D’Arcy McLeish, Author at SnowBrains

Freeride World Tour Stop # 2 – Kicking Horse, BC

This year there’s a real treat coming to Golden, BC in the first week of February. From the 3rd to the 9th, the only North American stop on the Freeride World Tour is coming to one of the raddest mountains in BC – Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. Golden sits on the Trans-Canada Highway, Highway 1, on the east side of […]

Industry News

D’Arcy McLeish | January 31, 2017

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The Best Ski Town Breweries in the USA:

A bottle of suds goes down real smooth after a day of shredding pow. And sure, you can grab some of the corporate offerings out there, either cans or a draft and the local bar, but why not go for a brew that’s been crafted with love by a local ripper? There are craft brewers in ski town USA that […]

D’Arcy McLeish | January 17, 2017

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The Women of the Squaw Alpine Ski Patrol

Ski patrolling, despite the fact that it looks like a job where ski bums are paid to have fun (ok, so sometimes it’s like that) is a real job. Part mountain rescue, part avalanche and explosive technician, part first responder and part front line guest service, patrolling can be difficult to define. But it’s one of the more challenging jobs […]

Industry News

D’Arcy McLeish | December 17, 2016

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Killington, VT to Host FIS Alpine World Cup November 26-27th, 2016

When most people think of skiing in North America, they think of places Aspen, Whistler, Squaw and Jackson Hole. Rightly so; they are all great places to ski. But it’s a mistake to dismiss the skiing lies east of the Mississippi. Ski resorts like Tremblant, Mont Ste-Anne, Sugarloaf, Killington and Whiteface are steeped in skiing history and mountain culture and their […]

Industry News

D’Arcy McLeish | November 17, 2016

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What Does La Nina Mean For Japan? | Last La Nina Japan Saw 914″ of Snow…

In short, La Nina means GO TO JAPAN. A lot of this weather stuff gets a little confusing. La Nina, El Nino, ocean temperatures, blobs, atmospheric rivers. The bottom line for skiers is this: is it going to puke this winter or not? According to various sources, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA), this […]

Weather

D’Arcy McLeish | November 2, 2016

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The Top 3 Longest Ski Seasons in Lake Tahoe:

It’s not often these days that you get to ski in the month of May in Lake Tahoe. The last few years, especially once the winter storms abate, have shown thin snow packs come spring. But after an epic season last year, folks had the pleasure of skiing and riding at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows Resort through May 30th. That’s […]

Conditions Report

D’Arcy McLeish | October 20, 2016

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We Don’t Need Any More Chairlifts in B.C.

It’s nothing new. Someone, somewhere, wants to build a ski resort. It’s happening all over the world. In BC, for instance, there are two huge ski resorts that will potentially see the light of day. The first, Jumbo, which is set to turn a pristine wilderness into the largest ski resort in North America, is one of the more polarizing […]

The Ten Essentials for Backcountry Exploration

Whistler is a hub of outdoor and mountain enthusiasts. Long time Whistler local, Wayne Flann, a 30 year veteran of the Blackcomb Ski Patrol, has spent most of his life working and playing in the mountains. His blog, www.wayneflannavalancheblog.com, has become one of the main resources for avalanche and backcountry information in the Sea to Sky Corridor. Started in 2011 because he saw a need for snowpack information for early season backcountry skiers and riders, it has blossomed into one of the sources for weather, snowpack info, and avalanche updates and has a devoted […]