Avalanche Resource Links
Avalanche.org – Centralized data base for US avalanche centers, including accident database and educational tools. Links to Canadian and International avalanche resources.
Avalanche Safety – An informative blog with interesting dicussions on all aspects of avalanche safety and current research.
Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center – Avalanche, weather and snowpack information for the large Eastern Sierra forecast area.
Mt. Shasta Avalanche Center – Avalanche, weather, snowpack and climbing information for Mt. Shasta, CA.
Sierra Avalanche Center – Avalanche, weather and snowpack information for the Tahoe National Forest.
Backcountry Skiing Links
The Backcountry Skiing Forum – Mike, the owner of The Backcountry in Truckee (a great backcountry ski and climbing store), runs this forum containing extremely useful backcountry skiing trip reports, condition updates and route beta for the Tahoe Basin area and Eastern Sierra.
Earn Your Turns – Craig Dostie’s blog about, well, earning your turns. As Craig notes, “For those of you who subscribed to Couloir magazine and its promotion of the Earn Your Turns philosophy, this will be the online version of what was begun with that publication.”
StraightChuter – Andrew McLean’s blog centered on ski mountaineering and backcountry skiing.
Telemark Tips – Although primarily based around telemark skiing, an invaluable resource to all things backcountry skiing. The forums provide good beta on current Eastern Sierra conditions.
Teton Gravity Research Forums – The TGR forums, home of useful information, great trip reports and a lot of useless nonsense. Buyer beware on these forums.
Wildsnow – Lou Dawson’s daily blog on backcountry skiing, including news, gear review, trip reports and everything and anything else you need to know. A truly valuable resource.
Climbing Links
Access Fund – The national advocacy organization that keeps U.S. climbing areas open and conserves the climbing environment. Founded in 1990, the Access Fund supports and represents over 2.3 million climbers nationwide in all forms of climbing: rock, ice, mountaineering, and bouldering.
Cascade Climbers Forums – The Cascade Climbers Forums provide extremely useful information, trip reports and gear reviews on all types of climbing (rock, ice, mountaineering) in a number of locations (obviously including the Cascades). A good resource.
Rockclimbing.com – A generally good source of information, including a helpful Route Finder with beta on particular climbs.
SuperTopo – Home of the best climbing guides and topos for Yosemite, South Lake Tahoe, the High Sierra and beyond, as well as useful gear reviews and good trip reports.
Other Links
Sierra Club – Founded in 1892 by John Muir, the Sierra Club has been working to protect communities, wild places and the planet itself. The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States.
USGS Topo Maps – Free access to official USGS topographic maps.
Sierra Trip Reports 