Just over 100 years ago, in March 1915 to be exact, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Term Occupancy Act, a law that would eventually shape how and where we ski in the United States. Also known as the Occupancy Permits Act of 1915, the law provided a permitting process for summer homes and recreational resorts […]
Hiking
A Walk on The Wild Side at Snowmass
Not thirty minutes into my snowshoeing adventure with Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES), it struck me. Alpine skiing is like being on an interstate. Yes, I’m seeing the beautiful mountains, the intricate lacing of tree branches in relief against the stunning blue of the sky. I’m appreciating the beauty of being outdoors, but it’s […]
Spring Escapes: Tropical Hiking On Maui, Snow-Filled Family Time at Alta
This was originally an Adventure Moms column for Women’s Adventure. When I wrote it in January 2013, we were enjoying our 24th consecutive day of temperatures under 24 degrees (yes, this is Fahrenheit and yes, I was counting and yes, the cold streak continued). While I love to write about skiing, it was a welcome […]
Our Family Tradition: The Grand Canyon In Autumn
As shocking as it may sound, our family’s favorite outdoor tradition has nothing, but nothing, to do with skiing. Instead, it has a lot to do with hiking and backpacking and spending time together, bonded and awed by the majesty of Grand Canyon National Park. Seven years ago we gave up on Thanksgiving Day. It’s […]
Pedal, Play, Party: Summer Fun in West Virginia, Idaho and California
It’s quite possibly the oldest cliché in ski country: We came for the winters and stayed for the summers. Cliché? Yes. But only because it rings so true. While skiing draws us to the mountains, the full shock of summer beauty keeps us here. Summer in the mountains is spectacular. Warm sun, long views and […]