Carol Viau
Backcountry Ski Guide, Ski Instructor, Via Ferrata Guide
Jackson, WYA day not smiling is a day wasted!
Carol is a ski guide for the Jackson Hole Alpine Guides, Jackson Hole Mountain Guides, and a PSIA Level 3 certified ski instructor for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. She has worked as an Alaska heli-guide and is a former Jackson Hole Ski Patroller. She's also a long time volunteer for Teton County Search and Rescue, and is EMT/WFR/OEC certified.
Discipline: Skiing, Via Ferrata
Specialty: Backcountry
Former Ski Mountaineering competitor. 1st Place Women's USSMA (United States Ski Mountaineering Assoc.) North American Championships. Former FIS Speed Ski competitor. 3rd Place USSA Speed Ski Championships, 3rd Place Jeep-Eagle Canadian Ski Championships.
Carol Viau's Expert Gear Recommendations
Ski Gear
- Dynafit Women's Radical 97 W Skis With Bindings and Skins by Dynafit — These skis are 97 underfoot and I consider them to be an all around great ski. They perform well under most conditions, including technical terrain and powder. I'm also a fan of the skin tips as the placement is easier for me to remove the skins without taking my skis off (hello deeper snow). If the snow conditions are likely to be heavier or kinda punchy, then I would opt for a wider ski, but this is my all around fav.
- TRAVERSE SKI POLES by Black Diamond — Adjustable, with a great lower padding that I use for the uphill side for skinning up. I also really like regular ski grips, as opposed to 'the long stick'. These are more durable than the z poles I used to have that broke on me in the most inconvenient backcountry locations.
- Squad MAG by Smith Optics — Magnetic lenses are amazing! It's so easy to change these lenses. I have a small face so I go with the small size.
- Fusion Uni S-700B Sock Set by Therm-ic
- Ski touring boot Dynafit RADICAL PRO W BOOT (Royal Purple/Marine Blue) Women's by Dynafit — I have skied on these for a season and enjoy the 3 buckle boot for a better fit and performance over my Dynafit TLT6's.
- Barryvox S by Mammut — I have used this beacon a couple years and really like the display and advanced option to have both digital and analog in play when searching. Mammut has come out with a new version, the Barryvox S2, and I look forward to trying that one out in the next couple weeks.
