John Hemminger at Aspen/Snowmass's BTM Park, CO March 2010.

Words/Photos: Scott Howard

We got a few feet of the good stuff this week and headed up to Sugar Bowl to shred. While hiking up to the summit you could see the avalanche control blast holes marking our prospective lines as safe for the taking. Lacking the commonsense items of shovel and transceivers dropping into the backcountry was out of the question for this particular powder day. Because these tools may not be commonsense to everyone Sugar Bowl Resort has launched the new Backcountry Adventure Center (BAC) to help educate and guide the public through tools and techniques of backcountry touring. How do you check for avalanche danger when hiking out-of-bounds? How do you use your transceiver if a companion get buried?

Words: Cody Clemmons, aka Psyborg the Diagnosed Diversity

El Niño's first dump on Mt. Baldy in Southern California, was well taken advantage of by local snowboarders alike. The storm brought well over 36 inches, at top peaks, attracting true shred heads from all over it's region. Cody Clemmons and Lafonso Carter aka Snowdogg, were just two of the many that were able to document and enjoy it's blessings. If you haven't had a chance to enjoy some freshies at Mt. Baldy, you are truly missing out on what Southern California has to offer for big mountain riding.

Words: Alexandra Erickson / Photos: Preston Utley, Alexandra Erickson, Terry Ratslaf / Video: Tyler Malay and Alexandra Erickson

Mason getting some on the cone!

Words/Photos: Aaron Hanlon

Consistency is one word I would use to describe the snow fall we have been accustomed to here at Mt. Bachelor. The last month has been absolutely amazing. Snow, snow, snow, clearing, snow, snow, clearing,... you get the idea. As a powder consumer, I generally ride when the snow is falling. Needless to say, I have been riding a lot. Bachy has been under mother natures attack, getting consistent snowfall for over a month now. I love when I wake up and just know its going to be ripe for the picking. It seems everyday is better than the last. This last week however was full of snow and sun which allowed me to capture a few photos with my most "amazing" pocket digi camera. Now the photos are not the best quality, but what do you expect from a pocket camera. I did take some superb mental photos of many a shredder enjoy themselves on these here hills.

Moss drops in just past the end of the Knife Ridge staircase…

Words and photos by Mike Thomas

Mick Edholm

Words/Photos: Robin Pitt

Danny Kass and gf Andrea Holt are no strangers to the party scene.
They know what's up.

Words: Heather Hendricks

When in Rome: do as the Romans do.

When in Aspen: Party like a pro.

Its pretty simple people.

Its that glorious time of year again. The special time when snowboarding gets thrust onto the main stage for all to see. ESPN spends a bazillion dollars creating the Xtremist snowboard event of all time and each year succeed.

This year due to crazy scheduling conflicts with SIA coinciding with X, we've decided to let ESPN take care of providing the daily action coverage from the games.

Beware the Summit Chair

Words/Photos: Scott Howard

The new Summit chair at Sugar Bowl is similar to Rolex; from a distance it looks small and inconsequential but open closer inspection it's pretty dope. We caught first chair on her after a small dump here in Tahoe and there was an ass load of turns to be slashed and rocks to be dropped. It basically removes the hike to the summit and adds a whole lot longer of a run from their Judah Lodge. Access to their sidecountry terrain is also way more convenient and in congruence with this they have started the new Backcountry Adventure Center which offers guided runs, avalanche/backcountry education and more. Look out for more hype on that front.