How It's Done: Getting in and out of skis on firm steeps

I ski on the Diamir Eagle bindings, and as I was browsing YouTube to learn more about the Dynafit setup (hint: half the weight at 1,000 grams), I came across one of the best little instructional videos I've seen in a long time.

How it's really done. Mike Hattrup.

Here's veteran Mike Hattrup for K2 playing ski mountaineering guide, offering tips on how to get in and out of skis on a firm, steep slope. And he's damn good at both explaining and demonstrating it.

So today's blog is about raising a glass to all the guides in your life, and in mine, who have showed us the way in the backcountry. Few of us got out there and back safely in our early days without care and feeding from folks with the patience to pass on the tips and tricks of life's great outdoor experiences.

In my life, these people are too numerous to name here. Thank you all.

There was thunder and lightning to go with the downpour today at my daughter's Mini Ski Olympics, which motivated everyone with Sochi conditions. But I'm bracing for one, last big snow dump this year, and I plan to spend a good hour or two on some of the backcountry tips I just learned on YouTube from people like Hattrup and my daughter's favorite, Andrew McLean, demonstrating here how to change over smoothly from climbing to skiing when there's no time for a brew-up.

Get out there, support great guide services, tip handsomely, and practice, practice, practice.