Jay Peak in Vermont has agreed to pay an $80,000 fine for filing in wetlands with debris from construction of a golf course from 2004 to 2008. The current Jay Peak owner says that the two acres of destroyed wetland and streams happened before he came on board. Ugh, the only thing worse than playing golf is golfing on filled in wetland. Couldn’t they have built the golf course on an old toxic waste site? If you haven’t bought your season pass to Jay Peak yet this year, might I suggest taking up backcountry skiing? I know a place where you can get some great gear, and I haven’t filled in any marshes or streams with debris for several years.

via Adventure Journal

Despite the ebb and flow of the stock market and concerns over our future ability to employ ourselves ski resorts are reporting strong bookings for this coming ski season. Early bookings are up about 17% according to the Denver-based Mountain Travel Research Program. It remains to be seen how quickly the backcountry will get tracked out, but strong sales of backcountry gear means trailheads may be more crowded than usual.

Over the summer Andreas Fransson made the first ski descent of Denali’s South Face, and he did it solo. The news broke awhile back, but now the video is available. The camera work might make you sick, but then again maybe it’s the adventure that’s stomach churning. “Life can’t be more cool than this.”

via Teton AT

Tomorrow the tour of Teton Gravity Research’s One for the Road kicks off in, you guessed it, Teton Village, Wyoming. If you’re interested in seeing it in person on the big screen and possibly even heckling some of the riders in person instead of in the comment section on blogs, check out the tour schedule. Hopefully they bring the Sam-Elliot-sounding-guy who narrates the trailer.

It should be noted that legendary bar Shady Lady is included in the purchase of the Snow King resort in Jackson Hole. And, of course, you’re guaranteed a front row seat to the annual uphill snowmobile race and everyone will let you cut the line to get more beer if you own the place. The owner and current Snow King himself, Maul Lopez, is hoping to pass the entire operation off to someone, and he would like to do so in the next month or so.

One humble request. If you do buy the resort and become the next Snow King, please knight me.

via Adventure Journal