The High Route Podcast

In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Tina Haver Currin. Here’s some background. Currin is a crusher when it comes to long-distance thru-hikes…and that may be redundant, as we assume, lacking the background knowledge, that all thru-hikes are long. Currin has completed many epic hikes, including the Triple Crown: the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Appalachian Trail. She has also taken on some mighty tough trail running/scrambling FKT challenges of late. Which is to say that Currin is out and about in the mountains. She is, however, somewhat new to touring. If you have read Issue 2 of The High Route journal (if you haven’t, you should), she wrote a great piece on learning to tour, and about friendship, and partnership titled “Uphill Both Ways.” In it, she explores learning to tour while being mentored by the writer (and splitboarder) Jon Krakauer—he probably needs no introduction.Last year, we interviewed a Los Angeles Times journalist about his experience as a newcomer to the sport. That podcast was titled “A Beginner's Dilemma.” The takeaway, as far as I was concerned, is that hearing from a newcomer can be a great learning opportunity for those with more experience. So I was compelled to have Currin on the podcast and to learn some things. Which I did. And I hope you do, too. If you are new to The High Route, we are a reader- and listener-supported enterprise focused on human-powered turn-making. Our mission is simple, but it takes real-deal calorie-burning to piece it all together.We’d like to thank Patagonia, Blue Ice, and ATK for supporting us. We are also excited to announce that you can subscribe to Issues 2 and 3 of our fine print journal (The High Route journal) on our site. Fancy paper. Good reads. High-octane photos. And some fine mountain ranges. And turns. You can learn more about our subscription options here.The theme music for The High Route Podcast comes from Storms in the Hill Country and the album The Self Transforming (Thank you, Jens Langsjoen). You can find a link to the album here—there are so many good songs on this album. And if you think you've spotted a UFO in the past or visited the 7th dimension, "Beautiful Alien" is a good tune to start with.

In this episode of The High Route Podcast, we feature part two of our interview with Ptor Spricenieks, a noted adventure skier, cosmic traveler, and family man who resides in La Grave, France. Be forewarned, for the best results, please listen to part 1 of our interview, because we jump right into it in this episode. Part II of the interview jumps off after we had been discussing Spricenieks’ relationship with Peter Chrzanowski, another iconic and timeless ski mountaineer—Chrzanowski was the first person to ski Mount Robson. Spricenieks grew up in eastern Canada, became restless, and moved to Whistler for a season, where his eyes were opened to the possibilities of mountain adventure. In part 2, we get the backstory of Spricenikes’ evolution into, using his words, a “shredding dirtbag.” During which, in this state of dirtbagdom, he and Troy Jungen made their bold first ski descent of Robson’s North Face in 1995. But, of course, since this is a part of Sprecnieks’ wrinkle in time, we detour into the metaphysical, the tension between selfishness and selflessness, the danger of a crowd mentality…and the 100% this-is-good-for-you mindfulness that is backcountry touring. Parts 1 and 2, in their entirety, are like the double rainbows of the ski mountaineering podcast scene. And for those eager to read more from Spricenieks, he writes a free-spirited Substack.Below are some select profiles of Spricenieks written over the years:Pique News—A Special Seeker in a Special PlaceSki—Running From Babylon: Ptor Spricenieks Ski MountaineerIf you are new to The High Route, we are a reader- and listener-supported enterprise focused on human-powered turn-making. Our mission is simple, but it takes real-deal calorie-burning to piece it all together.We’d like to thank Patagonia, Blue Ice, and ATK for supporting us. We are also excited to announce that you can subscribe to Issues 2 and 3 of our fine print journal (The High Route journal) on our site. Fancy paper. Good reads. High-octane photos. And some fine mountain ranges. And turns. You can learn more about our subscription options here.The theme music for The High Route Podcast comes from Storms in the Hill Country and the album The Self Transforming (Thank you, Jens Langsjoen). You can find a link to the album here—there are so many good songs on this album. And if you think you've spotted a UFO in the past or visited the 7th dimension, "Beautiful Alien" is a good tune to start with.

Let’s put this out there up front. Before you listen to this episode, we don’t want any spoilers. We’ve got a conversation with Norway’s Nikolai Schirmer lined up, and we'll discuss, in some detail, his ski movie titled “The Greatest Ski Tour of all Time.” Although Schirmer is well known for his 10-15 minute short ski docs (they feel more than just YouTube videos), the movie referenced above runs a full hour and thirty-five minutes. Yes, a legit movie.We also discuss his YouTube vid “Cliff of the season, and the pinnacle of skiing,” so you might as well watch that, too. We don’t want to ruin the plot for you. If Schirmer is new to you, here are some quick facts. He’s a 34-year-old freeskier based in Tromsø, Norway. He completed law school. He is a phenomenal skier, with a penchant for accessing his lines by skinning and then, when it gets steeper, using an assortment of sharp climbing tools and sometimes snow plates. Beyond the skiing, which is usually stunning in itself, Schirmer has developed into a master storyteller. His editing cuts are anything but stale; they are crisp, embrace the full spectrum of pacing, and keep the viewer on their toes. He also understands that to keep the viewer interested, rad ski shots won’t do it alone. Viewers become invested in the human beings that populate his videos and his feature-length film. In other words, we begin to care about Schirmer and his good-natured band of friends as they romp around in the hills. Which brings us to “The Greatest Ski Tour of all Time.” The film is a meditation on Schirmer and his childhood friend, Vegard Rye, who is an IFMGA guide and medical school student. Both were upstart ski park groms, but somewhere along the way, Rye and Schirmer became motivated by different fruits: Rye sought solitude in the mountains, whereas Schirmer harnessed his creative and ski talents and became very much a modern professional skier. Someone, he claims, very early in the film, who sought awards.Well, that’s that. We don’t want to spoil the film for you, so think about watching it before listening to this episode. Lastly, we do discuss suicidal thoughts and depression in the episode. We’ll link to some suicide prevention resources in the show notes. If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org . In life-threatening situations, call 911.If you are new to The High Route, we are a reader and listener-supported enterprise focusing on human-powered turn making. Our mission is simple, but it takes real-deal calorie-burning to piece it all together.We’d like to thank Patagonia, Blue Ice, and ATK for supporting us. We are also excited to announce that you can subscribe to Issues 2 and 3 of our fine print journal (The High Route journal) on our site. Fancy paper. Good reads. High-octane photos. And some fine mountain ranges. And turns. You can learn more about our subscription options here.The theme music for The High Route Podcast comes from Storms in the Hill Country and the album The Self Transforming (Thank you, Jens Langsjoen). You can find a link to the album here—there are so many good songs on this album. And if you think you've spotted a UFO in the past or visited the 7th dimension, "Beautiful Alien" is a good tune to start with.

This episode goes deep with Andy Lewicky. If his name doesn’t ring a bell, you’ve likely, over the years, come across his ski touring blog, SierraDescents, which, as the name suggests, covers touring and ski mountaineering in California, and more specifically, in and around Southern California. If Lewicky is new to you, his writing and thoughts are well worth the time. We ran an interview last winter, shortly after Lewicky and his family lost their home in the Palisades fire. What was clear at the time was that Lewicky has a fondness for his adopted SoCal home (he’s originally from Flagstaff), and he has stories to tell. You’ll have to read it in print, but Lewicky has penned a fine post-fire essay titled "How the Story Ends," that melds touring, fire, and finding beauty in life.Which is to say, we are psyched to have Lewicky on the podcast. If you are new to The High Route, we are a reader and listener-supported enterprise focusing on human-powered turn making. Our mission is simple, but it takes real-deal calorie-burning to piece it all together.We’d like to thank Patagonia, Blue Ice, and ATK for supporting us. We are also excited to announce that you can subscribe to Issues 2 and 3 of our fine print journal (The High Route journal) on our site. Fancy paper. Good reads. High-octane photos. And some fine mountain ranges. And turns. You can learn more about our subscription options here.The theme music for The High Route Podcast comes from Storms in the Hill Country and the album The Self Transforming (Thank you, Jens Langsjoen). You can find a link to the album here—there are so many good songs on this album. And if you think you've spotted a UFO in the past or visited the 7th dimension, "Beautiful Alien" is a good tune to start with.

In this episode, Chris Kussmaul is our guest. I’ve been aware of Chirs for a few years—a friend of a friend kind of thing. He is based in Bozeman, Montana and for the part of the year when snow is not on the ground, which is actually a limited time of year in Southwestern, Montana, he works as a geology consultant. When he’s not officially working during the late fall and winter, he’s ski touring, and trying to keep his work schedule limited to almost none. But that is not to say Kussmaul isn’t keeping his eyes open, and maybe doing some work, too. He’s the author of the Peaks and Couloirs of Southwest Montana—A Guide to Backcountry Skiing in the Gallatin, Madison, Bridger, Tobacco Root and Montana Absaroka Mountains. Yes, this is a guidebook. Yup, a traditional guidebook, not an atlas, which are guidebook adjacent, and can be supremely useful, but maybe lack the leave it on the coffee-table and pick up and just read it, every now and then.Peaks & Couloirs, the short title for the book, is now on its second edition, and if it hasn’t been released by the time your listening to this, it certainly is available for order. The main reason I wanted to interview Kussmaul, is that in a very noisy digital environment regarding apps and sites and the socials, it is rare that a touring guidebook comes along that seems to hit a sweet spot. He includes, in my opinion, a good balance between disclosing information and allowing for readers to have their own adventures. This book might help you find a trailhead, understand the human context of a line/objective, it will not get you up or down or back home. That is up to you. I appreciate that a person took the time to organize this information and make a real-deal guidebook: one, I assume, that will stand the test of time. So bottom line, I wanted to learn about his process, his drive to craft an in depth guidebook that is worthy of the mighty Greater YellowStone landscape, and how he handled the pushback from those in the community who desired to keep this type of touring beta under wraps. If you are new to The High Route, we are a reader and listener-supported enterprise focusing on human-powered turn making. Our mission is simple, but it takes real-deal calorie-burning to piece it all together.We’d like to thank Patagonia, Blue Ice, and ATK for supporting us. We are also excited to announce that you can subscribe to Issues 2 and 3 of our fine print journal (The High Route journal) on our site. Fancy paper. Good reads. High-octane photos. And some fine mountain ranges. And turns. You can learn more about our subscription options here.The theme music for The High Route Podcast comes from Storms in the Hill Country and the album The Self Transforming (Thank you, Jens Langsjoen). You can find a link to the album here—there are so many good songs on this album. And if you think you've spotted a UFO in the past or visited the 7th dimension, "Beautiful Alien" is a good tune to start with.

Here at The High Route Podcast we’ve come to the conclusion of season 2 here on the podcast. We’ll pick back up again with season three in late summer. On this episode, we have the privilege of checking in with Billy Haas. Haas is an IFMGA guide, professional avalanche educator, and ski mountaineer. If you are someone who skims the surface of the ski mountaineering scene, it’s easy to see how Haas may not have caught your attention. He barely posts on social media. Google his name, and what populates, mostly are his professional bios—yes, you can find him guiding in the Wasatch, Tetons, and Alaska Range, and other places that require focus and a love for type II fun. But you’ll have to dig a bit deeper to get the full picture of Haas and the breadth of his adventuring. Now and then, Haas may author a trip report in the American Alpine Journal, or be part of a crew reporting on a significant descent on, no doubt, complex and steep terrain. What you’ll hear about in this podcast is not a “there I was” reflection on this or that steep line. You will, however, learn about Haas’ path into guiding, how he once maybe skipped a few lacrosse practices to take an avalanche course on Mount Washington and found a lifelong mountain partnership with Adam Fabrikant.Along the way, there was dishwashing, road trips, lots of aspirational clients, and a vision to be the best he could be practicing his mountain craft. Lastly, we touch upon Haas’ story in Issue One of The High Route Journal…titled The Patient. Haas explores his two major heart surgeries— intermittent diversions on his path toward excellence, and climbing and skiing— in good style—Gasherbrum I and II. Thanks for listening, and have a good day, The High Route Team. If you are new to The High Route, we are a reader and listener-supported enterprise focusing on human-powered turn making. Our mission is simple, but it takes real deal calorie burning to piece it all together.We are also excited to announce Issue 1.0 of The High Route magazine is shipping. Fancy paper. Good reads. High-octane photos. And some fine mountain ranges. And turns. You can learn more about our subscription options here.The theme music for The High Route Podcast comes from Storms in the Hill Country and the album The Self Transforming (Thank you, Jens Langsjoen). You can find a link to the album here—there are so many good songs on this album. And if you think you've spotted a UFO in the past or visited the 7th dimension, "Beautiful Alien" is a good tune to start with.

Welcome to mid-spring here at The High Route Podcast. Here in the Pacific Northwest, ski crampon season. It is also the season to unearth an interview with Fay Manners, a British alpinist and ski mountaineer, recorded late last summer. Manners caught my attention for one reason: she practices the aforementioned mountain disciplines at a high level. To optimize mountain conditions in winter and the shoulder seasons, it helps to be skilled at rock, ice, and mixed climbing, and when the snow is stable and conditions prime, slapping skis or a snowboard on the feet makes sense, too. Over the years, British alpinist/ski-alpinist Fay Manners has built up a reputation as a go-getter. Which is to say that Manners comes with the full mountain-skills package.In 2024, Manners and Tom Lafaille opened up the Stratonspherique ski line on the Aiguille d’Argentière. On the alpinism side, Manners has the first female ascent of the Phantom Direct route on the south face of the Grand Jorasses. She also climbed the North Face of the Eiger, the American Direct on the Dru, and the Walker Spur on the Grandes Jorasses.Far from exuding the vibe of an adrenaline junkie, Manners imparts an ethos of building skills, becoming fit, and knowing when one is at their limits, and using those skills to—and again, we’ll emphasize multi-disciplinarian skills—to move efficiently and safely in the hills.Manners has had her share of close calls. Having recorded this interview last summer, we had kept an eye on Manners and her adventures. When this headline came across a newsfeed, there was a sinking feeling: Two climbers go missing. These stories often don’t end well. Manners and her partner, American alpinist Michelle Dvorak, were rescued three days later. The pair lost much of their gear, including their shelter, when rockfall severed a haul line. For those of us following thousands of miles away, the rescue came as a huge relief. On flat ground, Manners is trained and has worked as a data analyst; on less flat ground, she’s come into her own as a mountain athlete. But for those just being introduced to the mountains, Manners is a reminder that mountain pedigree is what you make of it. In her twenties, Manners began tapping into snow and climbing while working as a data analyst in New York City. From Vermont’s Jay Peak to New York’s Gunks, she’s lived a full-value life in Alaska, Pakistan, and near her adopted home in Chamonix. Thanks for listening, and have a good day, The High Route Team. If you are new to The High Route, we are a reader and listener-supported enterprise focusing on human-powered turn making. Our mission is simple, but it takes real deal calorie burning to piece it all together.We are also excited to announce Issue 1.0 of The High Route magazine is shipping. Fancy paper. Good reads. High-octane photos. And some fine mountain ranges. And turns. You can learn more about our subscription options here.The theme music for The High Route Podcast comes from Storms in the Hill Country and the album The Self Transforming (Thank you, Jens Langsjoen). You can find a link to the album here—there are so many good songs on this album. And if you think you've spotted a UFO in the past or visited the 7th dimension, "Beautiful Alien" is a good tune to start with.

Before we roll into this episode full steam, here’s some basic information: this interview was recorded in the fall of 2023. That was when a group from the US, including Jimmy Chin and Jim Morrison, planned to approach Mount Everest’s north side to attempt to ski the Hornbein Couloir. The project was part of a larger documentary project. This past fall, in 2024, that team made another attempt but was reportedly stymied by poor conditions. All this is to say that back in 2023, skiing the Hornbein popped up in the news cycle. Around then, I reached out to Jeremy Evans for an interview. He’s the author of an excellent book I read titled See You Tomorrow: The Disappearance of Snowboarder Marco Siffredi on Everest. This episode of The High Route podcast is that interview with Jeremy Evans, the Tahoe-based author of this good read. We mostly discuss the book and the protagonist, Macro Siffredi. Siffredi was a Chamonix-based snowboarder who arrived on the extreme descent scene with extraordinary flare in the late 1990s. In 2002, Siffredi disappeared as he descended the Hornbein Couloir on Everest’s North Side. He was 23 years old at the time. Although the podcast is not a book review if you enjoy climbing and ski/ride adventures and examinations of human nature and what motivates us in the mountains if you pick up the book, you’ll find it doesn’t disappoint. Further, Thanks to Evans for his incredible patience as we sat on this episode—we got caught up in life and building out The High Route, but we are deeply appreciative of his time and for making the efforts to illuminate more about Siffredi’s life.Thanks for listening, and have a good day, The High Route Team. If you are new to The High Route, we are a reader and listener-supported enterprise focusing on human-powered turn making. Our mission is simple, but it takes real deal calorie burning to piece it all together.We are also excited to announce Issue 1.0 of The High Route magazine is shipping. Fancy paper. Good reads. High-octane photos. And some fine mountain ranges. And turns. You can learn more about our subscription options here.The theme music for The High Route Podcast comes from Storms in the Hill Country and the album The Self Transforming (Thank you, Jens Langsjoen). You can find a link to the album here—there are so many good songs on this album. And if you think you've spotted a UFO in the past or visited the 7th dimension, "Beautiful Alien" is a good tune to start with.

Sometimes, the eyes go wide, the mind quiets and thoughts turn to the realization that you might be watching mastery. Chamonix-based skier, Vivian Bruchez illicites these expressions. For some time now, he has captured the imaginations of steep-skiing fans. Many skiers and riders open new lines, climb, and descend in good style: they break on through a mental, physical, or terrain barrier and make something audacious look possible. This is, in many ways, Bruchez's signature. No matter how steep or exposed, he pivots on a dime, dry skis with aplomb, and exudes joy. Whether it's his disheveled signature hair or his easy-going vibe, Bruchez is likable and at the pinnacle of the rarified ski-mountaineering scene in the Alps and beyond. His list of first descents runs deep.In this episode of The High Route Podcast, we connect with Bruchez after his day on Chamonix's slopes, teaching a class for ENSA, the French National School of Skiing and Mountaineering. While we don't discuss specific lines he's opened, we do dive into his thoughts on his mental preparedness, how he tries to see life through a child's eyes, and, of course, for the gear folks out there, we discuss his choice in equipment for the steeps.Those looking to watch and learn more about Bruchez can find links in our THR Curates series. Thanks for listening, and have a good day, The High Route Team. If you are new to The High Route, we are a reader and listener-supported enterprise focusing on human-powered turn making. Our mission is simple, but it takes real deal calorie burning to piece it all together.We are also excited to announce Issue 1.0 of The High Route magazine is shipping. Fancy paper. Good reads. High-octane photos. And some fine mountain ranges. And turns. You can learn more about our subscription options here.The theme music for The High Route Podcast comes from Storms in the Hill Country and the album The Self Transforming (Thank you, Jens Langsjoen). You can find a link to the album here—there are so many good songs on this album. And if you think you've spotted a UFO in the past or visited the 7th dimension, "Beautiful Alien" is a good tune to start with.

One of the best parts of liking to ask questions and running The High Route is the opportunity to speak to folks we admire and want to learn from. With this in mind, photographer Drew Smith is the guest on this episode. Smith’s work spans the spectrum from outdoor-related commercial work to full-value expedition photography. We are drawn to his images for many reasons. First and foremost, there’s his documentarian style and vibe. In short, Smith is along for the ride, documenting rather than staging, keeping up with rather than slowing the tempo down. He’s a high-level climber and snowboarder who is often along on an expedition as an equal: he’ll lead ice and rock pitches, set a booter, crampon up a face with his snow sliding tools in tow, and camera ready. Born and raised in rural Montana, low-key and modest are Smith’s hallmarks as he’d rather draw attention to his art and craft than to himself. We are excited to close out the 2024 podcast year with his interview. You find find Smith's photography here at Drew Smith Media.You can find Smith's written musing's here at Drew's Plan.If you are new to The High Route, we are a reader and listener-supported enterprise focusing on human-powered turn making. Our mission is simple, but it takes real deal calorie burning to piece it all together.We are also excited to announce Issue 1.0 of The High Route magazine is in the works. Fancy paper. Good reads. High-octane photos. And some fine mountain ranges. And turns. You can learn more about our subscription options here.The theme music for The High Route Podcast comes from Storms in the Hill Country and the album The Self Transforming (Thank you, Jens Langsjoen). You can find a link to the album here—there are so many good songs on this album. And if you think you've spotted a UFO in the past or visited the 7th dimension, "Beautiful Alien" is a good tune to start with.Thanks for listening,The High Route Team

The first snows have fallen. And if the local webcams have anything to say about it, it might as well be winter. Snow sliding and keeping bases intact—that's another story. The story today, on The High Route podcast comes from Salt Lake based Mali Noyes. Let's see where to begin.Catching up with Noyes is, and was, part of the problem. Not unlike many of us, she is busy. She is also on the move. Energy. Motion. Mountains. Running. Skinning. Skiing. Nursing. She grew up in Sun Valley, Idaho, and became part of a speedy crew of nordic racers at the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation. Kilometer after kilometer, season after season, year after year, you can imagine the incredible base fitness. She went on to ski at the University of Utah and, once free from the constraints of school, took that drive and fitness into the backcountry. Noyes is an accomplished mountain runner, earned a spot on the Freeride World Tour in 2016, and is a Salomon athlete. After years in the mountains gaining experience, she has ventured into the Alaska Range and beyond. All the while, she took the time to attend nursing school. When she is not in the hills, she works as an oncology nurse.There's also something else to know—we don't really explore how she skied this or that line. Which, we think, is OK. We take the time on the podcast to get a little deeper and discuss things like how annoying it might be to answer questions like "What's it like to be the only girl on an expedition?" We also explore how Noyes expanded her avalanche education and now takes more ownership over assessing where and when she skis. All this is to say that we had an excellent time during the interview—we learned a ton. If you are new to The High Route, we are a reader and listener-supported enterprise focusing on human-powered turn making. Our mission is simple, but it takes real deal calorie burning to piece it all together.We are also excited to announce Issue 1.0 of The High Route magazine is in the works. Fancy paper. Good reads. High-octane photos. And some fine mountain ranges. And turns. You can learn more about our subscription options here.The theme music for The High Route Podcast comes from Storms in the Hill Country and the album The Self Transforming (Thank you, Jens Langsjoen). You can find a link to the album here—there are so many good songs on this album. And if you think you've spotted a UFO in the past or visited the 7th dimension, "Beautiful Alien" is a good tune to start with.Thanks for listening,The High Route Team

In this episode of The High Route Podcast, we speak with Lou Dawson. As much as anyone in North American ski mountaineering, Dawson has been a cornerstone of the sport and the broader culture. Last spring, he released his memoir, Avalanche Dreams. Already reviewed on the site, here's what our writer Alex Lee had to say:Lou Dawson, pioneering American ski mountaineer, climber, and writer, dissects hard-earned wisdom of the mountain in Avalanche Dreams: A Memoir of Skiing Climbing and Life. Avalanches are, as Lou puts it, the "sword of Damocles," whispering "rocks, snow, people—all fall." Lou's story of his "unrecoverable addiction" to the mountains is a hero's journey of facing dragons and overcoming Herculean trials to find comfort beneath that sword through partnership and family. He also catches literal rattlesnakes, managing to get his elementary school evacuated when the sheriff comes to kill them. If you know who Lou is, or if you don't, his story is a gripping wallop of adventures, family, and gravity. Alex joins the podcast as we discuss the writing process with Lou and converse about his decades-long life and continuing adventures in the hills. You can find more information about Lou here, where you can also learn how to purchase the book. If you are new to The High Route, we are a reader and listener-supported enterprise focusing on human-powered turn making. Our mission is simple, but it takes real deal calorie burning to piece it all together.We are also excited to announce Issue 1.0 of The High Route magazine is in the works. Fancy paper. Good reads. High-octane photos. And some fine mountain ranges. And turns. You can learn more about our subscription options here.The theme music for The High Route Podcast comes from Storms in the Hill Country and the album The Self Transforming (Thank you, Jens Langsjoen). You can find a link to the album here—there are so many good songs on this album. And if you think you've spotted a UFO in the past or visited the 7th dimension, "Beautiful Alien" is a good tune to start with.Thanks for listening,The High Route Team