Martin Volken is one of only three officially certified Swiss Guides working in the U.S today. He is an instructor and examiner for the American Mountain Guide's Association (AMGA) elite certification. Scott Schell is an AMGA Ski Mountaineering Guide and Margaret Wheeler started guiding for Pro Guiding Service in 2002, and is now a certified AMGA Ski Mountaineering Guide.
"""[A] backcountry bible.""-- ""Skiing Magazine"" ""For those skiers who want to test themselves in the snowy wilds, Backcountry Skiing is just the ticket.""-- ""The Herald, Everett WA"" ""Impressive volume.""-- ""AmericanTrails.org"" ""Volken's new book Backcountry Skiing (with co-authors Scott Schell and Margaret Wheeler) is indeed a magnum opus. Not only is this one of the most current backcountry skiing how-tos I've ever seen, but it covers an amazing gamut of information...[an example is] chapter 2 ""Decision-Making in Avalanche Terrain."" Again, an incredibly detailed effort that could easily be used as a text book for outdoor education...[or] chapter 4, ""Uphill Movement,"" which again gets incredibly detailed. If you're new to the game, I'd say this chapter alone makes the book worth the price...If you can't learn something from this book, you're either brain dead or terminally arrogant. Highly recommended. Good gift for a backcountry skier or alpinist of any ability level.""--Lou Dawson ""WildSnow.com"" ""[This book] is indeed a magnum opus. Not only is this one of the most current backcountry skiing how-tos I've ever seen, but it covers an amazing gamut of information, including Chapter 2, 'Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain, '; and Chapter 4, 'Uphill Movement, ' which gets incredibly detailed. If you're new to the game, I'd say this chapter alone makes the book worth the price. Highly recommended.""--Lou Dawson, Backcountry Ski Guru ""Backcountry Skiing is the skier's equivalent of Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills, and should prove a valueable resource for any skier looking to be well-informed and make good decisions in the mountains.""-- ""Off-Piste Magazine"" ""Backcountry Skiing is a brain-dump of some of the most dialed ski mountaineers in the U.S. Intermediate, to the most advanced ski mountaineers will find answers to their burning questions [inside].""-- ""Backcountry Magazine"""