It’s still October. The snow is thin. And avalanche season is already here. Early-season turns? We get it. After months of waiting, a little snow in the mountains can make it tempting to grab your gear and go. But Colorado just gave us a reminder that early-season avalanches are a real risk and avalanche season doesn't wait for winter. On October 25, a skier triggered a wind slab avalanche on Mount Bross in Colorado’s Mosquito Range. One skier was buried, with their head just

Ready to trade the resort for untracked snow and bigger mountain adventures? Backcountry skiing and splitboarding open up a whole new world, but there's a lot more to it than putting on skins and heading uphill. Learning to travel in the backcountry means building the skills to understand avalanche conditions, recognize terrain hazards, make decisions with your partners, and know when it's time to change the plan.

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 reaso

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

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’

You keep telling yourself, “I’m not ready for AIARE 2.” But what if that doubt is the best reason to take it? This course isn’t about being an expert—it’s about gaining the skills and confidence to make your own backcountry decisions.

Introducing VNTRbirds’ AIARE Course Leader, Mentor, and Backcountry Educator - Janine Prout

As a seasoned backcountry instructor, here are my top 3 reasons why I encourage you to sign up for your first avalanche education course.