Why is That Tree Covered in Bras and Beads at the Ski Area? Every ski resort seems to have that one tree covered in bras, beads, boots, panties, and whatever people choose to toss on it. Many refer to it as the “panty tree.” There have been conflicting reports that debate when, where, and why panty trees came to be, so today, we must try to piece together the puzzle. Our earliest theory […] Brains Luke Guilford | February 3, 2026 6 Comments
Mt Baldy: A Timeless Ski Escape in Southern California Bumping up and down in the backseat of Dad’s green convertible Jaguar, the potholes of Mt Baldy’s parking lot bring excitement for a day of skiing ahead. That backseat was once a battleground for “shotgun” against my brother. A battle I often won. The upgrade to the passenger seat led to today. More than 15 years later, I had to […] Miles Berman | March 26, 2025 0 Comments
The 9 Most Challenging Ski Resorts in North America Some people love the steep and deep. The challenge of big vertical, black diamonds, moguls, cliffs, and glades. For advanced skiers looking for something formidable, this list of the most challenging resorts is for you. #9 Palisades Tahoe, CA Palisades Tahoe is known for its legendary terrain. Deep powder, steep chutes, and big bowls give advanced skiers plenty of challenge. […] Brains Brent Glogau | March 14, 2025 3 Comments
What Separates a Double Black Diamond from a Black Diamond? In North America, the common metric for displaying terrain difficulty is by using a combination of colors and shapes. From easiest to most difficult the system goes green circle, blue square, black diamond, and double black diamond. Although there is a “common” method for trail rating, it’s important to note that there is no underlying organization that determines what each […] Brains Luke Guilford | March 5, 2025 3 Comments
Jones Pass, CO, Report: First Backcountry Day of The Season Report from Sunday, November 10, 2024 Snow has been accumulating in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, and the backcountry zones across the state are starting to fill in. An early November storm brought in about 18″ over the last few days, and I was itching to get out for my first backcountry tour of the season. Grabbing our splitboards, my buddy and I […] Backcountry Luke Guilford | November 16, 2024 0 Comments
Hometown Mountain Shoutout: Fear, Friends, and Freedom at Stevens Pass, WA In the North Cascades, Stevens Pass hides in the shadow of Washington State’s more distinguished resorts, Crystal Mountain and Mount Baker. Like any little brother, he is often overlooked entirely. However, Stevens still boasts an average of 460 inches of snowfall a year and an impressive, for a local mountain, 1,125 acres of skiable terrain. While the 13 lifts only […] Algird Zalpys | November 4, 2024 0 Comments
Jay Peak, VT, Report: Pushing Myself Over the Edge on the Face Chute Report from Sunday, February 25th, 2024 Out of all of the East Coast resorts, Jay Peak is the one where I end up most. It’s diverse and challenging terrain, from steep groomers off the Jet Triple to tight glades like Timbuktu and Beaver Pond to its extreme Face Chutes directly under the tram; whenever I show up to Jay, I […] Conditions Report Liam Abbott | February 28, 2024 1 Comment
Eldora, CO, Report: Weekend Warriors Arrive Report from January 21, 2024 The Resort Eldora is located about 45 minutes from Denver. On IKON boasting 1,400 vertical feet, 680 acres and 10 lifts, it’s a smaller hill for Colorado. But close to Denver and offers great terrain. Skiing We started the morning in Kremmling, CO, and made the drive to Winter Park for a few laps (and […] Conditions Report Brett Ploss | January 25, 2024 0 Comments
Alta Ski Area, UT, Planting Over 12,000 Native Plants This Summer Alta Ski Area, Utah, has always been a big advocate environmental conservation, but this summer, Alta Environmental Center is taking it to the next level by planting more than 12,000 native plants in- and around the ski area. Since 2008, Alta Environmental Center has been advising on and performing conservation efforts in Little Cottonwood Canyon, in an effort to preserve […] Industry News Tyler Hatch | July 14, 2023 0 Comments
The Top 9 Resorts for Tree Skiing in North America As you near the top of your chairlift ride, you undoubtedly start to think about what run you will go down. Do you want to rip a groomer? Find some untracked powder? Or maybe burn your quads on the moguls? But if you want an added challenge, perhaps it’s time for a tree run. Related: The 9 Best Independently Owned […] Brains Brent Glogau | March 6, 2023 7 Comments
Kelly Canyon, ID, Report: Fluffy Powder Through the Bowls, Trees, and Groomers Brought to you by Visit Idaho and Ski Idaho Report from Thursday, February 23, 2023 Snowboarding at Kelly Canyon today was the best possible way to cap off my road trip. The day was defined by mellow vibes, chill terrain, and DEEP snow. The resort operates on a unique schedule, so I didn’t show up until noon and still got the first chair […] Conditions Report Jesse | February 24, 2023 0 Comments
Grand Targhee, WY, Report: Best Tree Riding in the US? Brought to you by Visit Idaho and Ski Idaho Report from Wednesday, February 22, 2023 After today, I have snowboarded at over 25 resorts spanning across eight state lines; Grand Targhee easily just had the most fun tree runs I’ve ever been through. Targhee has over 2,500 acres of skiable terrain and averages around 500 inches (40+ feet!!) of annual snowfall. The quaint […] Conditions Report Jesse | February 23, 2023 0 Comments
Pebble Creek, ID: Presidents’ Day Powder, Trees, and Cliffs Brought to you by Visit Idaho and Ski Idaho Report from Monday, February 20, 2023 Snowboarding at Pebble Creek, Idaho, on Presidents’ Day was the most fun that I have had in a while. Despite the ski area only reporting a few inches of fresh snow overnight, it felt like much more than that. I cannot begin to explain how much this place […] Conditions Report Jesse | February 21, 2023 2 Comments
Staff and Volunteers Plant 1,400 Saplings at Monarch Mountain, CO, to Replace Beetle Kill Since 2018, Monarch Mountain, CO, has been working diligently to remove trees affected by the spruce beetle endemic. Each summer they have coordinated with timber professionals to harvest and remove these hazardous trees. These ongoing timber operations have involved both ground-based and helicopter removal tactics. This effort has helped to mitigate fire hazards, improve stream health and add acres of […] Industry News SnowBrains | August 4, 2022 1 Comment
Do You Know Where the Tallest Trees on Earth Grow? This story originally appeared on Nasa.gov and was published by Kathryn Hansen. Every now and then, a new map changes the way we view our planet. This is one of those maps. The map above shows the height of Earth’s forests, from stubby saplings to timbers towering more than 50 meters tall. It reveals some patterns you might expect, such […] Brains SnowBrains | May 24, 2022 1 Comment
Vermont is Home to the Best Glades and Steep Skiing Classics on the East Coast Brought to you by The Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing As a native New Englander, Vermont skiing has always been something special. Growing up, my dad and I would drive hours past our local resorts and head straight for Vermont. The trails were more challenging, the snow was deeper, and the trees seemed to grow the perfect distance apart. […] Featured Article Mike Lavery | January 19, 2022 6 Comments
Backcountry Myth Busters: Do Trees Increase Snowpack Stability? In the backcountry, avalanches are often skiers’ number one concern. It makes sense that we are always looking for ways to reduce risk and consequence in the backcountry. Can trees assist in decreasing avalanche risk? The answer: it’s complicated. Trees typically run vertically through the entire snowpack, and in doing so, they can hold the snowpack in place and prevent a […] Avalanche Clay Malott | April 22, 2021 5 Comments
Monarch Mountain, CO Report: Powder, Cliff Hucks, and Flips with a Bunch of Wild Men from New Mexico View this post on Instagram A post shared by Blake (@blake_films_stuff) Brought to you by Monarch Mountain Report from Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, March 26-28, 2021 The last time we were all together was for our favorite skier’s funeral. That was in September. We miss you, Alex Davis. We’ve all grown a lot since then, and we’re still sending […] Conditions Report Martin Kuprianowicz | March 30, 2021 1 Comment
Mono Winds Damage Dodge Ridge, CA On January 19, 2021, the Central Sierra was hit by strong northeast winds, commonly known as Mono Winds. Sustained winds in this unprecedented wind event averaged well over 100mph, with gusts estimated at 130-150mph. Wind damage was widespread on the Highway 108 corridor and in nearby Yosemite National Park. Hundreds of trees were uprooted and severely damaged infrastructure at Dodge […] Industry News Mike Bartholow | January 27, 2021 0 Comments
Ikon Pass Collaborates With American Forests to Plant 22,500 Trees Across North America Ikon Pass is joining forces with American Forests for Shred for Sustainability, a program that invites Ikon Pass holders to help create healthy and resilient forests throughout North America. Related: Amplify Your Adventure with the New Ikon Pass Mobile App for Winter 2019/20 Ikon Pass holders are encouraged to rack up their skier days at Ikon Pass destinations throughout winter […] Industry News SnowBrains | October 9, 2020 0 Comments
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