I just picked this up from the Backcountry Outlet and I am quite honestly blown away by how much info is in this book. If you would like to pick the brain of a bunch of different mountain guides, a medical doctor, a meteorologist and a glaciologist then you will probably like this book as much I did. The book is like taking the AST1 and 2 courses and then adding in another couple of courses covering first aid, navigation, rope and climbing techniques and a ton of other information. Yes, it is written by a skier but it doesn’t focus too much on skiing so it is great for boarders as well. Just the “Mountaineering Skills” chapter is worth the $40...

Killer shirt....doesn't itch, is really warm, breathes and wicks really well, thumb holes rule and no stink....merino wool is the way to go....

Throw it on the ground and pull.....it doesn't get much simpler than that...another great design by Black Diamond.

The blade just barely fit into my old 2002 Dakine Poacher but nonetheless it fit. Fortunately, I just picked up a new Poacher and the avi pocket is much bigger so it fits no problem. I'm a big fan of pretty much everything on this shovel. The blade design is extremley strong and able to clear a ton of snow very quickly. I bought this basically because of the handle design. The rectangular shaft and handle provide a ton of grip and it is dead simple to set up.

hahaha....I just picked this bag up off of SAC for $65. This is my second Poacher and my last one lasted 7 years and that is after putting it through absolute hell and back. Every feature on this bag is so well though out and I guaruntee that you will have people asking about it. Back access...enough said...by far the best feature. The newer feature of the separate avi tools pockets is going to be great. Now to just rig up an avalung into it and its set....don't look any further...this is the bag that you want....

Just picked this up and after trying it on and comparing it to Arcteryx jackets I was sold. Number one, I ride so I didn't want to look like a skier with a skin tight Arcteryx jacket. The construction is flawless with only the bare minimum of what you need so it is incredibly light which will be great for splitting. The cut is just sick too....I love how the back end is cut low which is great for snowboarders. The eVent is simply incredible too...I have Special Blend gore-tex pants and they are great but there really is no comparison. eVent is here to stay and I will not be spending any more money on gore-tex.

I bought this package for my gf and needless to say she had lost the goggles within a week...regardless of that though, I wish that I would have bought this lid....one it looks great and two the audio system is the best I've seen and the reason for that is the simple mute button right beside the volume wheel on the cord which can be attached outside of your jacket. The thing I hate most is getting on or off the chairlift and having to try and grab that annoying little wheel with gloves on...its impossible so you always just end up taking your gloves off....with this system it is so simple that I don't get why other riding companies haven't picked up on it...a big giant mute button that can be hit with gloves on is definitely the simplest and easiest way....

Great beacon....so incredibly simple and accurate. After doing some test runs at the beacon field the instructor of the AST1 course had set up some scenarios half way down the mountain. Two different scenarios, three bured beacons each time and a group of five searchers pulled out all three beacons each time in under 10 minutes. Not bad considering most people had never used them...