Out There Snow special section 2021-22 Archives - Out There Venture https://outthereventure.com/tag/out-there-snow-special-section-2021-22/ Fri, 15 Aug 2025 20:13:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://outthereoutdoors.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/cropped-OTO_new-favicon-32x32.jpg Out There Snow special section 2021-22 Archives - Out There Venture https://outthereventure.com/tag/out-there-snow-special-section-2021-22/ 32 32 Ski bum Advice: If Skis Could Talk https://outthereventure.com/ski-bum-advice-if-skis-could-talk/ https://outthereventure.com/ski-bum-advice-if-skis-could-talk/#respond Thu, 24 Mar 2022 19:14:34 +0000 https://outthereventure.com/?p=50408 What powder, carving, and rock skis might say, if they could talk, about winter 2021-22 season in the Northwest.

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I nearly had the poop scared out of me recently, and, in retrospect, it was well deserved. I had wandered into the garage to engage in the painful monthly activity of “getting things squared away,” which really is nothing more than me just listening to heavy metal and moving crap around to make myself feel better.

Anyway, as I stood there contemplating where to start, a raspy, obviously irritated voice called out to me from over where I store my and my better half’s quivers.

Powder Skis: “Hey, buttmunch, when the hell are you going to take me out?
Me (startled): “Who the !@#$ said that?”
Powder Skis: “Over here – just want to know when you are going to man up.”
Me: “Oh, right. Yeah, so listen. I know we all had higher expectations this year, but the snow gods are a little behind right now. So let’s just stay positive and pray for the usual late season storms.”
Powder Skis: “Stay positive? Seriously? There’s like a month left in the season and I’m still sitting here dressed in summer storage wax. WTF?”
Me: “I don’t know what to tell ya. La Niña goes that way sometimes. It doesn’t always mean an epic year . . .”
Powder Skis: “So now you’re going to throw around some fancy meteorological terms? Screw this, I’m moving in with my cousin in Salt Lake City. At least down in the Wasatch Range I know I will get some time on the hill.”
Me: “Let me help you pack. You do know that I found you on Ebay for like $150, right? I’m sure I can find another pair this off-season.”
Powder Skis: “That’s a low blow. Pound sand.”

Illustration of skis with eyes and mouths, in a storage box, talking to each other, while a guy looks on with a surprised look and a beer can in his hand.
If skis could talk. / Illustration by Justin Short.

Carving Skis: “Hey, can you guys keep it down?  I’ve been on the hill every weekend since December and need some quiet time.”
Me: “Sorry about that, but the powder skis started it.”
Powder Skis: “Whatever, dude.”
Carving Skis: “What part of quiet don’t you understand? Can’t you see my edges are dull, my bases are dry, and I’ve got rock shots all over? I’m exhausted.”
Me: “Well, at least you are getting used . . ..”
Carving Skis: “Yeah, more like used and abused. You could at least throw on some wax after we get home on weekends. But noooo, you just toss me in the corner and go plop your fat backside on the couch. No wonder my edges are rusted.”
Me: “Listen, I will get you into the shop this week for a full tune, including a stone grind. Will that make you happy?”
Carving Skis: “Promises, promises.”
Powder Skis: “You know what would make me happy? A crapload of snow.”
Carving Skis: “No one is talking to you.”
Powder Skis: “Shocker. No one has talked to me in two years.”
Carving Skis: “At least you have wax on you.”
Powder Skis: “Yeah, lot of good that is doing.”
Rock Skis: “You guys have no idea. Freaking entitled generation.”
Powder Skis: “Shut up, Grandpa. No one cares what an old, full-cambered ski thinks, anyway.”
Rock Skis: “Sonny, I was ripping turns when you were just the idea of some stoner ski designer. Tell me to shut up again and you’re going find out what real pain tastes like.”
Me: “I’m going to go get a beer.”

Brad Northrup is a former ski racer, coach, and ski industry professional.  We are pretty sure this conversation was not just in his head. Find more of his Ski Bum Advice articles and satire in the OTO archives.

Need help deciphering ski lingo? Read “How To Talk Like A Shredder.”

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How To Talk Like a Shredder https://outthereventure.com/how-to-talk-like-a-shredder/ https://outthereventure.com/how-to-talk-like-a-shredder/#respond Thu, 17 Mar 2022 21:18:03 +0000 https://outthereventure.com/?p=50349 Learn new school ski and snowboard lingo, ski terrain terms, and other words and phrases commonly heard on the mountain.

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By Logan Siegford

“Dude, did you see that guy just huck his carcass off that booter?”

Since the beginning of both the glorious sports of skiing and snowboarding, all ski bums of new and old keep making up new ski lingo that takes some getting used to. It’s not always easy to talk like a shredder.

My uncle is the Rossignol rep for the Northwest, and as a kid I frequently made the trip down to Mt. Hood to visit him. He spoke English, but in a different way. His was the language of the ski or snowboard extremist.

I was becoming a shredder at this point, but listening to my uncle made me realize I had just found another route to becoming an even better and more steezy skier: by learning the language.

Earlier this year, I was up skiing Revelstoke when I started talking to a 60-year-old logger from Oregon. I asked him if he wanted to take the skier’s left or right chute off the top of the sub-peak at Revy. He said, “What did you just say, son?”

I had to explain to him that as a snowboarder you face both uphill and downhill, but skiers always face downhill. This interaction was a reminder that the language of skiers and snowboarders is ever-evolving.

It made me wonder what I may not even know. And that experience also made me think about a few phrases that are still common on the mountain today.

Photos by Aaron Theisen, courtesy of Ski the NW Rockies.

New School Ski Lingo

Jib: Jump or rail feature that is off piste or off the trail.

Send/boost: To hit a jump that throws you as close to the moon as you could possibly go.

Steeze: Amount of style you have.

Shred: Going down difficult terrain as fast and hard as you can.

Park Rat: The skiers and boarders that only go to the Terrain Park.

Nuking/dumping: When it’s snowing cats and dogs.

Jerry: The skiers and boarders that have no idea what they are doing and are charging down the mountain. (Editor’s Note: See Jerry examples on Instagram @Jerryoftheday, which has some of the best, most funny captions and hashtags; also see @Jerryslams.)

Gaper: The distinguished gap between a Jerry’s helmet and goggles; Another term for a newbie.

Snow Bunny: A female skier or boarder that is attractive and shreds harder than most of the people on the mountain.

Pizza: The mechanism that newbie skiers use on the slopes to go down the mountain. In other words, their skis look like a V.

Falling Leaf: Snowboarders who can’t turn, so they stay on heel side the whole way down the mountain.

Grom: A little skier or boarder who rips down the mountain.

Après Ski: After skiing activities that usually include drinking.

Three backcountry skiers, backs to the camera, looking over the edge, preparing to ski down, with a snowy ridge line farther beyond.
Shredder Talk: Gnarly chutes in north Idaho’s backcountry. // Photo: Kirby Walke

Ski Terrain Terms

Glades: Trees that have been thinned out for skiing.

Chute/Couloir: Tight, steep ski lines that are bound on both sides by trees or rocks.

Moguls: Bumps created by skiers.

Groomer/Corduroy: Result of machines making the snow flat and wavy like a Ruffles chip so the skiing is easier and faster.

Pillow Line: Large boulders when covered with snow can make some epic lines when jumping from rock to rock.

Skier in red jacket shredding at Mt. Spokane.
Bluebird shredding. // Photo courtesy Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park.

Other Ski Terms

Bluebird: Blue skis and sunny! Break out the sunnies.

Gnarly: Tough terrain. Double black diamond, presumably.

Chatter: What happens to your skis when the ski hill turns into an ice rink and your edges don’t stick.

Side Country: Out of bounds at a resort that may or may not require using the resort’s lifts for access.

Liftie: The employee who puts you on and off the lift.

Tracked Out: When all the fresh snow has been skied on and you can no longer ski that fresh pow.

Originally published as “The Language of Shredders, Revisited” in the March-April 2022 issue, as the culture feature in the Out There Snow special section.

Logan Siegford is an avid snowboarder, rock climber, and fisherman who grew up in North Idaho. This is his first article for Out There.

Shredder Talk: Sending it on a bluebird (left); park rat fun (top right), and meet-up on the corduroy during a bluebird day (bottom right). // Photos courtesy of Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park.

Check out more ski lingo in “Talk Like a Skier: Gaper’s Guide to Ski Lingo” by Brad Naccarato, published in the February 2014 print issue.

[Feature photo courtesy of Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park.]

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Spring Ski Events & Deals at Inland NW Mountains https://outthereventure.com/spring-ski-events-and-deals-at-inland-nw-mountains/ https://outthereventure.com/spring-ski-events-and-deals-at-inland-nw-mountains/#respond Tue, 15 Mar 2022 03:25:42 +0000 https://outthereventure.com/?p=50295 Ski the NW Rockies mountain recreation areas have spring deals and some of the most fun events of the season.

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The snow may be melting in the lowlands with clear signs of spring emerging, but our local mountains still have a snowy scene that’s worth exploring for some spring skiing and snowboarding and some of the most fun events of the season.

Learn about current deals and upcoming events at the Ski the NW Rockies affiliated ski and snowboard recreation areas and resorts, which includes Silver Mountain, Lookout Pass, 49 Degrees North, and Mt. Spokane.

Bring a Friend Thursday Special at Lookout Pass

Shredding is better with friends—cash in by bringing a pal to Lookout Pass on any Thursday for the rest of the season and get two lift tickets for just $70. (They don’t even have to be that good of a friend!)

Ski Free If You Own a Parker Subaru

You’ll be able to score a free lift ticket at Lookout Pass on April 1 if you drive a Parker Subaru. Stop by the Coeur d’Alene store to learn more.

Mt. Spokane Spring Pass & 1/2 Sale

Take advantage of the guaranteed lowest rates for the 2022-2023 season at Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park by purchasing your pass now. You’ll be able to ski the rest of the season free! Renewing pass holders save even more with this deal. For details and to purchase, visit mtspokane.com.

Mt. Spokane: Sunrise from atop the Illuminator chairlift and blue bird days. // Photos courtesy Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park.

Freestyle Camp at 49 Degrees North

Kick off spring with a spotlight on freestyle! This one-day camp is all about giving participants the confidence to explore the world of freestyle terrain, from sculpted jumps, rails and boxes to natural features all over the mountain. Creativity and fun is the central theme as coaches help build skills with an “outside-in” approach, working on movements in low-consequence environments then taking those skills to the park, where they will also learn park etiquette and how to use different features.

Camp runs from 12pm-3pm for snowboarders and skiers ages 10-15. $99/person; intermediate and beginner groups available. Contact Snowsports School at skischool@ski49n.com with questions.

Spring Pass Sale at Silver Mountain Resort

Buy your pass for the 2022-2023 season at Silver and ski the rest of the 21/22 season for free! If you know you’re going to invest in next winter, it’s an opportunity you won’t want to miss that will also compel you to take advantage of spring skiing. As marketing associate Siobhan Ebel puts it, “The season’s not over yet! Spring skiing means late-season powder dumps and bluebird days. Time it right and spring skiing can make for some of the best days on the mountain all season.”

Added bonus? This pass sale will get you 4 day tickets to Silver Rapids Indoor Waterpark for just $13/each (usually $39/each). Visit silvermt.com for prices and to purchase.

Eagle Peak Cat Skiing Adventures

By reservation only, explore the newly created territory of Eagle Peak at Lookout Pass any day this spring and be among the first to get the experience before it becomes lift-served next winter. You’ll get 4-5 rides in a Snowcat to the top of Eagle Peak for just $100, or you can make a single run for $30 at 1:30 in the afternoon. Make your reservation at skilookout.com.

Ski Free if You Own A Toyota

It’s a good time to drive a Toyota if you like winter sports and a good deal. On March 11, the driver of any Toyota, Scion, or Lexus will be eligible for free lift tickets at Silver Mountain Resort. Toyota reps will hand out free lift tickets in the parking lot, so no reservations are required.

Toyota Ski Free Days occur at all four of the Ski the NW Rockies resorts — 49 Degrees North on March 4, Mt. Spokane on March 18, and Lookout Pass on March 25. Schweitzer had their event back in January. Check with individual resorts to see whether lift ticket reservations may be required.

Smooth Days Ahead for Silver Mountain

Silver Mountain made several improvements to their beginner and groomed run areas that will see a continued impact next season. They installed a brand-new covered, moving carpet to make beginner and tubing rides more enjoyable. They added two PistenBully groomers to their fleet, one of which is a winch cat, which will provide more consistency to future grooming.

A new D3 cat with a mulcher helped them improve early-season conditions with brush cutting on steeper runs and glades, which will help them get more terrain open earlier in the 2022-2023 year as well.

Silver Mountain: Gondola, spring skiing, and covered Magic Carpet. // Photos courtesy Silver Mountain.

Jaeger’s Park park & Hawaiian Daze at 49 Degrees North

“Springtime just brings out the fun . . . warmer temps, soft spring snow, slushy park laps, goggle tans, retro outfits, sunglasses and baseball caps, and lots and lots of smiles,” says Rick Brown, director of skier and rider services at 49 Degrees North.

Celebrate spring at Hawaiian Daze, an action-packed Saturday on March 26 including music, BBQ on the deck, a poker run, costume contest, raffle, and the ultimate slope side spectator event—the Slush Cup pond skim! Proceeds support the 49 Degrees North Volunteer Ski Patrol.

Also taking place on the mountain this day is Jaeger’s Park Party, the “anti-competition event of the season” with a day of spring park laps, creative lines, and shredding inspired by the late, local pro snowboard legend Jaeger Bailey.

ZANY SPRING FUN AT LOOKOUT PASS

From a Hawaiian Luau and BBQ with live music to Lookout’s notorious Cardboard Box Derby, these guys know how to throw a spring ski party. March and early April conditions on Lookout are usually awesome with a deep snowpack and often warmer weather, thanks to its reputation for getting the most snow in Idaho.

“People wear a lot less winter clothing, and there are those that don the occasional swimsuit and sunglasses instead of goggles,” says director of marketing Matt Sawyer. “It’s a fun, laid-back vibe with beer, games for kids, more smiles and less lift lines.” For a full line-up of spring events, visit skilookout.com.

49 Degrees North Special Spring Pass

“What makes spring so great on Chewelah Peak? The short answer is everything!” says Rick Brown, director of skier and rider services at 49 Degrees North. “March and April bring some of the most beautiful days of the season. Mother nature always seems to have a way of sneaking in a few more pretty great pow days before truly closing the door on winter.”

Check it out for yourself with a 2022 Spring Pass that will give unlimited access from March 1 through the close of the 21-22 season ($189 for adults; $169 youth ages 7-17). Anyone who purchases a spring pass will qualify for $100 off a 2022-2023 season pass. All passes go on sale March 1 at ski49n.com.

Lookout Pass Spring Pass Sale

Purchase a 2022-2023 season pass for Lookout and ski all of March and into April for free! Lookout plans to be open through April 17. As Director of Marketing Matt Sawyer says, this season is a fun time to get on the hill, when lots of guests dig costumes out of their closets or show off where they went to school with their college colors or jerseys.

“Spring is one big send-off party to Ullr the God of Snow, as our way of showing our appreciation for a fun and festive winter season,” says Sawyer. Season pass holders from any other mountain will also get a ½ price lift ticket Monday-Friday for the rest of the season.

Lookout Pass: Deep pow days (left and middle). // Photos: Lacey Johnson; Tamarack run, beginner terrain (right). // All photos courtesy Lookout Pass Ski Area.

Go Bavarian at 49 Degrees north

Depending on who you ask, this may just be the best race event of the year. This ski/snowboard Bavarian Race starts on the deck and includes a top-to-bottom GS race course and—the Bavarian twist—timed beer drinking.

Enjoy great food, drinks, a golf chipping contest, great costumes, and lots of laughs on April 2, a date that still provides good conditions. “The sun sits higher in the sky, lighting up even more of the mountain, and sets later in the day, giving us more time to squeeze in those last laps at the end of the day,” says Brown.

Silver Mountain’s Leadman Triathlon

Too early for tri season? Not if one of the events is skiing! This adventure triathlon is a combo of skiing, biking, and running. Compete as an individual or team on April 23 and help raise money for local charities. Registration now open at silvermt.com.

Invest in Next Winter at 49 Degrees North

With the addition of the new Northern Spirit High Speed Quad, Washington State’s longest high-speed lift that carries riders from base to the summit in just seven minutes, 49 Degrees North is a great place to be for the 2022-2023 season. The resort plans to expand its operating schedule next season to 7 days a week from the Christmas holiday period until the first week of March to maximize days on the snow. Get your pass now for the lowest price at ski49n.com.

49 Degrees North: Sunset view and Hawaiian Daze spring event with pond skim competition. // Photos courtesy 49 Degrees North.

Originally published in the March-April 2022 print issue. Editor’s Note: Some slight changes were made to ensure this online version includes only future event information, as of the date published online.

Sponsored by Ski the NW Rockies

Ski NW Rockies Logo.

Find more skiing and snowboarding stories and articles about Ski the NW Rockies resorts and recreation areas in the OTO archives.

[Feature photo courtesy of 49 Degrees North.]

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Switching Between Skis & Snowboard https://outthereventure.com/switching-between-skis-snowboard/ https://outthereventure.com/switching-between-skis-snowboard/#respond Sat, 12 Feb 2022 22:53:36 +0000 https://outthereventure.com/?p=49852 How easy is it to switch from skis to snowboard? Or how about a snowboarder on skis for the first time? May be harder than you think.

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There are those among us that can swing both ways—one plank or two. And there are others whose sole identity is fixed to their board or skis. When these individuals try the other discipline, it can upend their sense of reality, cause cosmic shifts, and result in comic relief.

Andy Fuzak has been skiing Mt Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park for 28 years and teaching there for 11. He comes from a skiing family, but a few years ago he decided he should at least give the single plank a try. He strapped one on in his living room and got some instruction from a buddy. He then took the hand-me-down board to the mountain that he calls home and, being an experienced skier, headed straight for Chair 3.

Unlike many snowboard newbies, Fuzak was scared of his heel side being open to the hill and the potential of catching a toeside edge (aka the dreaded scorpion). So to prepare before his snowboarding initiation that day, he had a beer or two to calm his nerves.

Once safely off Chair 3, Fuzak was taking his time sliding toeside down the slope when those confidence-boosting beers came back to haunt him. The urge to pee came on strong, he says, so he tried to ride into familiar trees to answer nature’s call. He quickly realized, however, that his single board had become stuck in the snow.

Desperate to avoid an accident, Fuzak resorted to crawling, still fully strapped to his board, until positioned in a way he could relieve himself. On the rare occasion when he snowboards, Fuzak still has the fear of faceplanting and usually waits for a really soft day. He also makes sure to hit the head before strapping into his board.

Garrett Shadwick, the new marketing manager at 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort, started skiing in college. Hailing from Texas, he found a crew who would road trip to Colorado and Montana. He chased these friends down the mountains until he was a confident skier. On one of those trips to Montana, he decided to switch it up and give boarding a try.

They found a small hill with an open clearing with a rail at the bottom. Shadwick strapped in to a buddy’s snowboard with hiking boots. After a few short runs, he was feeling sure enough of his nascent snowboarding skills, so they hit the resort, swapping gear with his friends for the entire day.

Shadwick tackled his first green run, and, as he recalls, he face-planted about eight times. He finally discovered that if he crouched down he could make it to the bottom without crashing. Once safe back at the bottom of the run, he quickly traded back to the two-board discipline that is his passion and career.

Unlike Shadwick and Fuzak, I spent my formative snow years on a snowboard. I could passably surf and cruise on a skateboard, so snowboarding made sense to me. The thought of trying to turn two sticks and two edges down a steep slope without leaning over my heels or toes freaked me out.

Eventually a good friend from Maine came to visit me in New Mexico one winter and wanted to head up to Taos Ski Valley. Back then Taos was a skier-only mountain, leaving me no choice but to load up two long planks and heavy plastic boots and leave my snowboard at home.

As we approached the main lift, a sign proclaimed in big letters: “Don’t Panic! You’re looking at only 1/30 of Taos Ski Valley. We have many easy runs too!”

With a bit of dread, I loaded the lift. Having a good 15-plus inches of fresh powder made for an exciting and exhausting experience for both of us, the Mainer who had never skied powder and me, the newbie skier.

We both spent a large portion of the day hiking up slope to retrieve gear. I could not get both skis to make turns in the steep powder and ended up crossing skis and doing the slow-motion tip over countless times.

My buddy didn’t fare much better. Being from Maine where “powder days” are only a few inches, he would continually bury his tips, double eject, and fly face-first in the snow laughing.

Learning a new discipline anytime can be exhausting, frustrating, and insanely joyful. I don’t think I’ve ever needed a beer and a hot tub at the end of a day on the mountain as much as that first time switching it up from one plank to two.

Adam Gebauer is happy to have taken many falls on both skis and snowboard and now swings both ways. He wrote about what the professionals predicted for this winter 2021-22 snowfall in the November-December 2021 print issue.

Trying out a snowboard. // Photo courtesy of Garrett Shadwick. (left photo)

Find more stories about snowboarding and learning how to alpine ski or ride a snowboard in the OTO archives.

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Ski Bum Advice ~ Poem: The Night Before Skiing https://outthereventure.com/ski-bum-advice-poem-the-night-before-skiing/ https://outthereventure.com/ski-bum-advice-poem-the-night-before-skiing/#respond Tue, 08 Feb 2022 22:45:31 +0000 https://outthereventure.com/?p=49820 Seasonal parody poem by OTO's official ski bum Brad Northrup -- a former ski racer, coach, and ski industry professional.

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‘Twas the night before skiing, and all through the chalet
All the ski bums were sleeping, resting up to go play;
Their skis were all stacked next to the SUV with care,
With hopes that the Norse snow god would soon be there.

The skiers were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of deep pow-pow danced in their heads,
When up in the evergreens there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

A full moon lit up all the new fallen snow
Blinding me for a minute, hot damn what a glow!
When what to my bloodshot eyes should appear,
But a beat up old Subaru, pulled by eight giant reindeer.

With a burly old driver, not some punk ass new-schooler,
I knew immediately this was the legend, the one known as Ullr.
More rapid than a high speed quad, his reindeer they came,
And he whistled, and bellowed, and called them by name.

“Now, Gaper! Now, Ripper! Now, Steezy and Skidder!
On, Park Rat! On, Snowplower! On, Shredder and Jibber!
Back by the hot tub! To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

Illustration of a car attached to reindeer, like Santa's sleight, flying through the sky.
Night Before Skiing // Illustration by Justin M. Short.

As spindrift that before the leeward wind fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, float to the sky,
So back towards the driveway, the reindeer they flew,
With the Subaru full of tuning supplies, and the snow god Ullr too.

And then, in an instant, I heard by the garage,
The stomping and clamoring from this mythical entourage.
As I stumbled down the stairs to catch a glimpse more,
In strode Ullr through the exterior garage door.

He was dressed in Patagonia, both jacket and pants,
So expensive those clothes, they must have been financed.
A massive bundle of goods he had strapped to his back,
And he looked like a true alpinist as he unshouldered his pack.

The stem of a peace pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the pungent smoke encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a chiseled face, and abs like a wash board,
That rippled as he moved, like a true Norwegian lord.

He was a giant of a man, six foot four and full of muscle,
I nearly crapped when I our eyes locked, with him I would not tussle.
A smirk on his face, and a nod from his head,
Soon gave me the feeling I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, and went straight to his task,
Of waxing all the skis, occasionally taking a pull from his flask.
When finished, he smiled, and flashed me the peace sign;
I gave him a thumbs up, pretending I was fine.

He marched to his ride, giving his team their next order,
And away they all flew, north towards the Canadian border.
But I heard him exclaim, right as they were fleeing,
GET YOUR BUTTS OUT OF BED! IT’S TIME TO GO SKIING!

Brad Northrup is a former ski racer, coach, and ski industry professional. We seriously doubt this will get him nominated as an American Poet Laureate. He writes Ski Bum Advice for the Out There Snow special section.

Captioned as "Uller". Leaning on a bow and wearing ice skates, the god Ullr stands atop a frozen lake. In the background stands a building and evergreen trees.
Norse god Ullr: Friedrich Wilhelm Heine (1845-1921), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
PDM

Ullr: “A Norse god often associated with winter, skiing and snow sports. Many people refer to him as the God of snow or God of skiing, but according to the Prose Edda, a historical text used by scholars of Norse mythology, Ullr was never given a ‘God of’ title for anything. However, he is recognized for being a skilled skier and hunter, and he is often depicted on skis with his bow. It is even said that the aurora borealis, which dance across night skies in the Northern hemispheres, are the spray from his skis.” (Source: Whistler.com)

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15 Alpine Ski Areas in Washington State https://outthereventure.com/15-alpine-ski-areas-in-washington-state/ https://outthereventure.com/15-alpine-ski-areas-in-washington-state/#respond Fri, 21 Jan 2022 21:11:30 +0000 https://outthereventure.com/?p=49468 A brief overview of Washington State's 15 public downhill ski areas by Ryan Murray who skied them all during a 34-year personal odyssey.

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By Ryan Murray

My personal odyssey to ski every public mountain recreation area in Washington State took 34 years. Here are my brief notes about each one.

  1. Badger Mountain Ski Hill (Waterville): A lift ticket and lunch special (burger, chips, and drink) will run you less than $20, making it the least expensive lunch and ski in the state. Perfect rope tow to take the kids on to learn and the T-bar can be fun if the snow is cooperative. 
  2. Bluewood (Dayton): A fun hill with some good tree skiing. One visit I witnessed a convoy of off-roading trucks trying to get to the top of the hill just outside the ski area boundary. You never know what you’ll come across on local hills. 
  3. Crystal Mountain (Enumclaw): Great bowls. This is the largest ski area in Washington by acreage. 
  4. Echo Valley Ski & Tubing Area (Manson/Lake Chelan): The second-best terrain served by a poma lift in Washington.
  5. Hurricane Ridge Ski & Snowboard Area (Port Angeles): A long haul from Spokane to get to a little ski area. It boasts a long platter pull deep in Olympic National Park with some great views. 
  6. Leavenworth Ski Hill (Leavenworth): A couple rope tows, but the real draw is the faux Bavarian town après-ski.     
  7. Loup Loup Ski Bowl (Omak): I’m pretty sure they send out high school kids with chain saws to cut down trees and leave them along the edge of the hill because I have never seen so many jumps lining a run.
  8. Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort (Wenatchee): With an average snowfall of 200 inches and 300 days a year of sunshine, there’s often not a lot of snow cover in some spots and I usually hit a rock or two. Free stone grind! The terrain is surprisingly respectable on a good day. 
  9. Mt. Baker Ski Area (Bellingham): Epic snowfall. They had so much of the white stuff in the ‘98/’99 ski season they had to cut into the snow to allow room for the chair lift. It’s a strange feeling akin to scuba diving when your chair lift goes under the level of the snow surface. They had 1,140 inches of snow that year, which is enough snow to keep most places running for years.
  10. Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park (Spokane): The terrain park acreage is huge. And there are four to choose from. When I was there, one of the table top jumps dropped off on the hill behind it, and if you fully committed to the needed speed, you’d get absurdly-huge air. 
  11. Stevens Pass Ski Resort (Skykomish): Some great terrain up the 7th Heaven Chair, just look out for the crowds on the weekend.
  12. Sitzmark Ski Hill (Tonasket): Largely a beginner area. Consequently, I could find untracked powder after lunch visible from the lift. 
  13. The Summit at Snoqualmie (Snoqualmie Pass): This is really one pass to four separate ski areas (Hyak, Ski Acres, Snoqualmie, and Alpental). You can listen to the sound of skis scraping over ice echoing into the night with the most illuminated acres in the state.  The real draw is Alpental, which has some of the best lift-served backcountry skiing around. After a short walk to Denny peak you can ski down from what feels like the top of the world.
  14. White Pass Ski Area (White Pass/Packwood): Nice intermediate terrain serviced from a high-speed quad. I heard the area was built by world cup racers, and you can tell from the trails. 
  15. 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort (Chewelah): This Northeast Washington ski area is growing, and the best thing is that it has a small-town hill feel with big terrain. I’ve always had fantastic powder whenever I go. 

Originally published in the November-December 2021 issue alongside Ryan Murray’s feature story, “A Quest to Shred Washington’s 15 Ski Mountains.”

3 of the 15 public ski areas in Washington State: Mission Ridge (left), 49 Degrees North (upper right), and Sitzmark (lower right). // Photos: Ryan Murray

Ryan Murray works as a chemical engineer in Washington State. He enjoys dragging his three kids on adventures and hopes that one day they will realize how much fun they are having. When not playing in the snow, he enjoys hiking and is trying to section hike the Washington stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail.   

[Feature photo by Ryan Murray. // Sitzmark Ski Hill]

Find more ski and snowboard stories in the OTO archives.

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