Outdoor athlete skis and climbs 2 million vertical feet in one year

by Kraig Becker on

Outdoor athlete Greg Hill finished off a vary busy 2010 last Thursday by completing his quest to climb and ski 2 million vertical feet in a single calendar year. The final run came on the slopes of Revelstoke Mountain, located in British Columbia, Canada, not far from where Hill calls home, while a group of friends and family looked on.

Hill’s grand ski adventure got underway on January 1st of last year when he started his quest to hit the magical 2 million feet mark. That quest would take him all over the world as he scrambled to ski as many days as possible over the course of a 365 day period. In order to reach his lofty goal, Hill would need to ski, and climb, an average of roughly 5480 feet each and every day of the year.

It turns out he actually hit the slopes about 270 days of the year instead, which is a big increase from his previous high of 145 days in a single year. Over those 270 days, he averaged about 7400 feet of climbing and skiing in all kinds of weather including howling winds and blowing snow

. His biggest day on the slopes was a 12-hour marathon that saw him cover 23,000 feet both up and down. Hill also made 8 first descents, which in skiing vernacular means he became the first person to ski down a mountain face. Along the way, He also summited 71 different mountains, which is an impressive number in and of itself.

It is difficult to put into perspective exactly what Hill accomplished in his year-long adventure. It takes a tremendous amount of dedication and stamina to climb and ski 2 million feet in such a relatively short time, but it requires a bit of luck as well. One wrong turn on the skis or a slip and a fall while climbing, and the entire thing could have been over. Still, none of that happened, and Hill stayed healthy and focused throughout the year, even when it looked like he was falling well off the pace. In the end, he not only reached his goal, but he did it with one day to spare.

Just in time to enjoy the arrival of a new year and some much deserved rest. Knowing Greg, he probably went skiing instead.

[Photo credit: Tommy Chandler/Backcountry.com]

14 skiers get lost in ten days at Washington ski resort

by Kraig Becker on

Winter is finally officially upon us, and the ski season is in full swing at last. Many of the country’s top resorts have been opening over the past month, and they’re all dealing with the usual hiccups of launching a new season, including handling crowds on the lifts, making sure all of their equipment is running efficiently, and watching the skies for snow. But one resort in Washington has had to deal with a completely different issue, with 14 skiers getting lost out of bounds in just the first ten days of operations.

On Saturday, December 4th, Washington state’s White Pass Ski Resort opened for the season, unveiling a highly anticipated expansion to their property known as Paradise Basin. The new expansion doubled the size of the resort and delivered new lifts, a day lodge, and a slew of new runs as well. But what the management team didn’t anticipate was the number of lost skiers the new area would generate.

While most of the 14 skiers who became lost have managed to find their way back on property without calling in the ski patrol. For instance, one group of six snowboarders went the wrong direction, and ended up having to hike more than seven miles just to get out of the surrounding wilderness, but they did eventually find their way home. Three of the lost skiers did have to be rescued however, which set them back $500 each to cover the expenses.

According to White Pass manager Kevin McCarthy, it hasn’t been the younger, more reckless skiers and snowboarders who have been the biggest problem. Instead, it has been the 40 and 50 year olds who wander too far out of bounds, resulting in three to four hour searches to find them. In the case of one person, even the rescue squads were reluctant to go in to find him because of the high risk of avalanches in the area that he wandered into.

White Pass officials say that signs and ropes are used to clearly distinguish where the resort begins and ends, but in the case of most of these lost skiers, they are simply ducking under those ropes or ignoring the signs altogether. Once they are out of bounds, the endless snow slopes and dense trees can make it difficult to get your bearings, which leads to confusion and disorientation. This has often been the case with these lost skiers.

Fortunately, so far no one has been seriously injured or has died, but 14 lost skiers in such a short time span is a cause for concern. Perhaps they should start tagging every skier with a GPS tracking device as soon as they arrive. It sure would make them easier to find. One thing is for sure, the ski patrol is earning its wages so far this season.

Keystone offers a better alternative to holiday shopping

by Tom Johansmeyer on

The best travel deals don’t happen on Black Friday. Instead of rushing out to the nearest big box store to do battle with the other crazy shoppers, pull the trigger by November 20, and get a trip to Keystone, Colorado. Book your stay for between December 19 and 26, and you could score rates as low as $101 a night — 50 percent off the usual rate! The deal works at Keystone Lodge & Spa and the Inn at Keystone, not to mention the condos at Lakeside, Evergreen, Soda Ridge and Aspen Ridge (from studios to two-bedroom suites).

This is a sweetheart deal. For skiers, booking a room for Christmas week by November 20 is a no-brainer, and non-skiers can have a blast, too. Ice skating, dining and shopping are available, and the complimentary Adventure Passport provides free and discounted access to plenty of activities on and off the slopes.

Eat, drink and ski happy in Salt Lake this winter

by Tom Johansmeyer on

What’s the happiest place on Earth? Well, Disney claims that title, but here’s the problem: Utah does, too. If they were in different countries, no conflict would exist, but since they do, we have to sort this out.

A Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index recently released ranks Utah highest among all states in happiness. And, if that’s not enough, Men’s Fitness magazine ranked Salt Lake City fittest in America. So, the endorphins are firing, and Utah is thrilled. Want to get a little taste of this happiness?

The Gold Medial Podium Package celebrates Salt Lake’s Olympic legacy. Skiers and snowboarders can hit the slopes while taking advantage of some great deals. Book a four-night vacation by December 15, 2009 — including a Ski Salt Lake Super Pass — at any of the 22 participating hotels, and your fourth day on the slopes and your fourth night in the hotel are free.

Alternatives to skiing: spa, anyone?

by Tom Johansmeyer on

In the interests of disclosure and transparency, I don’t ski. I did a little bit of snowboarding 15 years ago, but it didn’t amount to much. So, when I write about the ski deals that come across my desk, it’s not lost on me that some people don’t hit the slopes. The latest package from The Lodge at Vail, a RockResort, has something for those of us who don’t stumble down the mountain. The “Spa, Savor & Snowshoe” deal is for everyone else. Guests can work up some hunger while snowshoeing, get those taxed muscles rubbed down at the spa and tie off the day with a three-course dinner at the Wildflower restaurant.

At $423 a night, the savings is around 25 percent, but you need to book a three-night stay. You’ll get a $300 spa credit, half-day guided snowshoe tour and daily breakfast for two (along with the dinner at Wildflower).

It looks like you don’t need to be a skier to enjoy winter in Colorado!