The Powder & The Glory

A roundup of some of the most extreme and exclusive skiing expeditions around the world

- By Si Si Penaloza, Photography courtesy of Eleven Experience

An off-piste ski trip should properly blow one’s mind, revealing a subtler truth in the vertical Valhalla, the inner what-am-I-truly-made-of monologue seminal to all ski devotees. Aspen Snowmass has manifested this fantasy for generations of alpha skiers, a beacon to aficionados drawn to America’s elite alpine sports heritage. Celebrating Snowmass’s 75th anniversary in consummate style befitting such storied slopes, this season The Gant resort unveils a new excursion in its partnership with Nomad Inc. And like all high-octane powder hunts, The Gant’s tribute to the majestic mountains involves a helicopter to make it that much more thrilling.

From Aspen Airport, an exhilarating 20-minute chopper ride whisks you up to Crested Butte. After a snowcat ride into the pristine wilderness, float atop the most postcard-worthy runs of your life at liberty. Aspen reigns as a high-society catwalk of cutting-edge ski gear; rock your Rossignol Blackops Sender Ti skis for a wicked ride anywhere the snow takes you. Cruise, charge, or shred at will. A gourmet après-feast awaits in a luxury snowcat barn stocked with savory and sweet recovery proteins.

Heli-boarding in Chile's Lake District with andBeyond Vira Vira; get your adrenaline pumping as you survey the vast mountains, vertical drops and untracked powder, it's all yours for the taking.