By Doug Workman, Valdez Heli Ski Guides

Some say anyone can ski in Alaska. They’re full of it. No, you don’t need to be a professional “athlete.” Nor do you need to hang it out daily on double-exposed near-death runs. But you do need to be a junkie. You know, the type that sits around drooling over ski photos in July. Or the geeked out freak sitting in front of his computer in May dreaming about snow, only a few weeks after a frustrating Valdez season in which there were more couch days than ski days.

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This is a video I made for Nau’s website, to accompany their Spring 2008 clothing line. Looks like they won’t be using it.

Bummer. They meant well. They really did.

NOTE: After clicking on the picture, you might want to hit the pause button on the player and let this video load completely before you view it, as I uploaded it at a higher bit rate to improve the resolution. If you have a crappy connection (DSL or slower) and just let this video play, it’s going to hiccup worse than your grandma after her 3rd shot of Jaegermeister.

The images from this video come from the webcam at Craighead Beringia South, and were compiled by Scotty Craighead, son of Beringia founder Derek Craighead. Beringia is carrying out numerous vital investigations into the greater Yellowstone ecosystem, and their website is definitely worth checking out. We are extremely grateful for the use of these 4,180 images, which allow us the unprecedented privilege of viewing the passage of an entire year in the Tetons.

Watching this video makes me miss summer, so I’ll be hastening its arrival by getting the hell out of Dodge. This town feels small, this room feels small, this 24-inch computer screen feels real freaking small right now. So I’m headed south, mañana.

Once again I find myself needing a break from paradise. What’re you gonna do. See you in a few.

David

This is our second in a series of videos for the Conservation Alliance and the Return to the Outdoors campaign, sponsored by Timex.

Steph gets after it. For more of her exploits, check out her blog or her book.

The music is by Immovable Objects, from San Diego.

What is it about fly fishing?

I’ve been wondering that as long as I’ve known Tom Bie, the founder and editor of The Drake, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this month. Some would say The Drake is Powder Magazine for fly-fishing; I’d say it’s a mash up of the Surfer’s Journal, David James Duncan’s novel The River Why, and Mad Magazine, with just enough Maxim to give it a little newsstand zing.

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Three intrepid journalists/pro googlers from Jackson Hole head to Casper to hear Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama speak, and perhaps to imbibe a little more Kool-Aid. Here’s a quick look at their Wyoming road trip, the candidates, and a few of the folks they met along the way.

• By Lauren M. Whaley
• Photos by David Stubbs

One man had never attended a Democratic event before in his life; three teenagers – too young to vote – had skipped school to drive two hours from Sheridan; a middle-aged mom hoped Obama would sign the sticker on her hat.

They were among the thousands gathered under the yellow flourescents of the Casper Rec Center gym on Friday, the eve of the Wyoming caucus, to get a glimpse, a handshake or an earful of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

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This is a reprise of Tommy Moe’s helmet cam video, filmed when he fore-ran the Mini-Hahnenkamm on Snow King in 2006.

Training is today; the race is tomorrow, on Sunday, when skiers, snowboarders and telemarkers will compete in pro, recreation, and the “fat and baggy” categories. Good luck to all racers!

• By Lauren M. Whaley
• Photos by David A. Gonzales

When I return from skiing, I throw my
gray wool crew from Backcountry.com in the dirty clothes pile, only to take it out again the next morning. I’ve done this about five times and it doesn’t stink yet.

My new favorite base layer is also soft, breathable, machine washable, has the coziest thumbholes I’ve ever stuck mine into, and looks sexy aprés ski at the Stagecoach while drinking margaritas. Best of all, it’s made of Merino wool. Like the burly mountain New Zealand sheep that produce it, merino thrives in cold, wet and warm temps. It’s also one of the few technical fabrics in the outdoor industry that can actually be called “sustainable.”

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