I first met Jorge Kozulj in the lobby of a small hotel in Ushuaia, Argentina in 2009. We were gathered for an introductory guide meeting with Ice Axe Expeditions, discussing logistics for our ski cruise to Antarctica.

On the West Coast, snow it starting to fly, and early season skintracks have been set. In the East, despite unseasonably warm weather, skiers are preparing for what they hope to be a rapidly approaching winter.

A new three-part webisode series out this fall—directed by Sam Davies and produced by Burlington, Vt.’s Outdoor Gear Exchange—celebrates female empowerment to inspire women to look for bigger lines and expand their comfort zones.

After riding nearly 10 kilometers up the river valley, the horses thrash through belly-deep snowdrifts. The brushy lowlands give way to old-growth forest, and we transition to skis while Alfredo and the horses return to the estancia. We’ve ridden farther than expected, and after just an hour’s climb, a small cabin appears at the mouth of a clearing.

“I look for gear that is light enough to not compromise how it handles the terrain and conditions, which is the sole purpose for skiing.”

Chris Prior, the longtime splitboard innovator and owner of the eponymous, Whistler, B.C.-based ski and snowboard brand, passed away suddenly on Sunday, October 15. According to a statement released by Prior Ski & Snowboard Manufactory that confirmed Prior’s passing, a memorial for their friend, mentor and colleague will take place at the Prior factory in the upcoming days.

I’d been intrigued by the 10,499-foot Paso de los Liberatadores—a mountain pass linking Chile and Argentina—ever since two friends sent photos from their cross-continental South American bike tour three years ago. The dizzying zigzag road on the Chilean side is the type of engineering marvel I’d expect to feature in a Discovery Channel special.