Low Tide & High Hopes

Low Tide, High Hopes: How Hagan Athletes Are Navigating a Lean Winter

Usually, around February, we run a blog post featuring our athletes’ input on decision-making processes for safe backcountry travel. However, with objectively terrible and short—if even present—snowpacks plaguing much of North America, we’re pivoting.

Instead, we are focusing on how our athletes adapt their decision-making and training during such "low-tide" years. Hopefully, this input gives you new perspectives to consider while planning your tours. It also gives us a chance to feature the cool adventures our team has been up to, despite the lack of snow.

Meredith Edwards: The Training Grind

Meredith is balancing a full-time job with intense prep for Denali.

"I’ve been putting in the work I need to be ready for Denali. Given the low snow year and a Monday–Friday work schedule, I’ve focused heavily on running and lifting during the week. Wednesdays are dedicated to longer interval sessions on the track to build a strong anaerobic base, and I’ve been pushing hard in the gym to maintain strength, aiming to gain another 1–2% this cycle.

On the weekends, I’m on my skis. Despite the conditions, I’ve been able to focus on traversing in Silverton and spending meaningful time at altitude. Saturdays are my over-distance vertical days focused on interval work on my Hagan race skis, while Sundays are dedicated to vertical on my heavier, Denali-specific setup. I’m lucky to have access to both Wolf Creek and Silverton, which allows me to manage avalanche risk by shifting locations when the hazard is high. Even in a lean year, it’s valuable to get up high and practice relevant skills like crampon work, self-arrest, and rope systems."

Brent Herring: Reading the Snow

Brent offers a deep dive into how aspect and elevation change the game in low snow years.

"My good ski days have been few and far between. I've still been getting after it, but it's late January and I'm STILL on rock skis. I signed up for a 50-miler in Mississippi in March, so I've been running a fair bit.

In low tide years, I always think more about aspect and elevation. Solar aspects (southeast through west) burn off, making travel bony and icy from the melt-freeze cycles. However, colder aspects on the north side can be equally challenging; the snow is often faceted to the ground (rotten), especially in sheltered areas like couloirs. Instead of seeing thin coverage, those rocks and stumps turn into sharks lurking beneath an unsupportable surface.

Then there are the leeward slopes (East/NE). These offer the best skiing but the most predictably unpredictable avalanche conditions due to wind loading. Where there's enough snow to ski, there's enough snow to slide. After cold, calm nights, surface hoar can develop and get buried by new snow, creating a cohesive slab atop a weak layer.

When I'm skiing seasons like this, I'm suspicious of what's underneath. I know I'll find perfect snow for 500 feet, only to be brought back to earth navigating thinly veiled scree the next 500 feet. As a result, I ski more cautiously—often more 'backseat' than I’d like—so I can absorb hidden obstacles rather than going ass-over-teakettle."

Jeff Mogavero: The Fitness Pivot

Jeff has an impressive season of running on deck this coming spring and summer. For him, low snow offers a chance to focus on volume.

"This winter has been perfect for fitness laps at my local ski area. With the low snowpack, I haven't ventured off-piste as much as normal. Instead, it's a great season for hopping on the skinny skis and racking up some vert. Even in low snow, the added emphasis on resort skiing provides great low-impact, high-volume training for dedicated runners. When the snow does come, I'll be ready!"

Justin Sackett: Chasing Elevation

Justin found that while the bases are thin, the peaks still hold adventure.

"In Washington State, our snowpack has been really thin at the lower elevations but actually quite thick up high. Rain down low is snow up high! I managed a winter ascent and ski descent of the Ingraham Direct Route on Mount Rainier in a 10.5-hour car-to-car push in mid-January on my Ultra 89s. I found cold snow on the summit—it wasn't powder, but it was a great adventure with fewer core shots than expected. I also managed to ski some waist-deep blower powder in British Columbia in late December on the Boost 105s."

John O’Neill: The Racer’s Mindset

John is prepping for the Pierra Menta and the Sellaronda. Here is his advice for keeping it safe while training.

"Crazy that it is already February. My skins were glopping yesterday in 45-degree Nederland, Colorado temps. Rare and pretty sad for February 1st. But low snow doesn't always mean 'don't go'—it means go with caution. Here are my three pieces of advice for tackling this low tide year:

1. Sharks hunt at night. No matter how fancy your headlamp is, spotting little snags is way harder in the dark. If you do a lot of skiing after work, consider resort mountaineering over your local backcountry routes.

2. Ski with consequences top of mind. Imagine your outside edge catching a rocky side of a snow-covered boulder at full force. Would you recover or be shopping for a new knee? Keep your weight balanced and your turns tight.

3. Snow sense is your sixth sense. Look for smooth runways. Dark patches, bulges, and protruding sticks are obvious warning shots, but so is bouncing between soft and firm snow. You have to pay close attention to how 10-day-old snow behaves from turn to turn."

Jesse Thompson & TJT: The Next Generation

Jesse (Dad) and TJT (Son, 9) are focusing on skills, youth advocacy, and making the best of the Pacific Northwest conditions.

"This winter is going from bad to worse locally, with races and festivals facing cancellations. We’re staying super active but struggling to get quality time on snow.

With TJT entering his 4th season of Skimo, we had big goals. Since the snow is lacking, we pivoted to 'un-snow' related goals. We committed to helping our local non-profit, Skimo NW / Snowgoat, build out youth advocacy to launch a team for the 26/27 season. The PNW is behind in youth access, and we're helping bring it to life with help from Hagan.

On the actual skiing side, we started the year with XC skiing drills. 'Transitions' is the word for this year. TJT’s goal is to master the full-ski transition to downhill, and he is getting close! We also organized a 'Y'AIREE' course—a youth-focused avalanche and decision-making field day.

Our first race, the Snowgoat West’s Wild Side, was a watershed moment: TJT completed his first full race alone, and his big brother CJT (12) finally decided to give racing a try! While we wait for snow for our spring objectives (Mt. St. Helens and maybe Mt. Adams), we are focusing on hydration, fueling, and small skills. We play it safe, mostly touring on ski area terrain. TJT says it best: 'Any snow is better than NO snow.'"

Max Kilcoyne: The Escape Artist

Sometimes the best strategy is simply to leave.

"My tactic is essentially to not ski here, or go somewhere with more snow. I might not have much to contribute on the local front!"

(Editor's Note: Max has been living it up. After a stint in Canada, he’s now in Chamonix for a few months, skiing things cooler and scarier than us regular folk will ever dream of. He returns in April for adventures on Denali. See below photo for proof from Canada.)

Victor & Vladimir Doronin: The Philosopher

Victor (Son) and Vladimir (Dad) keep it simple: stay on the groomed runs.

"Okay, this winter has been, like, not that perfect. Snow exists, but existing is not quite enough. I still did all the races I usually do, including the Canadian championships (where I won Vertical and Sprint) and El Lobo Loco in Colorado.

My week is hard. I do Skimo on Tuesday, Wednesday, and the weekend, and fill the other days with tennis and hockey. For the blog, essentially: when there is little snow, it might be smart to stay on groomed or well-skied runs. The literal point is probably: don’t go into the forest with no trail, or you MIGHT fall into a creek, under a tree, or whatever else. You also might break your skis. You will be sad then and regret it for the rest of your life. You will sit under a fir tree and regret your life choices.

The rest of the winter will include praying for more snow. Definitely. I could keep writing philosophical thoughts about life, but enough for now."

Andrew Farrell: The East Coast Optimist

Andrew is keeping the stoke high in New England with the Ultra 79s.

"No major missions this season thus far, exception for training laps on my beloved Ultra 79s at Sugarloaf. But my season is young! I have a few objectives I'm looking forward to:

• Tuckerman Inferno (3/21): The race returns! I can't wait to put the Ultra 79s to the test.

• Chic Choc Mountains, Quebec: Heading back in April with tried-and-true partners to ski everything we can in 4 days.

• Tuckerman’s Ravine: hoping to ski it with my kids in mid-April.

• Flying the Hagan Flag: Weekend resort laps are always a great chance to show people the gear.

When the snow gets low, I prioritize lower-angle terrain in north-facing pockets that hold snow. When things look particularly thin and sharky, I rein in the speed and ski much more defensively, anticipating contact with something firm before it happens."

As for the author... If anyone cares, I’ve built out my dream setup: an Ultra 79 with a brakeless World Cup binding for my speed touring. Most days, I'm on my Ultra 65s training for the US Champs and North American Champs in March. Afterward, I’ll switch gears to running, but I'll be substituting long runs with long skis for as long as the snow holds on.

Stay safe out there, watch for sharks, and we’ll see you on the skin track!