Facing a brisk eastwardly wind, the sight of Mount Shuksan stops my breath. 

Tracing the peak’s face downward, jagged, etched granite crevasses, overset by the azure blue of compressed snow and ice, dip down toward unimaginably steep drops. 

I exhale into the air and twist my ski poles into the snow, as my eyes sweep northward toward the glaciated summit of Mount Baker. 

Koma Kulshan. The Nooksack people also call this mountain the “steep, white one”. Regardless of what the maps now officially call this ancient, snow-covered volcano, one thing is certain, Mount Baker represents just one of Washington’s most beautiful ski destinations, and this year, thousands of Navy personnel and their families will sample the scenic, shrouded slopes of this Cascade peak’s ski resort, along with the many other ski destinations of the Pacific Northwest. 

Sailors stationed in Navy Region Northwest have the unmistakable benefit of being able to sample dozens of internationally acclaimed ski resorts a few hours away from any of the bases located around the Puget Sound.

“Nearly everyone’s heard about Whistler,” said Marijo Umlor, outdoor program manager at NAVSTA Everett. “Yet we’ve also got some other great resorts immediately across the boarder like Silver Star, Sun Peaks, and Big White!”

In order to familiarize the Navy community with some of the great skis resorts and opportunities in the northwest, Umlor and her counterparts at the region’s Navy installations have planned a series of ski expositions at all three major Navy bases in the month of November. 

“These expos are designed to be for any of our Sailors interested in winter sports,” Umlor said. “Across the spectrum, we’ve got products, information and resources for beginners all the way to expert skiers and snow-boarders. Everyone who plans on attending one of the three expos will benefit in some way or another.”

“One of our goals was to get retailers, resorts, manufacturers and other industry representatives together at a one-stop information type event,” said Dave Gonzalez, Leisure Services director at Naval Base Kitsap. “We also wanted to promote some new program alignments and operating procedures, particularly along the lines of ski rentals. We redesigned them to make it easier for Sailors to rent their gear directly at the mountains, and not have to make two stops and lug equipment up from individual bases. Our goal was to make the whole ski rental process more user-friendly for our patrons.”

In order to ensure a broad spectrum of participants, the expos are planned to include outside companies like R.E.I., Play-it-Again Sports, Whistler, Mount Baker, and others. For Sailors or authorized users seeking to buy new gear, retailers will also be on hand with special pricing and deals on skis, snowboards and related equipment at each event.

“We’ll also be offering free giveaways, special drawings and door prizes throughout the event,” added Gonzalez . “The goal is to make these expos valuable resources to the ski community or newcomers to the sport throughout the region.”

The expos will also give skiers and boarders an opportunity to sell their own gear through a ski-swap component, said Ken Cornia, outdoor recreation manager at NAS Whidbey Island.

“This is a great addition to the event since people can meet the actual seller, ask them about equipment and, in almost every case, find prices on previously-owned gear that absolutely blows away the cost of new equipment.”

Skiers interested in bringing gear to the gear-swap segment are requested to bring in their equipment 15-minutes before the expos begin. They will be authorized to keep all the proceeds from their sales. 

“It’s a great way for people to liquidate old gear and get some cash for new, more specialized ski equipment,” said Cornia.

To ensure equity, each regional base will be hosting their own event. Ski expos are scheduled for Jackson Park, Naval Base Kitsap, on Monday, Nov. 15, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.; NAS Whidbey’s Nor’Wester Activity Center on Tuesday, Nov 16, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., and at NAVSTA Everett’s Grand Vista room on Wednesday, Nov. 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

One of the main functions of the expos is to introduce local skiers with the area resorts. In the past two seasons, conditions have lasted longer in many areas. It is expected that a healthy snowfall this year may allow enthusiasts to stay on the slopes from mid-November through late April or even early May.

“The dusting of snow we experienced last weekend has really got people excited about this season,” said Dave Swan, outreach specialist at the Alderwood R.E.I. store.

Stevens Pass has already reported a five-inch base, and Crystal Mountain has also been reporting regular snowfall. The regional ski expos will bring a flavor of all the mountains to each Navy base.

“It’s really a great opportunity to take a look at the various mountains and chart out planned trips for the winter,” said Umlor.

Known throughout the nation for its combined nightlife activities and prime skiing opportunities, Whistler-Blackcomb, situated about an hour north of Vancouver, British Columbia, will be just one of the resorts represented at the expos. With more than 8,100 acres of ski terrain, the resort receives an average of 30-feet of snow per season, and with 33 lifts and over 200 different trails to ski, it’s no surprise the site will host the first-ever International World Snowboard Championships in January 2005, along with the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

“This is the caliber of resort that our patrons have access to,” Umlor said. “These expos will introduce some of these resorts to our attendees.”

Attendees will also have the chance to learn about and signup for a number of regional Navy ski trips scheduled throughout the winter. 

“Our Martin Luther King Ski Safari trip is an excellent package deal that we will be promoting,” said Umlor, “In a nutshell, it includes three nights accommodations and three days lift tickets on some of British Columbia’s best interior powder, all for only about $265 dollars per person.”

Prices and details for that trip and other weekly opportunities are available by contacting Outdoor Program’s at each base.

The upcoming regional ski expos are bound to become a regular autumn event before each ski season. Entry is free and all patrons stand the chance to walk away from the expos with free items and possible prizes. Patrons will also learn about discounted lift tickets and information about newly negotiated discount ski and snowboard rentals.

For information about the regional ski expos, contact the following Outdoor Programs offices: NAVSTA Everett, (425) 304-3125; NAS Whidbey, (360) 257-2295; and Naval Base Kitsap, (360) 535-5945.