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Your source for trip reports, training articles and general banter.

Using The RPE Scale in Climbing Training
Rock, Training Leif Gasch Rock, Training Leif Gasch

Using The RPE Scale in Climbing Training

The Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale is a numerical value system used to express how hard somebody feels they are working during exercise. The Swedish researcher Gunnar Borg invented it in the 1960s and it’s been widely used in strength and weight training ever since. But what is it?

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Trauma Now Accounts For 50% Of Avalanche Fatalities
Snow Will McKay Snow Will McKay

Trauma Now Accounts For 50% Of Avalanche Fatalities

For years, nearly twenty, avalanche professionals across North America & beyond have been referencing the mythical twenty percent number. That twenty percent is representative of the amount of folks that succumb to traumatic injuries in avalanche accidents. A new study shows that the new number is much higher.

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The Great Debate - 4x4's vs Intervals
Rock, Training Leif Gasch Rock, Training Leif Gasch

The Great Debate - 4x4's vs Intervals

“I know it’s because of the 4x4s, that’s definitely what did it” they told me. Um, was it? Are you sure it wasn’t one of the many other training facets we’ve been working on? “What about the interval boulders, those seemed to really suit you well?” I asked.

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A Ski Guides Backcountry Ski and Ski Mountaineering Kit 2024/2025
Ski Will McKay Ski Will McKay

A Ski Guides Backcountry Ski and Ski Mountaineering Kit 2024/2025

I’m an AMGA Certified Ski Guide, Avalanche Forecaster and owner of the Mountain Training Center. I’ve got about a decade of backcountry experience and have skied all over the world from peaks topping 18,000’ to steep backcountry couloirs. This list will reflect what I bring as a recreational skier on the days I’m not skiing lines with clients.

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How - Where - Why
Will McKay Will McKay

How - Where - Why

Allow me to reintroduce myself (yes that’s a Jay-Z reference), we’re The Mountain Training Center, formerly known as MTN Mapping Edu. Read more to understand how it started, where we are and why we're moving forward.

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The Benefits of Online Avalanche Education: A Guide for Backcountry Skiers
Will McKay Will McKay

The Benefits of Online Avalanche Education: A Guide for Backcountry Skiers

Online avalanche education offers backcountry skiers the flexibility to learn at their own pace, making it a great starting point for beginners or a valuable refresher for seasoned adventurers. While it's a powerful tool for building foundational knowledge, it should always complement hands-on, in-person training to ensure comprehensive safety in the mountains.

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