Skiing the Blue Mountains of Oregon and Washington When you look at a map of the Pacific Northwest, it’s easy to focus on the iconic Cascade Mountains’ captivating beauty and awe-inspiring volcanoes running north to south. That said, a lesser-known mountain range, the Blue Mountains, aka the “The Blues,” is equally as beautiful, albeit more remote, and positioned in the interior of Washington and Oregon. Let’s first gain […] Brains Matthew Oliphant | November 10, 2024 0 Comments
Glacial Ice Transformation Following the 1980 Mount St. Helens, WA, Eruption No volcano is more iconic in the Pacific Northwest than Mount St Helens or Loowit (Smoking Mountain), as the Cowlitz and Yakima nations know it. This active volcano sits 130 miles from the Pacific Ocean in Washington state, making it one of the closest Cascades volcanoes to the ocean. Mount Baker (Koma Kulshan) is the nearest volcano to the ocean. […] Brains Matthew Oliphant | August 20, 2024 0 Comments
Washington State Historic Snowfall Comparison: Mount Rainier vs Mount Baker When you think of legendary snowfall in the Pacific Northwest, I suspect a few spots that come to mind within the Evergreen State. That said, I want to jump right in and give you context on the precise coordinates of these two locations and their proximity to the Pacific Ocean. I begin with Mount Baker, or Koma Kulshan as it […] Brains Matthew Oliphant | May 12, 2024 1 Comment
Mt. Hood (Wy’East) vs Crater Lake (Giiwas), OR, Historic Snowfall Comparison When it comes to big snowfall totals in the state of Oregon, two sites remain supreme for their heavy annual snowfall and greatest snow depth recorded at one time. These sites are Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon and Timberline on Mt. Hood in northern Oregon. You might be asking why I chose these specific sites in Oregon. I […] Brains Matthew Oliphant | February 26, 2024 0 Comments
2 Of Our Favorite Ski Destinations in the High Terrain of British Columbia It’s easy to make a case for many ski locations in the world for a host of reasons (powder quality, terrain, location, etc). Still, without a doubt, one cannot disagree that British Columbia delivers some of the most spectacular world-class skiing and snowboarding experiences on the planet. Don’t believe me? I will break down two epic spots in British Columbia […] Matthew Oliphant | January 4, 2024 0 Comments
Our Favorite Ski Destinations of the Canadian Rockies – Alberta There is something to be said about shredding powder in Canada. Whether it’s the Chinook winds, the bountiful snowfall in the winter months, or the commanding and towering peaks of the Canadian Rockies, there is a certain aura in this part of the world. And what better way than to highlight two top-notch ski locations in different parts of the […] Brains Matthew Oliphant | November 14, 2023 0 Comments
Why Does Lassen Peak Typically Get More Snow Than Mt. Shasta in California? You’re probably wondering how can a peak that is further south and is around ~3,723 ft shorter in elevation typically receives more snow overall compared to a much taller edifice. Before I explain and break down this intriguing case, let’s first get our bearings set in terms of the location and overall coordinates of these two iconic peaks in the […] Brains Matthew Oliphant | September 25, 2023 0 Comments
The Glaciers of the North Cascades, WA, in an Ever-Changing Climate Did you know that the most glacier-concentrated terrain in the lower 48 is in the North Cascades National Park, located in the northern section of Washington state? In fact, this remote and wild National park embodies more glaciers than Glacier National Park (Montana) or any other National Park in the contiguous United States. There are over ~250 active glaciers contained […] Brains Matthew Oliphant | August 27, 2023 0 Comments
Matthew Oliphant
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