Crested Butte, CO – Crested Butte is in many respects the “anti-Colorado resort,” bearing little resemblance to the bustling areas along I-70. Its isolation by road, over four hours from any significant population center, has preserved a small town ambience. The terrain is also like nothing else in the state. Its centerpiece, the North Face, is almost indecipherable by trail … Continue reading Crested Butte: The Anti-Colorado Resort
Haines, AK – On March 29, 2002, the wan, afternoon light flooding the main intersection of Haines, Alaska, illuminated a Feliniesque diorama of art imitating life, life imitating art, and a cast of international athletes and image-makers imitating … well, themselves. n Powder magazine’s David Reddick lined up a shot of a shaggy, somnolent mutt … Continue reading Freeskiing: The Final Frontier – The 2002 Red Bull Snowthrill Alaska
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
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
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
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