It’s been 3 years since Jeff Pensiero invited me to observe and participate in the guides training at Baldface Lodge. Over the years I’ve worked with many mountain guides around the world being a professional snowboarder. I’ve always had a lot of admiration for these guys…and gals. But participating in the training program with the Baldface team opened my eyes to a deeper understanding and respect for the skill level and knowledge base they posses. Professional mountain guides must endure seasons full of extreme winter weather and long cold days in the field. They demand the highest quality gear and can’t settle for less than the best.
Volcom’s GPT “Guides Proven Technology” line was developed for, and is tested by a team of guides led by Demian Whitley at Baldface Lodge BC. With their feedback the performance and quality continues to improve each season.
Since inception I’ve been riding in the Baldface Guides Pant and Jacket and love the set up for it’s simplicity and pure FUNction. It works great for me when I’m riding tram laps, sledding, or hiking / skinning for hours sweating like a beast in the backcountry. The last few weeks have been extremely cold here in Jackson, I’m talking KILL YOU COLD… negitive temps up to -24F on the coldest of mornings. But the ridings been good so we endured the conditions and had some really times shredding and exploring the mountains. With the abundance of clear cold days this January we’ve been hitting it hard accessing the goods by any and all means necessary… using JHMR tram, hiking, Mntapproach skis, splitboarding and snowmobiles. I’ve been putting my gear to the test all month going out with the usual suspects Travis Rice, Mark Carter as well as Volcoms newest team rider Pat Moore. Seth Huot and Frank Knab joined the crew last week and we had good days as well. The cold high pressure lasting almost all month ended a couple days ago with a extreme change to an almost tropical mountain snow valley rain. We made the most of the new snow and warm temps spending the last couple days touring in the Tetons and riding tram laps at the JHMR. Heres a few shots from the start of 2013.
Very cold predawn starts
"Carter Country"
Pat Moore and Travis Rice scoping new terrain deep on a recon mission. We spent several days and hundreds of miles on our snow machines breaking trail searching for new terrain while we had stable snow and weather. Pat almost destroyed his new machine after it took off down a mountain without him… I guess his “good karma” prevented certain disaster.
- These dudes were all rocking Volcom’s gore-tex Bibs Seth, Frank & Pat
"Tech Puff Puff Give" photo by Pat Moore
Frank Knab
reward
I’m a firm believer in that “there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear.”
I can depend on my gear to keep me warm and dry regardless of what winter throws my way these days. Here’s my set up for the extreme cold… it’s pretty much the same as my usual set up with additional base layers and the “Tech Puff Puff” instead of the standard “Puff Puff” and the “toasty toes” boot warmers.
Volcom Base Layer
Volcom TDS base layer top & bottom
Mid weight hooded fleece
Tech Puff Puff give down insulated Jacket
Baldface 3 layer gore Pant & Jacket shell
Fleece Balaclave
Volcom Full Leather Glove
Volcom Tech Snow Socks /with toasty toes*
