The 10 Snowiest Places on Earth

Jack Frost does more than nip at noses in the world's snowiest places — he unleashes torrents of snow, annually dumping upwards of 56 feet in some spots. 

    
Forecasters surmise that the world's snowiest regions are within the coastal mountains of British Columbia, Canada, and in southern Alaska above 3,000 feet. That said, these assumptions will remain just that for now, as no weather sites exist in these regions to take accurate measurements. With that in mind, we've collected a list of the world's snowiest places based on the greatest average annual snowfall.

Grab your hot cocoa and check through; it's gonna be a chilly ride

•  Japanese Alps, Honshu Island, Japan 

      

Japan might not typically be associated with extreme snowfall, yet the Japanese Alps on Honshu Island rank as the snowiest place on Earth, with average annual snowfalls totalling 1,200 to 1,500 inches. These massive totals occur around the 2,000- to 6,000-feet levels, where it's not uncommon for snow depths to reach more than 465 inches.

In fact, monster snowfalls have become something of a tourist attraction here. A highway known as the Yuki-no-Otani Snow Canyon is kept open, cutting through the mountains and flanked on either side by snow walls more than 30 feet high.

• Paradise Rainier Ranger Station, Mt. Rainier, Washington

     

With average annual snowfalls of 680 inches, the Paradise Ranger Station in Mt. Rainier National Park ranks as North America's snowiest location, and the second snowiest spot on Earth. The ranger station once held a world record for greatest annual snowfall, totalling 1,224.5 inches between 1971 and 1972.

Paradise is the park's main winter-use area, and it's possible for visitors to go snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snow tubing from there. The road into Paradise

remains plowed through the winter, though it's still wise to check road closures before planning a visit

•  Thompson Pass, Alaska

 

The 2,805-foot-high gap in Alaska's Chugach Mountains known as Thompson Pass records average annual snowfall totals of 552 inches. The spot also holds two records: the most snow to ever fall in one location in Alaska, in a season with 974.5 inches in the winter of 1952 to 1953; and Alaska's biggest single-day snowfall of 62 inches on December 29, 1955.

The Pass is kept open year-round, though keeping it accessible is an arduous task. Popular tourist activities in the region include heliskiing and snowboarding. Still, avalanches are common in the region, and each year

tourists are killed. The Valdez Avalanche Center provides regular danger reports. 

• Mt. Baker, Washington 

 
Some of North America's deepest snowfall tallies occur in Washington state. With an annual average snowfall of 530 inches, Mt. Baker easily ranks as one of world's snowiest places. Located in the North Cascades, Baker is a thermally active volcanic crater, and second only to Mount Saint Helens in activity levels.

Mt. Baker has become a popular ski destination, and in particular, the Mt. Baker Ski Area. During the 1998 to 1999 season, more than 1,100 inches of snow fell, breaking a world record for seasonal snowfall. 

•  Crater Lake, Oregon  

       

Crater Lake, located in Crater Lake National Park, is tied for fourth place on our list with 530 inches of average annual snowfall. The lake is known primarily for its stunning blue color and surrounding landscape but it's also recognized as one of North America's snowiest spots. The national park is open year-round, and in winter, visitors can explore the lake's surroundings by taking part in ranger-led snowshoe hikes, as well as cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. 

•  Alta, Utah

           

Utah's tiny town of Alta may have a mere 383 residents, but it tips the scales with its massive 516-inch average annual snowfall. The excellent snowy conditions have made the town a popular ski destination, luring a half million visitors to its fabled powder each season.

Alta Ski Resort gained notoriety among snow sports enthusiasts for its ban on snowboarding; the move may seem exclusionary, but it has been a major selling point for ski purists visiting the mountain.

•  Soda Springs, California

   

The small community of Soda Springs, Calif., is located just three miles from the infamous Donner Pass and 26 miles from Lake Tahoe. It sees an annual average snowfall of 471 inches. The town's major tourist attraction is the Soda Springs Ski Resort, often considered a low-cost, low-key alternative to Tahoe-area ski resorts. 

•  Tamarack, California

       

The community of Tamarack, Calif., sits at 6,913 feet and sees average annual snowfall totals of 445 inches. Visitors can explore Tamarack through a variety of winter activities, like cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and dog sledding. Check with the Sierra National Forest High Sierra Ranger District for road closures or accessibility issues before visiting.

 

•  Stampede Pass, Washington

       
 Stampede Pass in Washington's Cascade Range gets 442 inches of annual average snowfall. It's a popular recreation spot. Visitors can head to Meany Lodge, operated by the non-profit Mountaineers. The resort features the longest rope tow west of the Rocky Mountains and no fewer than 32 downhill runs. 

•  Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado

        

Wolf Creek Pass sits high in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado at an elevation of 10,857 feet. It has annual average snowfalls totalling 436 inches. The pass is home to the Wolf Creek Ski Area, which, not surprisingly, receives more snow than any other ski resort in Colorado. The area includes 77 trails, including the Navajo Trail, a lengthy two-mile run.

•  Silver Lake, Brighton, Utah

      
 Brighton in Utah's Silver Lake region averages 429 inches of snowfall annually. During the winter, Silver Lake is part of the Solitude Nordic Center's system of cross-country skiing trails. The lake is also circled by a boardwalk, and during warmer seasons, it makes for a scenic 30-minute hike around the perimeter.

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7 Things Only People Who Are Trying To Lose Weight Understand

Trying to lose weight -- whether it's to boost heart health, keep sleep apnea at bay or have more energy -- has unique challenges in our super-sized society.

That doesn't mean shedding pounds is impossible: As participants in our I Lost Weight series constantly remind us, a nutritious diet, physical activity, sound sleep and other lifestyle tweaks can result in big changes.

Along the way, many weight-loss journeyers learn valuable lessons they may not have known otherwise. We asked our Facebook fans and Twitter followers who are trying to shed a few pounds to chime in with some of those truths. Here are a few of our favorites.

If you're in the midst of a weight-loss journey, you know...

1. That we are being careful with what we choose to eat and don't want to be pressured to go off the wagon. --Maureen Lyons-Brennan


2. Trying to resist candy and food at the office. Such a challenge. --Stephanie Weingart


3. It's as much an emotional battle as a physical one. --Brandy Bender


4. Every choice, big or small, with regards to food and lifestyle is magnified. --C Kelly Skoczdopole


5. The crankiness!! LOL --A Yoga Movement


6. That not everyone's body is the same and it may take longer for you to see results. --Cari Olea



 
7. Temptation to smells and other people eating food we need to avoid. --Bobbin Bergstrom

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10 Surprising Sets of Celebrities You Had No Idea Were Related

Despite the many high-profile celebrity families out there (the Hemsworths, anyone?), there are some familial Hollywood relationships that are less well-known. Here are 10 sets of celebs whose just-as-famous relatives may blow your mind. (We can only imagine what these family reunions are like.)

Jenny McCarthy and Melissa McCarthy

Jamie McCarthy, Getty Images/Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images

Yes, blonde bombshell Jenny McCarthy and the incredibly hilarious Melissa McCarthy share the same last name, but did you know that the two actresses are actually first cousins? It's true. Their dads are brothers. Jenny even came to her cousin's defense after critics slammed ELLE Magazine for "covering up" Melissa on the front cover. "Guess what? She looks gorgeous," Jenny shot back at nay-sayers while on her talk show, 'The View.' "Second, McCarthy girls, no one's gonna make us wear anything we don't want to wear." You tell 'em, cuz.

  Peyton and Eli Manning and Taryn Manning

Jason Merritt, Getty Images/Ilya S. Savenok, Getty Images

It's common knowledge that the Manning brothers come from a famous, football-playing family (dad Archie was also an NFL quarterback and older brother Cooper was a star football player in college), but the quarterback brothers also have another famous relative: actress Taryn Manning. Taryn, who is most known for her roles in the 2003 Britney Spears movie 'Crossroads,' and as Pennsatucky on 'Orange is the New Black,' is Peyton and Eli's second cousin. Her late father, Bill, was first cousins with their dad, Archie.

Spencer and Abigail Breslin

Neilson Barnard, Getty Images

Spencer Breslin and Abigail Breslin were both child stars in their own right, but who knew the two were actually brother and sister? Spencer, the older of the two, was known for his roles in 'The Kid,' 'The Cat in the Hat,' and two of 'The Santa Clause' films, while younger sister Abigail broke out in 'Little Miss Sunshine' and has moved on to such films as 'August: Osage County.' The pair also have another brother, Ryan, who is currently starring in 'Newsies' on Broadway.

Justin Bieber and Ryan Gosling/Avril Lavigne/Celine Dion

Frazer Harrison/Stephen Lovekin/Jeff Schear/Larry Busacca, Getty Images

Oh, Canada! It's almost too good to be true, but Justin Bieber is actually distant cousins with fellow Canadian superstars Ryan Gosling, Avril Lavigne and Celine Dion. (Still breathing?) Genealogists at Ancestry.com discovered the connection while tracing Bieber's family origins and revealed the news to the public in October 2012. The Biebs and Gosling are 11th cousins once removed, and he and Lavigne are 12th cousins. All three of them are all related through a French couple who settled in Quebec in the early 1600s. Bieber and Dion are 10th cousins three times removed, and are related through a different French couple who also came to Quebec in the 1600s. We can only imagine the family reunion.

Jason Sudeikis and George Wendt

Jonathan Leibson, Getty Images/Michael Loccisano, Getty Images

They're both successful comedic actors and starred on long-running comedy shows (Sudeikis on 'SNL' and Wendt on 'Cheers'), but we were still shocked when we found out that the beer-guzzling "Norm!" is actually Jason Sudeikis' uncle (his mother's brother). "The advice he gave me, and I say this jokingly, is 'Get on one of the best sitcoms of all time and then ride it out,'" the 'We're The Millers' star has said about the guidance that his uncle offered him. Oh, Norm.

 Kirk and Candace Cameron

Win McNamee, Getty Images/Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images

Kirk Cameron and little sis Candace Cameron had late '80s/early '90s sitcoms on lock, with the older Cameron starring as heartthrob Mike Seaver on 'Growing Pains,' while Candace warmed our hearts as DJ Tanner on 'Full House.' At the height of his fame, Kirk even guest-starred on an episode of 'Full House' as DJ's cool older cousin. Now in their 30s, both Kirk and Candace are married with children and are devout Christians.

 Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez

Jason Merritt, Getty Images/Michael Loccisano, Getty Images

This one might be the most well-known on the list, but some are still shocked upon finding out that actors Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez are brothers. (Dad is Martin Sheen.) While older brother Emilio (most famous for his roles in 'The Breakfast Club' and 'The Mighty Ducks') chose to keep his given name, Charlie (born Carlos Estevez) followed in his father's footsteps and adopted the stage name Charlie Sheen. Both brothers bare a strong resemblance to their father, and even starred in several films together in the late '80s and early '90s, including 'Wisdom, 'Young Guns,' 'Men at Work' and 'Rated X.'

Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson

Rick Diamond, Getty Images

Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson share much more than just country music superstar status -- the two are now officially related! After marrying husband Brandon Blackstock in 2013, Kelly is now Reba's stepdaughter-in-law. (Reba has been married to Blackstock's father since 1989.) That's one country Christmas we'd love to be invited to.

 Al Roker and Lenny Kravitz

Rob Kim, Getty Images/Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Surprise! 'Today Show' weatherman Al Roker and 'American Woman' singer (and 'Hunger Games' actor) Lenny Kravitz are cousins, Roker revealed in 2011. The talented pair, whose grandfathers were cousins, are pretty impressed with the connection themselves. "All I know is I'm going with it," Roker has said. "Kids think it's cool." That we do, Al. That we do.

Snoop Dogg and Brandy Norwood

Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images/Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images

Talent must run in the family! Snoop Dogg (er, Snoop Lion) is first cousins with 'Have You Ever' singer Brandy. Both artists burst onto the R&B/rap scene in the '90s, but kept their familial relationship on the down-low for a while. "We never really told the world because we weren’t trippin’ off of that, but that’s my family," Snoop Dogg told MTV in 2006.

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Ten Things Never to Do in China

This article may save you from certain embarrassment and possibly even outright humiliation one day. It gives you ten important tips on what not to do if you really want to win friends and make a good impression with your Chinese acquaintances. Take these tips to heart.

Never accept a compliment graciously
You may find yourself at a loss for words when you compliment a Chinese host on a wonderful meal, and you get in response, "No, no, the food was really horrible." You hear the same thing when you tell a Chinese parent how smart or handsome his son is — he meets the compliment with a rebuff of "No, he's really stupid" or "He's not good looking at all." These people aren't being nasty . . . just humble and polite. Moral of the story here: Feign humility, even if it kills you! A little less boasting and fewer self-congratulatory remarks go a long way towards scoring cultural sensitivity points with the Chinese.

Never make someone lose face
The worst thing you can possibly do to Chinese acquaintances is publicly humiliate or otherwise embarrass them. Doing so makes them lose face. Don't point out a mistake in front of others or yell at someone.

The good news is that you can actually help someone gain face by complimenting them and giving credit where credit is due. Do this whenever the opportunity arises. Your graciousness is much appreciated.

Never get angry in public
Public displays of anger are frowned upon by the Chinese and are most uncomfortable for them to deal with — especially if the people getting angry are foreign tourists, for example. This goes right along with making someone (usually the Chinese host) lose face, which you should avoid at all costs. The Chinese place a premium on group harmony, so foreigners should try to swallow hard, be polite, and cope privately.

Never address people by their first names first
Chinese people have first and last names like everyone else. However, in China, the last name always comes first. The family (and the collective in general) always takes precedence over the individual. Joe Smith in Minnesota is known as Smith Joe (or the equivalent) in Shanghai. If a man is introduced to you as Lî Míng, you can safely refer to him as Mr. Lî (not Mr. Míng).

Unlike people in the West, the Chinese don't feel very comfortable calling each other by their first names. Only family members and a few close friends ever refer to the man above, for example, as simply "Míng." They may, however, add the prefix lâo (laow; old) or xiâo (shyaow; young) before the family name to show familiarity and closeness. Lâo Lî (Old Lî) may refer to his younger friend as Xiâo Chén (Young Chén).
Never take food with the wrong end of your chopsticks

The next time you gather around a dinner table with a Chinese host, you may discover that serving spoons for the many communal dishes are non-existent. This is because everyone serves themselves (or others) by turning their chopsticks upside down to take food from the main dishes before putting the food on the individual plates.

Never drink alcohol without first offering a toast
Chinese banquets include eight to ten courses of food and plenty of alcohol. Sometimes you drink rice wine, and sometimes you drink industrial strength Máo Tái, known to put a foreigner or two under the table in no time. One way to slow the drinking is to observe Chinese etiquette by always offering a toast to the host or someone else at the table before taking a sip yourself. This not only prevents you from drinking too much too quickly, but also shows your gratitude toward the host and your regard for the other guests. If someone toasts you with a "gân bçi," (gahn bay) however, watch out.

Gân bçi means "bottoms up," and you may be expected to drink the whole drink rather quickly. Don't worry. You can always say "shuí yì" (shway ee; as you wish) in return and take just a little sip instead.

Never let someone else pay the bill without fighting for it
Most Westerners are stunned the first time they witness the many fairly chaotic, noisy scenes at the end of a Chinese restaurant meal. The time to pay the bill has come and everyone is simply doing what they're expected to do — fight to be the one to pay it. The Chinese consider it good manners to vociferously and strenuously attempt to wrest the bill out of the very hands of whoever happens to have it. This may go on, back and forth, for a good few minutes, until someone "wins" and pays the bill. The gesture of being eager and willing to pay is always appreciated.

Never show up empty handed
Gifts are exchanged frequently between the Chinese, and not just on special occasions. If you have dinner in someone's house to meet a prospective business partner or for any other pre-arranged meeting, both parties commonly exchange gifts as small tokens of friendship and good will. Westerners are often surprised at the number of gifts the Chinese hosts give. The general rule of thumb is to bring many little (gender non-specific) gifts when you travel to China. You never know when you'll meet someone who wants to present you with a special memento, so you should arrive with your own as well.

Never accept food, drinks, or gifts without first refusing a few times
No self-respecting guests immediately accept whatever may be offered to them in someone's home. No matter how much they may be eager to accept the food, drink, or gift, proper Chinese etiquette prevents them from doing anything that makes them appear greedy or eager to receive it, so be sure to politely refuse a couple of times.

Never take the first "No, thank you" literallyChinese people automatically refuse food or drinks several times — even if they really feel hungry or thirsty. Never take the first "No, thank you" literally. Even if they say it once or twice, offer it again. A good guest is supposed to refuse at least once, but a good host is also supposed to make the offer at least twice.

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