Leanne Wren

There’s always a moment at the beginning of something like this—when everyone is standing around, gear half on, half off, not quite sure what the next few days will hold. A mix of nerves, excitement, and that quiet question in the back of your mind: am I ready for this? VENTURE OUT Femme Backcountry Festival 2026 started there. New and familiar faces, people arriving from different places and different points in their backcountry journeys—but all showing up for the same reason. To learn...

When I know snow is coming in, I wake up, grab my phone, and check OpenSnow. Ten inches of fresh overnight at my local mountain. Nice. Then I swipe over to another favorite and see Silverton  is lining up for another 15 tomorrow. I look at my calendar. I’ve got the next five days off. That’s all I need to know — it’s time to storm chase. All smiles under the snow This is where OpenSnow really shines for me. It’s not just a single forecast or a snapshot in time — it’s the full picture. I can...

Somewhere between packing snacks, triple-checking your gear, and booting up in the cold at the trailhead, trip planning can start to feel optional. We’ve all been there. You meant to read the forecast more closely. You assumed everyone had the same goals. You figured you’d “talk it through in the parking lot.” Life is full — and when time gets tight, it’s tempting to cut corners. In the backcountry, those corners matter. Most incidents aren’t caused by one bad decision. They’re built slowly,...