Fernie (BC), Canada – The Backcountry: A place as dangerous as it is alluring. Countless tales of inexperienced, ill-prepared winter sports enthusiasts perishing in avalanches have previously put me off venturing outside of patrolled areas. The only avalanche knowledge I’ve previously needed was that I knew little about them and (unlike many) wasn’t prepared to … Continue reading Exploring White Thunder
Mont-Tremblant (QC), Canada – When ski resort conglomerate Intrawest purchased Québec’s Tremblant resort in 1991, it bought a mountain largely thought to be past its prime. A true ski history mogul, Tremblant had fallen on hard times and was floundering financially. It’s amazing what a measly little $800 million will do! n All of this, … Continue reading Tremblant: Music For the Masses
St.-Philémon (QC), Canada – It was around 10:30 p.m. when I pulled into the tiny pastoral village of St.-Philémon, Québec. René Godbout, Massif du Sud’s general manager, was convinced that I would never find my condo in the dark, and therefore made arrangements to meet me in the parking lot of the hamlet’s only gas … Continue reading Massif du Sud: A Personal Stash
Angel Fire, NM – The Ute Indians first called this area nestled high in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains “Angel Fire” for the soft, amber glow of the setting sun as it radiates down the valley just before dipping beyond Wheeler Peak, New Mexico’s highest point. Today, the name conveys a slightly different, yet parallel … Continue reading Angel Fire: It’s a Family Thing
Fernie (BC), Canada – “You’re in,” Heather told me, “one of the original group has broken his shoulder.” Let me tell you, I’ve never been so happy to see someone driven off the mountain in an ambulance in all my life. All it took was a week on the waiting list, 240 Canadian dollars and … Continue reading Fernie Wilderness Adventures: A Lucky Break
Alta, WY – As we drove north towards the small Idaho town of Driggs, I sat in the passenger seat with a heavy heart. No, it wasn’t the girlfriend troubles back home that had gotten me down, rather it was the snow, or more precisely the lack thereof. Women are nice to have around and … Continue reading Grand Targhee: It’s Amazing What You’ll Find
Bozeman, MT – “One if by land, two if by sea.” The code for the light signals emanating from Boston’s Old North Church during the American Revolutionary War was clear enough. Equally clear is the signal cast by Bozeman, Montana’s call to arms, a single blue light flashing high above a tall building on the … Continue reading Blue Light Extra Special