The Tram to The Summit of Mount Whitney, CA, That Nearly Happened In the early 1900s, a wild idea to build a tram to the summit of Mt. Whitney was proposed. Located in California, Mt. Whitney is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, outside of Alaska and Hawaii. Mt. Whitney sits at an impressive elevation of 14,504 feet above sea level, and is immediately recognizable by its sheer granite cliff […] Brains Joseph Kaufmann | July 15, 2026 0 Comments
Taos Joins Global Sustainability Ski Alliance Taos Ski Valley, the world renowned New Mexican ski resort in the southern Rockies, has joined the Global Sustainability Ski Alliance (GSSA). The news originally came in March 2026 when Taos became the first North American ski area to join the alliance. The majority of alliance members are European and Southern Hemisphere resorts such as NZSki (New Zealand), KitzSki (Austria), […] Industry News Joseph Kaufmann | July 13, 2026 0 Comments
Emirates Rotana Hotel Group Announces First Ski Resort Acquisition in Georgia Rotana, the Emirates-based global hospitality group, has just acquired its first ski resort. The resort is located in Gudauri, high in the Greater Caucasus Mountains in the country of Georgia. Gudauri is already one of the region’s leading and most well-established ski areas. The acquisition comes as an addition to Rotana’s ever-expanding portfolio. The hospitality group already owns a diverse […] Industry News Joseph Kaufmann | July 8, 2026 0 Comments
The Legend of Tomba, the Mountain Climbing Cat Many animals are known for their time spent in the mountains, from mountain goats to Bernese mountain dogs. Even the elusive snow leopard comes to mind when thinking of mountain-loving mammals. Most would be surprised to know a much smaller, friendlier type of feline once loved to spend time high above the clouds. Meet Tomba, the mountain climbing cat. Tomba […] Climbing Joseph Kaufmann | July 4, 2026 0 Comments
Beartooth Highway, WY/MT, Closes Due to Inclement Weather The Beartooth Highway, the famous scenic byway in Montana and Wyoming, is closed due to a severe weather forecast. The highway was expected to receive up to three inches of snow within 24 hours, according to the Wyoming Department of Transport (WYDOT). The report also indicated that wind gusts could be up to 55 mph, posing a significant threat to […] Weather Joseph Kaufmann | June 29, 2026 0 Comments
After 30 Years on Everest, “Green Boots” Is Finally Identified and Coming Home After 30 years, the remains of a deceased Everest climber known only as “Green Boots” will be recovered from the world’s tallest peak. At the same time, the identity of “Green Boots” was confirmed through DNA testing as Lance Naik Dorje Morup, an Indian climber who perished during the catastrophic 1996 Everest storm. The revelation comes after it was announced […] Climbing Joseph Kaufmann | June 25, 2026 0 Comments
Afriski in Southern Africa Has Opened for the 2026 Winter Season Afriski, located in the landlocked African nation of Lesotho, has officially opened for the 2026 winter season. Afriski is one of only two ski resorts located in sub-Saharan Africa, along with Tiffindell Ski Resort in South Africa. Sadly, Tiffindell has been closed for several seasons now, making Afriski the only operating resort. While many would not associate Africa with ski […] Industry News Joseph Kaufmann | June 16, 2026 0 Comments
Nepali Guide Survives 6 Days Alone in Everest’s Death Zone, Then Crawls Out Alive Going missing high on Mount Everest is usually a death sentence. However, Nepali mountain guide Dawa “Hillary” Sherpa defied the odds, surviving six days alone in the Death Zone after disappearing during a summit descent. Presumed dead and mourned by his family, Sherpa was eventually found alive in the Khumbu Icefall, completing what may rank among the greatest survival stories in […] Climbing Joseph Kaufmann | June 9, 2026 0 Comments
Nepal Issues a Record Breaking 492 Everest Permits In 2026 Despite New Rules to Reduce Traffic Climbers have long flocked to Nepal for its unrivaled mountaineering opportunities. Mount Everest (Sagarmatha in Nepali), the highest mountain in the world, draws more climbers than any other peak in the region. Though the Nepali government has announced plans to limit the number of climbers on the mountain, it has issued a record-breaking 492 climbing permits for the 2026 season. […] Climbing Joseph Kaufmann | May 18, 2026 1 Comment
Did You Know the Andes, the Backbone of South America, Extend All the Way to Antarctica? You likely know the Andes as the backbone of South America and the longest mountain chain on Earth. But did you know this massive range actually continues all the way into Antarctica? Before we dive into its path across the world’s most remote continent, let’s look at some of the most fascinating facts about this legendary range. The Andes are […] Brains Joseph Kaufmann | May 14, 2026 0 Comments
Lee Canyon, NV, Near Las Vegas Opens Bike Park Historically Early Lee Canyon, Nevada, a year-round recreation area near the Las Vegas Metro area, has opened its bike park for the 2026 summer season. Due to historically low snowfall totals in the western United States, the recreation area has been forced to pivot from snow sports to summer operations earlier than ever before. The mountain bike park opened last weekend, starting […] Biking Joseph Kaufmann | May 8, 2026 0 Comments
Tignes, France, Report: The Late Season Star — Packed Powder, No Crowds, 8PM Sunsets Report from Friday to Saturday, April 3–4, 2026 There are certain April ski days when expectations are tempered, the snow is soft, spring conditions prevail, and maybe a few lifts have closed. And then there are days like we just had in Tignes. Over two days, we found packed powder, bluebird skies, and one of the most complete ski experiences […] Conditions Report Brett Ploss | April 13, 2026 0 Comments
Les Deux Alpes, France, Report: Endless Vertical, Glacier Powder, and a Mountain That Just Keeps Going Report from Monday, March 23, 2026 Some mountains reveal themselves all at once. Others take a run or two. And then there’s Les Deux Alpes, a place that keeps unfolding lap after lap, zone after zone, until you realize you’ve spent the entire day chasing terrain that never really ends. We honestly didn’t expect it to feel this big. Straight From […] Conditions Report Brett Ploss | March 26, 2026 0 Comments
Hometown Mountain Shoutout: The Magic of Park City, UT Growing up in Annapolis, Maryland, I didn’t get to ski much, except for one week every year when my mom, dad, sister, and I ventured to Park City, Utah. I distinctly remember the 4 a.m. wake-ups for our flight to one of my favorite places. I could never sleep the night before. Driving from Salt Lake City to Park City, […] Sophie Jacobs | March 24, 2026 0 Comments
Alaska, A Place Known for Massive Snow Totals, Records Snowiest January in Recorded History Alaska, America’s most northern state, is no stranger to snow. In fact, the state records more snow totals than any other state by a large margin. By those standards, it would take a massive amount of snow to cause any disruption in a place known for the fluffy white stuff. Unfortunately (or fortunately for ski and snowboard enthusiast) for residents […] Weather Joseph Kaufmann | February 11, 2026 0 Comments
Lech, Austria, Conditions Report: Fresh Snow and Empty Slopes Report From January 29, 2026 Lech-Zürs delivered exactly what Ski Arlberg is known to have: fresh snow, quiet slopes, world-class grooming, and some of the best lift-accessed off-piste skiing in Austria. After an overnight refresh and steady snowfall through the morning, Lech skied deep, soft, and surprisingly uncrowded, especially considering its reputation as one of Europe’s most refined ski towns. […] Conditions Report Brett Ploss | February 3, 2026 0 Comments
Skiing the Entire Skicircus Saalbach in 3 Days: How We Did This Austrian Adventure Report From January 26–28, 2026 There are ski trips, and there are ski missions. Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn, collectively known as the Skicircus, is one of Austria’s largest interconnected ski regions. Over 270 kilometers of pistes, four towns, multiple valleys, and enough gondolas to keep even the most seasoned skier checking the trail map twice. Many visitors spend a week here […] Conditions Report Brett Ploss | January 28, 2026 0 Comments
Matterhorn Paradise, Switzerland/Italy, Report: Crossing Countries on Skis—A Full Day Linking Zermatt and Cervinia Report from January 20 There are ski days that feel productive. Then there are ski days that feel like you’ve unlocked a cheat code to the Alps. January 20 at Matterhorn Paradise, which spreads between Zermatt, Switzerland, and Breuil-Cervinia, Italy, was firmly the latter. We began the morning first thing, stepping out of our hotel into crisp alpine air and […] Conditions Report Brett Ploss | January 21, 2026 0 Comments
Inside the Culture, Scale, and Operations of North America’s Biggest Resort with Whistler Blackcomb COO Belinda Trembath High above Whistler Village, Whistler Blackcomb COO Belinda Trembath, spent part of her workday the same way she does when time allows during the winter: on skis, moving through lift lines, greeting employees by name, and solving problems in real time. Known simply as “BT” to just about everyone on the mountain, from frontline staff to long-time locals and first-time guests, […] Conditions Report Brett Ploss | January 13, 2026 0 Comments
Mt. Ashland, OR, Pauses Ski Operations Indefinitely Due to Not Having Enough Snow Mount Ashland, Oregon, has recently announced via Facebook they are pausing ski operations indefinitely as of December 31, 2025. Mt Ashland, located in South Central Oregon, is a owned and operated by the non-profit Mt. Ashland Association and was founded in 1964. Located in a subalpine climate, yearly rainfall averages over 60 inches, while snowfall averages 223 inches. The high […] Weather Joseph Kaufmann | January 6, 2026 1 Comment
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