Snoqualmie Pass, WA (October 2002 ) – The first time I crossed the Cascade Mountains was in November 1999. I was moving from Dallas to Seattle for a work opportunity. My German shepherd Max was along for the journey, riding shotgun in our white convertible. We were about 2,100 miles away from home by the … Continue reading The Summit at Snoqualmie: There’s No Place Like Home
McCall, ID – I popped out of the woods and found myself on yet another deserted cruising run in the middle of nowhere. It was time to test out the snow again, time to see if I would find that perfect carve I’d been seeking all day. This time, my skis cut effortlessly through the … Continue reading Brundage Mountain: An Idaho Powder Paradise
Huntsville, UT – Looming over the east side of Ogden, Utah, the city’s namesake peak rises roughly 4,000 feet above the bustling streets and avenues. On the far east side of Mt. Ogden, though, lies Snowbasin, Utah’s "newest" ski resort. n Snowbasin. (photo: David Quinney) Mt. Ogden looms above Snowbasin’s slopes. (photo: Marc Guido) How … Continue reading Snowbasin: Utah’s “Newest” Ski Resort
La Grave, France (September 2002) – What could I write about La Grave that hasn’t already been written? This small French village claims no more than a couple of bars and hotels, yet it’s home to some of the most extreme lift served terrain on the planet. A “resort” with just four lifts, no ski … Continue reading La Grave: Personal Responsibility
Heliskiing and snowcat skiing are perhaps the sport’s ultimate vacation, but each carries distinct advantages and disadvantages for the experienced adventure seeker. The choices at times can seem overwhelming. Let’s look at the world of British Columbia beyond the chairlifts. n GEOGRAPHY 101 Let’s start with a geography lesson. Highway 5 is the demarcation between … Continue reading Snowcat vs. Heli
Nakusp (BC), Canada – Heliskiing is considered by many to be the ultimate way to slide downhill, and British Columbia is widely regarded as perhaps the best way to enjoy the experience. Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH) is the largest and oldest heliski operation in the world, and operates in no fewer than 11 regions within … Continue reading Hootin’ and Hollerin’ in the Kootenay
Val d’Isere, France – Imagine a resort nearly four times the size of Whistler-Blackcomb with terrain to suit all standards of skiers and boarders, no matter how extreme your tastes. A resort with off piste possibilities so vast that books have been written about it. A resort with 300km of groomed runs, 97 lifts, two … Continue reading L’Espace Killy: Where Imagination Meets Reality