Top Five Adventures: Skier Alison Gannett's Favorite Ski Spots

By Alison Gannett; Photograph of Alison Gannett at work gear testing for Patagonia in Crested Butte's Teocalli Bowl.

If your profession is "world champion extreme skier," you are required to suss out the world's ultimate ski spots just put in a day's work. Sounds rough. But even if your day-to-day life isn't devoted to finding fresh tracks, you can still spend your precious free time schussing down them. We asked expedition skier and environmentalist Alison Gannett to give us a cheat sheet to her five favorite ski spots the world over.

1. Las Lenas, Argentina
Endless adventurous steep front, side or backcountry riding.

Down Sides: Too much wind can shut down lifts, avalanches, dinner at 11 p.m. is hard for hungry skiers, partying 'till dawn can hurt fresh tracks, not-so-hot dudes.

Up Sides: Lots of room for fresh tracks, partying 'till dawn, recently affordable, hot chicks. Hot tip: learn Spanish, bring backcountry gear.

2. Andermatt, Switzerland
Couloirs, glaciers, and endless side country may leave you in another town for lunch.

Down Side: Relatively expensive

Up Sides: Some of the longest chutes you will ever ski, picturesque glaciers, great food. Tip: hire a guide to find the goods; wear your avy gear and harness every day.

3. Crested Butte, Colorado
My place for in-bounds adventure and to hone technical skills in the infamous and endless avalanche-controlled powder areas of the North Face, Phoenix/Spellbound, Dead-End Chutes, and Body Bag Glades.

Down Side: Some years can be lean on snow.

Up Sides: Hire a guide for the blue to the double blacks, or forget all that and look for the scariest cliffs to huck (they are all open!). The terrain is so big that it rarely bumps up. There's great coffee and restaurants in this authentic mountain town. Tip: Rent a house in town and leave the car behind; ask a local to show you around.

4. Alta, Utah
My home away from home and my go-to place for the most reliable "best powder on Earth." More dense than Colorado, this snow stacks up and provides a better resistance.

Down Sides: Staying in the affordable black smog of Salt Lake, road closures, and Salt Lake City Mormons close restaurants on Sundays.

Up Sides: It's easy to book a ticket or drive when you see a storm stacking up. Lift tickets are affordable. Tip: try to follow a local to find the goods, if you can....

5. Himalayan Mountains, Manali, India
My ultimate backcountry ski adventure place: Colorado- or Utah-style snow in the world's biggest mountain range.

Down Sides: Three ton carbon footprint to get there.

Up Side: Best food in the world, extremely affordable once you are there, very accessible backcountry in every direction that usually leaves you in some exotic town at nightfall. Tip: Bring diatomaceous earth (wolfcreekranch.com) as a daily prevention for traveler's stomach.

Comments

[Hai]

Truly special.Appreciate that!
http://www.indochinadeluxetravel.com/
http://www.indochinadeluxetravel.com/vietnam-tours.html
http://www.indochinadeluxetravel.com/halong-cruise-tours.html

[car insurance]

It is filled with thrill and excitement and what makes it more fun is the snow and the cold wind which is the base of the sport.

[payday loans UK]

Thanks some thing for you to worry in the Islamist government--they are largely middle class, and they are also strongly secular--by and enormous, but these people overwhelmingly

[Calvin Klein]

beautiful but dangerous travelling
Cool

[studiebolig]

Hi there! Someone in my Facebook group shared this site with us so I came to look it over. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers!

[jb007]

est food in the world, extremely affordable once you are there, very accessible backcountry in every direction that usually leaves you

[Marny]

What an awesome skier and fantastic advocate for solutions to global warming. Hope you continue to be so adventurous in all of your many endeavors.

[ferragamo shoes]

the information of this post is very relevant
for what i am looking for, thank you so much for sharing this one

[Erric]

skiing is really exciting
but it is also dangerous

[Health Blog]

I think you are right when you say this. Hats off man, what a superlative knowledge you have on this subject…hope to see more work of yours.

[custom socks online]

Ski sport is really very adventurous. It is filled with thrill and excitement and what makes it more fun is the snow and the cold wind which is the base of the sport.

[ms excel consultants]

Wow ... how adventures job it is na..... stumling with full of excitement...

thanks for sharing

[Turtle Inn]

Thanks for the list and really love the sport of skiing.
Looking for a chance to visit the place...

[Ivan Malagurski]

Great list, now just to ski all of the places on the list :)))
Ivan Malagurski

[Doug Arn]

One place few people seem to think about is skiing in New Zealand! It may be a bit of a trek for some people to get to (unlike us Aussies!), but it is well worth the trip! Huge mountains (unlike Australia), good powdery snow and relatively sparse crowds. PLus, the Kiwi hospitality is great as well!

[beachbody]

I am learning Spanish and it is HARD! New words come to me like an avalanche!