Backcountry Powder Park

“Park features with powder landings” — that’s the premise at Smith Optics’ private freeride paradise, a Snowcat operation in the mountains 30 minutes from its corporate office in Sun Valley, Idaho. The 800-acre park is on the site of an old mining claim. It is open to Smith athletes and employees for photo shoots, product testing, and other forms of tomfoolery. It has 32 features that incorporate the terrain as well as the remains of industry left in the hills. To show it off, Smith has produced a series of web videos, “Prospecting Idaho,” released this month. A teaser is below. Go to http://vimeo.com/16904508 for the complete dish. —Stephen Regenold