In this episode of Skimo Gold, Travis Macy sits down with journalist and author Devon O’Neil to explore the story behind his book The Way Out—a deeply reported account of a backcountry hut trip that ended in tragedy and reshaped an entire community.

The conversation centers on a 2017 trip to a 10th Mountain Division hut in Colorado, where two skiers left for a quick run and never returned. What followed was a chaotic search effort, a powerful survival story, and years of unanswered questions that O’Neil would spend nearly a decade trying to understand.

But this episode goes far beyond the incident itself.

Travis and Devon dig into the deeper themes that sit underneath the story:

• How risk shows up in seemingly “routine” backcountry decisions
• What preparedness really means—and how often we overestimate it
• The emotional weight carried by survivors, families, and communities
• How mountain towns like Salida respond when something goes wrong
• And the question that lingers for anyone who spends time in the mountains: is the adventure worth it?

Devon also shares his writing process, the years it took to earn trust and tell this story, and how reporting the book ultimately changed his own relationship with risk, fatherhood, and the outdoors.

This is a conversation about skiing, but also about perspective, consequence, and what we’re really chasing when we head into the mountains.

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Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

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Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.

The final World Cup of the season is in the books, and we’re breaking it all down from Vilar.

In this episode, Travis Macy and Catie Friend recap a stacked weekend of racing across the vertical, individual, sprint, and mixed relay, including a dramatic sprint finish, dominant performances from familiar names, and one of the most exciting relays of the year.

They also zoom out to look at the bigger picture:
– Overall World Cup champions crowned
– Breakthrough seasons (Julia Murada, Margot Ravinel, Remi Bonnet)
– How the rankings shook out across every discipline

And they take time to recognize a group of athletes stepping away from elite racing, including Arno Lietha, Johanna Hiemer, and others who’ve shaped the sport in a big way.

Plus, a quick look ahead to what’s still to come this season, including the Patrouille des Glaciers and late-season racing.

Big thanks to CAMP for supporting the show and the sport.

Let’s go!

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Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.

It’s one of the busiest weeks of the season, and we’re breaking it all down.

Catie Friend is back to unpack a packed stretch of racing across the global skimo circuit, from the Youth World Championships and World Cup action in Puy Saint Vincent, to the Tour du Rutor, North American Championships, and a wild Elk Mountains Grand Traverse that looked more like a run than a ski race.

We get into standout performances from the next generation of athletes, including major results from Team USA and a powerful moment of sportsmanship that defines what this sport is all about. On the senior side, we cover dominant performances from the usual names, emerging contenders making noise, and how a chaotic, travel-heavy season is setting up a fascinating World Cup final.

We also zoom out to look at the bigger picture, the rise of youth programs, shifting international competition, and what it all could mean heading into future Olympic cycles.

Plus, a quick preview of what to watch for at the World Cup Finals in Villars.

It’s race analysis, athlete stories, and a full snapshot of where skimo stands right now.

Let’s go!

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Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.