Fourteen Adventures

We are happy to be able to present to you an even more extensive second issue of BACKLINE this year. Fourteen impressive stories from the backcountry, in German and English, spread out over 132 pages. That’s almost a kilogram of winter world impressions for your dreams! Every word and every picture was earned through the passionate effort of athletes and photographers. It was a special privilege for us and gave us a lot of pleasure to provide what is hopefully an appropriate framework for the selected fourteen adventures.

We have devoted three whole stories in this issue to the Cascade Region, which stretches out for more than a thousand kilometers from British Columbia (Canada) to Northern California (USA). Included is a modest tribute to the first high Alpine winter traverse of the Cascades, which was the success of Forest McBrian and Jason Hummel.

The fascinating snapshots of Svalbard and Greenland, embedded in a fictional dialogue of a polar bear mother with her young, are another focus of this issue. We all tend to look at these unique animals as simply cute. Perhaps viewing the pictures with respect and responsibility would make much more sense?

By the way, the story “Coffee, fire and the choice of free lines” won our photo contest last winter. Congratulations to the photographer Paul Masukowitz and good luck to the many photographers – hopefully as many as last year – who will take part in our competition this year.

We hope this issue will entertain you. Maybe it will encourage you to take your first steps away from the “Ballermann hurly-burly” of the famous ski resorts. No matter what your primary motivation is – if it’s the search for your personal limits, love for nature, curiosity to get to know other countries and cultures, or the opportunity to share the intense experiences with friends: Take all your steps consciously, choose your tours carefully and get back home safely.

A great big thank you to the entire BACKLINE team, all the photographers, authors, and partners who have made this second issue of BACKLINE possible. Have fun reading it, and we wish you a safe winter 2012 / 2013, full of snow.