FEATURES

HIGHERARCHY
EGOS AND WEATHER RULE IN ALASKA
In June, former Backcountry Editor Adam Howard puts down the Funyuns to attempt Alaska's 16,237-foot Mount Sanford. With an old friend and two complete strangers he discovers that overcoming big mountains is one thing, overcoming big egos quite another.

BIG LINES
EPIC DESCENTS AND UNSKIED FACES
From the world's highest unskied couloir to the year's boldest solo first descent, from big mountain badasses to hometown heroes, the theme of this issue is simple: whether it's vertical, elevation, ambition or personality, bigger is better. Be inspired.

SPECTACLE

GEAR
TRIED AND NEW
New gear is great, sure. But only after seasons of use and abuse does it earn our respect. If it survives, it becomes an indispensible part of our kit—a "tried and true" friend in the backcountry. Every scratch, dent and ding tells a story, and when our favorite pieces of gear finally wear out, we're always looking for the next best thing. Find both, Tried and New, and hear their stories.

DEPARTMENTS

THE RUN DOWN

Jackpot
Why do some guys get all the luck?

DEPOSITION

Letters

Figures 11

Safety Meeting
"How do you define a big line?"

McLeanings:
Size Matters

Essay
My Biggest Mistake

BLOWN IN

Skiers in Solitairity
Sweetgrass Productions on business, art, school buses and their new film, Solitaire

Men in Tights
Speed rules on the Grand Teton

Steep Price to Pay
Increasing bc traffic in Cham' causes safety concern

Rainier Falling Down
Historic icefall on Washington's iconic peak

ELEMENTAL

Mountain Skills: Uncharted Territory
Test your instincts on unfamiliar ground

Tech Tip: Speedy Splitboard Exchanges
Speed up your transitions

Mountain Accounts: Playing the Odds
When risks are low and consequences are high

ROUTE FINDING

Things Imagined
Oregon's newest yurt operation

BLOWN OUT

Biff America: There goes the neighborhood
The hippies move in