The SnowBrains Podcast

Andrew McLean, The Big Mountain Scientist - Part 2 | Brought to you by Alta Ski Area

Disclaimer: So, right off the bat, I wanna let our listeners know that Andrew and I are friends and that we've spent weeks together confined in small sailboats in Svalbard, Norway and well-spaced from each other in big boats in Antarctica so this conversation is gonna be fun, it's gonna be frank, and I'm excited to have this venue to really dig in and ask tougher questions than normal - so watch out...

“The style of the writing came about because I never expected it to be a real book [The Chuting Gallery]. It was gonna be like 'here Miles, here's this book you can read on the toilet and get a laugh out of.'” - Andrew McLean in Part 2

Andrew McLean is a legendary ski mountaineer, author, inventor, and Big Mountain Scientist. In 2017, Powder Magazine voted Andrew as one of the "48 Most Influential Skiers of All Time". Andrew is one of the best ski mountaineers on the planet having skied first descents on every continent and has been featured in a myriad of ski movies including the Big Mountain Skiing documentary: "Steep." Andrew is the inventor of the "Whippet Self Arrest Ski Pole" among many other groundbreaking inventions in the mountaineering universe. Andrew has skied over 100 first descents all over the world. Andrew graduated from the very prestigious Rhode Island School of Design and went on to become a product designer for Black Diamond in Salt Lake City, UT for 14-years. Andrew was even an avalanche forecaster for the Utah Avalanche Center for a year. Andrew wrote the most legendary, hilarious guide book ever created called "The Chuting Gallery - A Guide To Steep Skiing in the Wasatch" that is simultaneously considered The Bible & Holy Grail of steep skiing in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. Andrew is a gifted writer and has written articles for Powder Magazine, Backcountry Magazine, Skiing Magazine and many other publications. Andrew is most likely the very first professional ski mountaineer on Earth. Andrew McLean lives in Park City, Utah with his wife Polly, their 2 daughters, and 2 poorly behaved canines.

2 PART PODCAST: Andrew McLean is so goddamn interesting, he has so much to teach us, and has so many hilarious stories that we had to break this interview into 2 Parts.

This is Part 2 of Andrew McLean, the Big Mountain Scientist - we pick up where we left off with phase 6 of Andrew McLean's exotic life.

Andrew McLean, The Big Mountain Scientist - Part 1 | Brought to you by Alta Ski Area

Disclaimer: So, right off the bat, I wanna let our listeners know that Andrew and I are friends and that we've spent weeks together confined in small sailboats in Svalbard, Norway and well-spaced from each other in big boats in Antarctica so this conversation is gonna be fun, it's gonna be frank, and I'm excited to have this venue to really dig in and ask tougher questions than normal - so watch out...

“We had a lot of snow and I went to dig out the outhouse, and the whole thing collapsed and I fell into it [& human poop].... I had to use a pancake scraper to basically scrape my pants off. It was totally disgusting” - Andrew McLean in Part 1

Andrew McLean is a legendary ski mountaineer, author, inventor, and Big Mountain Scientist. In 2017, Powder Magazine voted Andrew as one of the "48 Most Influential Skiers of All Time". Andrew is one of the best ski mountaineers on the planet having skied first descents on every continent and has been featured in a myriad of ski movies including the Big Mountain Skiing documentary: "Steep." Andrew is the inventor of the "Whippet Self Arrest Ski Pole" among many other groundbreaking inventions in the mountaineering universe. Andrew has skied over 100 first descents all over the world. Andrew graduated from the very prestigious Rhode Island School of Design and went on to become a product designer for Black Diamond in Salt Lake City, UT for 14-years. Andrew was even an avalanche forecaster for the Utah Avalanche Center for a year. Andrew wrote the most legendary, hilarious guide book ever created called "The Chuting Gallery - A Guide To Steep Skiing in the Wasatch" that is simultaneously considered The Bible & Holy Grail of steep skiing in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. Andrew is a gifted writer and has written articles for Powder Magazine, Backcountry Magazine, Skiing Magazine and many other publications. Andrew is most likely the very first professional ski mountaineer on Earth. Andrew McLean lives in Park City, Utah with his wife Polly, their 2 daughters, and 2 poorly behaved canines.

2 PART PODCAST: Andrew McLean is so goddamn interesting, he has so much to teach us, and has so many hilarious stories that we had to break this interview into 2 Parts.

This is Part 1 of Andrew McLean, the Big Mountain Scientist.

In this episode, Andrew & Miles talk about surviving a 500-foot fall, being covered in human poop on a glacier, being on the Colbert Report TV show, being the first professional ski mountaineer, mountain unicycling, getting arrested, getting caught in avalanches, losing friends in the mountains, and Andrew's favorite mountain ranges to ski.

Andrew McLean answers these invasive questions in Part 1:

Dr. William Montgomery M.D. - Why Do Skiers Tear Their ACL's So Frequently? | Brought to you by Alta Ski Area

"Remember the old X-Screams? Remember those? Salomon X-Screams? Oh, baby! Remember those? I blew those puppies right out! They were destroyed..." - Dr. William Montgomery M.D.

Dr. Montgomery is an orthopedic surgeon at Dignity Health Medical Foundation in San Francisco, California. Dr. Montgomery has performed over 1,000 ACL surgeries in his career and was the team physician for the San Francisco Giants Baseball Team for 3 years in the late 90s early 2000s. Dr. Montgomery is the current team physician for the University of San Francisco. Ok, his resume is just insane... I'll paraphrase and just say that he has over 35 years of surgical experience, he's been the team physician for lots of important teams, he's been on many important boards, he's already in the University of San Francisco Hall of Fame, he's won lots of awards, he's in lots of impressive societies, he has over 20 publications, has given no less than 144 presentations lectures and labs on orthopedic surgery. Dr. Montgomery also performed ACL reconstruction surgery on my left knee and microfracture surgery on my left femur in 2015 after I experience a vicious ski crash in Japan that winter.

In this episode, we will be discussing ACL injury and reconstruction. The ACL is the Anterior Cruciate Ligament of the human knee. The ACL is crucial in many important processes of knee movement and tearing it is a very common injury in cutting & pivoting sports such as skiing, basketball, soccer, tennis, football, baseball, and more. According to the University of Wisconsin, Madison: "There are four main ligaments that stabilize the knee. The anterior cruciate ligament is responsible for stabilizing rotational movements at the knee that occur during cutting and pivoting activities."

Dr. Montgomery talks us through everything you could want to know about ACL injury, reconstruction, and recovery for athletes as well as everyday people.

Dr. Montgomery answers these critical ACL questions:

• How do you know if your ACL has been torn?
• What was it like being the team physician for the San Francisco Giants baseball team?
• What are the odds of someone fully tearing the same ACL twice?
• Who blows their ACLs more: skiers or snowboarders

Kit DesLauriers - The 1st Person to Ski All of the "Seven Summits", National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, 2-Time Freeskiing Champion

Episode #41

Brought to you by Gunnison Crested Butte & Alta Ski Area

My guest today is Kit DesLauriers:

• Kit was the very first person to ski from each of the legendary Seven Summits - the highest peaks on every continent
• She was the first woman to have won 2 consecutive World Freeskiing Champion titles, in 2004 and 2005
• Kit was the 2015 National Geographic Adventurer of the year
• In 2019 she was inducted into the US Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame
• Kit has been on the North Face Global Athlete Team since 2005

This episode is brought to you by Gunnison Crested Butte:

If you're looking for a heart-pounding Colorado ski trip this winter, check out Gunnison and Crested Butte. Ski Crested Butte’s legendary extreme terrain for glades, bowls, chutes and cliffs that will challenge your abilities and keep you coming back for more. After lifts close, explore the Gunnison Valley’s mountain towns for unique restaurants and historic Colorado charm. Visit gunnisoncrestedbutte.com to start planning your trip!

Searching for a university? Love to ski? Check out the Mountain Sports program at Western Colorado University in Gunnison, Colorado. The Western Colorado University Mountain Sports program allows you to compete in skiing, snowboarding or other outdoor sports while getting a degree in a tight-knit, hands-on learning environment. Learn more at western.edu.

If you're a diehard skier, you've probably heard of Crested Butte, Colorado. Located deep in the heart of the Rocky Mountains at the literal end of the road, the Gunnison Valley looks like a scene in a snow globe. The extreme terrain of Crested Butte Mountain Resort has been the stuff of legend for decades. But don’t take our word for it—come ski it for yourself! Learn more at gunnisoncrestedbutte.com.

This episode of the SnowBrains Podcast is brought to you by Alta Ski Area

There are few precious places in the world like Alta, an independently-owned ski area since 1938. Nestled at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon deep in the Wasatch, Alta is a skier’s-only mountain, known around the globe for its powder skiing. With an annual snowfall average of 538 inches, powder days are a way of life.

Alta Ski Area, home to one of the first ski areas to open in the United States and the birthplace of avalanche forecasting and mitigation in North America. The skiing technique, lifts, lodges and ski gear have changed with the times, but there is a timeless spirit at Alta that remains. Perhaps it is because generations of skiers have been able to pass on their love for the mountain.

Alta Ski Area, home of the biggest average annual snowfall in the Rocky Mountains

Please enjoy!

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Season 5, Episode 71

Dr. Bishara is a gut biome expert who has spent her career understanding how the gut is key to all things health, including weight loss, mental health, immune health, and optimal performance.

In her most recent nationally bestselling book, ⁠The Gut Revolution⁠, she explores all of the ways that understanding your gut can change your life.

This episode of the SnowBrains podcast is brought to you by ⁠Club Med⁠.

Are you ready for an unforgettable ski getaway that takes care of everything? Head to one of Club Med’s mountain resorts, where you can experience the thrill of the slopes without worrying about a thing. With their all-inclusive packages, you’ll get your lift tickets, ski passes, ski and snowboard lessons for all ski levels, gourmet meals, exciting après-ski activities, and even childcare for the kids, all included in the price. So you can focus on what matters most: carving perfect turns and enjoying the breathtaking views.

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.clubmed.us⁠⁠⁠⁠, call 1-800-CLUB-MED, or your travel advisor to book your ski escape today!

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This episode was edited by Liam Abbott.

Music by Chad Croutch.

Host & Creator: Miles Clark