🛶 Packraft 🏂 Splitboard ⛰️ Alaska

Good morning, Stoke Crew. Snow’s melting and the trails are soggy. It’s mud season in the mountains and we’ve got your fix of outdoor news and local updates to ride it out.

In today's report:

• Alaskan spring adventure
• 9 ski resorts still open!
• Winter gear TLC
• Growth for Colorado

Today’s Stoke Story

❄️ Exploring Alaska with a Packraft and a Splitboard

The Report: Colorado backcountry guide Mikey Alosio and his adventure partner Jack Caprio pulled off one of the rowdiest backcountry missions. With help from the Jones Adventure Grant, the duo flew deep into Alaska’s remote Neacola Range and got dropped on the Pitchfork Glacier by bush plane. For a week, they camped and shredded monster 4,000-foot couloirs they’d scouted on Google Earth — steep, unnamed lines that most folks have never laid eyes on, let alone dropped into, pretty epic stuff!! Then came the exit, a 55-mile “splitraft” traverse, combining splitboarding and packrafting to navigate their way from glacier to ocean. Along the way they battled glacial mazes, freezing temps, surprise swims, and gear failures. They made it to the Cook Inlet just ahead of a storm, where their pilot was waiting with a pair of cold PBRs, what a legend!

I recently spoke to Mikey and asked him “What moment had the most stoke?” His response “The whole thing was epic”. Mikey’s one of those guys who doesn’t have social media, barely answers texts, and somehow spends every waking hour doing something rad. Most of the time your messages don’t even go through, he’s deep in the backcountry, out of service, chasing lines or scouting some remote zone. And when you do finally hear from him? He just got back from doing something absolutely epic. Classic Mikey! These are the kinds of people who fire us up, who remind us to chase our dreams, go big on adventure, and keep the stoke alive!

The Details:

• Total journey was 14 days
• Total vert climbed - 20,000 feet
• Total miles on packraft and spilt board - 60
• Total fun had - unlimited

Local Stokelight

📈 Growth for Colorado Mountain Towns

The 2024/25 ski season was officially the second busiest in U.S. history with 61.5 million skier visits logged at American resorts, according to the National Ski Areas Association convention. That’s a 1.7% increase over last season and just behind the all-time record of 65.4 million visits set in 2022/23. While the 24/25 winter didn’t bring record-breaking snow, it still drew huge crowds across the country. The ski industry is alive and well!

Why It Matters for Colorado:

• More skier visits equals more economic fuel for local businesses! That includes everything from lift tickets and lodging to burritos, beers, and boot-fitting. A big season like this keeps jobs steady and cash flowing in mountain towns.
• Increased traffic and trail pressure are the flip side. Busy slopes, packed parking lots, and more competition for powder days. It’s a reminder to protect the local vibe and push for smart growth.
• For anyone working in the industry, it’s a sign that, despite warm winters or low snow years, skiing is still thriving!

After 40 years in Park City, the Sundance Film Festival is packing up and moving to Boulder, Colorado, starting in 2027. Organizers say the fest simply outgrew its old home — too few theaters, too much housing chaos. Boulder brings the space, close proximity to nature, and small-town vibes. This is a big win for Boulder’s arts scene and economy, especially since Sundance brought over $130 million to Utah last year. On the downside, Utah’s local economy will definitely feel the impact of the move.

Mountain Briefing

⛷️ Ski Resorts Still Spinning Lifts

The Resorts:

• Killington closing day - May 25, 2025
• Arapahoe Basin closing day - as long as conditions allow
• Copper closing day - May 11, 2025
• Snowbird closing day - May 26, 2025
• Brighton closing day - May 18, 2025
• Crystal Mountain closing day - May 26, 2025
• Mount Hood closing day - May 26, 2025
• Mt. Bachelor closing day - May 26, 2025
• Palisades Tahoe closing day - May 26, 2025
• Mammoth Mountain closing day - as long as conditions allow

The Gear Shed

Store Your Winter Gear Like a Pro

Skis: Wipe down your skis, clear any rust, and slap on a coat of warm-weather storage wax — leave it on till fall. Store them flat or upright in a cool, dry place, away from sun and moisture swings.

Ski Boots: Pull out liners and footbeds, let everything dry fully (no direct heat), then lightly buckle boots to keep their shape. Store upright in a breathable bag or closet.

Down Material: Down insulation breaks down if improperly stored and is prone to mold because it is a natural material. It should never be compressed for long periods of time. Contrary to popular belief, down items can and should be washed in the washing machine but make sure to use down-specific detergent. Once fully dry, hang your gear or stash it in a big mesh sack in a cool, dry closet.

Touring Skins: To properly store your touring skins for the summer, first make sure they’re clean and completely dry. Place the glue sides on skin savers, then fold them tip to tail and store them in a breathable bag. Keep them in a cool, dry indoor space away from heat and sunlight—never in a garage or the gear shed. This helps preserve the glue and extends the life of your skins!

Outerwear (Shells + Puffys): Wash shells with a tech-friendly detergent like Nikwax, zip all zippers, and reapply durable water repellent if needed. Store puffys uncompressed, either in a mesh bag or hanging in a closet.

Trailhead Trivia

In what year did the U.S buy Alaska from Russia?

🔥 Share The Stoke

This newsletter is for mountain lovers, dirtbags, powder hounds, and people who base life decisions on trail conditions and snow reports. Basically, the kind of folks who think a summit beer counts as hydration.

If you know someone like that, forward this email or send them to thestokereport.com. Thanks for spreading the stoke — it seriously means a lot!

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