The entire NE face of Saddle Peak slid leaving a six foot crown that propagated more than 1000 feet. The layer that failed had formed in mid-December and had persisted until yesterday. Scarier still was the fact that there were “hundreds of tracks” on the slope that slid. Fortunately, no one was buried or injured in the avalanche. For photos check out the GNFAC gallery.

I hadn’t skied Saddle Peak this year. There had been a couple times when my group got to the southern gate and discussed hiking the additional 15 minutes to the top of the peak. Each time I pushed hard to stay in bounds. It wasn’t that I thought the slope was unsafe, it was the fact that I didn’t know how stable the slope was–I hadn’t dug a pit in the area, I didn’t check the avy report, I hadn’t had a chance to gather the necessary information to make a good decision. Thousands of people however headed out the gate and dropped in oblivious to the consequences.

Now I have no problem with people who truly evaluated the conditions and made an informed decision–it is their life and they should be able to take risks they feel are reasonable. A few of those thousand skiers knew that there was a realistic possibility of that slope going and taking their life. However, not everyone in the ass-to-nose line out to Saddle Peak on a powder day was making an informed decision.

I have seen singletons walk out the gate, without a pack (meaning no shovel or probe), and proceed to drop in on Saddle Peak on top of another skier. Each of these decisions is progressively worse. And the last decision not only endangers the the single skier, but those below him as well.

Walking out the gates into the sidecountry make me much more nervous than pure backcountry touring for many reasons.

First, if you have a couple hour skin in front of you, you have a lot of time to ponder the conditions and open your eyes to the consequences of a poor decision. Second, is just the fact that you have more time to study your line and you want to make it count. Easy access inspires a lot of “I think it goes” decisions. Finally, on a full blown tour your group (usually/hopefully) feels alone and you automatically adjust your risk tolerance because you are self reliant. That just doesn’t seem to happen in the sidecountry.

I think as you gain experience you are able to force the mindset. But, you often can’t make up for the lack of information you get when you are out for a tour. Maybe you didn’t get the avy report? You definitely didn’t hear the cracking and woofing as you skinned in. And it is much harder to get your less experienced buddies to stop and dig a pit.

I think that Bridger Bowl has done a fantastic job balancing the risks and opening up some of the gnarliest terrain in the lower 48. Given the current setup, I think the management of Slushman’s is as good as it can be.

But, perhaps there is a constructive (albeit radical) solution to the management and education of sidecountry skiers. Close Slushman’s to the public (leave the lift in for patrol access), but keep the terrain inbounds. This change would force people to look around at the terrain as they skin up. It would make it much more difficult to get in over your head in terms of risk management. And most importantly it would allow people to practice safe backcountry travel in a controlled environment. This would be especially valuable with the recent explosion in the popularity of backcountry touring.

No activity (especially in the backcountry) is without risk, but it comes down to how you evaluate and manage that risk. Risk management is a difficult skill to teach and learn. The only real teacher is experience. I’d like to naively hope the Saddle Peak slide will teach the necessary lesson. At best, people might be a little jittery going out the gates for the rest of this season. But, come next winter the memory will be too distant to matter for most.

1. The White Panda – Ice Chrome Paint Job
In this battle to the death, The White Panda pits Chromeo up against Dorrough. Out of the rubble rises an up-beat, electro-pop version of the one of 2009′s most misunderstood songs. But, who cares about the meaning with a dancefloor filler like this. The White Panda – Ice Chrome Paint Job

2. DJ Topcat – Time to Listen
Tailib Kwali raps over MGMT’s trippy Time to Pretend in a song that is the epitomy of the college music experience. Topcat breaks MGMT’s track down into recognizable, component pieces, glues them together with an inspired beat, and produces something reminiscent of a long-form Girl Talk track. DJ Topcat – Time to Listen

3. Hathbanger – Party and Bullshit
Some of the most successful mashups are the ones that make no sense, but somehow just work. This remix between Biggie and Miley falls into that category. I was never a fan of either of the original tracks, but Hathbanger brings them together to form something amazing. Hathbanger – Party and Bullshit

4. Starters DJs – Cream your Friends
In this frenetic composition the Starter DJs blend a little Wu-Tang into J.U.S.T.I.C.E and find a concoction that is irresistible. A hella syncopated and driving beat will help you express your approval on the dancefloor. Starters DJs – Cream your Friends

5. Fox Mashups – Hot Schoolyard
Sometimes mashups hide their flaws in the frantic mess that we have come to love. Lucky for you, Fox has no flaws to hide on the smooth track combining the stylings of Snoop, Pharrell, and the Jurassic 5. Fox Mashups – Hot Schoolyard

Also check out The Hood Internet. I didn’t include any of their tracks on this list since you should enjoy their Mixtape Volume 4 in its entirety.

The RIAA and MPAA went after consumers directly and tried to enforce anti-piracy law to maintain pricing power. This approach clearly failed as consumers still share music and by the RIAA’s own estimates it costs the music industry $12.5 billion per year.

The journalism industry instead has, for the most part, provided content free of charge. This approach has not been an effective way to monetize the news. Newspapers have seen their advertising revenue drop by 23% over the past two years.

The old guard is quick to label people as unwilling to pay for music or news. I do not buy the argument that people are just too stingy to pay. If this were the case, the iPhone wouldn’t have rocketed to such a spectacular success with a yearly $1000 price tag.

However, there are actual business models for media that work.

First, let’s take the example of Netflix. Most people find it reasonable to pay $9 a month for unlimited movie content. Netflix solves the traditional problems of driving to the video store, wasting money on a bad flick, and late fees. But, more importantly, it attacks piracy by doing something a thousand lawsuits can never do. It provides value-added services that BitTorrent can never have. You are guaranteed to have the genuine movie you want, at your convenience, without having to deal with sub-par quality. In essence, that $9 provides the quality control that allows you to have the freedom to enjoy your movie without having to be a geek (with free time) to find an (illegal) copy online.

Second, iTunes or Amazon’s MP3 store. For about a buck they provide this same quality control for music.

Finally, Hulu. I don’t even watch cable anymore. Hulu provides (almost) any show I want, on demand, with less advertising for “free.” While you can only watch the last five episodes of the show, it is still much better than the alternative on cable. Moreover, the advertising is more effective on Hulu than on cable, since I can choose if I want to watch a longer advertisement upfront, in exchange to see the show commercial free. Additionally, since the same advertisement airs throughout a show when this option isn’t selected, I can actually remember what companies are advertising right now.

What’s the common thread that allows these services to succeed? They have embraced a new business model instead of trying to enforce an old one through legal action. What they provide is a quality-guaranteed product on demand.

So there are at least three business models that I see as viable alternatives to the current way content is provided. No single model will be the magic bullet that cures the ills of media companies. Different services will serve different purposes. Furthermore, when these models are combined synergies arise. Imagine if you could stream any song from the iTunes library for $10 a month. What if Hulu posted all back-episodes for premium members who pay the same amount. Think about Netflix allowing you to pay a small fee to keep a DVD, like GameFly.

Now, translate these business models to journalism.

I know that many in journalism are not fans of paywalls, as they destroy the concept that access to news is a right and have had mixed economic results. I say “mixed results” because while the Wall Street Journal maintained its paywall it gained standing as the number 1 US daily publication. In fact, the Wall Street Journal was the only major paper to gain market share last year.

Maybe the solution is a tiered service model? Provide the breaking news for free, but offer in depth investigative reporting and analysis at a low subscription price or on a micro-payment basis.

Maybe the solution lies in newspapers forming a Co-Op and for your monthly fee you can select 10 papers to subscribe to. This model additionally solves the problem of who jumps first. However, if they all fail to change to a sustainable business model, I can easily predict the winner–the one with the largest pile of cash to burn. And in the current environment, we won’t have long to wait.

The kicker is that papers will need to provide content with a quality standard higher than what’s provided on free sites. It means having amazing writing like The Economist, the reach of the New York Times, and the photography standard of National Geographic. It means picking off the top free columnists and being their exclusive outlet. It means providing content across the spectrum of devices (computer, iPhone, Kindle) for that low fee. These cliche ideas amount to the same concept that has allowed Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu to succeed–providing a quality-guaranteed product.

In essence, I’ve said nothing new in this post. But, somehow the media has forgotten the fundamental tenant of business-you have to provide something for which people are willing to pay. This is a burden on the provider, not the consumer.

1. Lil’ Boots – Remedy (Rusko’s Big Trainer’s Remix)
Whoa. Rusko is a really talented producer. This song turned me on to a whole new genre–dubstep. Dubstep is sort of a cross between Garage and DnB. Even if you have no idea what I just said, do yourself a favor and go check out the song. I guarantee that you will be bobin’ your head within seconds. The bassline is super pumpy and the song bounces between a catchy chorus and a great break. When I first discovered the track it was all I listened to for about a week and continues to be in regular rotation in all my playlists. Lil’ Boots – Remedy (Rusko Big Trainers Remix)

2. B.A.B.Y – Let’s Dance (feat. Bet You Are William)
This is a great track from Brynjolfur (aka B.A.B.Y.) out of Denmark. It’s a little bit edgy for House, but a really smooth break brings it back into balance. The magic happens when the vocals are overlaid on the bassline. The first time I heard it, I didn’t want it to stop. B.A.B.Y – Let’s Dance (feat. Bet You Are William)

3. Green Tea – Future Classic (feat. Kero One)
A flowy track you can’t help but enjoy from the San Francisco producer Green Tea. It’s got a really fun electro bassline and a little guitar rift that will leave a smile on your face. Green Tea – Future Classic (feat. Kero One)

4. Modwheelmood – Sunday Morning
Modwheelmood is made up of Alessandro Cortini (of Nine Inch Nails fame) and guitarist Pelle Hillström. This tune falls somewhere between electro-rock and pure dance. It’s a bit slower and isn’t going to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside with its haunting lyrics, but nonetheless it is a must hear. You’ll find yourself humming the spooky melody out of nowhere and then be itching to hear the track in full. Modwheelmood – Sunday Morning

5. Discovery – Osaka Loop Line
I’m not a talented enough dancer to do this track by Discovery justice. Somebody could really groove to the uber-syncopated intro and break. It sounds like nothing I have heard. Evolving from almost perfect noise, it blossoms into a beautiful song with a great beat. I actually thought my speakers were tweaking out for the first few bars. I can’t thank groups like this enough for truly providing a unique and wonderful offering. If you are wondering who is pushing music’s evolution, it’s these guys. Discovery – Osaka Loop Line

We chose to do a short section of the river at a slower than average pace to give us a bit more time to explore on shore. It also proved to be a good choice since the days are starting to get pretty short this late in the season. We averaged about 12 miles a day, which works out to around 3 hours of paddling. The river is quite low in October only flowing at 5600 cfs, compared to its yearly peak of 17,000 cfs in June each year. You can find the current flow at the on the USGS site.

Once on the river, it was easy to see why the Upper Missouri is a national Monument. The section we paddled is known for its white cliffs. As a climber, I couldn’t help, but drool over the miles of 100-300 foot sandstone walls. The only comparable place I have seen this amount of sandstone is the New River Gorge in West Virginia. But, anyone will appreciate the aesthetic beauty of the walls surrounding the river.

One of the highlights of the trip was hiking up Neat Coulee from the Eagle Creek Boat Camp. This coulee progressively narrows resembling a whitewashed Zion slot canyon. This walk should not be missed.

Overall, the camping was excellent. I, however, expected it to be less developed. Most of the boat camps have vault toilets and fire rings. The sites have been so heavily used that that the the grass had been worn away to bare earth. While it isn’t exactly a remote wilderness experience, it is for the best, as coping with the thousands of boaters who make the float each year means that concentrating the impact will actually preserve as much of the area as possible. Luckily, my dad and I avoided the hordes of people by rolling the dice on a late season trip. In fact, we only saw one group of people cruise by on a motor boat late Saturday afternoon (after September 15 the motorized craft restrictions were lifted).

It was a great experience with none of the stress of a climbing trip or the sacrifices of a backpacking trip. The scenery is breathtaking. The canoeing is easy (think giant moving lake). If you like the outdoors and just want to unplug and unwind for a few days, I highly recommend it.

Distance: 44 miles
Time: 4 days
Outfitter: Upper Missouri River Guides

This time I returned with Ryan in beautiful, sunny, 80 degree weather to even the score.

We parked in the Alpental parking lot and quickly marched up the Snow Lake trail. We reached the fork in the trail and continued straight towards Source Lake. We soon left the trail and traversed the talus slope above the lake (hint: cut off from the trail sooner than you think so you don’t gain unnecessary elevation). We hiked over to the most eastern gully and found the pretty well worn path that led up the gully and into Great Scott Basin. We took advantage of some left over snow and cruised up to the notch on the ridge just (climber’s) left of Pineapple Pass proper. From the notch we scrambled around the back side of the small pinnacle to the base of the climb.

We climb the standard route on the south face as described on SummitPost. We pitched it out in 2 pitches with a short simul-climb over the 4th class ramp system in the middle of the face. The first pitch begins at a crack up a ramp that is gained by shimmying around a large chock stone to the left of the start. From this crack, Ryan led out the full 60m pitch. After finding our way through the ramps, we pitched out the last section on nice vertical granite, staying to the right to stay in the prominent crack.

Ascent Time: 4 hours

We did 4 raps off the summit and then rapped from Pineapple pass to save time. From the base of the Pineapple Pass gully, we just retraced our steps back to the car.

Descent Time: 3 hours

Grade II, 5.4, Pro to 3 inches

On Saturday we went out and rode some of amazing singletrack that circles Mt. Hood. The weather was beautiful and the trails were in pristine condition. I have yet to find another place with XC trails that are as good as those outside Hood River. The climbs are perfectly graded to keep you legs screaming, while not so steep that you can’t turn your crank over and are forced to hike-a-bike. Finally after cresting the climb, you are treated to 5 minutes of pure bliss. The sweeping curves on the descent are wide enough to ride wide open and there isn’t a death cookie to be seen.

On race day, the weather took a turn for the worse and by lunch it was pouring rain. I was forced to shoot in the trees to stay somewhat sheltered, but it was really dark and balancing the strobes with the ambient was challenging. In any case, it was a great race. You can check out the result on Skibowl’s website.

Every time it snowed, the drive to school was that much more fun. The funny part about it was that my first car, a ’83 Volvo 240 Turbo stationwagon, only had one wheel drive. I’m not kidding–only the left, rear wheel had power go to it. I’m not sure it this was some type of cruel Swedish joke or if it had something to do with being rear ended at 40 mph. 1WD “allowed” it to spin really well to the right, but not to the left! This car also had no windshield defroster, so I had to drive with my windows down…in Montana…in the winter. This actually didn’t bother me, since you were fine as long as you bundled up before you left and you ALWAYS bundle up when the high is 0. This attitude changed one night when a snowplow passed me… After I spit out a couple ice chunks, I discovered about a foot of snow on my lap. But, I didn’t stop! I drove that snowbank all the way home.

Anyway, I found myself down in Hood River for the Oregon Trail Rally last weekend. And while I have slide my car though a turns out on a few Montana farm roads, these guys do it at 60 mph with a 500 cliff on one slide and a really hard tree on the other.