Whitewater, Nelson, B.C.
These are not really ski trips; they’re pilgrimages. Being present in any of these places at some point in your life, and arcing turns down a local mountain are experiences that have no price tag. If you love mountains, specifically getting to the tops of them and sliding down on snow, here are seven places you must visit and ski in your lifetime.
1. Alaska
Claim To Fame: The best snow covering the best terrain on the planet. When all the ingredients combine in just the right way-snow quality, stability, weather-there is nowhere you’ll find better turns, period.
Best Places To Go: Cordova, Valdez, Haines, Alaska Range, The Wrangles, Juneau, Turnagin Pass
How To Get There: The easiest way is to fly into Anchorage, and then depending on where you’re going, hop on an interconnect flight, rent a car, or jump on a ferry. You can also take a ferry up from Washington State or B.C., or take the path less traveled and do the drive from the lower 48 (highly recommended).
Dirt Bagging It: Get yourself to Valdez, pull into Thompson Pass, and post up. I haven’t been in some years, but ABA used to do heli drops for under $100 a run, and there’s world class backcountry skiing and snowmobiling right out your “door”.
High End: Get eight of your best friends together, give Points North Heli-Adventures a call, and revel in your access to 2,000 square miles of terrain via your own private A-Star B2 Helicopter.
Food/Drink: You can’t come home from a trip to AK without having enjoyed some freshly caught Wild Halibut or Copper River Salmon.
Personal Choice: Cordova. Having spent time skiing throughout the state, with a host of different operators, with a host of different objectives, there is no operation that has a better balance of professionalism, humility, and dedication to make your trip the most memorable of your life than Points North Heli-Adventures.
Rappelling into Couloir Poubelle, Les Grands Montets, Chamonix, France
2. The Alps (Western Europe)
Claim To Fame: Mountain culture, the access, and the attitude. The fact that the roots of ski mountaineering lie directly in the heart of the Alps is profound. In this part of the world it’s the users responsibility to be accountable for where they choose to go and what they get into-even if they used a lift to get there.
Best Places To Go: France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria
How To Get There: An easy way to throw yourself in the middle is to fly into Geneva, Switzerland. From there a rental car, train, or bus can zip you away to literally hundreds of the most famous ski resorts in the world. What’s cool is the random mountain village you stop at on your way, and have never heard of, might be the most memorable visit of your whole trip.
Dirt Bagging It: Pick your destination and find the cheapest hostel in town. Find some bread and cheese, get your hike on in the a.m., and clip tickets in the afternoon.
High End: Throw down exorbitant cash for everything you can imagine from dinning to lodging and lift tickets in St. Moritz, Switzerland.
Food/Drink: There is no substitute for a French boulangerie.
Personal Choice: Chamonix. While I hold a special place for the traditional setting and raw skiing of La Grave, Chamonix is to the ski mountaineer what Alaska is to the modern day freerider. There is no doubt about it, as much as it’s been popularized in recent years, Chamonix is classic, and it’s a must visit.
3. Antarctica
Claim To Fame: The bottom of the earth, the seventh continent is the toughest one to access, but provides arguably the biggest reward once you get there. The wilderness experience of traveling and skiing in Antarctica is unmatched by any ski trip in the world.
Best Places To Go: Anywhere you see and set foot on, with skis, will be some of the most memorable turns you’ll ever make. However, if possible, there’s a reason the Lemaire Channel is known as “Kodak Alley”. It’s almost hard to ski in this area due to the sheer brilliance of your surroundings.
How To Get There: In years past this would have been the crux of a trip to Antarctica. While it’s technically still not easy to get to, all you really need to do is get a hold of Doug Stoup who runs Ice Axe Expeditions and you’ll be on your way.
Dirt Bagging It: The best advice I have is hearsay from travelers I met while trying to plot my own path for getting to the frozen continent. Apparently, you need to find yourself in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, at the tip of Argentina. Most Antarctic trips start from there and as legend goes, if you find a welcoming cruise ship heading across the infamous Drake Passage, often times they need an extra hand or two performing various cruise ship duties en route. Your reward will be a ticket to Antarctica, and all you need to figure out from there is how to get them to let you go for a ski.
High End: Every Ice Axe trip is designed to be five stars in every possible way. The accommodation, food, people, and staff on our Antarctic trip in 2009 was almost as good as the wildlife, scenery, and skiing. There’s really just no other way to do it.
Food/Drink: Nothing beats a glass of quality scotch chilled by a chuck of glacial Antarctic ice.
Personal Choice: Ice Axe Expeditions. Since I’ve only had one experience down there, and I’m pretty certain I can say with almost absolute certainty that just about every member of the 2009 Ice Axe trip to Antarctica feels the same way, Ice Axe is your ticket to Antarctica. Every single penny you spend will pay itself back in experience 100 fold by the time you return.
Mellow Skiing in the Himalaya, Kullu Valley, India
4. The Himalaya
Claim To Fame: The diversity in cultures, the diversity in landscapes, and the plain fact that this mountain range holds the highest peaks known to humans. If you’re a snowrider, enjoy travelling, and love the mountains, linking turns somewhere in the Himalaya is a right of passage.
Best Places To Go: India, Bhutan, Nepal, Tibet, Pakistan (anywhere in the range)
How To Get There: Each region framed by the Himalaya is unique, and likewise getting to where you are going can be the biggest adventure of your whole trip. Detailed research on where you plan to go is a must with any trip to the highest mountain range on earth. Minimally, to get there you’re going to need to book a flight, and then figure out how to reach your final destination whether by bus, private car, or another flight.
Dirt Bagging It: The Kullu Valley has remained off the radar from most major international ski outlets and I can’t understand why. Also know as “The Valley of The Gods” here you’ll find some of the more adventurous, unexplored, mind-blowing ski mountaineering imaginable, and you can do it relatively cheap. Fly to Delhi, survive the bus ride to Manali, and live richly for as long as you want with affordable lodging and food, with 20,000-foot peaks and the Great Himalaya making up your backdrop.
High End: Go for the big one and sign up for an expedition to Mt. Everest. Skiing might be another story, but if you have enough cash, I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to do whatever you want.
Food/Drink: In India, there’s nothing like a traditional curry dish paired with some authentic chai tea.
Personal Choice: The Kullu Valley. People have been ticking off descents in the region for some time now, but there is enough big, rowdy, unskied lines in this zone to keep you busy for several lifetimes. However, on the lower flanks, there are opportunities to ski reasonably mellow chutes, bowl, and ramps with a backdrop unlike any other mountain range in the world.
One of Many Gems in the High Sierra, the North Couloir of Red Slate Mountain
5. The American West
Claim To Fame: The diverse mountain ranges, ski culture, and snow consistency make the American West one of the most classic regions to live and visit in the world.
Best Places To Go: The Cascades, Sierra Nevada, The Rocky Mountains
How To Get There: Like a lot of these places it all depends on where you want to go. There are a few centers that must be hit like Lake Tahoe, Jackson Hole, and the Wasatch, but places like Mt. Baker, Bridger Bowl, and the San Juan’s shouldn’t be overlooked either. Either pick one and commit, or do it up right, rent a worthy vehicle, and road trip while chasing an epic storm.
Dirt Bagging It: For the most salient experience commit to one season at the locale that speaks to you the most. Figure out how to make ends meet as simply as possible (work, rent, transportation, gear, ski pass, relationships) and ski as much as you can. After a taste of living the dream you’ll either head out of town for the money like most, or revel in the high quality of life you’ve found, make it work, and never look back.
High End: As long as you have the cash spending it in any one of the major ski centers of the American West is no trouble at all. Lift tickets, high end restaurants, luxury lodging, top of the line equipment, private jet transportation between regions-if you can think it, someone out there will make it happen for the right price.
Food/Drink: It’s tough to beat a powder day followed by some locally brewed beer, sushi, and a hot tub session.
Personal Choice: The Sierra Nevada. The people, snowpack, snow quality, length in season, unequivocal beauty of Lake Tahoe and the grandeur of the Eastern Sierra is something that elevates the “Range of Light” above the rest. Every time I leave to travel, I come home with a sincere awe and thanks that this is my backyard, and that the skiing really is THAT GOOD.
Whitewater, Nelson, B.C.
Photo Credit: panoramio
6. Western Canada
Claim To Fame: Cold smoke, classic mountain characters, and infinite opportunities to log some of the best vertical of your life.
Best Places To Go: Whistler-Blackcomb, Pemberton, Red Mountain, Nelson, Fernie, Revelstoke, Roger’s Pass, Golden, Banff/Jasper
How To Get There: If you’re not driving, fly into Vancouver for easy access to the Coast Range to the west, or Calgary for reasonable access to the interior.
Dirt Bagging It: The hostel at Whistler is cozy and some of the cheaper digs you’ll find in the area, but then you’ll miss out on the magic of the interior. For a trip to the interior an RV or something similar that you can travel in, and live out of is highly recommended.
High End: There are more heli-ski and cat-skiing operations in Western Canada than anywhere else in the world. If you want to drop some money really fast with style, this is the best way to do it.
Food/Drink: If you like good beer, try something else when you’re in Canada. If you like cold, watery beer, which always has its time and place, you’ll be stoked to crack a few after a long day out in the snow.
Personal Choice: This is a really tough call as there are easily several places that are the definition of world class and why Western Canada is a must on this list. However, a purer Canadian experience than Nelson is tough to find.
7. Chile/Argentina
Claim To Fame: The best available snow in the Southern Hemisphere identified by one of the most magnificent mountain ranges in the world, the Andes.
Best Places To Go: Portillo, Las Lenas, Bariloche
How To Get There: Fly into Santiago, Chile or Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Dirt Bagging It: Once you make it there the buses are pretty cheap, reliable, and comfortable. They’re a good way to see both countries and visit a bunch of places. I didn’t get hassled once for skinning up any resort, and it’s never too hard to play the clipping a ticket card in the afternoon if you want to access lifts and don’t have much cash. Just remember to practice some Spanish first.
High End: Go big with the higher end accommodations and options available in Portillo. They cater to this sort of thing. You can definitely have your share of massages, gourmet meals, and entertainment with a side of skiing if you so choose.
Food/Drink: Argentinian beef is famous, as are the pisco sours in Chile. Take caution on the piscos, they really pack a punch!
Personal Choice: Las Lenas. Skiing the Super C Couloir, with help from a lift (a shady ride that’s worth the experience), with Cerro Aconcagua (the highest peak outside of the Himalaya) behind you while hiking up is worth the trip to Portillo and Chile for sure. However, with the Marte lift running, and the accessible backcountry that comes with it, Las Lenas is unbeatable.
what about eastern canada? Blue mountain, ontario rocks my world. Great hill
hahahahaha! i grew up riding blue, lets just say i grew out of it
yah right more like colorado and utah in the u.s.
powder’s for pussies
im with this guy i only ski rails….
Yeah that’s because you “heartsquaw” so you never really get anything but sierra cement…
I am what I eat
you never ski powder obviously. you suck
If you take away the clear over love for the Sierra, and tell me where the hell the Kullu Valley is, I’d actually give this list an A
Yo Jaded– I got your ‘over love’ right here, bro…. you need some stuiterballen, yeah? http://www.vkmag.com/magazine/stuiterballen/
Ciao, Robohip (they let me out of the asylum…ah yes my little frotteur, free at last, free at last, great oogoly moogoly, we be free at last). Later….
so wait…your 7 must do trips are actually 7 one month epic journeys?
They can be, but they can also be accessed in way less time . A weekend hit to Tahoe for a huge storm, a week in Cordova, a couple weeks in India, etc.
Nice post Brennan. Chile and Argentina for sure. Next time check out Chillan and the volcanoes just south. Hot springs, thermal rivers, amazing touring and no crowds.
Made it to Termas and Pucon for a day each on one trip. Would love to go back for some real volcano skiing though. Maybe next summer?
termas is pretty incredible, went there young, need to go back and re experience
Who in the hell put Eastern Canada in the comment section? Is that some kind of sick joke, or are you just retarded? Eastern Canada would make the list for the lamest places that hold snow, along with Maine, Vermont, and New York. God I hated traveling back there to “ski” race.
You’re right. Never go to Jay Peak. I’ll ski all 350+ inches of snow, no need to share my powder with you.
Have you ever been to the Chic Chocs? Sickest terrain available this side of the prairies. And when winter isn’t being all weird, they get the most snow in the east. What they lack in vertical drop, they definitely make up for in terrain choices and scenery. Check out les Mines Madeleines.
OK, your personal choice is just that but I’d take Golden, Revy or Whistler over Nelson.
Then you’re a chump.
Nice list. Can’t really go wrong with any of those places. As far as Southern Hemisphere skiing goes the Andes are special but skiing at the clubbies in NZ (Cragieburn is my pick) was an experience unique unto itself.
Agreed. The first time I tried to ski off a nutcracker rope tow was a great gaper scene for sure, and that’s for surely a unique Kiwi experience every skier/rider should have.
Top 10′s a better number than 7. Add Japan, Iceland and Russia
Yeah, like I posted below I can’t believe Japan is not on this list although all the destinations are great – top 10 would be better
You Missed Ski Arpa in Los Andes, Chile. Amazing skiing 1 hournfrom Santiago, Chile
Great article. For sure in support of the high rankings for Alaska (ABA is still the dirtbag and fun way to go) and interior B.C. If you can scrape a few bucks together for sure do a cat trip in B.C. it is as close to guaranteed pow as you are going to find this side of the pacific and the terrain is awesome.
Watch out for the Scooby Snacks in Nelson, they will leave you convinced that you saw Sasquatch as you were ripping through the trees!
New Zealand?
The best skiing destinations are half of the world’s skiing. Woohoo. Way to narrow it down.
How is Japan not on this list? smh
Japan totally sucks, Gaijin should totally avoid it. Snow is too deep and the food is too dericious…
I know right? All that snow, culture and great food. And onsens are the worst after a long day
If there was a #8 Japan would be it, no doubt. Russia could be top 10, not sure about Iceland when compared to Norway…but the fact is, the list is 7, and even with 10, it’s gotta get cut off somewhere, and since all lists are 10, 7 felt like the most appropriate fit for this list.
It would also be easy to make this a 7 continent piece and just add New Zealand and Morocco, although the “Mountains of the Moon” sound like the real-deal zone for Africa (if you can time it right).
Arpa wouldn’t make my top 20. Short runs broken into pieces. Cat holds too many people so groups too big and range of abilities too wide, hence waiting after each piece of a run. Frustratingly little vert for the amount of time there. Death defying drive to get there. If I’m gonna die in the back country, I want it to be on skis, not in a truck. Nice views of Aconcagua but the quality of the skiing is unremarkable compared with the places on the list. As a pal in BC once told me, if you can afford a heli and/or are strong enough to skin/hike, there’s little need for cat skiing. I tend to agree.
I really need to to get more into the Western Canada thing. Every year my favorite movie segments come from there.
The Coast Range is the shit, and I know you want pillows, but man, the interior to me (Nelson, Golden, etc.) is the purely Canadian character that makes the greater region stand out as unique to others.
japan? what about japan? the powder there is unbeatable
That was a stupid post, basically covered the whole world
That was the best post, and yeah, he said “in the world” and that list is the shit…but maybe make it 8 and add Japan. Where else in the world counts? Those are it. No one else has brought shit besides Japan to add and it would still be under the andes. LOL at making it 10 cause “every list is ten”. Get outa the box gapers.
A little heli @ selkirk-tangiers + trees & hiking the back bowl of revy is a hard-to-beat combo in BC. town is funky too, good eats. drive there sucks, which keeps attendance low.
hey cedar. grow up mofo. LOL
San Juan’s what?
I strongly agree with this article. This Ski trip destinations are really among the world’s best. Two thumbs up
The alps #2? Gimme a break! Yes the alps may have some killer terrain, but the snowfall is no longer comparable to anywhere in the west of the U.S. or Canada for that matter. I think the Rockies need to be #2 on this list simply for pow days sake. I was in the Alps last winter and it seriously sucked. from Jan to march it snowed maybe 7 or 8 times, and amongst those maybe 3 dropped more than 30 cms of snow. And btw where is Norway on this list…? They were pounded last winter all of march and the first half of April…
some norway info would be killer! # 2 on my list…..
oh really the we should travel to all the major snowy mountainous areas? who woulda thought…
A disclaimer, I originally wrote this over 2 years ago. Someone reposted it without letting me know…no worries, I stand by the piece, but if I wrote it today there is absolutely no way I would leave Japan off this subjective list. ^and yes tbone, you should.
Did an American just call Canadian beer watery?
Couldn’t quite believe that either. Never mind, I’ll drink all the Faceplant myself. Fuck ‘em.
Love that people are still clippin tickets! Can you believe people actually frown upon this masterful trait? I always carry a pair of parrot nose pliers just in case!
Whenever you wrote this, it’s a very complete and well written list. Lists are always subjective, but this one is damn good and well described, in my opinion. Good post. I hope I can get to more of them. Life is long, so we all have plenty of time and where there’s a will, there’s a way…
Pff, the list should be narrowed to 1…….Squaw Valley USA.
Wow, I’m guessing when you were in Western Canada, that you didnt try any of the ACTUAL beer, such as Face Plant, organicly made in Nelson by Nelson, Brewing Company, tsk tsk tsk
Stoked to be reading this list while waiting to board a flight to Geneva and straight to cham, right after a sick roadtrip through the Rockies to interior bc and bamff and returning to a home hopeful storm cycle in the sierras! Whoever was talking shit on the alps has never gotten it good and has no class. Its the best wholistic mountain experience on the planet! One of these days I will call it home
Agree with article on ranking Alaska #1, except Valdez is better than Cordova from a weather and access to the zone point of view. Disagree big time with author on Points North.
Nice list, but I would replace tahoe with
Shasta without a doubt.
I think there are only two areas worth mentioning as the “best destinations”. Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere.