A guide to the present moment: Finding (and losing) yourself backcountry snowboarding

My favorite thing to do in the world is backcountry snowboarding — journeying into the untamed wilderness of alpine hinterlands and gliding down mountains, far from the manicured slopes, lifts, and crowds of ski resorts.

Every trip into the backcountry is an adventure into the splendors of nature. Treks take you through evergreen forests, past flowing creeks and frozen lakes. The smell of pine wafts through the air. Looking up, you can see jagged peaks that look like sculptures shaped by the divine. The blowing wind can sound as if it's playing