Yes. It is true. It is not just the Bavarian town of Leavenworth that makes the North Cascades feel like the Alps; these mountains are seriously immense and engrossing. I went to North Cascades Heli to check it out.

Longtime Mt Baker local Rene Crawshaw was an integral part of pulling of the seemingly insurmountable course build and maintenance at Cypress Bowl during the Olympics. But they did it--and here's his story.

Whistler, BC – Although the Games have officially been over for almost a week, I am just coming down off it all now and all of Canada is still trying to figure out what to do with their recent national upwelling: An international All-Star hockey team vs. Canada? A 100-foot high statue of Ann Murray in Nova Scotia? A military invasion of Orcas Island? It’s hard to say. I am simply glad I had the opportunity to enjoy the festivities…

Whistler Olympic Park -- so twelve years after standing in the rain in Nagano watching snowboarding's inagural event, I find myself back in the inclemency watching the men's 4 x 7.5 KM biatlon relay, the final event for biathlon of these games. With a bit of research and native intuition I had decided that I wanted to dive into the deepest weirdnesses the Games had to offer. I figured I'd see marquee events ad infinitum on CTV (and nominally on NBC), but it was the truly hardcore Scando-Germanic-Slavic fans in facepaint and cowbells the size of basketballs rooting for things no one in North America has a clue about I wanted to check out. Nordic combined looked good; a cross-country race and jumping off the big hill on the same day; 4-man bobsled, where sprinters from the Carribean are pitted against brakemen and drivers from Bavaria, and team nordic jumping all fit this bill. But there something compelling about biathlon...

If you are on the fence, but have a chance to attend the Winter Olympics, go. Despite parades of people, ridiculously expensive paraphernalia, and guaranteed cover charges at every bar, the games warrant enthusiastic nationalism and just another reason to go ski Whistler.   

Jackson hole, Wyoming (February 25, 2010) - Imagine a contest based around sliding a beer down a table with the object being to drink as many beers in the shortest amount of time possible.

With Olympic mayhem going full throttle in the Pacific Northwest, I decided to avoid the media frenzy and search for snow. So, I arrived in Jackson Hole today to blue skies--a quick hike to Four Pines confirmed my decision and revealed the goods. Powder Magazine just so happens to be in town for the Powder Week and annual ski test. I'm looking forward to exploring Jackson Hole, rapping with fellow media and testing out next year's product. Sounds rough I know...stay tuned for the next transmission from Jackson.