Cascadia is a project inspired by the light-hearted and relaxed spirit of spring riding. And even though we’re in the thick of a huge winter, it’s something to look forward to. This trip is the brainchild of snowboarder Mike Handford and myself. Gathering friends from far and wide, including Blake Lepper, Lewis Moore, Jess Oundjian and Kenzie Morris, we set off last May on a three-week split-boarding, ski-touring road-trip of the Cascade volcanoes. The plan was to summit and ride a selection of the iconic peaks of northern California, Oregon, and Washington.
We met local snowboarders such as Jeff Steele and Marissa Krawczak, and followed a planned, yet fluid, itinerary that meandered with the fluctuations of weather and whim. In a conscious effort to move away from trips that only chase the craziest lines, the Cascadia team chose to prioritize good times in the mountains, camping out, exchanging tales and sipping beers after a long day in the spring sun.
In the first episode, the Cascadia crew gathers in Santa Cruz, Calif. to plan, prepare and set the precedent for the following weeks. Loading up and setting off, the team convoys north and inland, leaving behind the urban hustle and bustle for a moonlit campsite. Joining company with local split-boarder Jeff Steele, we find our footing on the flanks of Mount Lassen before pushing north into Oregon and setting up camp overlooking the pristine waters of Crater Lake.
