One country crossed on foot, rainy England, and two more countries to go on my quest to the UN's World Climate Treaty Summit in Copenhagen. We are on our third day in Holland, 150 miles into the 250-mile walk, and have had gale-force winds and driving rain for almost nine days now.

Snow season may be rapidly approaching, but students at Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg, Vt. are still focusing on the sun as they study solar power and other alternative energy sources, thanks to Rossignol, Protect Our Winters and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation.

We had come off Allensby Pass and were skiing along the hillside on Allensby Creek when it happened. Albizzi was in the lead and picking his way rather high on the hill when we heard a rumble above us. A cloud of snow came rolling down the mountainside heading straight for us...

The non-profit organization Save Our Canyons (SOC) has been fighting for the protection of wilderness outside of Salt Lake City for over three decades. Formed in 1973 in opposition to the opening and expansion of Snowbird Ski Resort, the group continues to fight commercialization and development - most currently Snowbasin's avalanche training classes and Alta's proposed ski lifts on Flagstaff Mountain.

It was a rocky start to the season. First we got the truck stuck near the top of the Pass en route to Mt. Baldy (12,085) outside Crested Butte. After two hours of chaining up and digging out, we bootpacked about 1,000 vert up the ridge to scope the north face--it was thin (bare) off the top in most places, but looked good once you got down into it. Nothing like downclimbing 100 feet of 30-degree scree and hardpan, and strapping in with your ass hanging out over a thinly covered chute for your first turns of the year. Not to mention, it's Pete's first day on skis since he broke his femur last January. Warm-up run anyone?