Holiday Gifts for the Adrenaline Junkie
I love giving gifts that involve the recipient going and doing something active. Whether it’s buying someone fly-fishing lessons or tickets to the symphony, I feel these types of gifts are truly memorable for all involved. But how about giving something more adventurous this holiday season?
HELI-SKI CAMP IN TELLURIDE:
Photo courtesy Telluride Ski Resort
If there’s an intrepid skier in your life, Heli-Ski Camp might be the perfect gift. If you aren’t familiar with this activity, heli-skiing involves a helicopter transporting a skier or snowboarder to an off-trail area for an experience of a lifetime. However, it’s wise to attend Heli-Ski Camp at Telluride Ski Resort before attempting this sport.
Not just anyone can participate in Heli-Ski Camp. You must be comfortable skiing in all snow conditions (groomed and ungroomed) on a typical blue run in any western US resort and have the physical endurance to ski hard for three days.
Photo courtesy Telluride Ski Resort
The first two days of camp consist of skiing with an instructor within the Telluride Ski Area. This is to develop the skills and experience necessary to heli-ski. On the third day, you and your instructor load into a helicopter and head into San Juan backcountry.
There are only six camps offered each ski season and the 2018 camps are nearly sold out, so if this sounds interesting, you’ll need to act fast. Go here for all the details.
ICE CLIMBING CAMP IN MONTANA:
Hyalite Canyon climber on Mummy 2, with two more full rope length climbs (Mummy 3 & 4) up above. Scepter is the steep climb on the left. Photo by: Sam Magro, Montana Alpine Guides
Do you have a climber in your life, or perhaps someone who’s always wanted to climb? Check out the ice climbing camps taught by Montana Alpine Guides in Bozeman, Montana. Their Ice Climbing Courses include everything from two-day introductory classes for people with zero climbing experience, to a four-day technical alpine climber training course. They even do a destination ice climbing excursion to Norway.
The cost of these classes includes all equipment (ice tools, boots, crampons, helmet and harness), and you can trust that your guides have plenty of experience.
In addition to ice climbing, Montana Alpine Guides lead rock climbing classes, mountain trips, backpacking excursions into Yellowstone National Park and ski outings, both backcountry and cross country or snowshoe if you prefer.
Visit MtnAlpine.com for more information on everything this Montana-based guide company offers.
DOWNHILL SNOWBIKING LESSONS:
Photo courtesy Vail Resorts
You may think I’m making this up, but snowbiking is a real thing. From Colorado’s Keystone Resort to Central Oregon’s HooDoo Mountain Resort, people of all ages are jumping on these specialized bikes and sliding down ski slopes.
The bikes are specially made for the activity and do not have pedals. They have a customized wheel on the back and a ski-like device on the front. These differ from fat bikes, which look more like a traditional bicycle but have big tires.
Hoodoo introduced this downhill winter sport on their mountain in 2011, and riders are required to have a 30-minute lesson before heading out on the slopes. Snowbike rentals at Hoodoo Mountain Resort start at just $32 a day. At Keystone Resort, snowbiking is allowed at Adventure Point at the top of the River Run Gondola. It’s $60 for a lesson, rental and lift ticket.
