ACCT CONFERENCE AND EXPO, Portland, Ore. Feb. 9-12

Nearly 800 aerial adventure operators, builders, experts, and vendors came together at the 33rd annual Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) International Conference and Expo in Portland, Ore., Feb. 9-12, 2023. 1. Jack Fagone and Katie Brinton of SAM Magazine and Adventure Park Insider (yes, we publish Adventure Park Insider too!) chat with Scott Baker of Tree Solutions Inc. 2. The guys from CLIMB Works and Hackwell Innovations, (left to right) Jesse McVey, Nick Thompson, Ethan Ayers, and Tommy Cooper, hit the tradeshow floor. 3. Senior editor Katie Brinton with CLiC-IT’s Henri De Rocca, discussing the company’s C-Pass continuous belay system (behind), designed to prevent zip line collisions. 

 JAY PEAK RESORT MEDIA EVENT, Jay, Vt., March 6

Jay Peak’s new owners Pacific Group Resorts, Inc., invited industry media to come connect, explore the mountain, and learn about future developments at Vermont’s northernmost resort. 1. SAM and the rest of the media crew enjoyed a bluebird day at Jay. 2. The iconic Jay bus at the Stateside Lodge. 3. PGRI’s Christian Knapp takes laps with SAM contributor Josh Laskin.

BLUEBIRD BACKCOUNTRY MEDIA EVENT, Kremmling, Colo., March 9-10

Bluebird Backcountry hosted several media members at the ski area to experience first-hand how Bluebird is making backcountry skiing safer and more accessible. 1. SAM research editor Jack Fagone takes a selfie with Holly Battista-Resignolo, Mountain Town Magazine; Helen Olsson, PEAK Magazine; and Aunika Skogen, Snowbrains, at the top of West Bowl, one of the many backcountry zones at Bluebird. 2. The group makes its way up the Meat Hill skin track. 3. The crew enjoys an amazing meal prepared by Bluebrid co-founder/co-owner Jeff Woodward and his wife Amelia Altavena in the ski area’s largest dome, “Basecamp Central.” 4. Overnight accommodations at Bluebird Backcountry offer basic amenities like lighting, power, comfortable beds, and wood stoves and diesel generators for heat.

MOUNTAIN CREEK SNO-GO DEMO DAY, Vernon, N.J., March 11

SAM went on the road to Mountain Creek, N.J., to check out its ticketless guest experience and demo a SNO-GO bike. 1. Shaun Cattanach of SNO-GO, with Evan Kovach and Joe Hession of Mountain Creek, and SAM ‘s Olivia Rowan . 2. Olivia Rowan checking in with the resort’s ticketless hosts and comparing outfits. 3. Rob Aseltine and Shaun Cattanach of SNO-GO with SAM ‘s Sharon Walsh. 4. The SNO-GO was “fun and easy to pick up!” according to Rowan. 5. The SAM team timed its visit with a March storm, and enjoyed that elusive thing called “fresh snow,” which was rare this season in the East.

SKI VERMONT PRESS DAY, Killington Resort, Killington, Vt., March 21

Ski Vermont invited media and Vermont resort representatives to Killington Resort in March to tour the new K-1 Lodge, explore the mountain, and learn about the resort’s upcoming multi-million-dollar village project . 1. SAM contributor Bob Curley, Killington’s Kristel Killary and Mike Solimano, SAM ’s Sarah Wojcik, and Great Gulf’s Michael Sneyd. 2. Ski Vermont’s communications manager Bryan Rivard with SAM contributor Iseult Devlin. 3. The ski media group hits the Woodward Park with guides from the resort. 4. Guests learn about the future development of Six Peaks Killington, a ski-in, ski-out luxury development and village at the base of the resort from developer Michael Sneyd and Killington president Mike Solimano.

MOUNTAIN TRAVEL SYMPOSIUM, Banff, Alberta, Canada, March 26-31

Mountain Travel Symposium, the longest running annual gathering of mountain travel professionals in the world, welcomed more than 1,000 representatives from 35+ countries to Banff. 1. The Young Leaders Summit gathered upcoming industry leaders under 35 years old to explore industry topics and focus on their professional development and leadership skills. 2. NSAA’s Adrienne Saia Isaac delivers a presentation about NSAA’s climate advocacy work.