Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka, Russia – We are all deep in thought as the roar of the helicopter’s engines takes us back to reality. Moving towards the take-off area, our hearts start beating faster. Like a lazy bumble bee the helicopter lifts off the ground and rises slowly. For a few seconds it seems to stand still … Continue reading Kamchatka: Helicopter Skiing at the End of the World
Mt. Baker, WA – A late start to winter with a dearth of snow and snowmaking temperatures in the eastern U.S. made for tough times for the die-hard eastern skier in the early part of the 2006-2007 ski season. Desperate times meant desperate measures. With news of a snowstorm dropping 12 feet of snow … … Continue reading Baked at Baker
Telluride, CO – The unique experience that is Telluride starts before the airplane wheels touch down. At 9,078 feet, Telluride Regional Airport is the highest commercial airport in the continental United States. Usually, flights reliably end with a descent into the destination airport. Not this one. No descent, no ears popping, just a gentle, level … Continue reading Telluride: Unique Town, Unique Skiing
Geilo, Norway – “There’s something so quiet and cozy about a snow-covered town, like it’s been nicely tucked up and put to sleep,” I was thinking to myself as I stepped off the ski train from Oslo, the none-too-large capital of Norway. The small snow-covered town where I found myself on this dark evening in … Continue reading Geilo, Norway: Magic Sofas and Elk Steaks
Big Sky, MT -Upon my return home to Summit County, Colorado from Montana, I was hit with a bit of culture shock. While driving at turtle speed through the typical traffic jam in Breckenridge, I had plenty of time to glance up at the overcrowded ski slopes above me. People swarmed like ants, and not … Continue reading Moonlight Basin, Montana: Go Away
Big Sky, MT – Southwestern Montana’s Big Sky ski and snowboard resort was founded by legendary news anchor Chet Huntley, and for 20 years it appealed mainly to low intermediate skiers and those attracted to nearby Yellowstone National Park. The construction of the Lone Peak tram in the 1990s, however, brought lift access to some … Continue reading Big Sky and Moonlight Basin, Montana: The Sum of Their Parts
New Zealand – There is a different air in the mountains of New Zealand. It might be because there are absolutely no trees of any kind in any of the ski resorts. But it’s not just the skiing. The population of New Zealand numbers only 4 million, and with more than one third living in … Continue reading Kia Ora New Zealand