Sometimes the shortest day of the year calls for a late night.

Winter solstice, the day in which the Northern Hemisphere is tilted furthest from the Sun, can be a time to celebrate, reflect or, if you’re lucky, snowboard. Last winter solstice, I was one of the lucky ones. Somewhere off U.S. Route 2 in Washington state’s Cascade Mountains, I made my way to an annual solstice party that’s become a decade-long tradition for friends and neighbors of a boarder named Brian Schaefer. 

Schaefer, a Stevens Pass Ski Resort icon, is the sort of guy who will happily show worthy folks his secret powder stashes, share tips on lesser-known lines, and tell worthwhile substance-fueled stories from his formative years in the Pacific Northwest. He’s also known for throwing great parties. One of the best he puts on is the Solstice Jam. Nothing makes the shortest day on the calendar more exciting than a night of snowboarding with your best friends, except for maybe covering the feature you’re about to hit with gasoline and lighting it on fire.

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