I was working on an edit of the big 7 day storm but had to put it on the back burner for the upcoming SIA show in Denver/Winter Park.. This has bummed me out, wanting to share all the goodness right away, so I did a rough cut of what I had so far. Check back later for the full version of this very memorable week in the Cascade Mountains.

Dynastar has announced the all-new Cham 107 freeride ski for the 2012-2013 season. The Cham 107 is characterized as a next-generation, high-performance freeride-adventure ski built in the shadow of Chamonix, the birthplace of extreme skiing. Dynastar athlete and alpine adventurer, Forrest Coots says, “The new Cham series skis put Dynastar in the driver’s seat of modern freeride ski design.”

Also, new for next season is Lange’s XT 130 built from the same mold as Lange’s award-winning RS and RX boot. Lange describes it as the first, real-deal high-performance alpine boot that climbs. Lange’s acclaimed fit and performance solutions: Control Fit, Natural Stance and mono-injected shells combine with ultra-durable grip soles and arches, lightweight components and the patented new Power V-Lock to deliver the first freeride-adventure powerhouse. We’ll take a closer look at this later this week at the SIA Show.

Later this year, Liquid Image® will be introducing new Xtreme Sport Cams™, a line of mountable HD video cameras and goggles with integrated video cameras to capture your point of view while skiing or snowboarding. Liquid Image products allow for virtually hands free video recording while on the go. The camera lens is located just above the eye in most models, allowing for True POV™, Line of Sight™ video capture. Most models record in HD. A small LED light signals the user when the camera is on and recording. No other action camera on the market offers these important features.

The Liquid Image EGO is a mountable Full HD camera that is also Wi-Fi enabled. The camera contains a 136 degree wide angle lens to capture the action on the go. The hands free unit has a 12.0MP (4000 x 3000) still images camera mode and a video mode that records HD1080P Video (1920×1080) at a rate up to 30 frames per second as well as the High Action mode of HD720P video (1280×720) at a rate up to 60 frames per second. This new model also features a continuous shot photo mode. The EGO can hold a Micro SDHC Card up to 32 GB to record thousands of photos or hours of HD video. Product includes a 4GB Micro SDHC card. The product includes a tripod mount as well as a multi-directional mounting system that features a quick release lever. Files may be downloaded to a computer through the High Speed USB cable provided, or through a Micro SDHC card. Rechargeable lithium battery records approximately 1.5-2 hours of video and is recharged through the USB cable.The EGO is expected to ship in June for US SRP $149.

The Liquid Image APEX HD is a snow goggle with an integrated Full HD camera that is also Wi-Fi and GPS enabled. The goggle contains a 136 degree wide angle lens to capture all the action while skiing, boarding, sledding or snowmobiling. The hands free unit has a 12.0MP (4000 x 3000) still images camera mode and a video mode that records HD1080P Video (1920×1080) at a rate up to 30 frames per second as well as the High Action mode of HD720P video (1280×720) at a rate up to 60 frames per second. This new model also features a continuous shot photo mode. The APEX HD can hold a Micro SDHC Card up to 32 GB to record thousands of photos or hours of HD video. Product includes a 4GB Micro SDHC card. The camera has Wind Guard Audio recording for crisp sound while in motion. Files may be downloaded to a computer through the High Speed USB cable provided, or through a Micro SDHC card. Rechargeable lithium battery records approximately 1.5-2 hours of video. Extra batteries sold separately. Estimated ship date is Oct 2012. US SRP $399.

Our friends Tara and Carl Simpson are quite the team from the snow to the surf, but their true love (besides each other) is the snow in the Crystal Mountain area.

Tara and Carl ski year round here in the cascades capturing their adventure on film and backing the vids w/ Carl’s own music. His band is called Perseus Arm check out their site sometime for a good listen.

Next week, the Snow Troopers will be in Denver to bring you previews of next season’s gear at SIA’s (Snow Sports Industry Assoc.) Snow Show. As we count down to Denver, we’ll share some sneak peaks of new gear we plan to check out at the show.

One we’ll take a closer look at in Denver is Salomon’s new Guardian 16 backcountry binding (up to 16 din). The Guardian is designed to provide the highest level of efficiency and downhill performance for a heightened skiing experience with several new features; a Low Profile Chassis (26mm) featuring a lower stand height for greater stability and enhanced terrain feedback, an Oversized Platform (80 mm wide), which enables maximum power transmission and responsiveness for quick and more precise turns and easier Hike & Ride Switch to easily use your ski pole to flip the climbing bar to skiing position.

The Snow Troopers are deeply saddened to hear that Canadian freestyle skier Sarah Burke passed away this morning. She had been in a coma following surgery for injuries she sustained in a fall Jan. 10 while training in the superpipe at Park City. Sarah is a 4x Gold Medalist for freestyle skiing’s halfpipe at the Winter X Games, won ESPN’s ESPY Awards in 2001 and 2007 for Best Female Skier and Best Female Action Sports Athlete and won several other international competitions. Sting of the Snow Troopers remembers meeting Sarah at various US Ski Team events and competitions – she was simply one of the most approachable and sweetest people you’d ever meet. Our sympathies to her family and friends for their loss. This is a major, major loss to the skiing world – rest in peace, Sarah – we’ll miss you.

Here is a nice video Roxy put together with some shots of Sarah at The Summit at Snoqualmie.

Here’s the clip from the Q13 Fox TV News story on the Snow Troopers. They featured our deep powder ski video as the lead in top story on their 5 o’clock news yesterday and included an interview with TNT. They apparently liked it so much that they aired it again as the lead out story in the same hour. Then, they aired it again several times today as the lead in top story each hour amidst all the morning news about the current winter storm (WA’s state of emergency, ice storm warning, airport and highway closures, etc.). Thanks to the Marni and MJ at Fox TV for doing the story!

Major snow continues in the Pacific NW but now it’s also spread to the Rockies – yippee!! However, the king of snow over the last 24hrs is Mt. Bachelor in OR – they received 35″ – wow. Other resorts receiving the most snow in their state in the last 24hrs include: 30″ at Lost Trail Powder Mtn, MT; 24″ at Brundage Mtn, ID; 17″ at the top of Summit at Snoqualmie’s Alpental, WA; 15″ at Snowbasin, UT!!! Of course, that’s just a sampling – we’re seeing that many resorts are now getting tons of snow. They must be happy and we’re happy for them! If you’re headed out, make sure to check the resort websites for the latest conditions or if you’re in WA, check with us. Some of the websites that aggregate data are NOT accurate – many seem to use 48hr totals instead of overnight or 24hr totals. So, when we report data, we always check with the resorts directly.  Back here in WA, Q13 Fox TV News featured our deep powder video shot at Alpental’s lower mountain. It was aired as the lead in top story yesterday on the 5 o’clock news. They apparently liked it so much that they aired it again in full at the end of the hour. On top of that, they showed it several times again this morning amidst all the headline grabbing news in our state: Gov has now declared a state of emergency, Olympia received a record setting 24″ in the city, ice storm warning issued, airport closed, etc., etc. We’ll have the video of Q13’s story on the Snow Troopers up later but if you haven’t already, check out the deep powder video in the post below. As of this posting, WSDOT is reporting that 410 has reopened, i-90 has also reopened eastbound but westbound is closed at MP106 near Ellensburg and MP85 near Cle Elum due to multiple collisions.   And yes, it’s still dumping at all our Pacific NW mountains. Be careful out there and live to ski another day!

Here’s what it looked like as we left Hyak and headed for Alpental this morning. Mt. Hood Meadows and nearby Mt. Hood ski and snowboard resorts must have looked just like this since they reported receiving 19″ in the last 12hrs and 31″ in the last 24hrs – almost as much as Snoqualmie Pass.  But the best is yet to come.

The next monster storm is supposed to hit tonight and deliver another 34″ by Thursday morning to Snoqualmie Pass. Temps are dropping to the teens so we’re expecting the snow to be dry and light as can be. As of today, Alpental has 80″ at its base area = more snow than any resort’s base area in the U.S.  Previously, Eaglecrest Ski Area in Juneau, AK had the most with 75″ at its base. So what did all this new snow ski like today at Alpental? Let’s just say: deep, really deep, endless face shots deep, give the man a snorkel, gasping for air deep. Check out the video taken under Chair 1 Armstrong Express!!! Then, take tomorrow off and come get some too. We’re happy to report that this storm is going to pack a punch that will reach as far as UT and Lake Tahoe. Alta, UT, for example, is going to get a big dump. They’re expecting 31″ tomorrow, an additional 20″ on Thursday and 7″ on Friday.  Viva la nina!

Hurricane sensors have been dropped by planes into the current storm headed into the Pacific NW and they are reporting a record winter storm headed our way. Seattle is expected to receive up to 10″ in the city!! Seattle’s record 24hr snowfall: 21.5″ on Feb. 1st, 1916. On that day, mountains received around 4ft in 24hrs with snow drifts of 5ft. NOAA is forecasting that local passes – Snoqualmie Pass, Stevens Pass – are expected to receive up to another 52″ by Thursday and 37″ of it are supposed to fall tomorrow. That’s for Pass levels, not mid or top mountain so skiers and snowboarders are going to need a snorkel if you’re going up the mountain!! Think we’re kidding? Alpental received 31″ in the last 48hrs, 24″ of it in the last 24hrs (17″ since 5pm yesterday!!!!) – that’s at the base of Alpental!! If you’re not already driving to the mountains, better get your groove on because the passes are bound to close at some point. We’re getting ready to head to Alpental. Check back later today for killer deep powder video. Email us your best powder face shots or videos and we’ll select a few to post. Remember to be safe out there – live to ski another day!! PS. looks like this storm’s headed SE so everyone should get some. We hope the CA Sierras get a big dump!

740AM UPDATE: SNOQUALMIE PASS IS CLOSED BOTH DIRECTIONS BETWEEN EXIT 33 N. BEND AND 106 NEAR ELLENSBURG UNTIL 11AM FOR AVALANCHE CONTROL.

8AM UPDATE: 5″ new since 5AM today at Snoqualmie Pass elevation.