“The Ice Climbing Event of a Generation,” Bozeman Ice Climbing Festival Draws Closer

A venerable who’s who of ice climbing will converge in Montana next week for the 15th Annual Arc’teryx Bozeman Ice Climbing Festival (BIF). Starting December 7, professional athletes and participants from around the world will converge in Hyalite Canyon for five days of clinics, demos, inspirational slide shows and climbing solidarity.



Several Julbo athletes are BIF alumni, including Barry Blanchard, Ben Gilmore, Caroline George and Majka Burhardt. Blanchard returns this year to participate in an intriguing multimedia presentation scheduled over two evenings: “Retrospective on 40 Years of Ice Climbing in North America, Parts 1 & 2,” hosted by Chris Alstrin and Joe Josephson.

Part 1 on Friday evening will also feature special guests Jeff Lowe, Pat Callis, Yvon Chouinard, John Bragg, Henry Barber, and more TBA. Saturday evening’s Part 2 will feature special guests Will Gadd, Bruce Hendricks, Kitty Calhoun, Bernard Mailhot, Kris Erickson and more TBA.


Festival organizer Joe Josephson on the second ascent of Telluride's Bridalveil Falls. Credit: Henry C. Barber

In addition to on-ice clinics taught by some of the sport’s best, climbers can demo the latest in ice-climbing clothing and equipment from a gamut of companies – from Arc’teryx and Mammut to La Sportiva and Outdoor Research.

Check out the full BIF schedule here http://www.bozemanicefest.com/schedule/. For more beta on Bozeman, check out http://www.bozemanicefest.com/resources/ for some helpful links.


Yvon Chouinard on the third ascent of the New England classic Repentance. Credit: Henry C. Barber/Mountain Ventures Collection

Proceeds from the Festival go toward the Friends of Hyalite, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the world-class ice climbing in Hyalite Canyon.

Time is running out to register; if you are a passionate ice climber, don’t miss the BIF!

Quell the Daylight Saving Time Blues with Some Night Ridin’

Daylight Saving Time is always a tough adjustment for me. I go from being outside three to five times per week to shrinking back into my cubicle at work like a troll in its cave. There is nothing more depressing than leaving the office in the dark. This winter, though, I am going to try more night activities to quench my “stay active” thirst.

Many resorts in the U.S. offer night skiing, and I plan on trying out a cozy resort in my neighborhood of Southwest Colorado called Hesperus Mountain, just outside of Durango. For only $27 you can schuss under the stars from 4 to 9.



Keystone Resort in Summit County, Colorado has a fabulous night skiing set-up complete with a huge terrain park for freestylers to keep jibbing after dark. A day ticket for $85 gets you on the night lift as well.

On the West Coast, Squaw Valley is one of many resorts in the Sierra to offer night skiing. Terrain open in the evening includes a 3.2-mile intermediate cruising run. Squaw’s night terrain is accessed via the Cable Car with a stop at High Camp at 8,200 feet, where restaurants and bars stay open. Night skiing at Squaw is free with all-day and afternoon lift tickets; prices TBA for the 11-12 season.

On the East Coast, Bolton Valley is Vermont’s only resort to offer night skiing and boarding, and it looks like a cool little mountain to cruise around after the sun sets. Twelve trails and Bolton Valley’s terrain parks are lit up from 4 to 8 p.m. Like Hesperus, they also offer an affordable night-skiing-only ticket for $39.

Nordic skiing or snowshoeing can also be fun night diversions, especially if there is a full moon. If the sky is clear, the moon can illuminate snow so well it practically seems like daylight and you can ditch the headlamp. Bring a hot chocolate-filled Thermos along, so you can warm up quickly post-skiing.

Goggles for night activities will keep your eyeballs and face warm; check out Julbo’s photochromatic Zebra lens and the new Zebra Light, with an enhanced performance range in Protection Categories 1 to 3. Ultra-clear when unactivated, the Zebra Light offers excellent visibility in super-low light conditions, aka night!

By Christine Rasmussen

Vermont Native Ashley Maxfield Readies for Another Season on the Freeskiing World Tour

Born and raised in the Northeast Kingdom, Julbo athlete Ashley Maxfield grew up in Craftsbury, Vermont, a small town in the middle of nowhere, BUT, in the middle of all the mountains. Just 45 minutes to Jay Peak and Stowe and one hour to Smugglers Notch and Burke, Ashley started skiing when she was a wee tyke and has never stopped. The fearless freeskier – who is, ironically, from a huge Nordic town – is amped on another season of progression on the Freeskiing World Tour (FWT).

Last season was your first on the FWT – how did it go? Did you get to slay some new terrain?
I think I did pretty well, finishing 3rd overall. It was a huge learning experience. I learned a lot about the sport and about my own skiing. I feel fortunate to have been able to ski in wonderful new places: I got the chance to go to Chile, Argentina and British Columbia all for the first time ever with the Tour, along with finally getting to ski at Crested Butte and Kirkwood.



Why do you love freeskiing?
For the freedom to ski where you want. You are closer to the mountains and nature. I love the feeling of standing on top of a venue/mountain and seeing everything around you. It’s where I find the most peace in my life.

When have you been the most scared skiing?
At Kirkwood last year. It was my first visual-only inspection. As such, I studied just one line. One of the first girls to ski that line had to get air-lifted out. Sitting at the start, knowing that she got severely hurt on my line, I chose to back out of my planned line. That was really the first time that it hit me: my sport is very dangerous. That same day is the day we lost a really close friend and fellow athlete, Ryan Hawks.

What do you do when you’re not skiing?
During the summers I roof for my Dad’s roofing company (The Roofmeisters). During the fall I’m a varsity soccer coach for the Lady Chargers at Craftsbury Academy. But for fun I love playing soccer, rugby, rock climbing and enjoying the outdoors.



What is coming up for you this season?
This season is packed-full of adventure. I am starting off the season by driving across the country from Vermont to Utah, making stops in Kentucky and Colorado. But as far as the skiing goes, I am trying to learn more tricks in the backcountry and gain more confidence in my skiing. Once February hits, I’ll be on the road nonstop, traveling for comps and backcountry adventures.

Why do you love Julbo product?
Julbo is great! They make smaller sizes that fit my face and a bunch of styles to choose from, so I’m not stuck with just one frame that fits. I also love the Zebra lens: I don’t have to make sure that I have right lens for the day – I just grab my goggles and go without worrying what the weather may bring! I really appreciate all the support they have shown me since before the start of last year’s tour.

~Interview by Christine Rasmussen

Subscribe to Ashley’s Facebook page or follow her on Twitter.

Uber Mountain Diva Caroline George Talks Pregnancy and (Eye) Protection

Check out this awesome interview with Julbo Athlete Caroline George from our friends at the Mountain Diva

Caroline George was born a mountain diva in the heart of the Swiss Alps. Her parents immersed her and her brother in mountain culture from birth, and traveled as a family on climbing holidays around the world, exploring new places and ways of life. She and husband Adam are getting ready to welcome their first child into the world early next year. We wanted to find out how she’s preparing to become a mountain diva mama while also getting her input on what she thinks are the best Julbo goggles and glasses for playing in the mountains.



You’ve had a very big year starting with a trip to Antarctica in January, before a quick turnaround to Thailand, then Jordan and a summer guiding in the Alps. Are you slowing down at all now with the pregnancy?
I didn’t slow down much during the first 4 months because I was guiding full time. That wasn’t easy: the weather was bad in the Alps and required lots figuring out “Plan B” to make the trip for clients work, despite the weather and conditions. I didn’t know how much I could do without hurting the baby, and like most pregnant women I went from being elated to being confused about my future, what this baby would mean and how it would change my life – and I felt guilty to have all these mixed feelings. I always believed that my life would end when I’d have a kid and I had to do all these climbs, trips, etc. before I had kids. So in a way, that period earlier in my pregnancy felt like I was grieving my life. Until I had the realization that I didn’t need to grieve anything, life goes on and so will my climbing career.
I guided until I was a little over 4 months pregnant, at the end of September, which was right about when I would have stopped guiding anyway. So I had a full season and can now enjoy the fall. I haven’t been climbing as much as I would have liked to because it hurts my pelvis when I have to use my core strength. So, I replaced climbing with lots of biking and swimming. I do both almost daily and it’s been fun to do something new as well, discovering where I live (Salt Lake City) through a new set of eyes. I usually climb there and one of the goals during my pregnancy was to open myself up to new things. I just got back from a trip to Moab, Utah, one of my favorite places on earth to climb. I tried climbing, but it didn’t feel good, so I biked instead and saw places that I would never otherwise see.
I really hope to stay active until the due date, mid February. I am just a little bummed I will miss out on the ice climbing season but I’ll be all the more psyched for it in 2013.

What are your plans for climbing on big trips and/or guiding after the baby?
I am hoping to be guiding again as soon as I am healed up from the pregnancy and the baby is doing well. I am hoping I’ll ski guide in April and will be fully back into guiding by the end of June. I’ll be guiding mostly in the Alps. I have a few trips in the works right now with Eddie Bauer for next fall. After that, we’ll be back in the USA to climb, bike and get back into ice climbing as soon as it forms in December. I am already looking forward to Ouray, the ice fest and Chicks with Picks in 2013.

You grew up in a family that was very active in the mountains – do you and Adam have plans for how to raise your own child in the mountains, similar to how you grew up?
I am well aware that all sorts of things might come my way with the newborn, but my parents kept living their lives, traveling and climbing all over after they had me, and I love how my brother and I were dragged along or left behind with our grandparents. I truly believe in the saying: “happy mom, happy baby.” I really want my child’s life to be as rich as mine was growing up because of all the amazing trips we did, people we met, and cultures we discovered.
I really hope my child enjoys the outdoors and the mountains as much as we do, but all we can do is hand her the rope and hope she will tie in for the ride. You can’t force anything on anyone, much less your child. But I see how most kids nowadays stay home and spend time on their computers or games and I think there is a deep need for children to reconnect to nature. I hope my child will be a part of most of my travels because seeing other countries and culture is such an enriching way to grow up and realize how lucky we are to have all we have. It gives life perspective.

Traveling and spending time in the mountains is how you make a living. Being able to see clearly in a variety of weather conditions is extremely critical to not only your life, but your clients’ lives. How have you managed to protect your eyes – and vision – for so many years?
I spend so much time in the mountains that if it wasn’t for sunglasses, I would surely be blind by now. And I am lucky to get sunglasses from the best brand out there: Julbo, who keeps my eyes so well protected that I’ll be able to go into the mountains for a long time to come and still experience the views in the same way.

What are your favorite Julbo ski goggles for work and play?
I like the Revolution. They have Zebra lenses, which adapt to the light, an important factor when you’re in a white-out situation or in the bright sunshine.

What are your favorite glasses, and do you use different pairs for climbing rock and ice?
For the mountains, I use the MonteRosa, because they offer great protection all around and have a dark Spectron 4 lens and have removable wings to protect from harsh sunlight, and despite being technical sunglasses, they have a very feminine touch.
For ice climbing, I like to use a lighter lens, since I am rarely in the sun. For ice, I like the Whoops with a Zebra lens to adapt to the luminosity.

What is your worst experience with forgetting to bring or losing your eye protection in the mountains?
CG: As a guide, I always carry a spare pair of sunglasses with me, so I have never had an epic situation with forgetting or losing sunglasses. Knock on wood?

What was your first pair of Julbos?
I have worn Julbo for as long as I can remember, but I can’t remember the name of the model. But they most likely looked something like these: http://www.julbousa.com/mountain/micropores/
coz style matters!

Julbo in the Media: Shades for Every Sport

Julbo offers a wide range of performance eyewear for all sorts of different sports, and folks in the media are taking notice. Check out these clips of enthusiastic coverage from the past few weeks.

For single-track junkies, Switchback magazine digs the Dirt's comfy fit and innovative shock-absorbing temples and nose pads.

To read more, click here.

With the holidays and winter snow fast approaching, Washington Trails recommends the Nomads for on-snow outdoor adventures in their holiday gift guide.

To read more, click here.

Urban Climber likes the Tour's snug fit and extended temple grip, because when you're taking a big whipper on the rocks, the last thing you want to worry about is whether you're going to lose your sunglasses.

To read more, click here.