Photo Courtesy of Michael Lanza

This profile was originally featured in our Spring 2023 Trail Break issue.

“Winter Wildlands Alliance stands alone in its direct efforts to ensure that we can continue enjoying winter landscapes in the ways we love.”

Founder of The Big Outside and former Northwest Editor at Backpacker Magazine, Mike has been an avid backcountry skier for over three decades and an outdoors writer and photographer for more than 25 years.

He first heard of Winter Wildlands Alliance in the 2000’s and immediately loved our commitment to protecting human-powered winter backcountry recreation. He is inspired to protect America’s wild snowscapes because of his love for skiing in the backcountry and sharing those places and experiences with friends and family.

Mike supports WWA’s SnowSchool program because it fosters a sense of wonder and curiosity in kids that they carry forever—an ethic he’s worked to instill in his own kids.