Landslides and Deep Erosion Cause Major Terrain Damage at Bridger Bowl Ski Area, MT Bridger Bowl Ski Area in Montana is dealing with the aftermath of a rainstorm that struck the evening of July 29, triggering small landslides and deep erosion across the mountain. While no injuries or major infrastructure damage have been reported, the resort is urging visitors to use caution due to unstable terrain that could still give way to rockslides. View […] Industry News Brent Thomas | August 5, 2025 0 Comments
Lawsuit Filed Against Park City Ski and Snowboard, UT, Over Teen’s Cliff-Jumping Injury The parents of a Park City, Utah, teenager have filed a lawsuit against Park City Ski & Snowboard (PCSS) and affiliated organizations, claiming their daughter suffered severe injuries after being encouraged to cliff-jump during a team trip in 2021. The athlete, identified in court documents as H.K., was 14 years old at the time and had trained with PCSS for […] Industry News Brent Thomas | July 29, 2025 1 Comment
Top 15 Resorts With the Best Chance of Catching a Powder Day in North America Let’s be real: for many serious skiers and snowboarders, the sport is all about riding powder. Whenever the conditions are lining up with a winter weather advisory, it’s time to call in sick or do whatever you can to make it to the mountain. Powder days are sacred and should not be wasted. The definition of a powder day is when the […] Brains Brent Thomas | July 27, 2025 1 Comment
Top 11 Ski Resorts with the Most Named Trails in North America Ski resorts love to brag about their numbers. Snowfall, vertical, and skiable acres are common, but one that is sometimes overlooked is the number of marked trails. Having a significant number of marked trails at a ski resort gives skiers more variety, helps spread out crowds, and makes navigation easier for guests of all levels. It also improves safety, enhances […] Brains Brent Thomas | July 26, 2025 0 Comments
With a 10% Increase to $329, Deer Valley, Utah, Tests the Limits of Single-Day Pass Pricing For the 2025-26 ski season, Deer Valley, Utah, has announced that its peak-day walk-up lift ticket will cost $329, a 10% increase over last season and officially pushing the price past the $300 threshold, reports The Storm Skiing Journal & Podcast. This makes Deer Valley one of the most expensive single-day lift tickets in North America. The move forces a […] Industry News Brent Thomas | July 21, 2025 3 Comments
You Can Volunteer to Help Protect New Mexico’s Wild Places Just by Hiking If you love hiking and care about the future of New Mexico’s wilderness, New Mexico Wild has a unique opportunity for you to make a real difference, and all you have to do is hit the trail. Now through October 31, 2025, you can volunteer as a solitude monitor in the stunning Carson National Forest. It’s a chance to enjoy […] Industry News Brent Thomas | July 17, 2025 0 Comments
How to Be a More Sustainable Skier How to Be a More Sustainable Skier With climate change at the forefront of everyone’s mind these days, it’s no surprise that the ski and snowboard industry is working hard to reduce its environmental impact. Resorts across the world are implementing more sustainable methods of snow production, lift power, and transportation. But what can you do as an individual to […] Brains Brent Thomas | July 14, 2025 0 Comments
Top 9 States with the Best Snow Quality When it comes to skiing and snowboarding, not all snow is created equal. The best days on the mountain usually come down to one key factor: snow quality. Light, dry powder offers the smoothest turns, the softest landings, and the kind of float that makes every run feel like a dream. While snowfall totals get most of the attention, the […] Brains Brent Thomas | July 14, 2025 0 Comments
Mt. Bachelor, OR, Bike Park Report: Cone Runs and Lava Flows on a Sleeping Volcano Report for Saturday, July 12, 2025 Last summer, I took my two boys to Mt. Bachelor, Oregon, to attend its Bike Camp for Kids. They had a blast and assumed we would do the same thing every year. Related: Mt. Bachelor, OR, Gravity Bike Camp Trip Report: The Most Fun Kids Can Have on Two Wheels Unfortunately, our busy summer […] Conditions Report Brent Thomas | July 13, 2025 0 Comments
The 9 Best North American Ski Areas to Visit in the Summer While many of us visit ski resorts in the wintertime for skiing, snowboarding, and other snowy escapades, many of North America’s premier ski destinations transform into vibrant hubs of activity during the summer months. As the snow melts, these mountainous regions reveal ideal playgrounds that offer endless outdoor pursuits, from hiking and mountain biking to zip-lining and scenic gondola rides. […] Brent Thomas | July 12, 2025 1 Comment
Top 5 U.S. States for Extreme Bucket List Adventures If you live for adrenaline, love pushing your limits, or want to check some wild experiences off your bucket list, the U.S. has no shortage of epic places to do it. From skydiving over the ocean to rock climbing in desert canyons or paddling through whitewater rapids, each state brings something unique to the adventure table. Related: 17 Not So […] Brains Brent Thomas | July 11, 2025 0 Comments
[FOR SALE] Rare Opportunity to Own a Cat Ski Operation in the Legendary Monashee Mountains of British Columbia If you’ve ever dreamed of owning your own backcountry ski operation in the heart of British Columbia’s snowiest mountains, this might be your shot. Powder Renegade Lodge, a cat skiing operation tucked deep in the Monashee Mountains, is now for sale. With its combination of unmatched terrain, reliable snowfall, and full infrastructure already in place, it’s being billed as a […] Industry News Brent Thomas | July 9, 2025 0 Comments
Park City Mountain Resort, UT, Plans to Replace Cabriolet Lift with New Gondola The Cabriolet lift at Canyons Village, which has been hauling skiers and riders from the lower parking lot to the base area since 2000, may be making its final laps. According to TownLift, Park City Mountain and the Canyons Village Management Association (CVMA) have announced plans to replace the open-air lift with a fully enclosed gondola. The proposed upgrade is […] Industry News Brent Thomas | July 7, 2025 0 Comments
Top 9 Most Rewarding Ski-Related Jobs Working in the ski industry isn’t just a job for many—it’s a lifestyle. It’s early mornings, frozen fingers, big laughs, and the kind of fulfillment that’s hard to find behind a desk. The work can be tough, the pay isn’t always glamorous, and the weather doesn’t care about your comfort. But ask anyone who’s spent a season—or a lifetime—in the […] Brains Brent Thomas | July 7, 2025 0 Comments
Is There Such a Thing as ‘Left’ and ‘Right’ Skis? If you’ve ever stood at the base of the mountain, skis in hand, wondering whether one goes on the left and the other on the right, you’re not alone. For most skiers and most skis, the answer is simple: it doesn’t matter. Traditional alpine skis are symmetrical, meaning they’re designed to perform the same no matter which foot they’re on. […] Brains Brent Thomas | July 5, 2025 0 Comments
Scientists Uncover the Ideal Conditions Causing Big Champagne Powder® Days at Steamboat, CO: ‘Speedy Snowflakes’ Scientists at Storm Peak Laboratory in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, analyzed 45 years of snowstorm data to pinpoint what drives Steamboat Resort’s biggest powder days. They conclude that extreme snowfall—those top 5% events—requires a specific atmospheric recipe of cold temperatures, northwest storm tracks, and strong winds. “These are the days everyone remembers,” Gannet Hallar, Ph.D., director of Storm Peak Lab and […] Brains Brent Thomas | July 2, 2025 0 Comments
The 7 Friendliest U.S. Airports for Skiers and Snowboarders For skiers and snowboarders traveling for a destination ski trip, the journey to the mountain is a necessary yet potentially dreadful part of the expedition. Navigating through airports with bulky gear can be a hassle, making it crucial to have a seamless travel experience. The friendliest airports for skiers and snowboarders understand this and go above and beyond to ensure […] Brains Brent Thomas | July 2, 2025 0 Comments
Oregon’s Legislative Session Ends With No Change to Liability Protections for Ski Areas Oregon’s outdoor recreation industry is facing a growing insurance crisis after major insurer Safehold Special Risk announced last month it will no longer provide coverage in the state. Safehold, which insures ski resorts in 37 states, cited Oregon’s legal environment—particularly its weak enforcement of liability waivers—as the reason for its exit. Related: Oregon’s Ski Resorts at Risk as Key Insurer […] Industry News Brent Thomas | July 2, 2025 0 Comments
A Closer Look Behind the Innovative Backfill Technology That Powered the Teton Pass, WY, Road Repair After a Devastating Landslide When a massive landslide took out a section of Wyoming Highway 22 on June 8, 2024, it didn’t just damage pavement—it cut off a lifeline. Known as the Teton Pass “Big Fill Slide,” the collapse destroyed a key stretch of road that connects eastern Idaho’s Teton Valley with Jackson Hole, Wyoming—a world-class destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The sudden failure, triggered by extreme weather […] Brains Brent Thomas | July 1, 2025 0 Comments
Did You Know There Used to Be an Unconventional Ski Area in the Suburbs of Atlanta, GA? For a few years in the late 1970s, Atlanta, Georgia, offered an unexpected twist for thrill-seekers: the Vinings Ridge Ski Area. Far from the powdery peaks of traditional ski resorts, Vinings Ridge operated on a synthetic surface due to the warm climate, making it a unique, year-round attraction. Related: The 5 Most Unique Ski and Snowboard Towns on The Planet […] Brains Brent Thomas | June 30, 2025 10 Comments
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