Backcountry Magazine February/March 2013 - Sidecountry Special Report

When the National Ski Areas Association published an editorial titled “There’s No Such Thing As ‘Sidecountry,’” we knew we had to join the resort-accessed backcountry discussion. So we put together this issue to investigate the good, the bad and the ugly of sidecountry riding—inside, you’ll find everything from where to go to whom to hire, what to bring and what you need to know. But this issue goes far beyond resort gates, too. Canadian correspondent Ryan Stuart goes on tour with Island Lake Lodge, Fernie, B.C.’s new cat-accessed touring program, and Tyler Cohen explores a remote corner of the Chilean Andes. Plus, things get hoppy in the first-ever Backcountry Magazine Beer Guide. Drink up! FEATURES OB/BC Backcountry Magazine is excited to announce the increase in skiable backcountry terrain worldwide to a zillion acres. That's right, we're growing. Just as resorts have expanded their boundaries, we're pushing ours— right up to those of the resort. You see, everything outside the reso