⛷️ 21-Year Quest to Ski Every Alps 4,000er

Good morning, Stoke Crew. I hope everyone has a fun adventure planned for the long weekend! I'll be heading to Crested Butte for some camping and biking with all my buddies. These are the weekends I live for. Whatever you're getting into this weekend, have fun, be safe, and stay stoked :)

In today's report

• 21 year ski quest
• A Boulder trail gets restored!
• 600 million dollar investment for Deer Valley

Today’s Stoke Story

⛷️ Epic 21-Year Quest to Ski Every Alps 4,000er

The Report: Vivian Bruchez just accomplished what many thought impossible, becoming the first person ever to climb and ski every single one of the Alps' 82 peaks above 4,000 meters after an incredible 21-year journey that concluded on June 20th atop Pointe Marguerite in the Grandes Jorasses! The 38-year-old Chamonix mountain guide called this his "greatest sporting achievement," and it's easy to see why - the project required not just world-class skiing but expert-level mountaineering including technical rock climbing, ice climbing, rappelling, and navigating dangerous glaciated terrain on peaks that many considered unskiable. Working primarily with longtime partner Mathieu Navillod, Bruchez systematically ticked off summit after summit from his home in the shadow of Mont Blanc, documenting over 100 ski lines along the way including 22 first descents and opening up four peaks that had never been skied before. The achievement has no official certification body, but it's already earned Bruchez massive respect from the international mountaineering community and will be documented in an upcoming film and book.

This achievement represents the ultimate combination of elite ski mountaineering and high-consequence alpinism, pushing the boundaries of what's possible on skis in the world's most challenging mountain terrain. Bruchez's accomplishment showcases the evolution of steep skiing from simple descents to complex alpine projects requiring world-class mountaineering skills. His documentation of new routes and first descents also contributes valuable knowledge to the ski mountaineering community while inspiring future generations of alpine athletes.

Local Stokelight

⛰️ High Country Headlines

Boulder just kicked off a multi-year trail and ecological restoration project on Mount Sanitas, one of the Front Range's most popular hiking destinations that sees over 300,000 visitors annually crushing its steep 1,300-foot climb in just 1.3 miles! The city is tackling serious erosion and trail damage caused by the mountain's popularity, with hikers often wandering off-trail and trampling vegetation while creating vertical "social trails" that accelerate erosion on the rugged terrain. A $1.1 million grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund is funding the summer work phase, which builds on recent improvements like timber checks, retaining walls, and stone steps already installed along the trails. Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks officials have long been concerned about the impact of tourists and local runners drawn to the challenging climb and rewarding views, leading to this comprehensive restoration effort on what they consider one of their "legacy trails" that predates modern trail construction standards.

Eagle County's most ambitious trail project is entering its final phase as construction begins on the last 7-mile gap between Wolcott and Eagle, completing a spectacular 63-mile Eagle Valley Trail system that will connect Vail Pass to Glenwood Canyon! The $13 million construction phase tackles serious engineering challenges including building large retaining walls in the narrow space between the Eagle River and Highway 6.

Mountain Briefing

⛷️ Deer Valley Secures $600M Loan

The largest hotel and residential construction loan in Utah history is now fueling Deer Valley's transformation into a ski giant, with Extell Development Company securing $600 million from JVP Management for the Four Seasons Resort and Residences at Deer Valley East Village! This massive financing supports the luxury development at the heart of Deer Valley's unprecedented expansion that will more than double the resort's terrain, adding 3,700 new acres served by 16 chairlifts including a state-of-the-art gondola and 135 fresh ski runs. The Four Seasons project, designed by ODA Architecture and developed by the same company behind luxury Manhattan towers, features 123 total residences ranging from 1,200 to 7,000 square feet with direct ski-in/ski-out access, and construction is already underway with nearly 40% of inventory sold. When complete in 2028, this will help establish Deer Valley as one of North America's largest ski resorts with over 5,726 acres of ski-only terrain served by 37 chairlifts.

This financing represents one of the most ambitious resort development projects in North American ski history, bringing significant economic benefits to Utah through construction jobs, tax revenue, and long-term tourism dollars. However, the ultra-luxury focus continues the troubling trend of pricing out local skiers and workers, as developments like this drive up housing costs and cater exclusively to the ultra-wealthy rather than the ski communities that give these mountains their soul. While great for Utah's economy, projects like this further transform skiing from an accessible outdoor pursuit into an exclusive luxury experience.

And if you snowboard, you still cannot ride Deer Valley, as they remain one of only three resorts that do not allow snowboarders.

Name That Nature

🔍 How to Identify Alpine Avens

Welcome to Name That Nature section! I share a photo of a wildflower spotted in Colorado and we learn its name and how to identify it. Shoutout to subscriber Stefani for sending this photo in!

Today's Flower: Alpine Avens

🌼 Flowers

• Color: Bright yellow
• Shape: 5 round petals, often slightly overlapping
• Arrangement: Grows singly or in small clusters on short stalks rising just above the foliage

📏 Plant Size

• Flower Size: 1 inch across.
• Height: Typically 2 to 6 inches tall, with flowers slightly above the leaves.

🏞️ Grows in

• Elevation: Found from 11,000 to over 13,000 feet in Colorado and other parts of the Rockies
• Location: Alpine tundra, windswept ridges, and areas just above or below melting snowbanks

Trailhead Trivia

What are the 3 ski resorts in North America that currently prohibit snowboarding?

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Answer!

Alta and Deer Valley in Utah, and Mad River Glen in Vermont