Drew Petersen skis from the tallest peaks in the American West
Drew Petersen is a skier from the American West with adventurous spirit. Born and raised in Colorado, his 2017 was spent traveling the world, including Kyrgyzstan and Switzerland, before heading back home to set out on the next objective: ski from the summit of the 11 highest peaks in the western United States.
Driving more than 10,000 combined miles through Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California, along with photographer Adam Clark, filmmaker Thomas Woodson and friends, Petersen was able to accomplish his goal—but not without hardship.
Suffering injuries and a major scare from a rockfall on Mount Hood, Petersen overcomes the mental obstacles left behind from the incident, eventually completing his goal of climbing and skiing on all 11 peaks.
To make it all happen, Petersen, Clark, Woodson and the rest needed to show skill, finesse and maturity as they hiked through desert and forest, camped on glaciers at high altitudes and accessed skiable routes on mountains across the American West.
For more, take a peek at the gallery of images captured by Petersen, below.
Open road in Nevada leads to the mountains.
On the ridge of Humphreys Peak, Arizona.
Camping in Death Valley.
Exploring the dunes.
Admiring Mt. Whitney and the Sierra Nevada Range from afar.
Taking turns on California’s highest peak.
Traversing Mt. Elbert, Colorado.
Early morning views of Idaho’s Borah Peak.
The stunning mountians of the Lost River Range, Idaho.
Exploring Montana’s Beartooth Mountains.
The placard at the top of Wheeler Peak, New Mexico.
The beginning of sunset in Nevada.
Hiking along the ridge of Wheeler Peak, Nevada, at dusk.
Sun-baked snow and fresh tracks on Wheeler Peak, Nevada.
Approaching the ridge, Nevada.
Turns from the top of Mt. Hood, Oregon.
A view of Wyoming’s Gannett Peak.
Ascending Mt. Rainer, Washington.
One more from the Mt. Rainer approach.
An untouched tundra lies at the base of Gannett Peak, Wyoming.
Laying down lines on Mt. Rainer.
For more, follow Drew on Instagram.
Posted from FREESKIER
