AT the wedding of Andrew McLean and Polly Beth Samuels in the ski town of Alta, Utah, on Feb. 5, several of the young, outdoorsy guests had eyes as violet-blue as hydrangeas.

Lou Dawson, a friend of Mr. McLean and a mountaineer, explained that high altitudes can make your eyes sparkle like fantastic gems.

Mr. McLean, an extreme backcountry skier who spends a great deal of time at very high altitudes, had perhaps the bluest eyes of all. He lives in Salt Lake City, which he uses as a base camp for seeking out the kind of terrain he loves, so steep and icy Mr. McLean said it is like "skiing down the barrel of a giant gun." The bridegroom, who designs mountaineering gear, once climbed 20,320-foot Mount McKinley and skied off the summit.

"Like skiing in outer space," he said.

In 2004, Skiing magazine published a story: 11 Excuses for NOT Skiing With Andrew McLean. No.2 (He'll Dust You) described his scary speed. No.7 (Tragedy Dogs Him) noted that several people have died while skiing with Mr. McLean, including a noted mountaineer, Alex Lowe, in a 1999 Himalayan avalanche.