December 9, 2013 by proactiveoutside1

Proactiveoutside is now on Facebook

A huge thanks to everyone who has been a reader, commenter and contributor to this blog. A bunch of you are also followers as well, and more still have connected with me through Twitter. I’m immensely grateful for that, and all the interaction that we’ve had.

But for those of you who prefer Facebook interaction, I honestly feel like I’ve neglected you. So I’ve changed all that. Yesterday I made a Facebook page for Proactiveoutside. In that, I’ll be posting links to the blog, photos, and any other interesting bits of news and information I find. I promise to make it a worthwhile addition to your newsfeed without blowing it up!

Linking up via Facebook is simple. On the right-side column of the page, you’ll see a Facebook box. Just hit the “Like” button, and presto! You’ll be able to get all the latest posts and other information on your Facebook feed.

Just below the Facebook box is a mini-Twitter feed as well. You can see my tweets and, if you so choose, hit the “follow” button if you want to interact with me on Twitter.

Again, I’m hugely grateful for the interaction and readership, and hope to continue it for a long time. Hope to see more of you all on the interwebz!

Bob Doucette

December 24, 2012 by proactiveoutside1

New York Times goes deep on the Tunnel Creek avalanche at Stevens Pass

Usually I don’t plug an article or a series of articles in this space. I save that for Twitter. But this one deserves a little extra mention.

On Feb. 18, a group of expert backcountry skiers and snowboarders went to an out-of-bounds area near the Stevens Pass ski area in Washington state, setting out to take advantage of mounds of fresh powder that had fallen there.

The group had 16 people in it. Some time after noon that day, they headed down the back side of Cowboy Mountain, known to locals as Tunnel Creek.

An avalanche broke free during their descent, killing three.

The New York Times interviewed many members of the group who were there as well as loved ones of those who died. This is a multi-part story and it’s pretty long, but worth the read. The website also includes video interviews of the subjects, audio files of emergency calls made to first responders and multimedia presentations illustrating the avalanche and how it swept three top-notch skiers to their deaths. It’s also available in an e-book called “Snow Fall.”

Take some time to read it — it’s worth it. With apologies to Outside magazine, this is some of the best outdoors reporting and writing you will see. It’s also an excellent lesson to anyone who wants to take part in wintertime backcountry adventures.

Bob Doucette

On Twitter @RMHigh7088