Andrew McLean is one of America’s most accomplished and experienced ski mountaineers. He has also been testing and designing gear for companies like Black Diamond and Mountain Hardwear for over a decade. Generally speaking, the man is an authority on backcountry skiing. Luckily for us, Andrew shares his wealth of experience on his blog – Straightchuter.com.
This is NOT a tutorial.
Straightchuter is a catch-all for any topic in the realm of backcountry skiing – posts range from crazy trips around the world to ski politics in the Wasatch. However, some of McLean’s most interesting and helpful contributions are his tips and How Tos on all things ski related. Examples include: Building Launch Pads, Ripping Skins, Drying Gear with a Camp Stove, and Uses for Voile Straps. Andrew McLean has a unique system for everything, and his tips and tutorials are well worth reading.
The most recent How To from Mr. McLean is on Cook Tent Architecture. It explains in detail how to set up an effective cook tent / base camp using a pyramid style tarp tent. Pyramid style tents are the base camp solution for those of us who can’t afford the weight or $$ on a Space Station (that’s pretty much all of us). Pyramid tents are cheap and light. Used improperly, they provide no protection from the elements at all, but with the correct system, they are warm and cozy.
For more tips and tutorials from Straightchuter, explore the categories drop down menu on the right side of their homepage.