Big Sky, MT – It didn’t take us long at Big Sky to ask ourselves, “Where is everybody?” It was a Sunday in February on a non-holiday weekend, with a brilliant blue sky and temps in the mid-30s. All the chairlifts were running and most of the trails were open. But at times it seemed…
Salt Lake City, UT - To some it may seem like a solution in search of a problem, but avid skiers and snowboarders who tune their own gear know that a square, straight edge on a plastic scraper is essential for effective, efficient and even removal of excess wax after ironing. Up until now, the…
Bromont (QC), Canada - I’ve gone on record many times to practically anyone who will listen that one of the most interesting winter vacation regions in the Northeast is Québec’s Eastern Townships. While the majority of skiers from this part of the continent – even those living a very short drive away in Vermont or…
Cordova, AK - I had first met Points North owner Kevin Quinn at the L.A. ski show a decade ago, and we shared a ship to Antarctica in 2011 along with some of his guides and several of his customers where he helped my friend Liz and gave her a powder lesson one afternoon. So…
West Yellowstone, MT - At one point while cross-country skiing in Yellowstone National Park last February, I paused to consider my position — and the bison that was lumbering toward me on the ski track. Since I was on skis, I technically had the right of way. But since the buffalo had about 2,000 pounds…
Salt Lake City, UT - October is the time of year when skiers’ minds turn towards their winter trips. However, no one needs reminding that the winter of 2011-12 was one of the worst on record. Snowfall was down across most U.S. ski regions and skier visits plummeted. In response, it appears that many skiers…
Ushuaia, Argentina - Antarctica is one of tourism’s final frontiers. The first tourist cruise to the frozen continent took place in 1969 but tourism remained rare there until the 1990’s. Nearly 7,000 tourists landed in Antarctica in 1992-93, growing to 13,900 in 1999-2000 and peaking at 33,000 in 2007-08, although economic conditions have limited tourist landings…
Carmel, NY - When the leaves start to turn, skiers’ minds turn to winter powder. But autumn is also the time to get their bodies prepped for winter so they won’t have to nurse an injury that could have been avoided. According to The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), falls account for 75 to…
Atlanta, GA - Are you ready for Winter Storm Athena? The Weather Channel, a television network to which skiers and riders are often tuned during the winter season, has announced a plan to name winter storms throughout the 2012-13 season similar to a practice employed by the National Hurricane Center for tropical systems. Mimicking a…
Meadow Creek (BC), Canada - It’s been years since I signed up with Ski Plus Tours for my first ski vacation in the British Columbia interior, a guided road trip in 1997. Lead guide Brad Karafil operated on a flexible schedule, allowing him to follow weather patterns and utilize personal contacts to choose resorts or…
