break more trail through the 30cms of fresh fluff. Eat another brownie and save the last one for the last hill climb.
Calories: 200

2pm: Hit a summit and ski a great line down the mountain. Throw on the skins for another lap and finish off the last sandwich.
Calories: 200

3pm: The early crew is feeling the pull of the sauna and tired legs. Send them home to the lodge and get the late crew psyched for the afternoon push. Eat a cookie.
Calories: 150

4pm: Pull the skins at the top of the last run and inhale the last espresso brownie you have been saving all day. Drop a 2 to 3 grand home run back to the lodge, where the sauna is hot and so are the appetizers.
Calories: 300 (you saved a huge brownie for last!)

Fueling up for the next day.

Fueling up for the next day.

430pm: Get to the lodge at the end of the last run, but throw it out there to the sickos of the group that you are going to do a bonus lap at ‘guide’s speed’. Who’s keen for that? Drop the hammer and hit some ridiculous pace up the mountain, tear the skins and race back for some appies with the euphoric haze of endorphins.

5pm: Devour appies, which is usually nachos, baked brie, pizza or something equally cheesy and delicious
Calories: 700

6pm: fall asleep for 10 minutes after eating and the sauna, but then race back to the lodge to help with dinner prep.

730pm: Dinner is served. Amazing organic salad, unbelievable main courses, delectable desert. Have 2 of each course.
Calories: 2,000 plus another 500 for your drinks

930pm: Pass out to do the whole thing again tomorrow.

Vertical feet skied: 6,500’
Calories consumed: 6,500’

Wake up starving the next day.

Evan enjoying his dessert on another adventure. Infrared, 5.11+. Big Bend Butte, Moab

Evan enjoying his dessert on another adventure. Infrared, 5.11+. Big Bend Butte, Moab

If you think I am making this all up come ski touring with me this winter and witness the epic powder and delicious food that encompasses my winter and attempt to maintain a balanced equation. Even my dog eats double rations all winter long.

*Check out more of Evan’s adventures on his blog evanstevens.blogspot.com

]]> http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/2009/12/the-equation/feed/ 0 Climbing in the Promised Land http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/2009/10/climbing-in-the-promised-land/ http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/2009/10/climbing-in-the-promised-land/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:44:00 +0000 Evan Stevens http://outdoorresearchverticulture.com/uncategorized/climbing-in-the-promised-land.html Well, fall usually means a few things for me. Work slows down (or stops). Temperatures drop. The truck gets packed. The southwest beckons. All of these things have fallen in to place with a few modifications. This year we have a camper and the dog is our new co-pilot.

-Evan Stevens

Go to Evan’s blog to read more about his trip! www.evanstevens.blogspot.com/

Check out Evan’s video from Zion – stellar cracks, beautiful rock, and a little sand in their shoes. Warning: this may make you pack up and move south, north, east or west – which ever way Zion is from you. FYI: rated PG – a couple naughty words and some alcohol references spice it up here and there, just in case you’ve got sensitive ears.

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