The fabled Mount Washington snowpack had recently shrunk due to a searingly sunny stretch of 16 degrees on the mountaintop. This meant that a lot of really interesting terrain -- an expert's back-country powder bowl called the Outback, for example -- was closed on our visit. A chagrined PR director Brent Curtain said all they needed was one good snow day and the whole mountain would be back in business. And a week later, they'd had another 50 cm and counting. But with only two hours to ski, it didn't really matter. Without the Outback, the 30-year-old Mount Washington skews family-friendly, with about 60 trails, and lift tickets at $59 ($44 for a half day). Down the road, too, is a beautiful cross-country ski centre called Raven Lodge, with panoramic views and 55 kilometres of terrain you'd never find on the prairies. Our first few alpine runs were long and easy, but when we ventured off the groomed areas, the solid-chunk moguls were just scary. As the day warmed up, the slopes softened and became much more malleable and fun. It was really tough to turn in those skis and head down for lunch and tee time...

I liked Brent Curtain's reaction when asked if he'd ever done anything similar. "I could, but why would I?" he laughed. "I don't have to. I live here."

[Don Lockwood]'s one of the founders of "Canada's premier multi-sport team relay event" (who knew?), where nine-member teams start atop Mount Washington skiing, then running, cycling, kayaking, canoeing... the Snow to Surf Adventure Relay, get it? (www.snowtosurf.com) This year it's Apr. 19.