Zach Paley

Our third Conditions Reporter of the Week is Zach Paley, who is always reporting for us from the more remote corners of the world - sometimes in the form of powder-filled Japan CRs, sometimes with longer, personal travel stories from Lyngen, Argentina, or Kyrgyzstan.

Our traveling reporter Zach Paley reports from Japan for the last time this season. As has been the case all winter, the conditions are changeable and you have to work harder for the powder turns than usual in Japan. Nevertheless, every now and then you are richly rewarded. Next stop for Zach: Alaska.

October can be a difficult month in Argentina. As if on cue, the country realizes winter in the northern hemisphere is near, and that it's time for a change in seasons. Chairlifts close, temperatures rise, and snow retreats up the mountainsides. Walking farther and farther in shoes each day gives one plenty of time to ponder their situation, and the farfetched nature of their pursuits.

This time, Zach Paley's Las Leñas diary is all about the weather forecast: if the only thing you can rely on is that you can't rely on it, you'll just have to make up your own mind when skiing.

Zach Paley reports on fresh snow and tense bad weather boredom in Las Leñas.

It seems everyone comes out to play in the summer. Even those of us that love the snow find other ways to stay entertained in the mountains. For a while, it seems winter can be forgotten. Though for some, something is missing.

It's safe to say there's been no shortage of media coming from Japan this winter. Unless you've been living under a rock, someone, somewhere has told you just how good it is in the land of the rising sun. Frankly, I'm sick of it. I enjoy skiing deep powder in the trees, but it doesn't get me as excited as adventures in bigger mountains.

Zach Paley, a passionate year-round skier, has already spent his second spring in Norway and at least part of it on the Vulkana ski touring boat. Board, lodging and powder in exchange for helping with guest support and on board. A worthwhile deal for everyone, at least in Zach's opinion...!

Winter also ended early in Norway. Zach Paley and his ski friends took advantage of the stable good weather in May for an extended camping and couloir session in the Lyngen Alps...

It wasn't that giving chase to the dark horse was wearing me through. And by no means did I feel I'd explored most of what it had to give. Sometimes, one needs to take a step back, and regain appreciation what they already have, no matter how fickle its tendencies.

I've not been on land much lately. With a bonus trip unexpectedly added to my schedule, the past two weeks have been anything but full of rest and skiing the photogenic terrain I seek in Lyngen. Flat light and terrain drive the mind to wander towards bigger things. That said, the skiing has, finally, been pretty good.

Just like last winter (2013), Zach Paley will once again be reporting on his tours and trips through the magical Lyngen Alps in Norway. Even though the conditions in late winter 2014 are significantly worse than a year ago (but which northern Alps skier needs to be told that?), Zach will once again inform the PowderGuide readership about his experiences and solo expeditions with his trip reports, which are well worth seeing and reading. We are already looking forward to it and hope that Zach's winter will continue...