Ski it Missoula

As good citizens of the great Rocky Mountains, there’s nothing we love more than strapping on some sticks and carving turns in fresh cold smoke.

Travis Goodkind is the owner of the Missoula business Backcountry Racks & Skis. The Vermont native moved out west after college 10 years ago in pursuit of bigger mountains and has never left. He spends his free time exploring Montana’s mountains, trails, and rivers with wife Julie, son Asher, and black lab Pika. Check out his blog, Backcountry Freeskier, for more powdery goodness.

Missoula Premier of Sherpas Cinema’s “Into the Mind” Oct 10th

Missoula Premier of Sherpas Cinema’s “Into the Mind” Oct 10th

By TRAVIS GOODKIND - Ski movie season is in full swing and Sherpas Cine... more

Videos: Non-Stop Fun on Skis with a Two-Year-Old

Videos: Non-Stop Fun on Skis with a Two-Year-Old

By TRAVIS GOODKIND - We took our son skiing for the first time last win... more

Ski with the Legendary Glen Plake at Discovery on Monday

Ski with the Legendary Glen Plake at Discovery on Monday

Infamous for his extreme skiing and trademark mohawk, Glen Plake will s... more

Maiden Missoula Review: The Naked Missoula Calendar

Maiden Missoula Review: The Naked Missoula Calendar

By LEAH LEWIS - This Christmas, support a great cause and get everyone you know the fabulous, slightly scandalous “Missoula: The Way Nature Intended” calendar.... more

Maiden Missoula Review: Powder Tails

Maiden Missoula Review: Powder Tails

By LEAH LEWIS - Ski season is almost here! I know what you’re thinking: My butt's gonna be so wet on the chairlift. Good news! Powder Tails has your backside.... more

Step Up and Throw Down: The Cold Smoke Freeride 2012

Step Up and Throw Down: The Cold Smoke Freeride 2012

By TRAVIS GOODKIND - On March 24, UMEM and Backcountry Racks & Skis hosted the first annual Cold Smoke Freeride Competition at Lost Trial Powder Mountain.... more

Photo Gallery: Backcountry Skiing at Downing Mountain Lodge

Photo Gallery: Backcountry Skiing at Downing Mountain Lodge

By TRAVIS GOODKIND - Downing Mountain Lodge near Hamilton has everything for the perfect ski trip: Deep snow, great accommodations, and killer backcountry skiing.... more

Photo Gallery: 2012 Ski & Snowboard Gear Tradeshow Wrap-Up

Photo Gallery: 2012 Ski & Snowboard Gear Tradeshow Wrap-Up

By TRAVIS GOODKIND - Every year, the ski industry gathers in Denver for the Snowsports Industry of America tradeshow. Check out the gear that'll be on tap in 2012-13!... more

Meet the Toughest Skiier in the Seeley Lake Nordic Ski Race

Meet the Toughest Skiier in the Seeley Lake Nordic Ski Race

By MARK VOSBURGH - For me, this year's Over Seeley's Creeks and Ridges race was unforgettable, thanks to adaptive skier Liz Ann Kudrna.... more

Montana Skiing Decisions? Choose Wisely, Grasshopper.

Montana Skiing Decisions? Choose Wisely, Grasshopper.

By MARK VOSBURGH - If, like me, you have Split Ski Loyalties Syndrome, you faced a lot of choices last week. Last week's cornucopia of ski options reminded me how great it is to live in Missoula.... more

The Big Snow Cometh: Schools Closed, 30 inches at Lost Trail

The Big Snow Cometh: Schools Closed, 30 inches at Lost Trail

By PAUL QUENEAU - Missoula awoke this morning a foot of snow and flakes still falling. Here are the latest snowfall reports from around Western Montana.... more

Christmas Traditions – Find and Cut a Christmas Tree

Christmas Traditions – Find and Cut a Christmas Tree

By TRAVIS GOODKIND Every year, we get a tree to decorate for the holidays. It's one of our Christmas traditions. It’s a fun tradition, and also a good excuse to put our ornament collection on display. W... more

Considering the Light and Dark of Backcountry Skiing

Considering the Light and Dark of Backcountry Skiing

By MARK VOSBURGH - It's easy for me to gush about backcountry skiing. But I've come to believe that skiing has a dark side that exists regardless of whether we choose to acknowledge it.... more

Early Season Skiing: First Turns of the Year at Lolo Pass

Early Season Skiing: First Turns of the Year at Lolo Pass

By TRAVIS GOODKIND - It was hard to image a better ski day, considering that it was my first day on skis since May. I was jealous of the stories of great early-season skiing. It was time to make some turns of m... more

Missoula Cross-Country and Nordic Skiing – Big Things Happening!

Missoula Cross-Country and Nordic Skiing – Big Things Happening!

By MARK VOSBURGH - Big things are happening in Missoula's cross-country and Nordic ski scene. There are BIG opportunities for great XC/Nordic skiing on our local trails due to the efforts of our area ski clubs.... more

Ski Gear Review: MFD All Time Touring Bindings

Ski Gear Review: MFD All Time Touring Bindings

By TRAVIS GOODKIND - With their All Time touring binding, MFD has combined what we love about alpine bindings and touring bindings. We’ve been waiting for this. ... more

Fall – A Season to Anticipate Winter – and Skiing!

Fall – A Season to Anticipate Winter – and Skiing!

By TRAVIS GOODKIND - (VIDEOS) There's nothing quite like fall in Montana. Fall is the perfect transition to winter, our favorite season.... more

Snowbowl Set to Expand, Make Public Freestyle Terrain Park

Snowbowl Set to Expand, Make Public Freestyle Terrain Park

By BILLIE LOEWEN - Montana Snowbowl ski area is preparing to expand their terrain park to bring freestyle skiing in western Montana to new heights.... more

Mouthwatering Bloody Mary at Last Run Inn

Mouthwatering Bloody Mary at Last Run Inn

By RYAN NEWHOUSE. Fresh powder means one-and-a-half things in Missoula, hitting the slopes at Montana Snowbowl and finishing the day with a slice of wood-fired pizza and a famous mouthwatering Bloody Mary at La... more