Mountain Towns
Kalpa, Himachal Pradesh, Between the Apple Harvest and the First Snow
On a terraced slope at 2,960 m above the Sutlej, a Kinnauri village of 1,400 takes its annual rest. A report from the deodar groves below the Kinnaur Kailash range.
Section
Mountain Towns
Chamonix in October, Ouray Colorado in mud season, Mürren before the lifts, Talkeetna in early spring.
Mountain Towns
Leavenworth, Washington, After the Icicle Creek Climbers Leave
Between the last spring climbers in Icicle Canyon and the arrival of summer tourists for the Bavarian-themed village, the small Cascade town of 2,200 has perhaps three quiet weeks. A report from Front Street and the canyon trailheads.
Mountain Towns
Courmayeur, Italy, in Late Spring
Between the close of the ski lifts on the Cresta d'Arp and the opening of the via ferrata routes above Val Vény, a town of 2,800 at the foot of Mont Blanc takes its annual breath. A report from the Via Roma and the Skyway terminal.
Mountain Towns
Wānaka, New Zealand, Before the Ski Season
On the south island, between the late autumn hikers and the first ski-field opening, a lake town of 9,000 takes a brief pause. A report from the Cardrona road and the Mount Aspiring National Park gateway.
Mountain Towns
Talkeetna, Alaska, in March Before Climbing Season
Six weeks before the first Denali expeditions arrive, the small town at the end of the spur road is busy with snow machines and quiet about what is coming. A report from the Roadhouse and the airstrip.
Mountain Towns
Mürren Before the Lifts Open, in Late Autumn
On a car-free shelf at 1,650 m, an Oberland village waits out the six-week gap between summer hikers and the first skiers. A report from the Hotel Eiger and the train down to Lauterbrunnen.
Mountain Towns
Ouray, Colorado, in Mud Season
Between the last ice climbs of March and the first dry rock of June, the small box-canyon town of 980 people empties out. A report from the Ouray Brewery and the canyon above it.
Mountain Towns
Chamonix in October, Off-Season
Between the last alpinists of summer and the first skiers of winter, the valley empties for six weeks. A report from the rue du Docteur Paccard and the small huts above it.