It’s hard to come by a better spokesperson for avalanche safety than Marty Schaffer. This ACMG Ski Guide has grown up in the ski industry his whole life, works closely with Avalanche Canada, and now runs his own ski guiding operation, CAPOW – Canadian Powder Guiding. He gives us the low-down on why backcountry ski and snowboard enthusiasts should upgrade their Avalanche Skills Training, what an AST 2 course has to offer, and what the biggest mistakes are that he’s seen in avalanche terrain assessment.

Christine Feleki is a Canmore native who is about to push some serious boundaries. Contributor Abby Cooper caught up with Christine to hear about her current venture to become one of the first female splitboarding guides to take the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) test. Turns out, she is one of those incredibly humble and driven human beings that make you want to live a better life, love more, and be a better person. She must be from Canmore…

Good things come out of the Bow Valley, and this new craft distillery is just the latest. Bringing together local grain, local water, and local people, Wild Life Distillery offers authentic Rockies spirits made in small batches 100% on-site. We talked to co-owner Matt Widmer about the ins and outs of the distillery industry, and what to expect when they open their doors.

For four years, Joanne Liu has lived with Lyme disease after contracting it from a tick in Kananaskis Country. Among many changes, the infection has brought about unforeseeable consequences, including an estrangement from the mountain community she was so much a part of, especially as a climber. Here she describes the inspiration behind a photo series, what she’s learned living with the disease, and her best tips for avoiding it in the first place.

Banff attracts flocks of tourists and the local ski scene is bright and robust. It is thanks, in part, to the families that form the backbone of the ski culture, who work at the resorts, and lend a hand to ski clubs and programs. Writer Kevin Hjertaas profiles one such family, whose modesty is as impressive as their accomplishments on the slopes.

Few people have summited each of the Ten Peaks that tower over Moraine Lake. Even fewer have photographed from their highest points. Writer Kyla Jacobs interviews Crowfoot Media’s Photo Editor, Paul Zizka, about his journey to climb and photograph one the most famous skylines in the Canadian Rockies.

Mountaineering requires a fair amount of gear, and between your hard goods and clothing needed for an array of weather, you need to be careful not to leave crucial gear behind. Abby Cooper caught up with ACMG/IFMGA-certified guide, Lilla Molnar, to find out what’s in her pack, and her best tips for packing for a day spent high in the alpine.

Many hikers won’t think too much about what goes in their pack until something goes wrong on their adventure. Whether it’s a First Aid incident or an unexpected night out, your day pack should be fully loaded with items you’ll need if your day takes a turn for the worst (or to prevent that from happening in the first place). We called on IFMGA/ACMG Mountain Guide, Eric Dumerac, to show us how he packs his kit.

As backcountry touring rises in popularity, the sport’s gear is proliferating left, right and centre. So, how do you choose the best gear? What’s been tried, tested and true? We turn to pro freeskier, Eric Hjorleifson, for his rundown on what he puts into his pack for a day out ski touring. Here are his favs (and some sweet hacks, too!).

Known for her trademark laugh and generous spirit, Canmore-based climber Anna Smith was a prolific and cutting-edge climber whose passing has left a mountain-size gap in the climbing community of the Rockies and beyond.

Mountains make the greatest teachers and provide us with countless opportunities to contemplate, question and learn. Many decades of experiences in the mountains have left Joe Lammers with some well-tuned advice for mountain enthusiasts. In this installment of “Three Things I’ve Learned”, Abby Cooper taps into the wisdom of this public avalanche forecaster whose ski career has taken him from the world of TV to ski patrol and everything in between.

At 90 years old, Eddie Hunter is still skiing harder than most people half his age. People can’t seem to get enough of this “Wise Man,” so prominently featured in the Sherpas Cinema Sculpted in Time series back in 2015. The spotlight keeps shining and Eddie can’t seem to figure out why. Kevin Hjertaas sat down with Eddie to find out what he thinks of his own ‘celebrity’ status, and what a lifetime in the mountains has taught him. Here’s what he found out.