Why Glacier Skiing?

Glaciers are the cumulation of winter’s past. They are nestled throughout the peaks I grew up among. They are where I learned to enjoy winter and, in turn, backcountry skiing.

After decades exploring the Washington Cascades, I began to find myself in places I’d become comfortable with and that sense of ‘newness’ I craved was becoming stale. To refresh my sense of adventure, I needed a goal.

One day I was browsing the internet, researching a climb, when I happened upon a list of glaciers. Out of curiosity, I began to check off those I’d done. In the end, I’d only checked off around half! Having thought I’d seen much of what my backyard had to offer, I was in for a rude awakening!

Ultimately, the Glacier Project has grown into something more than a personal goal. I’ve been able to see our glaciers, many of which have disappeared since I first skied onto a glacier, and document their health with photographs and on-site observations. Moreover, I’ve been able to write about backyard adventures and share stories of remote places few if any have ever skied. My hope is to inspire the adventurous spirit in each of us, even among those that will never see these places. Every one of us can appreciate and value natural wonders we may never see. It’s nice to know that they are still there, or exist at all.