Extreme snowboarding is a type of free ride snowboarding that is conducted over rough terrain. It frequently encounters obstacles such as ravines, cliffs, rock gaps, deep snow and many other types of obstacles one would find in a mountain environment. Extreme snowboarding is often tackled by riders with some advanced experience after they have already mastered such beginner opportunities as marked trails and gentle slopes. Backcountry snowboarding is often conducted in the wild and frequently has no patrols, lifts or other modern conveniences. This type of environment is often well suited for the aerial stunts and rides that many advanced riders like to perform. The extreme terrain of this type of snowboarding can also certainly add an element of thrill and risk.

In most cases extreme snowboarding is conducted on a vertical slope that exceeds 45 degrees. Because of the mountainous terrain the rider will need to contend with deep snow, trees, chutes, cliffs and many other environmental obstacles. Some of the best and most well known extreme snowboarding locations include Suisse, featuring a 1600 m drop as well as the Pas de Chevre in Aiguille des Grands Montets at Chamonix France; which sports a 1500 m vertical drop.
Experience is vital

If you are considering extreme snowboarding be aware that it is usually best to get some experience first. It is also important to make sure you are in good physical as well as mental shape. You should also be very familiar with avalanche safety and rescue standards due to the chance of this in many mountainous terrains. Riders who are proficient at extreme snowboarding often have excellent technical ability, speed and finesse.

THE Competition Places

Riders who are up for a competitive edge may wish to check out the extreme snowboarding competition held in Valdez, Alaska. Here, riders compete for the World Extreme Snowboarding Championship title. Riders can do either freestyle or downhill. Riding downhill features a 4000 foot vertical run with gullies, wind lips and rollers. The competition also includes one inspection run and two times runs. With freestyle riding there is a 3000 foot vertical run that features small cliffs, cornices, wind lips, rolls, natural half pipes, an inspection run and two judged runs.

There is also an Extreme Skiing and Snowboarding Competition held in New Zealand. This competition is mainly geared for riders who are attracted to the double black diamond terrain, both challenging and risky. This competition is widely considered to be one of the toughest in New Zealand.

Extreme snowboarding judges primarily look for five factors. These include line, control, fluidity, style and aggressiveness. Riders who are participating in extreme snowboarding competitions are required to wear specialty equipment such as helmets, avalanche transceivers and climbing harnesses. It is also advisable for competitors to have sufficient knowledge to be able to accurately judge mountain and avalanche conditions.

Toby Russell and his info site http://www.snowboardinglatest.com offers help, advice and information for all snowboarding enthusiasts.

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Deer Valley, Utah is considered by the ski community to be top-notch and even winter sports neophytes will recognize greatness when they set foot in this privileged cluster of mountains that are liberally dusted with a dry, powdery snow from December to April. Since the 1980’s this has been a dominant destination due to its natural wonders, fine facilities, and extra special touches. From the peak of Empire Canyon to the cozy cabin of an old-fashioned sleigh, there’s a vantage point here that everyone will find appealing.

Four mountains make up the profile of Deer Valley, each offering an engaging experience fit for any number of skiers. Experts will be challenged, beginners will be helped along, and adrenaline seekers will be revved up by the rougher trails and untouched snow. If these slopes are good enough to host Olympic events, they should be good enough for weekend warriors too, so hop aboard a lift and rise above the level of your usual vacations.

In addition to do-your-own-thing skiing, the mountains offer a number of specialized itineraries for your heart pounding pleasure. Adventurous snowmobile tours, group races, and the “Tricks and Turns” terrain park, which boasts of jumps, rails, and other fun features, are all worth a look. Deer Valley is also the home of NASTAR, an expansive and inclusive racing program that lets skiers compare themselves to one another no matter when or where they make their trip down the mountain. Ignite your competitive spirit or just have some fun, Deer Valley will encourage you either way.

If you’d like to give your downhill skis a rest yet still crave the feeling of breathing in the fresh, crisp air, be assured that there’s plenty more going on here. Snowshoeing in the backcountry, hot air ballooning, or taking a cross-country trek will delight and exhaust you in that wonderful, it’s-good-to-be-alive way. At the end of the day, ease your muscles in a warm bath and enjoy a spirited après-ski that will prepare you for another round in just a few hours.

Your evenings can also be spent attending a show, dining on a fabulous meal, shopping at an art gallery, or picking up a few souvenirs for your poor pals back home who certainly aren’t having nearly as much fun as you. Deer Valley has several bars and clubs that will continue the spirit of release that you discovered on the mountaintop, and you’ll probably discover that nothing is better than sinking into a warm bed after exerting yourself and then topping it all off with a bit of fun and laughter.

Of course, summer in Deer Valley is also a jam-packed jamboree of fun and frivolity. The snow will melt to reveal a network of hike and bike trails, the wildflowers will bloom, and outdoor festivals and special events will fill the calendar. Make this the first time you visit or return after a winter session, either way it’s worth seeing the mountains in a greener time of year.

Catapult this trip into the stratosphere by ensuring that your lodging situation is tailor-made to fit your needs. Settle your family into a comfortable space that will allow you to feel happy and well-taken care of rather than overly-cramped or in danger of wearing on each other’s nerves. Any space feels small after a few hours in the great outdoors, so pick a cabin with high ceilings, lots of bedrooms, and picture windows on each wall. You won’t want to miss a bit of the majestic scenery as you eat, sleep and cozy up to your special someone in front of the fireplace.

Visit HomeAway.com for all your vacation rental needs.

If the idea of kicking back in a Deer Valley Vacation Rental, skiing your heart out, and spending quality time with your family this winter appeal to you in any way, then don’t waste another day thinking about how you should start planning a trip. Do it now, do it well, and do it knowing that you deserve the best.

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Different companies provide different types and sizes of hiking gear. Camping and hiking gear mainly includes tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, camp furniture, cookware, headlamps, hiking poles, flashlights, clothing, boots, stoves, insect repellents, coolers, and many other things.

It is extremely important to choose the correct gear. For example, a choice exists between daypacks, which can either be internal or external-frame packs. External backpacks work best for new hikers and are much cooler than the internal ones. Similarly, one can choose between sleeping bags of goose down or synthetic fabric. While goose down is warmer, synthetic is less expensive and requires less maintenance than goose down.

Choosing good clothing is a must too. Shirts made from synthetic or synthetic-blend fabrics work best for hikers and campers. It allows the perspiration to evaporate and leaves the shirt dry for the comfort of the hikers. Brands like PowerDry, Coolmax Apparel and Airtek make good-quality shirts.

Equally important are hiking and trail boots which protect our feet. These must be chosen with great discretion, as the wrong shoes or boots can cause blisters and sores on the feet. Bootbay and Shoe buy have a truly amazing collection of hiking and trail boots, which are shipped free to all customers.

Some good companies which make excellent-quality camping and hiking gear are Big Agnes, Black Diamond, Mountain Hardware, Sierra Designs, the North Face, GoLite, Gregory, Mountainsmith, Kelty, Marmot, REI, and much more. REI, Altrec, LL Bean, Backcountry, Base Gear, Bootbay, Cabela’s, Shoe buy, Rocky Mountain Trail, and US Outdoor, besides others, are some examples of companies where we can find the aforementioned brands.

Camping and hiking gear help to make our trips enjoyable and safe. However, choosing the right gear is extremely important. Hence, adequate research is required before buying any gear.

Hiking Gear provides detailed information on Hiking Gear, Camping And Hiking Gear, Discount Hiking Gear, Hiking Gear Supplies and more. Hiking Gear is affiliated with Ice Climbing Gear.

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A great place to find good deals on snowboards is at your local snowboard shop (if you have one in your area). You can also check shops near your favorite snowboard locations. It is also good to look on the internet to research prices and manufacturers and ratings of the various snowboards.

After snow season, mainly during the spring and summer, you can find good deals on snowboards (since they are not being used much). Oftentimes, during the off season, rental shops ugrade their equipment and you can find good deals on their used stuff. Also, you might be able to find a good deal on a snowboard by checking the classifieds at the local college or university school newspaper.

In snowboarding, there are three main styles. Freestyle, Freeride and Freecarve-Race. Snowboarders are fairly divided between Freestyle and Freeride, and Race boards are fewer, as you’d probably already know if this is your style. The manufacturers design these boards for an intended style of riding, so once you know what style you like, you can narrow you choices to that style of snowboard. Knowing this in advance can save you a lot of money.

One of the things to do is to try different styles by renting the various equipment for a day and try riding. See what you like… and if you want to invest in your own equipment… go for it!

Here’s a brief description of each style.

Freestyle

Freestyle riding is whatever you feel free to do at the time. It focuses on tricks, jumps, rail slides, halfpipes and switch riding. Snowboard videos usually show freestyle riding; since it is easier to film, it’s entertaining to watch and gives the snowboarder the chance to really showcase their skills. Also… the most popular snowboarding events are freestyle competitions. And… many places will have a snowboard park for the freestyle riders, with halfpipes, rails and some jumps.

Freestyle boards have a soft boot and are comparatively shorter. This helps the maneuverability for doing tricks, jumps and getting airborne. Some freestyle boards are designed for a speciality, such as the halfpipe. If you can afford a board for every occasion, these specialty boards will ride extremely well in the condition for which they were designed — but are not likely to perform well outside of that specific terrain.

Freeride Style

Of all the styles of snowboarding, Freeriding is the most general. Freeride equipment also uses a soft boot. Boards in this category are relatively longer and more directional in their shape. If you don’t know what kind of surface terrain you like, or you like everything, this would be for you.

This is where you get to experience all of the mountain for yourself. You can snowboard through open terrain, hit backcountry chutes, get the fresh powder, and manuever through trees. This is where the rider and the mountain can come together, with no one else to interrupt.

Freecarve – Race

Freecarving is done on hard pack or groomed runs and focuses on hitting the ultimate carving turn. Usually here, there’s not much jumping. In contrast with the other two styles, Freecarve equipment has a hard boot and the boards are narrow, long and stiff. This style can have competitions that are similar to skiing events, with the snowboarders going around poles.

So what type of snowboard should you get? In making a choice for the right equipment for you, if you are just starting out, get a general all-around design snowboard, setup for freeride or freestyle.

Try renting some equipment that is not highly specific to any one style. This will give you the chance to try out a variety of your skills, so you can see what you like before spending the money on any specific board (or if you like a couple different styles, and can afford it… get a couple different boards).

Just be sure to understand riding styles before you buy, then look for equipment that meets your needs.

From Jessica Deets. For a free snowboarding newsletter, see the website at http://www.GoodSnowBoarding.com

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First you must decide what is best for you, to rent/demo (renting top of the line models, not rental stock skis) or buy? Beginning skiers or those just trying out the sport to decide if it’s for them, it makes sense to rent ski equipment. Once sure you’re going to spend enough time on the slopes to justify buying ski equipment you can invest in your own ski gear. Considering today’s economy and the cost to ship or fly with your equipment you may just want to rent/demo till things improve and our economy improves. You can demo top of the line skis for what it would cost you to fly round trip with you equipment- you may want to consider carrying-on your own boots.

What is the Best Ski for You? With a numerous skis to be had on today’s market, choosing can be overpowering. Deciding what skis will cater to your ability level, gender and your goals can be difficult. You must consider the ski conditions you will ski the most, your honest ability level, your terrain preference and type of skiing (racing, downhill, or off piste, for example), and how much experience you have – number of days, years on skis -when choosing skis. With honest answers to these questions you can start generating a list of what skis may be right for you.

Advanced technology in ski construction has allowed downhill ski manufacturers to make excellent skis for various skiers and conditions but understanding the different ski categories is essential. When potential buyers ask for suggestions, many skiers or shop personnel will recommend their personal favorites. What ski works for them may not necessarily work for you but interpreting your friend’s descriptions can be useful in helping you find the best ski for your unique needs.

Today the most popular terms I like to use in categorizing different types of skis are:

Technical, racing or carving skis are for skiers who engage primarily in technical carving on hard or groomed snow and skiers honing basic technical skills. These include all racing and race carving skis, cross skis and recreational carvers. This is the choice of many teaching pros and advanced expert skiers. Typical waist measurement is 71mm or less. Turn radii are typically 15 meters or less depending on length skied. Typically these type skis are skied short.

Tactical, multi-condition, aggressive all mountain, good everyday skis for skiers for whom the relationship of the ski to the snow is of paramount importance. These skiers roam the entire mountain, or at the other end of the spectrum, simply cruise around the groomed on flat edges. These types of skis are the most popular with wide-ranging selection to choose from. Waists are generally in the 68 to 82mm range, with a turn radius from approximately 15 meters to 19 meters

Freeride Skis are for those who enjoy the freedom of the backcountry. If you want a ski that can take you into the backcountry as well as the rest of the mountain this is the one current label that seems to work for everyone. Many do have twin tips and many can do double duty as deep snow skis and park/pipe skis. Still, in my view these wide skis focus on deep snow and crud expertise. Formerly called deep snow, or powder, or “big mountain” skis. Waist range from low 80′s to over 100 mm under foot with a turn radius from 15 up to 35 meters.

Specialty Skis – everything else, especially twin tip skis that fare best in park and pipe conditions and mogul skis. Most shops concentrate on more mainstream models and it’s been my experience that dedicated slope-siders and committed bumpers rely not on reviews but on peer-to-peer communication and coaches’ recommendations.

Hopefully you now have a reasonable working knowledge of types of skis and the criteria to determine what is suitable for your type of skiing it’s to time to put the info to use and head to the shop.

No matter whether you are renting, demoing or buying you need to find a shop that has knowledgeable technicians to assist you in your needs. You will find it hard to talk to a person that only has snowboard background to buy or rent skis and visa-versa. Experience of shop personnel not only in sales but in local knowledge of the area you are skiing will make the process easier.

More guests may be renting/demoing equipment this winter than ever before. Airline bag fees have sky rocketed with the increases of fuel prices and other airline problems. Along with baggage fees guests are trending to give up buying, lugging equipment through airports and taking the chance their gear will be at their destination. Under these circumstances shops need first-rate, well tuned equipment for our specialized guests. In the past shop have only provided rental performance skis and boots now have to provide better equipment.

It is common for shoppers to check out the stores and then go on line to look for cheaper prices. There are a growing number of web sites where new and older model skis are for sale at prices that can vary across the Internet. A lot of the difference in prices is due to the popularity of certain model skis that are designed for specific snow conditions. I only recommend buying online if you have already tested and know exactly the ski you want. You may find it difficult to find this year’s current gear on line till after Christmas or cheaper than the minimum advertised price determined by the manufacturer. Give your local merchants the business you may be surprised what deals are out there.

Don Jewkes, is a 32-year certified PSIA-RM level 3 Pro for the Ski and Snowboard Schools of Aspen at Snowmass, local resident and owner of Sunset Ski Repair. Drop him a line at donjewkes@comcast.net. Visit his website http://www.sunsetski.com.

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Moosehead Lake Cabins in Greenville, Maine

The Moosehead Lake area in Greenville, Maine is a perfect destination for snowmobiling with your friends. Open year-round but best for travel from mid-January to the first week of March; this fabulous location has plenty of perks for the snowmobile junkie. They offer an astounding 160-mile trail loop with gorgeous lake views and plenty of dining stops along the way. You can bring your own machine for a very reasonable registration fee, or rent one of theirs for a little bit more.

Some perks of the lounge include their great dining locations, which include Spring Creek BBQ, a fabulous restaurant that offers great food, sound trail information, and even better company. Also, on Saturdays at noon you can watch the popular ice races at Greenville Junction. If you want to venture into Downtown Greenville, you can stop by some of their unique restaurants, including Black Frog (no, they don’t serve what you think), a great stop for munchies and appetizers, Rod n Reel, one of the lodge’s favorite locations, which serves lunch and dinner, and Auntie M’s, a breakfast and lunch destination. They advise that you should plan to reserve your trip mid week to avoid a large number of sledders, crowded conditions, and less-groomed trails. But no matter when you come, you’re guaranteed to have a great time!

Utah Adventures

If you want to experience the beautiful, frigid winter of Utah with your friends and family – and snowmobile – then you have to visit their lodges and trails. They’ve created a fantastic vacation package for you at their lodges in either Park City or Salt Lake City. Their 3 day/3 night packages include standard, deluxe or luxury accommodations, a half-day guided, extreme tour (includes clothing and equipment), a 2-day snowmobile rental, snowsuits, boots and helmets for 2 days, and a rental SUV for up to 4 days.

Their lodges are available from November to March, based on snow conditions, and their prices vary depending on the length of the trip, location of the lodge, and preferred lodging accommodations. But once you get there you’ll fall in love with their trails. And you’ll have even more fun on their planned half-day extreme tour where you learn to operate your machine while simultaneously gazing at views of mountain peaks rarely seen by human eyes. The half-day tour covers your first day on your vacation – how you enjoy your remaining days is left completely up to you. Their only requirements are that drivers are at least 16 years old and carry a valid driver’s license. After that, you’re set!

Highland Wilderness Tours in Bancroft and Algonquin Park, Ontario

These expert-guided tours provide an excellent vacation choice for those who are interested in getting out of the United States for their snowmobiling adventure. They offer you a great time in the wilderness of Algonquin Park amidst the snowy falls of the Hastings Highlands and aboard your favorite snow-sailing machine. They offer great year-round lodging accommodations, which are great for those who are busy during the winter months, but of course, if you can make it during this time you’ll experience the best snowmobiling of your life.

If you don’t have your own snowmobile, you don’t have to worry; they offer some great machines for your renting pleasure, including the Aortic Cat and Ski-doo, both of which offer comfortable rides with heated hand grips, thumb warmers, carbide runners and 400 & 500 cc’s of power. Their rates range from $150 to $300 for up to six hours on a snowmobile tour, which sounds very reasonable, but they advise that before you choose a rate, figure out what a snowmobile costs, add in gas prices and insurance, and consider the price for a helmet and suit. This will guarantee that you make the right choice.

Rocky Mountain Tours

The Rocky Mountain Tours in Wyoming provide a great landscape for some great snowmobiling on the hills. These tours umbrella an array of hot spots to visit while cascading the snowy slopes. These destinations include Granite Hot Springs, Togwotee Pass, Yellowstone National Park, Gros Ventre Range, and Greys River. Price ranges vary depending on the destination you choose to venture to, but they all are said to guarantee a great time.

They boast that their tour guides are some of the best around; some of which have been hosting tours in the Wyoming backcountry for over 10 years. The tours offer rider orientation, which teaches you how to operate the machine, as well as driving etiquette, and then the guides take you on a tour through the beautiful backcountry for a ride you’ll love. Rental equipment is available at reasonable prices and they offer reservations most of the year, so you have no excuse not to go!

Taking the perfect snowmobile trip can be a very invigorating experience. Whether you’re gliding down the snowy hills in Ontario, cascading down the slippery slopes of Wyoming, or even enjoying a fabulous dining experience in a warm cabin in Maine, your snowmobile trip is guaranteed to give you the incredible charge of energy you’ve been waiting for all year. So the next time you’re looking to get out of your backyard and onto a tall highland, think about one of these destinations for you and your family’s snowmobiling adventure. You’ll definitely regret if you don’t – and your family won’t let you live it down!

Jeffrey Meier at Jam727 Enterprises at http://www.thearticlehome.com blog offers even more detailed information on a wide variety of topics.

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Snowmobiling in the mountains is great for the heart, mind and soul.

Good for the mind! You’ll never forget what you have seen. Imagine yourself being right there. Snow covered mountains as far as the eye can see. Wide open blue sky. Nothing but you, your friends, your guide and miles of wide open snow to lay your track upon.

Good for the soul. Yes, a snowmobiling tour will give you a feeling of power. Not your power, but that of a greater one. The massive mountains, the vast expanse, the absolute solitude surrounding you after turning off your machine is unbelievable. Close your eyes. Feel it.

Visitors to Whistler and Pemberton get to use the world class ski facilities and see and play on over 8,000 acres of perfectly groomed trails, but there is a whole world of fantastic fun just beyond the Peak chair of Whistler Mountain and the Seventh Heaven area of Blackcomb Mountain. It’s where the snowmobilers go to play.

Irma and I were formerly from Cape Breton Island on the northern end of Nova Scotia. Our snowmobiling adventures generally consisted of narrow trails with plenty of small creek crossings. If we covered 5 or 6 miles in a day that was a good day. We did get to travel the open trails on the Highlands area occasionally (a huge tree farm used by the nearby Pulp Mill during the summer only). Up there we could open the throttle and cover some serious distance, but we didn’t get there very often.

What we enjoyed most was getting together with friends, helping each other to cross those creeks and eating our lunches. The lunches were the best part really. We would stop in a sheltered area out of the wind. In a few minutes we would have the little backpacker stoves heating up the tea and soup. Everyone would share the goodies they took along with the group. We would call it “social snowmobiling” with emphasis on the social part.

Sometimes we would use the snowmobiles to transport our ski and camping gear to a remote hut in the Highlands and use that as our base for cross country skiing.

Snowmobiling in the Whistler area is a whole new deal. First of all the area is massive. Unbelievably huge. Mountains rise up to over 8,000 feet. Glaciers can be 1,000 feet thick. Annual snowfall over 30 feet. And the beauty of it is, you have an amazing choice of areas to explore. You could snowmobile for an entire winter and never hit the same area twice.

Snowmobiling is such fun. Do it in the mountains and it is even better. You will have the urge to tell anyone who will listen about your fantastic adventure.

Joe and Irma have built a wonderful fact filled site http://www.whistler-outdoors.com with well over 100 pages of information a visitor really must know prior to visiting.

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Much has changed since the discovery of the first ski found in Sweden over 4500 years ago, short and blocky, it was used primarily for transportation and work. The advent of sport skiing became popular during the 1700s when the Norwegians popularized the Telemark ski, or Nordic ski with a binded toe and free heel. It wasn’t until the Europeans discovered steep terrain, chutes and bowls in the Alps that they began developing a fixed foot, known today as the alpine ski.

Cross Country skiing, known as Nordic or XC, attracts families, athletes, and weekend adventurers seeking winter solitude and escape from overcrowded resorts. A drive to the Nordic park finds miles of marked trails that weave through the forest, from rolling mounds to moderate hills, there are options for all abilities and ages. The gear is manageable with narrow skis, soft leathery boots attached only at the toe and fixed length poles; once purchased, your expense is limited to nominal trail fees and transportation. Techniques vary from Classic rhythmic gliding, utilizing the entire body to Skate skiing, similar to rollerblading or ice skating on skis. Without skins, XC skiers rely on “herringboning” to traverse hills, imagine pointing your boots outward and running uphill. As the day ends, families congregate in the Nordic hut where picnic tables and a large fire allow little hands and feet to warm.

Alpine skiing dominates the resort world and has now become the most popular American winter pastime. With high speed gondola lifts, miles of groomed runs, sport parks and mid-mountain lodges, resort skiing attracts bunny hill novices to advanced double diamond alpine skiers. The latest gear include shorter parabolic “shaped” skis or curved skis, long gone are the straight skies where length paralleled experience. Quick release bindings with a fixed foot for carving those perfect turns hold the solid boot in place. Keeping your knees together for smooth turns, it’s all down hill. From a half day ticket to a season pass, you can be shuttled up the mountain in search of your favorite green, blue or black run and at the end of a long day, you can remove your boots, sit by the fire and share stories at the lodge.

Telemark skiing is primarily seen in the back country. A fixed toe and a free heel allow the skier to climb miles of switch back mountain terrain and ski down steep unpredictable terrain. The quintessential “turn” of a Tele skier gets notice at the resort, with alternating bent knees, they kneel into each turn, digging in with the poles. Leather boots and woolen pants separate the seasoned from the beginner, but lighter gear has revolutionized this physically demanding sport. It often takes years of practice to perfect the Tele turn, so grab your rentals and start your lessons on your next trip to the mountain.

Randonee skiing has seen a resurgence among back country enthusiasts, a chance to tour out of bound terrain with a fixed toe and free heel for climbing, but the ability to “lock” the heel into a fixed alpine ski when ready to cruise down the mountain side. Long gone is the need to perfect the Tele turn in order to escape the resorts. Resembling alpine boots, Randonees differ in the ability to toggle between a stiff ankle for downhill piste and a flexible bellow for increased ankle flexion, this allows one to ascend with skies. Telescoping poles, avalanche gear and skins, material attached to the underside of the ski causing friction for climbing, are used for all back country adventures.

Heliskiing, made popular by ski documentaries, is the experience of a life time. From $2000-10,000, you can expect an all inclusive tour into the remote wilderness of places like Alaska, Finland, Sweden and Russia. France is the only country that has banned heliskiing and much of Europe has mandated strict regulations. Telemark, Randonee and Alpine skiers share the terrain with snowboarders. Reserved for intermediate and advanced skiers, groups are flown to regions otherwise inaccessible and dropped atop mountain peaks or glaciers for vertical runs up to 10,000ft. Most organizations check for avalanche risk prior to the drop off, but often mandatory are the same avalanche back country gear mentioned earlier.

Whether seeking Nordic tracks, groomed trails, rides up the gondola or skinning up and making tracks in the back country, these adventures get you and your family outside for exercise and pleasure. Now is your chance to choose a skiing style best suited to your level of fitness, pocket book and thrill seeking desires.

Darlene Nastansky

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Heli skiing is off-trail, downhill skiing that is reached by a helicopter, not a ski lift. Heli skiing can be a great opportunity for most skiers, but read on for more information about Heli skiing and how to choose a Heli Skiing experience that will be safe and enjoyable.

The birth of Heli-Skiing

In April 1965, Hans Gmoser was intrigued by an idea that, although fanciful, seemed practical – an idea that had never been tried by any resort in the world. Hans began using helicopters to transport enthusiastic skiers high into the thin air of the otherwise-inaccessible Bugaboo Mountains in the Rocky Mountains of Canada. Heli skiing, as it became known, was born and became an instant success.

Is Heli Skiing for You?

Heli skiing isn’t for everyone, so before you plan your trip, it’s best to see if a Heli skiing tour is something that will be safe and fun for you. So, is Heli skiing for you? Ask yourself the following questions to see if a Heli skiing tour would be a good experience for you.

A. Are you a good enough skier or snowboarder? Heli skiing isn’t for first timers’. You should be both capable and experienced in handling a mixture of conditions, whether they are on one plank or two.

1. You should have considerable skiing experience in a conventional resort setting.

2. Your run choices are predominantly blue/ black and you ski them with confidence in almost any conditions.

3. Your skiing ability has improved year after year and you are capable of multi-day ski trips.

4. You may not have the style of a paid skier, but you have the confidence to keep up with friends and you know when you are making some ‘good turns’.

5. You can make parallel turns with confidence and if the situation arises, you can; side-slip, step-up sideways, traverse and make kick turns.

6. In the process of becoming a better skier, you have made the transition from novice level equipment to high performance gear and can also spot the difference.

7. You may not have tons of powder skiing experience but you can maintain control in backcountry conditions.

B. Are you fit enough? Skiing and riding powder all day is super fun but is physically demanding. You need to be of a good level of fitness to get the most from your heli skiing experience.

C. Accept that there is risks involved? Safety is always the number one priority for Heli skiing oeprators. However, it’s necessary to realize that when you take on mother nature and her mountains, anything can happen. All heli skiing operations will require you to sign a comprehensive waiver of liability before you can go skiing.

What to Expect While Heli-Skiing

Here’s more information about the Heli skiing experience.

Heli Skiing Groups

On most Heli skiing tours, heli-skiers are led by an experienced guide who will lead a group of skiers. You may be skiing with as little as 6 or as many as 12 skiers. This varies depending on which operator your book with. Most operations offer private heli skiing charters too.

Heli Skiing Tour Length

While heli-skiing, you can expect around 5-12 runs or heli lifts in a day. Your guides will constantly be assessing and searching for the best (and the safest) snow. In some locations, you might take one long run down the mountain, stopping in various places for break. Most heli skiing operators offer daily, three, four and seven day packages. When avalanche conditions are high you may end up skiing easier more gentle slopes.

Conditions

Heli skiing conditions can really vary, according to the day you’re skiing and where you’re skiing. However, Heli skiing is known for its opportunity to allow skiers to access amazing powder and this is your best chance to ski the champagne powder snow. However conditions often vary from run to run due to wind and solar aspects. Be prepared for variable conditions. It’s best to check with your Heli skiing tour for specific information about the snow conditions and weather prior to booking your trip.

Heli Skiing Safety

The primary safety concern of heli skiing operators is the danger of avalanches. Reputable Heli skiing operations employ highly trained guides and pilots who are experienced in evaluating snow conditions, snow stability, and risk management. Don’t worry – most tours will include in the price the use of avalanche transceivers and will provide training on the use of them and other avalanche rescue equipment.

Where Can I Try Heli Skiing

Heli skiing is truly a global sport and can be enjoyed all over the world. Here is a list of where countries where you can go heli skiing:

Canada, Alaska, New Zealand, Himalayas, (India and Nepal) Russia, Turkey, Greenland, Argentina, Chile, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, France, Austria and Italy.

And Finally

Heli skiing is the ultimate skiing and boarding experience. Endless acres of deep powder snow, solitude in the big mountains to be shared with friends and family what more could a skier or border want?

This article was provided by Pantheon Heli Skiing. A Heli Skiing Operation Located near Whistler in BC Canada. Check out www.pantheonheli.com for more details

James Morris

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These snowshoes were gifted to us – by us – for Christmas. I was very excited about this purchase as it would enable me to explore areas that I wouldn’t be able to get to otherwise (considering I don’t have cross-country skis, nor do I own – or have any wish to own – a snowmobile). My favorite thing about being outside is simply that – being outside. It thrills me just to be looking, observing, walking about or sitting still. There’s lichen spreading out on the surface of a volcanic rock. Sculpins feeding on the bottom of a turbulent creek bed. Bees buzzing around lupine and buckwheat, while sage birds flush out of a community of sagebrush and greasewood. So much beauty to wonder and be amazed at.

I can’t help that the aforementioned nature occurrences tend towards warmer weather enjoyment. The truth is, I’m not a snow bunny, as it were. The cold has never been my friend, in fact, I think it’d be fair to say that I hate the cold. This is perpetuated by the fact, that if in the cold for a very short time, I am quickly utterly miserable. Let’s use the walk from my front door to my car for instance. This is a short distance, perhaps a whole 12 feet at most. By the time I’ve reached the car door I am frozen, like water into ice. My fingers redden and sting as they transition into numbness, causing me to fumble my keys as I’m trying to get the dang car started and the heater going to thaw me out. Chase attributes this to me just being a wuss (he does work out in the cold after all) and you may think the same. But I stand by what I say – I hate the cold.

I blame the bulk of my wussitis on having lived in Glendale/Phoenix, Arizona from the ages of five to eleven. The bright sun with its warm rays must have seeped into my bloodstream. When I returned to my birthplace of Southern Idaho in 1994, I had only one pair of pants – some blue jeans with a rather large Mickey Mouse on the front of one leg. I was doomed to suffer the cold from the start.

So back to snowshoeing. You’d think that with me being a cold phobic that spending a few hours trudging around in the snow at the height of winter would so not be for me. But as I stated earlier, I love being outside. Snowshoes would allow me free reign out in the South Hills that I cherish – a great opportunity to see the changes that winter has made on a once familiar area. You can see from these past adventures (here and here) that we have been to the hills in their snowy splendor, but without the means to explore further, we weren’t able to venture far from the road. Snowshoes make that possible.

We headed out to the Rock Creek Recreation Area and chose the first trail we spotted, as the roads were covered in a thick sheet of slippery ice. Whalstrom Hollow (topo) was the trail that became the testing grounds for our first snowshoeing adventure. Chase made sure I was bundled up under many layers so as not to get cold. He carried a heavier than necessary backpack that I filled with binoculars, a bird book, a mammal field guide, a tree identifier, my field journal, hand/toe warmers, extra layers, compass, ponchos, snacks, emergency blanket, water, neck warmer, pocket knife, first aid kit, carabiners, pencils, neck warmer, safety whistle, flint, signaling mirror, waterproof matches, GPS, camera, toilet paper, and no doubt more! We only used a few of the items so I suppose I need to learn to pack lighter – the field guides really add weight! We strapped into our snowshoes as Bruce wrapped his leash around our legs attempting to trip us up and pull our arms out of our sockets with his eagerness to get going. Once we headed up the trail a bit, we set him loose to his own devices.

The trail is a nine-mile loop that zig zags uphill. Here’s an excerpt from Ralph Maughan & Jackie Johnson Maughan’s Hiking Idaho to give you an idea of all it has to offer:

“Extraordinary desert stream to mountain habitat with volcanic rock formations
and beaver ponds. The South Hills were created by volcanic action, and this hike
takes you through welded volcanic ash deposit formations (tuff) that have eroded
into hoodoos and pinnacles. These ash deposits are capped with black basalt
cliffs at the top of the loop. Consequently, there is not only interesting
geology but a variety of flora and fauna as you start out in willows and sage,
top out in subalpine fir, descend through aspen and beaver ponds, then drop back
to the trailhead through red rock and hoodoos.”

Of course all of that was covered in about two feet of snow or more, but beautiful all the same.

The hike proved to be quite a workout for the both of us (especially for out-of-shape me), but the snowshoes were very easy to use. They felt like a normal extension to the feet and I could hardly even tell I was wearing them. We both got tripped up once or twice though, by getting our own shoes crossed or stepping on each others (totally unintentional . The worst fall was of my own doing. On the way back down, with momentum set to work, I somehow just barely crossed my shoes and ended up laid out flat against the snow without even knowing what was coming to me. I laid there, head at a lower angle than my feet, surprised that I wasn’t upright – it happened that fast. We had a good laugh at my expense. Indeed, we shared many laughs as we romped around in the snow like children – throwing snowballs and sliding down hills. We only ended up going a half mile up and then again back down (the decent being a lot quicker of course). We were getting pretty close to spent endurance-wise (terrible I know) and we needed to get home to our little one.

It was so great to be out of doors in such an amazingly beautiful setting. Snowshoeing is the perfect activity and I can’t wait to go again! I plan on completing that loop and getting to many other places as well. And if you’re wondering how I fared in the cold – you might be surprised to know that I was actually warm, in fact, even hot at times. Though a bit of snow blown onto my cheeks quickly reminded me how cold it truly was. But I can handle it.

Paige McLaughlin

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