Big Mountain Team Spring Road Trip

Wy’East Mountain Academy launched our brand new Big Mountain Program this year, created and coached by big mountain/backcountry guru’s Brandon Sorel and Griffin Dunne. The team spent the winter following the IFSA Junior Freeride tour contests and fresh powder in unique backcountry locations. The team traveled to British Colombia, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico and Washington, while exploring the endless amount of backcountry our very own Mount Hood has to offer in between their travels.

The team decided to save the best trip for last.  In early April, they sent it on the road to Northern Washington and British Columbia. The goal was to ride the best backcountry North America has to offer. They brought filmer Brooks Curran along with them to capture every aspect of the trip, which you can see in the video posted above.

The crew touring around the Mount Baker backcountry. Photo: Brooks Curran

The video highlights everything the program is designed to offer: snow science, exploring new terrain, riding steep and deep pow, and ending with an IFSA Big Mountain event. The story begins with the crew leaving campus in Oregon and heading north to three destinations in a span of two weeks. The first stop: five days in the promised land of Mt. Baker, Washington. The team explored Baker’s famous gullies, iconic jump spots, and everything the Shuksan Arm has to offer.

Evan Bowers digging his edges in deep

The team then loaded the van up and drove over the Canadian border to Revelstoke, British Columbia. Revy provided some sleeper pow days inbounds. Magically, the skies turned blue and it was time to tour the surrounding peaks outside of the resort.  Everything came together for their final day, allowing them to rip up some untouched snow in the sunshine.

Jake Williams dropping clifs at Revelstoke

The last leg of the trip was spent in Golden, B.C. for the IFSA North American Championship at Kicking Horse. The team arrived a few days before the contest to explore Lake Louise and Banff National Park, where they got to ride a couloir with picture perfect conditions! The team ended the trip with Hayley Houston earning two gold medals at the IFSA NorAms event to conclude an undefeated season for her, and a successful trip for the whole crew!

Hayley Houston finding her line