8 of the Best Places to Chase Winter

If you wish winter was a year round occurrence, you’re not alone. And you’re also not out of luck. Winter’s only a quick (10-hour?) flight away. While you can always hop on a flight to the southern hemisphere to chase full on winter conditions (New Zealand or Chile), you can also stick around closer to home (Oregon or Canada) and enjoy glacier skiing in a Hawaiian shirt and board shorts. From Argentina to Zermatt, chase the shred in style this summer. Here are 8 of the best countries to get after it this summer:

South America:

Chile

Active Junky is no stranger to Chile—we’ve been heading down to Valle Nevado Ski Resort without fail for the past five years. More often than not, we’ve been treated to deep snow, untouched couloirs and prime in-bounds terrain. Not to mention, the hotels are comfortable, the food is phenomenal and the nightlife is a blast. Plus, there’s a heli operation available right from the base of the resort. All in the middle of August.

Argentina

Like their Chilean neighbors, Argentina’s Andes have a wide variety of resorts and backcountry meccas to choose from. Las Lenas  is one of the most renowned resorts, as it offers steep in-bounds terrain and challenging yet accessible backcountry. Bariloche is another culturally rich ski town in southwestern Argentina that serves as a basecamp for those tackling Patagonia and the Lake District.

Europe:

Switzerland

Zermatt is one of the continent’s most famed summer skiing destinations. It is, after all, the highest ski resort in Europe to boast year round glacial skiing. Whether you’re a ski mountaineer with a burly goal in mind or a crew of friends looking to shred the park in July, Zermatt is a solid pick. Saas-Fee is another excellent pick, and offers one of the best parks in Europe.

France

Although there are a few options in France, Tignes is a standout. There’s a reason why pros come here to train—and it isn’t the impressive French culinary scene. From bump skiers to ski racers to freestyle phenoms, there’s something for everyone in this alpine paradise.

North America:

Mt. Hood

Want to stay a little closer to home? Mt. Hood is probably your cheapest option—and it ain’t a bad one. Much of the mountain is dominated by ski and snowboard camps like High Cascade and Windell’s http://windells.com/ —and these camps have some of the best park setups ever. Even if you aren’t looking to spring on a summer camp (they have options for adults, too; summer camps aren’t just for kids anymore), you can snag a ticket to Timberline and enjoy slushy goodness up top and dodging patches of dirt down low.

Whistler Blackcomb

http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/events-and-activities/activities/glacier-skiing-and-riding

Venture to the Horstman Glacier for an action-packed Canadian adventure of the highest degree. Lifts are only open from 12-3 in the summer, but no matter, you can fill up the rest of your mountain biking, hiking, fly fishing, etc. in the wilderness surrounding Whistler. If you didn’t already know, Whistler has some of the best downhill mountain biking on the continent as well.

Australasia:

New Zealand:

No list of recommendations would be complete without including New Zealand. This island nation has ample jagged peaks and a maritime snowpack that welcomes many a wayfaring ripper. Venture into the backcountry or check out a famous resort like Treble Cone or Cardrona for a mid-winter experience in July or August.

Australia:

Perisher Resort’s terrain parks are no stranger to American pros—they migrate down south like flocks of birds, drawn by the sculpted jumps, creative rail set ups and fabled Australian weather. The resort won SIA’s “Best Terrain Park at a Resort” award in 2015, and continues to be one of the top destinations in the country for skiers and riders of all skill levels. Plus, it’s included in the Epic Pass, so you might not even have to buy a lift ticket!

Wherever you end up this summer, it doesn’t really matter. There’s no such thing as bad skiing in the summer, you’ve just got to smile and remember that everyone back home is stuck getting sunburned at the beach or fiddling with their air conditioners.

Any day of skiing in August is a good one. That’s for sure.