MOUNTAIN LIFE - Blue Mountains | Winter 2018

WINTER 2018 ML BLUE 79 and opened Ripley Creek Inn in Stewart on the Portland canal, opposite Hyder, Alaska. Suddenly, the middle of nowhere—where only truckers, miners and loggers passed through—was one of the world’s most sought- after heli destinations. LFH is so huge that it offers a distinct advantage few competitors can muster. That is, if weather and snow stability don’t cooperate, and the alpine is temporarily out of bounds, fear not—you won’t have to lose at poker in the lodge. You can drop into a profusion of protected tree-line runs where you’ll swiftly forget that weather is ever a factor. It’s no wonder that Teton Gravity Research made not one but two genre-defining films here— Uprising and Re:session . It’s also no wonder that fearless pro backcountry skier Josh Daiek—famous for skinning up 10,000 feet in one day—loves to take it easy at LFH and let the heli do the heavy lifting. “If you are craving real raw pristine nature, Last Frontier is your place,” Daiek said. “I felt like a remote explorer here.” lastfrontierheli.com TOP COURTESY LAST FRONTIER HELISKIING / VINCE SHULEY BOTTOM COURTESY LAST FRONTIER HELISKIING / DAVE SILVER