MOUNTAIN LIFE - Blue Mountains | Winter 2018

WINTER 2018 ML BLUE 37 with Bombardier to design a 12-passenger enclosed snowcat to replace the original jury-rigged machines which boasted no-frills, open-air benches on the back for skiers. Today’s snowcat is a cushy place to rest, chat, and eat after a long descent and take in the endless mountain panos. And on my third and fourth runs of the day, I begin to find a bit of a rhythm in the glades. I imagine looking through my goggles like I’m the Terminator and all the relevant data of my surroundings is scrolling across my field of vision so I can navigate through all hazards successfully, avoiding all tree wells and cliff bands. In any case, our guides—attentive when they need to be, and laidback the rest of the time—make sure I’m very far from any hazards. At trip’s end I feel like I’ve emerged a better, more responsive skier; how many others can say that at the end of a ski vacation? selkirksnowcatskiing.com Paul's critical approach to my technique underscores something: he is proud of his terrain and wants everybody to be at their best in it. ABOVE Jon Burak (R) and Dave Loopstra at the top. GLEN HARRIS BELOW COURTESY SELKIRK SNOWCAT SKIING/STEVE SHANNON PHOTOGRAPHY