**ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS MARCH 4-6 ** Adirondack guide Phil Brown checks his compass in this Jan. 12, 2006 photo, in the fog while on top of little Haystack Mountain in the Adirondack Mountaina at North Elba, N.Y It's pretty wintry," Brown said. "Look behind you at the fog." For skiers pursuing it, the backcountry offers solitude and adventure. (AP Photo/Michael Virtanen)