Any real skier will tell you: Mountains soaring to 9,000 feet in a high desert usually mean deep, dry “pow-pow.” In layperson terms, that translates to snow—lots of it. Anthony Lakes Ski Area, three hours from Boise (five from Portland), in the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon, has the highest base elevation of any ski resort in the Northwest. Its snow is so light, fluffy, and plentiful that Anthony Lakes is up there with Utah’s famed Alta as another quiet, peaceful, heaven-on-earth for powder-hounds. No Chanel goggles or knee-high Uggs or black Hummers in sight. It may be a bit of a drive from civilization—the home base for skiers, in fact, is the tiny town of Baker City, about 45 minutes away. But those fresh tracks—and rock-bottom lift-ticket prices—make Anthony Lakes worth the trip.