Hot Lunch Included
YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON BRYCE TO BRING A STOVE ON THE MOUNTAIN TO COOK A PIPING HOT MEAL MID-SHRED. LEAVE IT TO THE GUIDE TO GO THE EXTRA MILE TO BE THE MOST PREPARED.
Credit: Tucker Adams
Location: Turnagain Pass, AK
Location: Turnagain Pass, AK
BRYCE BARNES, SNOWBOARDER + GUIDE (HE/HIM)
Bryce Barnes was born and raised in Maine where he started snowboarding at the age of five on a 400-feet tall ski hill in Hermon, Maine. He got his first job at that same ski hill as a snowboard instructor, and there hasn’t been a single winter since then that he hasn’t spent on the snow.
From the start, he was venturing further and further from the beaten path, riding in areas that he didn’t see ski tracks to explore new glades and snow parks on his grandparents property, but it wasn’t until he was 21 that he officially dove into backcountry skiing on Mount Washington.
From the start, he was venturing further and further from the beaten path, riding in areas that he didn’t see ski tracks to explore new glades and snow parks on his grandparents property, but it wasn’t until he was 21 that he officially dove into backcountry skiing on Mount Washington.
Off To Bigger & Better Things
BRYCE’S FOCUS HAS GROWN FAR BEYOND HIS PARK DAYS IN MAINE. TODAY, HE’S PURSUING MORE EXTREME PLACES, LEG-POWERED TRAVEL, AND EVEN ICE CLIMBING WITH MHW TEAMMATE BENNY LIEBER.
Credit: Greg Donohue
Location: Loveland Pass, Colorado
Location: Loveland Pass, Colorado
Since finding his career path in snowboarding, he’s also exploring ways to use his skills to give back to the ski community all over by working with nonprofits to get more people of color and people with less access to the backcountry out there.
Currently, he is leading small groups on backcountry ski trips and working toward mountain guide certifications. He is an AMGA Apprentice Alpine Guide living in Girdwood, Alaska.
Currently, he is leading small groups on backcountry ski trips and working toward mountain guide certifications. He is an AMGA Apprentice Alpine Guide living in Girdwood, Alaska.
Headband King
INSPIRED BY BRYCE, OUR DESIGNERS SNAPPED INTO ACTION TO CREATE A COZY WAY TO COVER YOUR EARS WITHOUT INTERFERING WITH HIGH-VOLUME, EXTRA-AWESOME HAIRSTYLES LIKE HIS.
Credit: Greg Donohue
Location: Loveland Pass, Colorado
Location: Loveland Pass, Colorado
Credit: Anne Cleary
Location: Alyeska Resort, AK
Location: Alyeska Resort, AK
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIMPLE JOYS THIS SPORT OFFERS YOU?
Freedom of expression above all. For me, to climb and ride is taking all my pent up energy and releasing it in the best way possible. Exploring a new zone or area and finding a line that calls my name with its natural features, I come with my spirit to paint up and down.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- PRO 1 AVALANCHE CERTIFICATION
- SKI DESCENT OF JBEL AZOURKI, ZAOUIAT OULMZI, MOROCCO
- SECOND ASCENT OF MT. EVA, SEWARD, ALASKA
- AMGA APPRENTICE ALPINE GUIDE—SOON-TO-BE APPRENTICE SKI GUIDE
- WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER
ONE OF YOUR WILDEST DAYS OUT?
We started skinning into our target zone in the dark around 6:30pm, with fresh snow already over the top of our boots. Setting up camp was hasty. We did what we could to flatten an area with our skis, but there was no way to avoid snow lumps. Getting to sleep was easy—it didn’t seem like long before I woke up to my tent half folded in from the snow. Twice I had to do snow removal before digging out through my front door to 40” overnight!
Skinning from camp, snow was above our waist, swapping leads every few minutes on the ascent, as the snow was deepening. A phone call from some friends behind us told us we had a good skin track going. We were now a group of five skinning up nearly chest deep snow. I’ve never been in snow that deep! If it weren't for the steepness of the mountain, it would have been impossible to ride down—we were snow-plowing with our bodies.
Skinning from camp, snow was above our waist, swapping leads every few minutes on the ascent, as the snow was deepening. A phone call from some friends behind us told us we had a good skin track going. We were now a group of five skinning up nearly chest deep snow. I’ve never been in snow that deep! If it weren't for the steepness of the mountain, it would have been impossible to ride down—we were snow-plowing with our bodies.
“
Today, when I'm climbing, I often find myself thinking back to that kid looking up at that hill and thinking how daunting just 400 feet looked back then. Now, I have some days in the mountains gaining over 11,000 feet.
”
DO YOU HAVE ANY RITUALS BEFORE A DAY OUT ON THE MOUNTAIN?
Before any day out in the mountains, I spend quite a collective of time poring over weather data and the terrain I’ll be in just to be as aware as I can be of the hazards that may be waiting in a new area. I’m also a big packer, I love packing and repacking my pack for a day, methodically finding the most efficient use of the Snowskiwoski or Alpine Light Pack. Hair pik is always in the pack.
Squad Up
GETTING READY FOR THE DAY WITH MHW TEAMMATE RACHAEL BURKS
Credit: Anne Cleary
Location: Girdwood, Alaska
Location: Girdwood, Alaska
Follow The Leader
TOURING WITH MHW ATHLETE TEAM FRIENDS ON TURNAGAIN PASS
Credit: Tucker Adams
Location: Alaska
Location: Alaska
“
I think the biggest decision that led me to where I am today was the decision to really follow my dreams. A life and career in snow isn’t the most lucrative field but the happiness it brings me, being able to show people into a place or snow they’ve never experienced before can be the most rewarding day of ‘work’ that I too get to enjoy!
”
WHO DID YOU LOOK UP TO IN SNOWBOARDING WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP?
Growing up, I didn't have access to the internet like we do now, so up until early high school, my snowboarding inspiration was from my friends. We were always pushing each other to go bigger, get better, and go deeper. I definitely got a lot of stoke from watching the X Games, but I discovered Stevie Bell when I was getting into high school and just knowing that it was possible to be a Black professional snowboarder was game changing for me. To know that this industry could have a spot for me or someone like me.
Meet Mercury, The Snow Cat
BRYCE’S ADVENTURE CAT LOVES THE SNOW ALMOST AS MUCH AS HE DOES. FOLLOW ALONG AT @MERCURYGOESOUT
Credit: Bryce Barnes
Credit: Anne Cleary
Location: AK backcountry
Location: AK backcountry
BRYCE’S FAVORITE
PRODUCTS
PRODUCTS
