Hello, My name is Matthew Bedrin and I want to complete a life dream of mine and be the first person to climb and ski the 40 highest Cascade volcanoes in one year.  Having been on skis since the age of two, I define my life in the terms of skiing.  The Bill Koch Ski League, NCAA, Randonee races, mountain guiding, coaching, ski mountaineering, and chasing powder have inspired me to attempt Skiing Cascadia.

In 1998 I moved to Portland, Oregon to study Naturopathic medicine.  After three fun-filled years I decided playing and working in the outdoors was a truer fit.  My studies now focused on staying safe and alive in remote locations.  I am a certified Wilderness First Responder; I have completed Avalanche II training, and have completed a weeklong ski guide course with the American Mountain Guide Association.  Further training and experience was gained while working for Oregon Peak Adventures, Julee’s Gorge Tours, Portland Parks and Recreation, Mt. Hood and Portland Community Colleges.  I will now test myself on Cascades top 40.

The Cascade Volcanic Arc spans roughly 800 miles from California, through Oregon and Washington, into British Columbia. The strata/shield volcanoes were created by the subduction of the Explorer, Gorda, and Juan de Fuca Plates beneath the North American Plate along the Cascadia Subduction Zone. As weather and snow conditions allow, I will begin climbing and skiing the peaks. Grouped into 24 or so 1-5 peak stages. Returning to Portland between stages will allow me to continue teaching backcountry ski classes, editing video from my home office, and resupplying teammates and gear as needed.

Starting with the first clear window on or after January 1, 2010. Aiming for the bulk of the climbs to be completed during the late winter/ early spring, with the season worth of maritime snowpack, longer days, and stabilizing weather patterns. The year round ski season of the Pacific Northwest will be key to the success the project. The Summer and Fall may serve as time to complete unfinished ski routes.

Most climate models show sharp declines in spring snowpack in the Pacific Northwest over the next 40 or so years. Although there may still be skiing, ski descents, including those that make Skiing Cascadia possible, may become jeopardized. Loss of snowpack and glacial retreat are likely to have severe impacts on people, fish, and wildlife in the Pacific Northwest. Protecting and sharing the continual snowpack is vital to the heart of Skiing Cascadia.

While there is still time and a plentiful snowpack I want to do what I love to protect what I love. My goal is to help The Surfrider Foundation’s Snowrider Project and the Center for Biological Diversity raise membership and money.

I hope to raise awareness of how people use and take advantage of our mountain environment through salting summer snow, the toxicity of ski waxes and leaving waste and debris on the mountain. I also want to raise awareness of the impacts of global warming on the environment, including declining spring snowpack, retreat of glaciers and decreased stream flows.

I want to inspire others to use their bodies and minds to respect, explore, and protect our big and beautiful backyard.

Go to here to learn more.