8.  Copacabana, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil – It wasn’t the impressive panoramic views from the summit of Sugarloaf that I will remember most.  It was out early afternoon stroll down the beach that will forever be etched in my mind.  Endless footballs being juggled by men of all ages and endless beauties working on their tans made for a memorable view.  Brazilians are beautiful.

7.  Parque Los Alerces, Argentina – A long four-day hike in the remote area of this national park was truly mesmerizing.  The thing I remember most, after spending three days without seeing a single person, was returning from a day hike to find my campsite completely disassembled and packed neatly in my backpack.  Who did it and why remains a mystery.

6.  The Rocky Mountains, Alberta, Canada – We moved west in 1999 but didn’t make it to the mountains until 2000, as our new home was still some 300km east, in Fort St John, British Columbia.  Finally, the Christmas break came and we headed south to the famous Jasper and Banff national parks to witness the beauty of the Rocky Mountains.  A love affair of tall mountains was born in my body on that first day, and I have been exploring different ranges forever!

5.  Skintind Mountain, Tromso, Norway – My springtime ski touring journey to Norway, which took me above the Arctic Circle for the first time, had been plagued by unstable snow until nearly the final day.  Although we had managed a couple other peaks, the views from this small peak were mesmerizing.  The Atlantic Ocean, four fjords and endless mountains seemed give all the answers.

4.  Northern Circuit, Taupo, New Zealand – Hiking the overnight loop from the Tongariro Crossing to Whakapapa resort, down a steep hill in desert like terrain, only to cross a small footbridge and find myself in a near Rainforest.  It truly is a unique world!

3.  Peak Chair, Whistler British Columbia, Canada – My first day in Whistler was a 70cm powder day, enough to last in the memories of every local for years, and I had little idea about what the mountain looked like above tree line.  My first trip up the Peak Chair, staring at the endless Chutes, Bowls and Gnarly lines opened my eyes to why this was known as the Mecca of North America’s ski scene.  High point of the day was dropping into West Cirque for the first time, the low point was returning to my car, where all my worldly possessions were being stored, only to find out that I had been robbed thoroughly while enjoying my freshies.  The truth is, I would trade in all my possessions on any given day to experience that snow again!

2.  Cerro Cathedral, Bariloche, Argentina – Enjoying the spring skiing conditions that can happen at any point during the short Andean winter, I was happy to spin laps in the little visited tree runs off of the Condor lifts at Bariloche’s mega resort.  With awe inspiring views out over Lago Nahuel Huapi, soft corn snow and noncrowded slopes highlighting the days, I promised to return to live in Patagonia one day.  I’m getting closer to that goal everyday!

1.  Salinas Grandes, Jujuy, Argentina – Normally a person who lives for snow capped mountains, skiing and adventure hiking, I was shocked by the sheer beauty of this region.  While it may not be Salar de Uyuni, it certainly is beautiful.  The views over this harsh landscape, across the salt flats and driving a car to nearly 5000 m were truly unique experiences.  Dining on fresh Llama in the historical Pumamarca, with the seven-colored Mountain in the background ended the day perfectly