Backcountry Magazine 163 | The 2026 Gear Guide Cross Country Skier

Backcountry Magazine 163 | The 2026 Gear Guide Cross Country SkierOn the Cover: On a winter morning, its easy to press snooze, stay wrapped in a warm nest of blankets and wait for the sun to risea lot easier than rallying out of bed, getting into ski gear and driving to the trailhead in the cold dark of pre dawn. But, as they say, the early bird gets the worm. Well versed in the demand of Wasatch fresh, Caroline Gleich knows that if she wants her proverbial wormblower, low density powshell have to be one of the

He ski raced extensively from 1950 through 1965 and set the world record for speed on skis in Portillo

Edited by: John Hausdoerffer

and when our favorite pieces of gear finally wear out

SCORCHED TRACKS

with Tobin Sorenson and Gib Lewis

Climbing Life Mike Getlin contemplates the history of the rock that fell on him

• 8 rows of stitching on visor

" declares Eliseu Frechou—just before a bar room conversation leads him to a rain-drenched big wall teeming with spiders and carnivorous plants

and Sam Cox

A FAMILY SKI TOUR

Ron Matous The Giri-Giri Boys In spring 2008

LOCAL HERO