Featured Image: Lucas Wachs
The Pacific Northwest (PNW) is littered with iconic ski spots, but few are more prominent than the Cascade Volcanic Arc. Spanning the northern West Coast, these weathered stratovolcanoes are highly concentrated in central Oregon. It's here that you'll find the Three Sisters peaks, Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington (ironically, not the one in Washington State), and, of course, Mount Hood.
Few know these mountains like Lucas Wachs. As an Oregon native, his skills were honed across his home state, from the many rails and jumps at Timberline, Mount Hood, to high alpine missions that require a litany of mountaineering skills in addition to mere ski ability.
Wachs is a true skier-of-all-trades, and for years we've been captivated by his versatility. How many other riders can lay down a cork seven as smoothly as they can ascend a peak or pipe down a couloir? Not many. This spring, he's been on an incredible tear, checking off great lines and properly documenting his adventures. The Cascades can be a volatile range to navigate, as the weather can change dramatically within minutes, and snow conditions are quick to follow suit.
But oftentimes, the juice is worth the squeeze. That's what Wachs showed us as he snatched up a hearty offering of late May pow turns with a few friends, earning himself a dreamy, damn-near ethereal line back into the clouds below. A lot of walking, a little skiing, and a hell of an adventure. May his recap inspire you to push on for a few more laps this summer!
From YouTube:
With a dismal snowpack here in the PNW the approaches are pretty long for this time of year and add in some fresh snow it will make it much more arduous. Thankfully, we were rewarded with some super nice powder for our efforts!
