Almost better than spending the day in Dublin, Lynsey Dyer, Zack Giffin, Grant Gunderson, and I had our cups full of Irish blessings and authenticity this St. Patrick’s day. After two days of flying around with North Cascades Heli, we ventured over to Don Fitzpatrick’s house; a Mazama resident and ambassador of Irish culture. In addition to checking out Fitzpatrick’s fine Irish pub in the basement of his house, we spent the evening with our pilot and favorite Irishman, Seamus O’Daimhin.

By now, most skiers have heard about the slide in Revelstoke and the danger that has been present for some time in the Selkirks and Monashees. One of the seven females certified through the AMGA, ski mountaineering guide Anne Keller gives a wrap-up of the layers and dangers out there, since she has spent the last month in Revelstoke.  

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.

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.   

Just two weekends ago at Big Sky, friends and supporters of the Billy Poole Memorial Fund got together to remember Billy Poole and teach Montana youth about skiing and enjoying the outdoors.

People will stand at the top of Chair Eight at Mt. Baker to watch this guy ski lines off the Shuksan Arm. Arriving from Gold Hill, Colorado, Zack Giffin and his brothers showed up in Washington seven years ago, not to become local celebrities, but to ski a place that gets more snow than anywhere in North America. After working in the park and patrolling, Zack now spends most of his time shooting with local photographer, Grant Gunderson, or skiing the resort’s extensive sidecountry. We caught up with him in between trips to Mt. Shasta and Nelson, after a day of schralping the holy ground.     

Born and raised in Norway, Karine Falk-Pederson spent her college years racing for the Denver Ski Team. Last season she initiated her big-mountain competition career, placing fifth place overall by the end of the season. Filming with Warren Miller and competing keeps her traveling all winter, only spending a few weeks back in Norway each season. Luckily, she just started using a helmet cam, so everyone at home can live vicariously through her videos. Read on to hear about where she has been, where she wants to go, and what she always takes with her when traveling.