Mammoth Lakes, CA – I am a New Englander. I was raised to love cold and snowy winters, with weather that could turn on a dime. I relish the small town vistas scattered amongst the ancient hills that here, we call mountains. I am used to … Continue Reading ››

My brother John and I experienced a bit of spring followed by a whole lot of winter during a backcountry ski trip to the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia, June 7-12, 2000. The corn snow yielded superb turning and the … Continue Reading ››

Often referred to as “the poor man’s heli-skiing,” snowcat tours are by no means the neglected stepchildren of the backcountry skiing experience. Whether managed by ski areas or operated independently, cat outfits offer powder-hungry snow riders a heli-like backcountry experience—for as little as one-tenth the cost (anywhere from about $100 to $300 per day). Not … Continue reading Snowcat Tours Make Skiers Purr →

Large snow removal trucks sped across the Calgary International Airport tarmac as a number of reporters piled into a small twin-prop for a quick, 30-minute flight to Golden, British Columbia, home of Whitetooth Ski Hill. The story which held everyone’s attention was the unveiling of a $200-million undertaking: the … Continue Reading ››

Panorama (BC), Canada – There might be prettier vistas than the ones we had of Invermere, the 20+mile-long valley lake, nestled between the Rockies and the Purcells, the one Panorama’s literature calls “charming.” Perhaps lakeside splendor was just down the road, around a bend; or perhaps we … Continue Reading ››

Banff (AB), Canada – Go ahead.  Tell your friends that you’re going skiing in western Canada.  What will you hear?   "Oh, so is this your first trip to Whistler?" Be more specific.  Tell them you’ll be skiing in the Banff area.   "Yeah, I hear Lake Louise has beautiful views." Then tell … Continue … Continue reading Sunshine Village: A Slice of the Alps in Alberta →