My husband, Dave, went skiing down a forested听slope behind our cabin near Collingwood, Ontario. It was a rare perfect day听when he set out with our dog, Phoebe. The deep powder lured them both.

Phoebe loves to ski. She鈥檚 a golden retriever, and a homebody, with traits bred into her for domestic life. Her namesake is a character in Friends, and it suits her. On the slopes, she lunges through the powder on the tails of Dave鈥檚 skis. When they reach the end, she turns and runs home.

That perfect day, Dave and Phoebe took three turns. On the fourth, the edge of Dave鈥檚 ski hit a downed log. The impact catapulted him forward. With the trunk of a maple tree coming fast towards him, he remembers thinking, I better move my head.

After that, everything went black.

I could tell this story another way: it could be about all the trees Dave hasn鈥檛 hit.

The first time we met, I watched him kick-turn down the face of Mount Washington in Oregon. Over the years he’s wound听through the trees of the Central Cascades. We鈥檝e skied on glaciers, volcanos, and through glades, and he鈥檚 come away unscathed. But trouble found Dave the day he went skiing out our back door.

When Dave became conscious, he was about 350 feet down the slope from our cabin. He thought that something was caught by his neck. When he reached to push it out of the way, he realized it was his collarbone.

Though Dave didn鈥檛 know it at the time, he had slammed chest-first into the tree. While his head was spared, he had 16 broken bones.

His skis were still attached to his boots. He tried to turn around, but he passed out, and woke up having slid further down the slope.

Phoebe, our dog, was panting, nervous, and running in circles around Dave. It was just before 4 P.M.听The light was flattening; the sun would set in another 30 minutes. He had a blurry thought about his phone, but it was buried deep inside an underlayer in a back pocket. He couldn鈥檛 reach it.

It鈥檚 not ideal to do any backcountry activity on your own, but we had come to the habit when our kids were young. If you didn鈥檛 make the most of each precious spare moment you had, you would probably miss your chance.

And now Dave was fighting an urge to sit down and close his eyes. It was well below zero degrees Fahrenheit.

He managed to get his skis off. The dog leash was around his shoulder. He pulled the end to cinch his arm against his body. The leash became a sling, which took the pain from his collarbone just out of fainting territory. With ski poles in one hand, he took a step. He wobbled, almost fainted again, then glanced up the hill. Which way was the cabin?

He couldn鈥檛 see it from that position on the slope. His vision had narrowed to a channel. Direction was hazy. He could only focus on what was right in front of him.

What appeared in that narrow line of vision was Phoebe. Looking into her eyes, Dave could tell she wanted to run home, like she always does.

鈥淕o on,鈥� he said, thinking if Phoebe appeared at the door of the house alone, it might prompt one of us to question why. 鈥淕o home,鈥� he said.

Can a dog be a hero? Dog-cognition researcher Alexandra Horowitz, in her , asks if dogs can intentionally rescue people in need. She cites a study that tested the rescue capacity of pet dogs (rather than specially trained rescue dogs). A person was put inside a box. They called out in distress. Then, their dogs were allowed to enter. According to the research, one in three dogs “rescued” their human from the box.

Clive Wynne, the lead researcher on the study, said it鈥檚 difficult to assess a听dog鈥檚 intent. Did the dog rescue the person for an altruistic reason, or did the assistance come from a place of self-interest? Wynne believes that, by听finding a way to end the human鈥檚 distress, the dogs felt better, too.

Instead of running home, Phoebe turned, moved a few steps, then waited. Dave put a foot forward, a ski pole, and took one painful step. (Eight of his broken bones would turn out to be ribs.) Phoebe took another step, then waited again. Dave inched forward. He kept his eyes fixed on her hind end and slow-moving tail.

This tail became his only focus. Step by step, Phoebe moved just ahead of Dave. He lost track of time. All he remembers is being aware that they were moving uphill鈥攁nd that keeping the dog鈥檚 tail in his sightline was like a lifeline. About halfway up the slope, he stopped and had trouble catching his breath. He thought something had happened to his lung. He鈥檇 later learn that it was punctured.

They kept moving together. When Phoebe鈥檚 tail finally stopped, Dave looked up and was surprised to see the house. She had led him to the front door. He called and we came running.

Later, I retraced their tracks up the hill. The paw prints didn’t take the steepest or most direct route. Phoebe led Dave in a steady line, one that he could manage. She stayed with him.

When I saw Dave in the emergency ward, he wore a neck brace. Medical officials wheeled him off to a scan, and eventually they听would locate the 16 broken bones, including some along the wings of his vertebrae. The crash did听no permanent damage; he was incredibly lucky. Two years later, Dave is fully healed, though a little more crooked than he used to be.

But then, in the emergency ward, a nurse had just injected him with Fentanyl. He was fairly lucid, if a little loopy when they started to wheel him away, but there was something else he wanted to say.

As I leaned closer, I realized that in Dave鈥檚 mind, it didn鈥檛 matter whether Phoebe鈥檚 intentions were altruistic or not. There was no need to ask the question. What mattered was her presence. She stayed with him and that was what gave him strength.

He whispered into my ear, 鈥淧hoebe saved my life.鈥�

The post How My Dog Saved My Husband After a Ski Accident appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Islands are much more than beaches and palm trees. Throughout my travels, I鈥檝e found them to be places where rare adventures thrive鈥攖heir isolation lets time and tradition hew experiences you won鈥檛 find on the mainland.

While everyone鈥檚 idea of an island paradise is different (no judgment if you鈥檙e a 鈥渇eet-up-by-the-pool鈥� type), I鈥檓 drawn to islands that push me into new adventures. I love a place where I can hike down into a canyon one day and dive over coral the next, then experience a culture completely foreign to me鈥攍ike riding around town on a motorbike in Vietnam, swapping sake pours in Japan, or trying (and failing) to cut swirls in a miniature pineapple in Mauritius. From one under a rainforest canopy to another deepening into a cave system, each island I鈥檝e ever explored offers the opportunity to make memories as unique as its coastline.

Whether you’re seeking hidden hikes, rock-climbing crags, or ski slopes with ocean views, or just want to unwind on the perfect beach, this list has you covered. These wild isles are truly among the best and most beautiful in the world.

United States

1. Channel Islands, California

Five of the six Channel Islands鈥擜nacapa, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Miguel, and Santa Rosa鈥攆orm Channel Islands National Park, among one of the country鈥檚 least-visited (50th out of 63 total). A ferry ride, taking anywhere from one to four hours depending on your chosen isle, transports you into a landscape of sweeping Pacific views, open prairies, and sawtooth mountains.

Take the path less traveled on a 14-mile-round-trip day hike, , which ends in a sloping beach swamped in pinnipeds, where I arrived to the deafening roar of hundreds of seals and sea lions. (Be sure not to leave the actual hiking path on this particular island鈥攖he detritus from mid-century military exercises means unexploded ordnance still poses a risk in uncleared areas.)

If you choose to stay the night anywhere in the park, whether backcountry or at a more accessible site, the reward is the same: a California sky untouched by light pollution.

Alone outside of the national park is Catalina Island, where wild buffalo graze the hillsides, having long ago been left behind from a Golden Age film shoot. Here you can trek the stunning , a rugged through hike marked by desert scrub and ocean views.

Offshore, gray whales breach in winter and blue whales glide through in summer, turning the sea into a stage for nature鈥檚 greatest performances. Beneath the surface, the waters teem with life.

Each island is distinct. At Catalina鈥檚 Casino Point, step into underwater worlds from the stairs that drop straight into the sea, where kelp forests house garibaldi and (if you get a lucky day like I did) enormous sea bass.

Divers encounter a giant sea bass meandering through Casino Point’s kelp forest. Video: Alexandra Gillespie.

Or hop aboard a to see the wonders of Anacapa, where Spanish shawl nudibranch and California sheephead move through towering kelp forests. On Santa Cruz, you can explore sea caves by kayak. Park visitors who have a can enjoy the spoils of the sea: No scallop has ever tasted better than the one I pried from a rock off the shore of San Miguel, carrying it several miles uphill in a drybag full of seawater to fry in ghee at sunset.

2. Kaua驶i, Hawai

In Kaua驶i, nature reigns supreme. With 90 percent of its lush rainforests, jagged cliffs, and hidden beaches inaccessible by car, this wild paradise demands to be explored by foot, in a kayak, or from the sky.

Along the Na Pali Coast, hike the legendary 11-mile , which clings to cliffs that drop into the turquoise Pacific. Then the Wailua River, slipping through dense rainforest to . Maybe strap in for a through jungle canopies or centuries-old tunnels carved into volcanic rock.

For surfers, Kaua驶i is a siren call. Each winter, legendary breaks transform into rushing walls of water, testing even the most seasoned wave riders, while summer swells mellow out and welcome beginning surfers. Rookies can also cut their teeth at the gentle rollers of Po驶ip奴 or find their rhythm on the dependable waves of Kealia Beach. Thrill-seekers chase dangerous, heavy reef breaks far from the crowds at Shipwreck Beach and Polihale.

Dive into Poipu鈥檚 crystal waters to swim with sea turtles, or soar over the rolling peaks of Waimea Canyon in a . At night, seek the traditional experience of Kauai at a luau, where a vibrant culture comes alive through music and dance.

3. Isle Royale, Michigan

Isle Royale strips nature down to its raw essentials on hiking trails through lofty forests and endless vistas of water. Situated in the cold, clear clutches of Lake Superior, this 98-percent untamed Isle Royale National Park in my home state is a haven for adventurers from spring through fall. Hike the 40-mile for sweeping views that make you feel like you鈥檝e reached the edge of the world. Or dive deep beneath the surface of the lake, exploring the eerie wrecks of the 525-foot steel freighter the Emperor or the 328-foot Glenlyon鈥攈aunting reminders of Lake Superior鈥檚 power.

Gray wolves and moose roam freely, a restless dance of predator and prey subject to an of the volatile population dynamics.

The night sky is a celestial masterpiece unmarred by city lights. Stargazing at Scoville Point might even reward you with the sight of the elusive Northern Lights.

Whether you鈥檙e fishing for trout, paddling serene waters, or standing in quiet awe, Isle Royale demands that you lose yourself in its wild interior.

South America

4. Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, Chilean and Argentine Patagonia

Tierra del Fuego, a land of jagged peaks, windswept coasts, and staggering beauty, is the last whisper of the world before Antarctica. Hike along the Beagle Channel on the Senda Costera, or push yourself on the steep for awe-inspiring views of mountains plunging into icy waters. The bold can tackle the Dientes de Navarino Trail鈥攐ne of the most southerly trekking routes in the world.

In Tierra del Fuego National Park, guanacos graze, condors soar, and dolphins cut through glassy bays. Take a ride on the Train at the End of the World, along a picturesque four-mile stretch of the world鈥檚 southernmost railroad, which was initially built for prisoner transport.

Guanacos in Chilean Patagonia, north of Tierra del Fuego in Valle Chacabuco, Parque Nacional Patagonia. (Video: Alison Osius)

Stir history into your trip at Estancia Harberton, a run by the fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-generation members of the first permanent European missionaries to arrive here, an experience that offers a window into early Y谩mana-settler relationships.

During winter (June through October), carve fresh powder at Cerro Castor, Argentina’s southernmost ski resort, or strap in to go and .

Caribbean Sea

5. Dominica

Dominica is unspoiled and unforgettable. Lace up your boots for the 115-mile , the longest hiking trail in the Caribbean, through thriving rainforests, soaring waterfalls, and misty peaks. Then trek to , a cauldron of steaming water in the jungle, where you can soak in natural volcanic hot springs and mud baths.

For water enthusiasts, Dominica recently unveiled a groundbreaking 32-nautical-mile kayak trail encircling the island鈥攁 six-day journey through pristine waters. You can snorkel or dive at , where volcanic springs bubble up through the ocean floor, creating an underwater celebration.

Whale watching here is more than a distant boat sighting. It鈥檚 an in-water encounter, as Dominica is home to a . The experience of snorkeling alongside these gentle behemoths is said to be nothing short of transformative.

6. Bay Islands, Honduras

The Bay Islands are three gems of organic beauty and underwater wonders: Roat谩n, Utila, and Guanaja. Hike through the Carambola Botanical Gardens and Nature Trails on Roat谩n, over 40 acres of tropical forests to sweeping views of the sea, or summit Pumpkin Hill on Utila for a quick, rewarding climb with vistas clear to the horizon. The islands’ rich biodiversity, from tropical birds to marine life, embraces you.

These islands are a diver’s paradise. Whale sharks鈥攇entle giants bigger than school buses鈥攇lide through the depths from March and April and October to December, while the Halliburton wreck sits ever-waiting, and another site offers radiant coral reef. Kayakers can lose themselves in the or paddle through the peaceful waters of Roat谩n鈥檚 West End, where the only company is the song of birds and the soft splash of paddles.

Asia

7. C谩t B脿 Island, Vietnam

My memories of C谩t B脿 Island are faded Polaroids, worn and softened at the edges. Even after half a dozen years, I still revisit my physical and mental snapshots from my time on that rugged, beautiful island in one of my favorite countries.

Lan Ha Bay is C谩t B脿 Island鈥檚 crown jewel, where imposing limestone karsts bursting out of jade-green water craft an otherworldly landscape. Think Ha Long Bay, but without the crowds. You can kayak through hidden lagoons and drift past the region鈥檚 . When I visited in 2018, it cost a grand total of $80 to charter a private boat tour for two, and the price included a kayak excursion. can choose from among nearly or go rogue with deep-water soloing, dropping into the sea if they fall or choosing whether to jump from the top.

Inland, beneath the island鈥檚 surface, whisper haunting stories of war, and a bombproof hospital used during the American War (or, as we call it stateside, the Vietnam War) still stands as a museum.

Topside, the 102-square mile C谩t B脿 National Park covers a third of the island, with trails that snake through jungles, up mist-shrouded peaks, and across wildlife-rich terrain. Hike 1.5 near-vertical, damp miles to the top of for sweeping views (I found the slippery rocks worth the risk of a tweaked ankle), or take on the challenging Ao Ech route through the rainforest to the remote Viet Hai Village.

When it鈥檚 time to unwind, grab a ferry to nearby Monkey Island, where aggressive monkeys provide a good laugh on the beach鈥攐r hike there from the other side of the island after a night at , which served a fresh seafood barbecue I still dream of.

8. Taiwan

In Taiwan, adventure collides with jaw-dropping landscapes and a lively culture. Start with its hikes: explore the marble cliffs of Taroko Gorge, or take in the sunrise over ancient forests in Alishan. For a city-side thrill, climb and view Taipei鈥檚 skyline with the famed skyscraper Taipei 101 piercing the clouds.

Taiwan鈥檚 untamed mountains, like Jade Mountain鈥攁t nearly 13,000 feet the region鈥檚 highest peak, located in Yushan National Park鈥攊nvite trekkers to rise above the clouds, where Formosan black bears roar and rare birds like the endemic mikado pheasant pass by.

If the sea is calling your name, head south to , where coral reefs hum with life beneath the waves, or catch the surf at Jialeshui Beach. Cyclists can carve through the countryside on routes that loop around famed , or push through the rolling hills of the . For the sandstone cliffs at soar above crashing waves.

Europe

9. Lofoten Islands, Norway

Sculpted by glaciers and smoothed by icy waters, Lofoten is an ideal Nordic isle for adventurers. In summer, hike the spine of the island chain on the 99-mile , climb Reinebringen for panoramic views of a lifetime, or like the four-mile Justadtinden. For a real challenge, tackle the highest peaks like , or keep it mellow with shorter routes like , where every view is postcard worthy.

Though known for unpredictable weather year-round, the islands are driest and get drenched in October. This dry season also has the longest daylight hours, averaging seven to eight a day. You鈥檒l experience the Midnight Sun from May to mid-July. In contrast, Polar Night鈥攚hen the sun does not crest the horizon for more than 24 hours鈥攅xtends from early December to early January, and coincides with high precipitation levels.

From mid-January through March, trade hiking boots for skis and carve down slopes that plunge toward shimmering fjords. Ski resorts like Lofoten Ski Lodge offer powder runs with ocean views that no other ski destination can match. If you鈥檇 rather be on the water, paddle through majestic fjords framed by snow-capped mountains, or go deeper and in the icy seas Vikings once fished.

And if you鈥檙e here from October to January, shimmy into a dry suit and as they hunt herring in the cold, clear fjords鈥攆or a raw, heart-pounding encounter with the ocean鈥檚 top predator. As night falls, look up: the often set the sky ablaze in a kaleidoscope of green and purple (especially in October or January to mid March).

10. S茫o Miguel, Azores, Portugal

S茫o Miguel is a volcanic playground set adrift in the Atlantic. 国产吃瓜黑料 pulses through its hidden trails, arching waves, and steaming hot springs.

Hike the craggy ridges of Sete Cidades, where twin sapphire lakes glisten below kayakers, or meander on the winding paths to the crater lake of Lagoa do Fogo. Brave the canyon walls of Ribeira dos Caldeir玫es, into hidden pools, or skip through into the clear waters off Vila Franca do Campo, where whales and dolphins . The surfing in Portugal is more than the 100-foot waves at Nazar茅: Experienced surfers can tackle the powerful swells at Praia de Ribeira Grande on S茫o Miguel.

S茫o Miguel is also a place to savor. When you鈥檙e ready to slow down, sip your way through Gorreana, Europe鈥檚 only tea plantation, where the salty ocean air infuses every leaf. Then sink into the mineral-rich hot springs at Furnas, where the earth itself simmers beneath your feet, or wander through the botanical paradise of Terra Nostra Park, home to over 600 different types of camellias, one of the largest collections in the world. End the day with Cozido das Furnas鈥攁 local stew , a culinary experience as raw and earthy as the island itself.

11. Corsica, France

Corsica is an adventure where mountains, sea, and sky meet.

For the hardcore hiker, the through Corsica鈥檚 craggy ridges, where granite peaks and expansive vistas remind you of just how small you are. But there鈥檚 something for everyone鈥攖ake the family on a coastal stroll at Cap Corse or stand in awe at the serrated spires of Aiguilles de Bavella. Climbers on the red cliffs of will revel in Mediterranean views.

Corsica鈥檚 waters are as clear as glass. Dive into the , a UNESCO World Heritage site, where cliffs plunge into an underwater world brimming with life such as crabs, bottlenose dolphins, and over 450 different seaweeds. Paddle along the Gulf of Porto and uncover hidden coves or snorkel over vibrant reefs at .

Even in winter, Corsica keeps calling. for views that stretch to the sea, or hit the runs at Ghisoni where seven slopes stretch before you.

Oceana

12. Moorea, French Polynesia

Moorea is a paradise that stitches the seam between lush peaks and crystalline seas. Hike through changing canvases, from the steep, thrilling climbs of Mount Rotui鈥攐ffering dual bay views鈥攖o the rainforest-draped paths of the . For those seeking a quick yet rewarding trek, the two-mile Magic Mountain trail rises more than 1,300 feet to unveil a panorama in turquoise waters. Zip line adventures at Tiki Parc offer another bird鈥檚-eye view of the verdant landscape.

But the true wonders of Moorea are beneath its waves. The island鈥檚 clear lagoons are snorkeling sanctuaries where colorful reefs flourish. Kayak in waters so pure you can see the ocean floor through the bottom of your transparent vessel, or get up close and personal with reefs diving . Moorea brings you face-to-face with the ocean’s gentle giants, whether it鈥檚 watching resident dolphins play in the wake of a boat or witnessing the majestic humpback whales.

Africa

13. Zanzibar, Tanzania

Zanzibar is a crossroads of the senses. Beneath its turquoise waters, the reefs come alive鈥攄ive , where the marine biodiversity rivals that of any aquarium, or explore Nungwi鈥檚 sprawling coral gardens. For the more adventurous, offers out-of-the-way dives where dolphins twirl through the currents and reef sharks glide by in silent elegance.

Above the waves, the consistent winds and shallow waters at Paje Beach make for a , drawing aficionados from around the world. And far, far above the waves, soar over lush terrain as the Indian Ocean glimmers ahead, offering rare shoreline landings on white sands.

Prefer something more tranquil? along Zanzibar鈥檚 serene coastlines through mangroves and lagoons that feel untouched by time.

But Zanzibar is more than its beaches鈥攊t鈥檚 alive with history. In Stone Town, a Swahili coastal trading town with UNESCO status, every corner is a story. Stop at the Old Fort, get lost in the buzz of Darajani Market, or taste the island鈥檚 blend of Swahili, Arab, and Indian flavors on a .

Alexandra Gillespie is a freelance writer covering water and outdoor travel. From Mauritius to Mackinac, islands hold a special place in her heart鈥攊f you need a boat to get there, she鈥檚 game. She was previously the digital editor of Scuba Diving magazine. Her most recent stories for 国产吃瓜黑料 include 鈥�The 12 Most Beautiful Scuba Diving Destinations in the World,鈥� 鈥�Gear-Testing Trips That Let You Try Before You Buy,鈥� and 鈥�Stockton Rush, the Pilot of Missing Titanic Sub, Told 国产吃瓜黑料 Why He Kept Going Back.鈥�

The post The 13 Best Islands in the World for Outdoor 国产吃瓜黑料 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The clanging of a majestic Austrian cowbell reverberated off the terminal walls, shattering a tranquil Saturday morning at the Salt Lake City International Airport. Wide-eyed passengers straightened in their seats to an eruption of applause as Peter Landsman emerged from the jet bridge with a modest smile on his face.

A crew of 10 fans, a decadently frosted cake, a Ski Utah Silver Ski Pass, and a handful of other gifts, including the 25-pound Austrian cowbell from the Doppelmayr ropeway company, were on hand to surprise Landsman at the airport. Landsman runs the popular LiftBlog.com website and has devoted himself to cataloging all the chairlifts, trams, and ropeways on the land. He was returning to his home in Jackson, Wyoming, having finally achieved his goal of visiting all 750 in the US and Canada to profile some 3,300 chairlifts.

Landsman鈥檚 journey ended at Moose Mountain T-bar near Dawson City in Canada鈥檚 Yukon on June 19, 2024. This public ski hill, without so much as a website, was the 750th on Landsman鈥檚 list and required five days of travel on either end to cap off his stellar achievement. The grueling travel, red-eye flights, sleepless nights spent driving, sleeping in ski resort parking lots, and Landsman鈥檚 diligent updates to the LiftBlog website are all a testament to his obsession.

Following his triumphant journey back to Jackson, we sat down with Landsman to discuss his decades-in-the-making accomplishment.

SKI: Now that you鈥檝e completed your goal, how do you feel looking back on this journey?

Peter Landsman: I went right back to work on the tram Sunday morning. Some of my coworkers saw the airport party on social media and congratulated me, but it was right back to the normal lift operating scene. At Jackson Hole, we鈥檝e got summer mountain biking, hiking, sightseeing鈥t鈥檚 busy!

Can you tell us about the origins of LiftBlog and what inspired you to start it?

Since I began skiing at Snoqualmie Pass at age 4, I鈥檝e been interested in lifts. Each lift was painted in a different color, and I was fascinated by that. As a little kid, I started taking pictures of chairlifts as soon as I had a digital camera, and I built a catalog of images. In college in New England, I visited many resorts in Maine and New Hampshire. After college, I moved to Jackson on a whim and started as a seasonal lift operator. The LiftBlog project grew out of off-season boredom in 2014 when I needed something to do with a few weeks off. I made a website and thought maybe others would be interested in the pictures I was taking.

What is your motivation?

It is certainly not fame or fortune! I personally find skiing and chairlifts to be fascinating and I find it satisfying to share my interests with other people who also find it interesting. I鈥檓 blown away by how many people read LiftBlog, a few thousand people per day!

Who uses LiftBlog and why is it such an invaluable resource?

It鈥檚 two main groups: ski industry people who work for lift companies or at ski resorts use it for historical reference, to answer repair questions, or to see what other resorts are doing. Then there are skiers who are passionate about skiing. Even those who aren鈥檛 necessarily lift nerds like to see what鈥檚 going on in the industry.

What site visit has been the strangest or most curious?

In Alaska, at Mount Eyak, there is one of the original single chairs built in the 1930s. It鈥檚 the only lift of that vintage still operating in North America. Most 鈥渙lder鈥� lifts nowadays are from the 60s or 70s.

Do you have a favorite lift?

Whistler鈥檚 PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola because it suspends large, 28-passenger aerial tram cabins on a detachable ropeway system. It鈥檚 efficient, can run in high winds, and is suspended 1,400 feet in the air between two mountains. Due to the expense, there鈥檚 no way this lift would be built in this day and age.

Do you have a favorite lift in each region?

• Northeast: Slide Brook Express at Sugarbush, VT
• Midwest: The Gondola at Lutsen Mountains, MN
• Rockies: Jackson Hole Tram in Jackson, WY
• Northern Rockies: The Silver Mountain Gondola in Kellogg, ID
• Pacific Northwest: Northway at Crystal, WA
• South: The Arizona Gondola at Snowbowl in Flagstaff, AZ
• California: Chair 23 at Mammoth, CA

What does skiing mean to you?

I was very lucky, as neither of my parents grew up skiing. They learned later in life and fell in love with it, sharing it with their kids. We skied on the weekends, mostly at Crystal Mountain in Washington, and traveled around the state to ski. Skiing is freedom. It allows me to get outside, see beautiful places, spend time in the mountains, and also check out these really cool machines full of technology that just happen to be in very wild places. I enjoy skiing every day at work at Jackson Hole and riding all the lifts to supervise them.

What鈥檚 next?

LiftBlog was only caught up for four days before the LEGOLAND New York Resort theme park debuted a new gondola last week. So, naturally, I鈥檒l be visiting LEGOLAND next week to document the Minifigure Skyflyer with its seven custom-themed cabins. There are about 50 new lifts under construction this summer, so I鈥檓 looking forward to a busy winter.

The post The Man Who Visited All 750 Ski Areas in North America Reveals His Favorite Lift appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Ski patrollers are living the life, right? After all, they get to ski for a living, dropping ropes on freshly covered slopes, snagging fresh powder turns, and soaking up the mountain vibes all season long.

听 听 听 听Also Read:

In reality, that鈥檚 only a fraction of what ski patrollers are tasked with during a typical day on the job. From ensuring the safety of the slopes to evacuating injured skiers, the patrollers who help make our ski resorts hum have big, often dangerous jobs that most of us know very little about.

We tapped a handful of patrollers from all over the country to ask what a day in their life is really like and what sort of things surprise them, both about the job itself and the everyday skiers they encounter on the slopes.

15 Things That Will Surprise You About Ski Patrolling

The Number of People Who Call For 鈥淐ourtesy Transports鈥�

You might imagine, as we did, that skiers only call ski patrol for help when they鈥檙e seriously injured. That鈥檚 not the case according to Jess Lyles, a seasoned patroller at Telluride Ski Resort, Colo.

鈥淚n Telluride we get called all the time for 鈥榗ourtesy transports.鈥� They鈥檙e not injured but they鈥檙e tired or 鈥榗an鈥檛 ski any longer.鈥� It鈥檚 frustrating when we鈥檙e busy trying to open terrain or help people who are seriously injured. There鈥檚 a bit of a disconnect. You鈥檙e in the mountains and you need to be prepared to be in the mountains and get yourself down,鈥� she says.

The Work It Takes to Get Someone Down the Mountain In a Toboggan

Knowing that people use ski patrol to expedite their route to afternoon lunch is even more frustrating when you consider the amount of skill that鈥檚 needed to get someone down the mountain in a toboggan.

鈥淣early every day of a patroller鈥檚 first year is dedicated to toboggan training. Learning the technique and building the specific strength that it takes cannot be understated,鈥� says Joseph Puetz, a patroller at Colo.鈥檚 Winter Park Resort. 鈥淭he amount of skill it takes to take a toboggan down a black mogul run, and how many people it takes to get a person in a toboggan to our medical center, surprised me. The training that every patroller on our team endures to be able to bring an injured guest down a bump run in a toboggan is extensive.鈥�

How Many People Get Cut By Skis

When it comes to safety, the focus tends to , but Lyles says that over the years she鈥檚 noticed an increase in the number of people who get cut by skis.

听 听 听 听Go Deeper:

鈥淢ore people are getting cut by skis and we鈥檝e seen some really bad lacerations either from a collision or from people falling on their own skis. We鈥檝e seen some arterial bleeds, which are really dangerous, and we鈥檙e all required to carry tourniquets now. 鈥� It鈥檚 pretty crazy to see what a sharp ski edge can cut through,鈥� she says.

Mother Nature Is Powerful, and We鈥檙e All at Her Whim

The wildness of the mountains and the power of Mother Nature were mentioned a lot by the patrollers we spoke with. After all, they鈥檙e the ones who have to deal with the ramifications of heavy snowfall (or adversely, not enough of it).

Drew Kneeland, who has been a patroller since 1994 and is currently the patrol director at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyo., remembers a storm cycle in February 2017 that left the entire valley helpless.

鈥淲ind knocked over 17 power transmission towers along Highway 390, killing power to the ski area for several days, until a temporary line could be installed. All throughout that ordeal we received over 12 inches of water in the form of snow. 鈥� The power company had difficulties getting materials into the valley due to road closures, with avalanches impacting every transportation artery.鈥�

The Hysterical Person Is Often in Better Shape Than the Quiet Person

In a collision, the person screaming and wailing is likely going to get all the attention, but Lyles says patrollers are taught to evaluate the symptoms of being 鈥渨ell or unwell,鈥� and that often, the person who is quiet or confused after a collision is the real concern.

鈥淚n general I would say it鈥檚 the quiet, confused head-injury-patients that are more worrisome than those who are telling you what is happening,鈥� says Lyles, remembering a collision between two brothers-in-law. She was called to help the younger of the two men who says he was injured, but the other man, who she says was 鈥渂ehaving strangely and was reluctant to go to the medical center鈥� ended up dying from a brain bleed later on.

That People Want a Diagnosis鈥擮n the Slopes

Yes, ski patrollers are trained in first aid and CPR. And no, that doesn鈥檛 make them doctors.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not expected to diagnose anything, ever. Nor should we. We鈥檙e just expected to treat the patient the best we can and get them to higher care,鈥� says Lyles, who says people often ask for a diagnosis on the slopes. 鈥淭hey want to know if they blew their ACL, but you have to have an MRI to know that.鈥�

The Beauty of Helping Someone at Their Worst鈥擮r Assisting Someone New to the Sport

If you鈥檝e ever gotten injured on the mountain, you know how vulnerable it feels to be laying there waiting for help not knowing how bad your injury is or how you鈥檒l get down the mountain.

鈥淗elping someone on their worst day, and being able to change their lives,鈥� is one of the most meaningful parts of the job to Marc Barlage, who is a patroller and the intermountain division director at Utah鈥檚 Brighton Resort.

Similarly, Winter Park鈥檚 Puetz loves being able to give guests, especially those who are new to the mountain or the sport, insider tips. 鈥淚 look forward to helping a visitor navigate the mountain, give them a tip as to which runs are skiing the best that day, status of a specific lift line, when a rope is going to drop for the first time of the season, where the coldest beer is, etc,鈥� says Puetz. 鈥淭he annual ski trip out West with my family was the best week of my entire year growing up, and I hope to have a small part in helping everyone be the most stoked while they鈥檙e here.鈥�

The Pressure Skiers Put on Patrollers to Open Terrain

If you鈥檙e reading this, and you love powder, you鈥檝e probably peered down at a pristine, roped-off powder field, wondering what was taking ski patrol so long to drop the rope. According to Lyles, this sort of reaction is one of the most frustrating parts of the job.

鈥淧eople are annoyed by terrain not opening when they think it should be, but they don鈥檛 know why it鈥檚 not,鈥� she says. 鈥淵ou get a lot of pushback from people who want to be skiing and they don鈥檛 understand why it might not be safe. I think people are really unaware of the complications and challenges of opening terrain. 鈥� being aware of the wind, the weather, what kind of explosives were used, or need to be used in order to make sure that slope is safe.鈥�

Deciding to open terrain always comes with risk, Lyles explains. They have to ask themselves: 鈥淎re we ready to put people without avalanche rescue gear on this terrain?鈥�

What It Really Takes to Mitigate Avalanches

If you鈥檙e a backcountry skier, you likely have some idea of how many factors go into snowpack evaluation. Now, imagine you not only have to read the snowpack, but must strategically throw bombs to trigger avalanches before making the decision to allow thousands of skiers to tear up the slope.

鈥淚 grew up skiing in the Midwest, and all of my skiing was on machine-made snow (ice). I had little exposure to snow science and was completely ignorant to the intricacies of snowpack and how to mitigate avalanche hazard,鈥� says Puetz. 鈥淚 think guests at Winter Park would be surprised to learn how much work goes into mitigating hazards. We have a full-time snow safety team that literally works around the clock to ensure the safety of guests, when it鈥檚 safe to open avalanche terrain, and how to mitigate potential hazards.鈥�

It Takes a Lot of Training to Become a Patroller

There鈥檚 a reason more and more to gain job security and higher wages: It鈥檚 a job that requires a lot of training and some very specific skills.

鈥淎nnually, all patrollers are required to go through OEC [Outdoor Emergency Care], CPR/AED, and OET [Outdoor Emergency Transportation] refreshers and, depending on mountain operations, may go through other training such as lift evacuation, snowmobile operation, incident investigation/risk management, avalanche mitigation, and low angle rescue,鈥� explained Kristen Russo, a patroller and national women鈥檚 program advisor at Holiday Valley Resort in New York.

The longer you stay with patrol the more specific your training becomes. 鈥淲e have team members that are experts in weather forecasting, avalanche forecasting, search and rescue with dog teams, explosives, and high-angle rescue to name a few,鈥� says Puetz.

There鈥檚 More to It Than Skiing and Rescuing People

Most people tend to focus on the heroism and glamor of ski patrol鈥攄ropping from a helicopter for a high-angle rescue or getting first tracks on closed terrain鈥攂ut a day in the life of a patroller includes plenty of thankless, behind-the-scenes work.

鈥淲e set up and check signs and fences, we shovel snow, we check equipment, assess avalanche risk, we take turns at top dispatch, we do training to maintain and improve our first aid and ski/toboggan skills,鈥� explains Colleen Finch, a patroller at Showdown in Montana.

Alex Bash, who patrols at Winter Park Resort, notes that 鈥淲hat the public doesn鈥檛 see is the hours to days, if not weeks, of work we put into helping create a product. All of the two-stepping, ski packing, boundary ropes, avalanche mitigation, signs, chainsaw work, snowmobile work, lift evac training, rope rescue training, first aid training, and the list goes on and on.鈥�

The Job Is More Than Just a Job

Almost every patroller we spoke to mentioned the tight-knit community they found when they started patrolling.

Kneeland, who has been a patroller for 30 years, says, 鈥淚 would not have anticipated that I would have made a career of ski patrolling, or that it would be such a large part of my identity and life. I have made life-long friendships with my coworkers, and it continues to amaze me that the next generation of patrollers is still just as passionate about patrolling as I was when I started out.鈥�

Lyles says that when she lacerated her spleen early on in her ski patrol career 鈥減eople I had just met were offering to help pay for my medical bills and making sure I was taken care of. It really felt above and beyond.鈥�

Patrolling Can Be a Year-Round Position

For many ski patrollers, the work is seasonal, but more and more patrollers are finding steady, year-round work on the bike parks that open once the snow melts.

鈥淟ike many patrollers, I have begun helping with ,鈥� says Tom Byron, a ski and bike patroller at Massanutten Resort in Virginia. Similarly, Bash notes that, 鈥淚 thought this job would be a temporary, seasonal job; oh, how I was wrong. Today, I work full-time, year-round as a professional ski and bike patroller.鈥�

How Much Cool, Fun Stuff They Get to Do

Anyone who signs up for ski patrol is aware of the perks, but that鈥檚 just one of the many aspects of the job. Some patrollers, like Bash, note that, 鈥淚 have a few extra duties that really make this job the best job in the world. I am a founding member of our avalanche rescue dog team. I鈥檝e had the privilege of training at some of the nation鈥檚 best dog schools.鈥�

Beyond heading up the pup patrol, Bash ventured into backcountry rescue. 鈥淚鈥檝e flown in helicopters and assisted in multiple backcountry avalanche rescues. I鈥檓 also a full-time member of our avalanche control team. I get to go out every morning and throw bombs in our avalanche terrain.鈥�

How Much They Love Being Out There, In the Stillness, In the Cold

Waking up before sunrise in below-zero temperatures to work outside and skiing down after dark is not something most people would call a perk, but several patrollers say that this is their favorite part of the job.

鈥淚 love to be the first one on the lift in the morning and the last one sweeping the mountain at the end of the day. Those are beautiful and quiet moments I value,鈥� says Finch at Mont.鈥檚 Showdown.

Barlage at Brighton Resort concurs: 鈥淭he quietness in the morning, fresh snow, breaking trail to get out, and setting up the explosives to mitigate avalanches. Being able to ski first tracks on the mountain before anyone gets there, as well as the last turns at night before closing when we make sure everyone is off the mountain.鈥�

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The east face of the Matterhorn towers over the Swiss village of Zermatt. Wind hammers the peak and strips snow from its craggy buttresses. From town, the sheer wall of rock and ice looks impossible to ski. But the forbidding slope was first skied by Toni Valeruz in May of 1975, and this year, snow and weather conditions aligned for a team of athletes, mostly women, to make an attempt on the face.

Nadine Wallner, 35, a fully-certified mountain guide and two-time Freeride World Tour champion from Kl枚sterle, Austria, had her eye on the face while hosting a ski camp to train Red Bull athletes in Zermatt. She听spied a brief window between storms to climb and ski the east face on May 26 and seized the opportunity.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really unlikely to find decent conditions to ski the Matterhorn safely,鈥� said Wallner, 鈥渢he east face is usually full of rock bands and it鈥檚 rare that it filled in so well.”

Wallner, accompanied by Swiss mountain guide Ramona Volken and her friend Valentin Zufferey as well as another Freeride World Tour champion, Italian-born Arianna Tricomi, began climbing to the H枚rnli Hut on May 25 to stage their descent. As they ascended toward the snow, thick clouds enveloped the 鈥淗ore鈥� (the local, Valaisian name for the peak). The clouds concerned Wallner and her team鈥攐vercast skies act like insulation and keep the snow from refreezing, which can create wet and unstable surface conditions. The skiers were relying on a shallow refreeze to keep the snow in decent skiing condition and protect it from the hot May temperatures.

But the clouds cleared as the team of skiers ascended the eastern flank of the Matterhorn, allowing for just enough of a superficial refreeze that they听felt comfortable continuing. 鈥淲e booted up the face with crampons and two axes,鈥� Wallner said. 鈥淲e were just in the bubble of the dark. When the sun rose we reached the Solvay Hut.鈥�

The Solvay Hut, an emergency shelter built high on the Matterhorn鈥檚 northeast ridge, is the high point for most parties who ski the east face, including Wallner’s team. At 13,133 feet, it sits about 1,500 feet shy of the summit. But above the hut, near vertical rock walls guard the mountain鈥檚 peak. Parties who ski the east face begin their descent from the hut, or, in exceptional snow years, 150 feet above it. Snow never really sticks to the rock above that.

By my count, and I don鈥檛 read German, the Matterhorn has only been skied from the summit twice. Swiss mountaineer Andr茅 “D茅d茅” Anz茅vui made the first descent of the north face of the Matterhorn from the summit in 1989. Then, in 2018, Italian Edmond Joyeusaz skied from the summit at the age of 60. Both skiers had to remove their skis and rappel from 800 feet below the summit past a rock band and then wrap around to the east face to ski from the Solvay Hut.

The east face, while still imposing, still only gets skied once every few years and is an extremely difficult objective. Wallner said she enjoyed easy travel on the uphill, but encountered tricky snow conditions on the descent. A recent storm system blew patches of new snow atop the stable spring snow they had hoped to ski. Those patches warmed quickly in the May sunlight and created听dangerous sluff. Wallner had to ski carefully to link the patches of spring corn and avoid the hot, sticky newer snow. 鈥淚t was quite sketchy at some points,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou had to really watch out where you skied because those powder patches got really hot and would slide. They can definitely catch your skis.鈥�

When asked about the steepness, Wallner parried that it all comes down to the snow quality. 鈥淚f the snow is good, very steep skiing can feel not so steep. And the opposite can be true too. Bad snow makes easy skiing feel very steep and scary.鈥� Luckily for Wallner, route finding was the least of her worries. The team was able to follow their bootpack all the way down the east face.

The team skied the face in conditions that could generously be described as subpar. I asked Wallner if she questioned any of her decision-making with the power of hindsight. 鈥淚 wish we鈥檇 descended a half-an-hour earlier,鈥� Wallner told me. 鈥淭here were spin drifts from above turning into little stuff slides. When we got back to the [H枚rnli] hut some larger avalanches came down from above.鈥�

Tricky conditions on the Matterhorn of an Italian skier just a week later on June 4. Luca Berini, a 34-year-old Italian ski instructor slipped and fell over 1,000 feet to his death while skiing the east face in poor snow.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know him, but it鈥檚 so tragic,鈥� said Wallner of Berini鈥檚 fall. 鈥淚t makes it hard to even appreciate your own descent.鈥�

But even in mid-June Wallner hasn鈥檛 given up skiing. The Austrian听told me she鈥檚 still seeking out little windows of clear weather amid summer storms that are still dropping snow in the Swiss Alps. 鈥淓ven if the window is 50/50, if you don鈥檛 go you鈥檒l never know,鈥� she said.

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Whether you鈥檙e a seasoned backcountry skier or a new trail runner, chances are you鈥檝e heard a pack of your fellow outdoorspeople gloating about their latest sunrise summit attempt, patting each other on the backs and guffawing because they had so much fun waking up at 4 A.M. for dawn patrol. Yuck.

Dawn patrol refers to the act of waking up before the sun and heading out on an early morning adventure, then speeding back to town to clock in to your desk job. There鈥檚 nothing inherently fun about rising听early to ski or run or paddle, but when you call it 鈥渄awn patrol,鈥� it becomes something else. As long as I鈥檝e been in the outdoor world, dawn patrol has felt like the proverbial cool kids table that, in theory, anybody can sit at, so long as they like to rise in the dark and get their sweat on before their brains are fully awake. Unfortunately, that鈥檚 not me.

As a certified non-morning person who needs several cups of coffee to get going each day, it鈥檚 darn near impossible to convince me to wake up any earlier than I have to before reporting to work at my computer. Because I value my sleep and often have morning job commitments, I carve my adventure time out later in the day. I know I鈥檓 not alone in this. Those of us who still want to get after it on a random weekday from time to time deserve our own glorified phrase: dusk patrol.

I spent 19 years living in Los Angeles with a full-time day job. For me, dusk patrol often meant zooming out of my office鈥檚 parking structure at 5 P.M. on the dot to lace up my trail runners, don a headlamp, and jog up the side of Mount Hollywood, just as the city鈥檚 infamous smog would turn an otherworldly tangerine with the sunset. It was hard but rewarding to make these sunset jaunts happen. On one such occasion, I even stopped on the hike down for an impromptu planetarium show at the historic Griffith Observatory.

On another one of my post-work whims, I checked the moon phases app on my phone and reached out to a few friends to join me for a nighttime trek up the coastal .听A full moon meant that we didn鈥檛 need to use our headlamps, and our late start time meant that we had the trail entirely to ourselves. The smell of SoCal chaparral and the moonlit ocean views from the gravel path made for an utterly magical evening as we twirled around and made hand puppets with our prominent moon shadows.

Once I had really gotten into the spirit of these sojourns, friends started divulging their own favorite nighttime microadventures with me, like well-guarded family secrets that needed to be whispered and held tightly. A guy I was dating once left work early and drove out to Joshua Tree with me to scramble up one of his favorite unnamed peaks at sunset, cans of beer conveniently stashed in our packs. My buddy Brandon introduced me to a weekly cycling meet up in Los Angeles called The Passage of a Few People Through a Rather Brief Moment in Time, which听took riders to the farthest-flung corners of the city. It was a group for athletic lovers of the odd and the urban, meeting at 24-hour strip mall donut shop and taking its participants through secret tunnels, down pitch black dirt trails, to industrial mining quarries, and along abandoned piers overlooking the ragged Pacific.

I live in Boulder, Colorado now, and though the after-work traffic is nowhere near as soul-crushing as in the City of Angels, I鈥檝e tried to keep the spirit of dusk patrol alive, which is much easier these days with a chunk of the Rocky Mountains at my doorstep. But of course, better outdoor access also gives me more room to get creative with my outings.

Last October, my partner Oliver and I drove my minivan across a series of winding roads to witness the autumn elk rut听in Rocky Mountain National Park as the sun set over the soaring Continental Divide. As we hiked around a rocky bend, our terror and delight, we witnessed an enormous bull screeching his bugle call just off trail as he gathered his harem. I鈥檝e knocked out countless sunset summits with my mutt, Marla, on 听and multiple Flatiron trails near town, and this year, I aim to step it up a notch and take advantage of the nearby Indian Peaks Wilderness to get out for some weeknight backpacking trips, planning to be back at my desk at 10 A.M. to check my email.

If you can鈥檛 tell by now, I鈥檓 a huge fan of having your cake and eating it too. In other words, even听if you鈥檙e not a morning person, you can still get after it on a random weekday evening. Here are some of my tried-and-true tips for making dusk patrol a smooth experience.

5 Tips for Crushing Dusk Patrol

1. Pack Beforehand

No one wants to rush to the trailhead after work, only to realize that they forgot their precious hydration bladder. Pack the night or the morning before your nighttime rendezvous, when you鈥檙e not in a tizzy, then toss your fully-loaded pack and trail shoes (or inflatable kayak/SUP if you鈥檙e more or a river rat) into your car, so you can leave straight from work.

2. Stay Local

In Alastair Humphreys鈥� appropriately-named new book, Local, he sets out to complete one adventure per week for an entire year. The catch? They all have to be within his neighborhood. He鈥檚 proof that you don鈥檛 have to live at the foot of a 14er or on a piece of waterfront property to have a weekday adventure鈥揷limb a tree and watch the sunset, take a five mile jog around a part of town you鈥檝e never been to, or try out mudlarking (scouring a shoreline at low tide to try to unearth ocean treasures). Fellow adventurer and 国产吃瓜黑料 contributor Brendan Leonard told me that once, in lieu of heading into the Rocky Mountain foothills, he and some friends biked the entire 53 mile length of Colfax Ave in Denver (the longest commercial byway in the U.S.) and experienced the thrilling immersion of passing through multiple radically different neighborhoods as they bisected the city on two wheels.

3. Eat on the Go

It goes without saying that most dusk patrol missions will not involve time-consuming, home-cooked meals with a knife and fork. Either pack a no-cook, soak-in-the-bag meal to eat at the trailhead or summit ( makes a bevy of awesome treats that can dehydrate in lukewarm water while you trek), or splurge on your favorite take out, then chow down during the drive to your starting point.

4. Don鈥檛 Underestimate Your Headlamp

As someone who didn鈥檛 start rock climbing until age 29, it was news to me that you can easily purchase a veritable floodlight to place atop your head that鈥檒l cast a blinding glow, suitable for the most intense evening excursions. Just be sure to pack an extra set of batteries or double-check your light鈥檚 charge level (if it鈥檚 a plug-in model) the night before your dusk patrol plan. The and have both served me well on night hikes and low-light rock scrambling missions.

5. Go with a Buddy

Not only is it safer to have a friend in tow on after-dark excursions, should things go sideways, it鈥檒l also help hold you accountable, so that you don鈥檛 bail on your mountain goals after an annoying phone call or conference room fiasco at the office. Plus, aren鈥檛 sunsets just a smidge more spellbinding when you experience them in good company? Pick a specific time and place to meet each other after work, and don鈥檛 forget to tell someone not on the adventure what time you both plan to return home.

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A helicopter transporting skiers crashed in the Pennine Alps of Switzerland Tuesday morning, leaving three passengers dead and another three injured.

The crash took place shortly before 9:30 a.m. near a heliski landing site on the northern face of Petit Combin, according to The victims have been identified as 45-year-old American ski guide Adam George, helicopter pilot and father of two Jerome Lovely, and James Goff, whose nationality has yet to be verified. George, a New Hampshire native, was an established mountaineer and ski guide. He leaves behind his wife and fellow ski guide , and their young daughter.

Seven rescue aircrafts, including helicopters from Zermatt and Swiss Air rescue unit REGA, were deployed to help locate and recover the victims, (translated to English). Survivor Edward Courage of the UK is believed to have saved the other two survivors, brothers Teddy and Guy Hitchens, also believed to be from the UK, by pushing them out of the helicopter as it began to slide down the mountainside, 听reports.

Courage, of the Courage Brewery family that lives in Verbier, was found after about five hours of searching. The skier had fallen into a 98-foot crevasse but landed on a ledge. He was located by his beacon and airlifted to a nearby hospital where he underwent surgery to repair several broken bones.

The helicopter, a B3-type operated by , was en route to the top of the Petit Combin near Verbier when it began to side down the northern slope. The Telegraph also cited eyewitness testimony that the helicopter was consumed by an avalanche, leaving only debris at the initial crash site.

The weather on the morning of the crash was reportedly sunny with the occasional gust of wind. The cause of the crash is under investigation by both the Swiss Federal Prosecutor鈥檚 Office (MPC) and the SESE (Swiss Safety Investigation Service).

This crash is believed to be the third helicopter in Valais this year, and the first commercial incident. This incident also occurred nearby but is unrelated to Monday鈥檚 , which killed three.

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Located at the edge of Glacier National Park, the welcoming ski town of is packed with charm and world-class amenities. Rising above is Whitefish Mountain Resort. Ranked among the best-value ski areas in the United States, it has 3,000 skiable acres, pristine groomers, stellar tree skiing, and 360-degree views. and would like to express thanks to its many partners featured in the video above:

|听 |听 |听 |听 |听 |听 |听

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The first cabin I ever stayed in was shaped like a giant whiskey barrel, set out in the woods on the edge of Helen, a Bavarian-themed village in North Georgia. It was nothing fancy: it had a loft, small kitchen, and a porch, but also a big window facing a forest of pines and hardwoods. My girlfriend and I could walk to the Chattahoochee River, where I could tangle up my fly line in the trees above the water. I was 20 years old and hooked; I wanted my own mountain cabin one day.

There probably isn鈥檛 a single American dream anymore, but owning a cabin in the mountains is certainly one of them. Picture it: a one-bedroom, one-bath (or, OK, outhouse-served) hut with a wood-burning stove on a handful of acres, surrounded by National Forest land. The shape and size of the cabin don鈥檛 matter. The point is that it鈥檚 in the mountains, with access to hiking, biking, skiing, fishing鈥�.

One problem. Mountain towns and cabins are expensive, especially since the recent pandemic shifted people鈥檚 real-estate interests from urban areas to remote landscapes.听 (See 鈥淭his Is the Most Affordable Mountain Town in the West鈥�.)

鈥淐ovid, low interest rates, and the new reality of working from home created a buying frenzy for mountain homes,鈥� says Dusty Allison, a real-estate agent who specializes in mountain properties in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Fortunately for those of us still holding the dream, that Covid-related buying frenzy seems to have slowed down and even reversed course in some parts of the country. 鈥淭hings are getting cheaper in some areas,鈥� Allison says. 鈥淧eople are back in the office, and a lot of those properties that were scooped up during the pandemic are back on the market. There鈥檚 more inventory now than in the last few years in a lot of places.鈥�

It’s an encouraging trend, so I鈥檝e been cross-referencing a variety of nationwide realty databases to identify a handful of mountain towns to seek that dream cabin for relatively affordable rates right now. My requirements were simple: the home had to be in the mountains, be under $250,000 (or damn close to it), and have cool stuff to do nearby. These cabins aren鈥檛 going to be on the edge of well-known destinations like Boulder, Colorado, or have ski-in/ski-out access to Vail鈥檚 Back Bowls, but they are in the mountains with access to world-class recreation.

You can locate mountain cabins on most real-estate sites, but I found Zillow, Land Search, and Cabin Homes to be the best resources and to have easier search tools than others. For instance, Zillow will let you search by keywords like 鈥渓og cabin鈥� or 鈥渕ountain stream鈥� in specific states and filter those results by price. On CabinHomes, you can search by style, from A-frames to log cabins to geodomes.

Here are the places I’m dreaming about.

1. Craig, Colorado, and the Elkhead Mountains

Tucked into remote Northwest Colorado and built on the banks of the Yampa River, Craig is the Moffat County (population 10,000) seat. Locals call the town 鈥渢he elk-hunting capital of the world,鈥� and BLM and National Forest land dominate the landscape to the east, where the Elkhead Mountains rise. The Elkheads are often considered the least-known range in Colorado, since they hold no 14ers. Oh, and Steamboat Springs is just 45 minutes away from Craig.

The Cabins: I found several options in the area surrounding Craig for under $250,000, including a 3-bed/1.5-bath in the plains west of town for $139,000, and a 2-bed/1-bath cabin surrounded by aspens on a 5-acre lot.

The Recreation: Craig is set in the Routt National Forest. Downhill and cross-country skiing exist 45 minutes away at Hikers can climb Black Mountain, Sand Mountain, and , all with summit trails. Multi-day whitewater-rafting trips go down the

2. Jasper, Arkansas, and the Ozark Mountains

Bentonville gets all the attention because of its mountain-bike revolution, but two hours away is the smaller gem of Jasper (population: 498), which sits in the Ozark Mountains surrounded by public land with easy access to hiking, rock climbing, and a national scenic river. The Ozarks aren鈥檛 as tall as the mountain ranges to the west (Rockies) or east (Appalachians), but the 2,500-foot peaks offer a legitimate mountain lifestyle in the center of the country, and at a lower entry price.

The Cabins: There鈥檚 good inventory in the hills surrounding Jasper. I found an 1100-square-foot on 9 acres with a pond overlooking the Buffalo River headwaters for $235,000. A 3 bed/2 bath log closer to town but on more than 6 acres is just $239,000. Bump your price up to $350,000, and you can get a brand new 1,100-square foot log on 3 acres.

The Recreation: The is the main draw. The first national river in the park-service inventory, the Buffalo cuts through the Ozarks for 151 miles, leaving tall sandstone bluffs in its wake. The Upper District of the river is narrow and fast and has some of the most iconic rock features in the area. Mountain bikers should head straight for the trail system, where 20 miles of backcountry singletrack await.

3. Upper Peninsula, Michigan

Michigan鈥檚 Upper Peninsula touches three different Great Lakes (Superior, Huron, and Michigan), offering tons of access to water adventures, while the Huron and Porcupine Mountains, protected by the Ottawa and Hiawatha National Forests, dominate the interior.

The area gets solid snowfall (more than 200 inches annually) every winter, turning into a hotbed of fat biking, X-C skiing, and snowmobiling. The UP even boasts nine downhill ski resorts and the world鈥檚 largest artificial ski-jumping hill. In the summer, it鈥檚 all about mountain biking, fishing, and even the occasional swell to surf.

The Cabins: The area surrounding Marquette (population 20,000), which sits on Lake Superior, has great deals for under $250,000, like a hand-built log on 80 acres for $249,000. Or how about a one-room with a wood stove and outhouse on 80 acres for just $98,000? And there are deals like this throughout the UP. I have my eye on a 20×20 on a 40-acre sugar maple camp close to Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park for just $129,000 (I shouldn鈥檛 have told you…).

The Recreation: The UP is nearly 400 miles end to end, so the recreation right out your door depends on which part of the peninsula you call home. But , on the extreme northern tip of the landmass, has nearly 100 miles of world-class mountain-bike trails. Small ski resorts dot the peninsula; check out , which has 250 acres annually covered in more than 200 inches of Lake Effect snow, from when winter storms move across the Great Lakes, leaving powder in their wakes.

4. Robbinsville, North Carolina, and the Southern Appalachians

Robbinsville might not have the trendy restaurants of towns like Asheville, but it has world-class recreation just out the door. Lake Santeetlah,听for example, which has some of the best trout fishing in the south, is just outside the town limits. The town is surrounded by the Nantahala National Forest and is a 30-minute drive from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It鈥檚 remote, but the real estate is a fraction of the price it would be in the mountains outside neighboring towns.

The Cabins: With plenty of unimproved property surrounding Robbinsville, you can pick up land for a reasonable price if you want to build your own cabin. But for $250,000 you can score a on 2.5 acres in the middle of the woods with a creek and fishing pond on the property. Bump your price up to $330,000, and you can get an cabin on an acre within walking distance to Lake Santeetlah.

The Recreation: Lake Santeetlah dominates the landscape just outside of Robbinsville. The 2,800-acre mountain lake is surrounded by National Forest land and has a healthy population of steelhead trout to try to catch. has hiking trails that wander through old-growth hemlocks, and the Nantahala River offers Class III whitewater. Drive 30 minutes, and you鈥檙e at the remote western edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where you can pick up the Appalachian Trail.

5. Sandpoint, Idaho, and the Selkirk and Cabinet Mountains

OK, you鈥檙e not gonna find a cheap mountain cabin around Sun Valley, but Idaho in general has long been a haven for mountain folk seeking out a land deal. For good prices right now, look to the northern portion of the state, around the town of Sandpoint. The town of 9,000 sits on the edge of Lake Pend Oreille, tucked into the bases of three mountain ranges, with a large ski resort (Schweitzer) just 10 miles away.

The Cabins: The inventory in this nook of Idaho is shockingly diverse and affordable. I found an on 5 acres for $234,000, as well as a on an 8-acre inholding inside Kaniksu National Forest for just $238,000. Meanwhile, you can pick up a that still needs some work on 5 acres for $187,000. Or look south of Sandpoint to the banks of Lake Pend Oreille, where you can grab a tiny on a small .17-acre parcel for just $89,000.

The Recreation: Lake Pend Oreille is 43 miles long, its 111 miles of shoreline loaded with beaches and parks. The lake is known for Kamloops, which is a species of giant rainbow trout, as well as kokanee salmon. But drifting and fishing the might even be more fun.

is Idaho鈥檚 largest ski resort, with slopes that peer down onto Lake Pend Oreille. It also has 20 miles of mountain-bike trails in the summer.

Graham Averill is 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine鈥檚 national parks columnist. He has yet to fulfill the lifelong dream of owning a mountain cabin, but he has a really nice family tent and that鈥檚 good too, right?

For other recent articles by Graham Averill, national-parks and travel columnist, see below.

How to Score the Best National Park Campsites for Summer

The Best Budget Airlines鈥攁nd 国产吃瓜黑料 Locales They Go To

7 Stunning Road Trips for Electric Vehicles

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Don your best Canadian tuxedo: on December 9, aims to claim the world record for the most skiers and riders in jeans, and to encourage participation, they鈥檙e offering cheap lift tickets for the day.

The resort took inspiration from in New Zealand, which set the first world record on October 8, 2023 by having 102 shredders on the slopes for a 鈥淒enim Dash,鈥� complete with DJs and free mullet haircuts sponsored by Pit Viper, for all who dared. 鈥淲e got in contact with The Remarkables and asked if they鈥檇 be interested in going back and forth on this thing, to see if we can make it a multi-year tradition,鈥� says Andrew Way, vice president of marketing for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR).

JHMR hopes to elevate the experience by offering riders $25 lift tickets and $25 rentals (including boots, skis, and poles, or boots and a snowboard) on December 9. Group lessons will also be discounted by $100. The tickets can be purchased online in advance, but the resort hopes that everyone taking advantage of the discount will show up to ride in their best denim duds.

Though this promotion certainly isn鈥檛 going to fix the issue of soaring lift ticket prices across the country, we鈥檒l take it. It鈥檚 a rare bright spot after several years riddled with headlines about $300 lift tickets and the general inaccessibility of skiing for most Americans.

鈥淲e just want to have a great time, get everybody out, and have a whole bunch of fun. That might sound trite, but it鈥檚 not, it鈥檚 really what we’re after,鈥� says Way. 鈥淲e think it fits the Jackson Hole brand really well, [because] we have a pretty significant Western heritage that we lean into up here.鈥�

Jackson Hole is also the place where the famously wealthy head to play, with celebrities like Harrison Ford, Kim Kardashian, and Sandra Bullock owning property in the area. But JHMR鈥檚 Ski in Jeans Day is at least a brief antidote to elite, billionaire-cowboy mountain town culture and harkens back to other early-season stunts the resort has pulled in past years, like a ski free day in 2013 (in celebration of being voted #1 in a Ski听poll) and a $6 lift ticket day in 2015 in in honor of its 50th anniversary.

According to Way, the ski area hopes to make this denim-centric downhill a friendly rivalry between Jackson Hole and The Remarkables, with each spot vying to up the ante and break the record year after year, much like how Park City and Breckenridge consistently try to one-up each other by claiming each fall.

Snowfall has been meager in Jackson Hole this fall, and only 35 percent of trails are open at the resort. Tickets for December 9th are currently sold out, but Way says that the resort will release more as soon as snow falls and more terrain becomes accessible, so it鈥檚 worth as the date nears. At the moment, is reporting a multi-day storm leading up to the event. Jackson Hole is also offering a steep discount ($100 compared to the regular price of $183) for the Friday and Sunday bordering Ski in Jeans Day, neither of which is sold out yet. Already have your ticket to join the cowboy-clad cruisers? The official record count happens at 12 P.M. at the base of the Sweetwater Gondola.

鈥淏est case scenario, we鈥檒l get a nice, week-long winter storm leading up to it, so we can open more terrain,鈥� says Way.

Once the lifts close at 4 P.M. on December 9th, riders can head over to , their newest slopeside restaurant to enjoy free live music by Grateful Dead cover band, Denim & the Dead, and the world premiere of the Jackson Hole Lager, a collaboration between JHMR and . The , benefiting the Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club鈥檚 student athletes, goes from 5:30 to 10:30 P.M. at the Rendezvous Lodge.

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