Sheltered by some of the highest coastal mountains in the world, Haines, Alaska is where the road ends and the ocean and mountains collide.
It is that special locale where the world's best skiers and snowboarders migrate every spring searching for those fleeting moments when a dark cold winter gives way to a magical playground.
Access is provided by helicopter but success is determined by the strength of the team and there is no substitute for experience. The strategy is simple – start small and finish big.
Fortunately, we had all day to work up to this special moment in time as we stood on the adjacent ridgeline waiting for the light to fill.
It wasn't until two hours prior to sunset that Mother Nature revealed her perfect canvas, a massive wall of razor sharp striations from top to bottom through and through. The contrast between the brilliant beams of light and the dark troughs was mesmerizing, luring skier Sam Cohen to dance with danger. It's no wonder this descent is called ‘Sexy Spines’.
