From Coast to Coast | Worldskitraveller

PROJECT 101 – FROM COAST TO COAST
79 ski areas · 19 states · 41 ski days · 7,560 miles

THE STORY BEHIND

Why Project 101? Because the idea was to ski 101 ski areas on one journey across the United States.

Starting in Petaluma, California, I headed east with my skis, a car and a deliberately ambitious plan. I wanted to experience American skiing in all its diversity – not only the famous resorts, but also the small local hills, the unexpected places and the ski areas you would normally never cross an ocean to visit.

But the winter had other plans. Early in the journey, a lack of snow in the West made it clear that 101 would be difficult to reach. I had to change the route and skip entire regions, such as the San Bernardino Mountains, as well as several planned ski areas in New Mexico.

Then, in Wisconsin, came another surprise. I discovered that my Indy Pass could only be used at one ski area per day. My original planning had included days with as many as four Indy Pass ski areas. Suddenly, another part of the carefully planned itinerary had to be rewritten.

Project 101 became a journey of adapting, improvising and making the most of whatever the snow, the passes and the road allowed. After 41 ski days, 19 states, 7,560 miles and 79 ski areas, Mountain Creek in New Jersey was the final ski stop before the journey ended in Jersey City.

The number 101 remained the idea behind the project, but it was never what ultimately defined the journey. What mattered was the skiing, the places, the people and the enormous variety of ski culture I discovered along the way. Project 101 had become exactly what Ski the World is about: taking your skis, following your curiosity and discovering the world one ski area at a time.

THE TOUR

From California to New Jersey, Project 101 was constantly on the move. Some days meant one major ski area, others several small hills and hundreds of miles on the road. Plans changed with snow conditions, opening hours, weather – and occasionally the rules of a ski pass.

This is how the journey unfolded.

IMPRESSIONS FROM THE ROAD

SKI THE WEST

From San Francisco to Denver, Project 101 took me on a southern route through the American West. With little snow in many places, plans had to change, ski areas were skipped, and finding somewhere to ski became an adventure in itself.From well-known resorts to lesser-known ski areas, here are some impressions from the western part of the journey.

MIDWEST

Winter finally caught up with me in the Midwest. Snow, ice and freezing temperatures replaced the mild conditions of the West. And just as I arrived in Minneapolis, ICE was making headlines.

The ski areas were small, often with no more than 150 vertical metres, but they offered an enormous amount of fun. Proof that great skiing doesn't necessarily require big mountains.

SKI THE EAST

Heading east, the mountains grew taller again, but the winter turned brutally cold. Temperatures plunged to minus 25°C. Every time I took off my gloves to take a picture, the cold bit into my fingers within seconds. Even pressing the camera button became painful.

So, as you look at these photos, remember: some of those beautiful winter scenes came at a rather painful price.