Chasing Henry

Chasing Henry
At Crystal Mountain, WA, there’s no better place than Chair 6 on a powder day. Photo: Jason Hummel
Words: Lily Krass Ritter

"Southback is open!” Henry pointed behind us on the two-seater chair. “We have to take Max out there.”

It was late December and it had been dumping for days. Southback, Crystal Mountain, WA’s hike-to terrain, had been closed the day prior. But my little brother was right—patrol had indeed dropped the gate, and we were in the perfect position at the top of Chair 6.

I hadn’t been back to my home mountain in almost eight years, a number I couldn’t believe when I skimmed through my calendar. My husband, Max, was there, too, for the first time. Henry couldn’t wait to show him around.