The “North American Alps” are not found in Colorado, or Wyoming, or even Montana. They are nestled in northern Washington between the Seattle metro area, and the small towns of Mazama, Winthrop, and Twisp. Highway 20 bridges these areas during the warm months, but In the winter the road is closed Isolating the local communities. this insulation sets the vibe for the experience here. People are nice and welcoming, the pace is slow, and the mountains are immense. huge vertical walls of rock make up some peaks, others are massive rocky mountains carved with huge chutes. Below the terrain is heavily featured with pillows, cliffs, rollers, ice falls, and glades of trees.
A unique thing about the tree skiing at NCHS is that large portions of the forest are populated with larch trees that loose there needles in the fall and end up, looking dead. The feeling of skiing through a ghost Forrest is a little erie, minimal shadows are made, and you can easily look ahead through the skeletons.
double jump... natural style...
Seth Morrison pillow tap
Todd Jones getting lowered into a camera angle
360, photo Todd Jones
big walls at NCHS
shredding a Coolie... Photo by Todd Jones
hey sage.. was this for a movie shoot? also did you have a guide up there? if so who and what outfit? curious.