Extreme Winter Sports for Adrenaline Junkies

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you can’t get your outdoor adrenaline fix. round the world, thrill seekers have found ways to stay active, even in the harshest of conditions. Whether you prefer your adventures on land or water, there’s something for everyone. From diving with the narwhals to hopping out of a helicopter strapped to skis to sailing on ice, these extreme sports were made for extreme weather. —Meghan Gunn

- Meghan Gunn

03 Ice Climbing

AVENUE OF THE VOLCANOES, ECUADOR

Home to some of the largest, most ethereal-looking glaciers in the world, Ecuador's national parks are known for their vast array of treks and climbing routes. Practice your alpine climbing technique in one of the many crevasses, but beware of avalanches and dangerous active glaciers.

01 Heli-skiing

CHUGACH RANGE, ALASKA

There are no set trails in this form of backcountry skiing. After getting dropped off by a helicopter in the fresh powder, you’ll carve your own way down the remote mountainside. Known as one of the most pristine areas in the world for heli-skiing, these sharp-peaked mountains have descents that can reach 4, 000 feet.

02 Bobsledding

UTAH OLYMPIC PARK, UTAH

Now the world’s best athletes aren’t the only ones who get to experience an Olympicgrade sliding track. Prepare to reach speeds of up to 70 mph as you ride one at the site of the bobsledding, skeleton and luge events from the 2002 Games.

04 Fat Biking

KOUCHIBOUGUAC NATIONAL PARK, CANADA

Don’t let the change of seasons slow you down. Try a fat bike, an off-roading bicycle that lets you traverse even the gnarliest terrain. Around the world, fat biking trails are being created to keep you riding long into the winter. Kouchibouguac is home to miles of these winding paths that weave through the beautiful scenery of the Acadian forest.

05 Monster Shark Fishing