Tomorrow is Race Day!

The Wasatch Back Relay I am competing in starts tomorrow, bright and early. This is the race that I have been training for for the past few months. I am competing with a team of 12. My team, Backcountry.com, is running the entire race donned in outdoor gear, which will make the already difficult race even harder. After I have re-couped from the race I'll post the details on how it went.

Winter's Conclusion

Winter has officially ended here in the Wasatch Range. The clouds now bring rain in lieu of snow. this time of year is a highlight for me...a chance to look back on what I've experienced, learned, and could have done better. It is a time of both sadness and rejoicing. It is always hard when ski season ends, but paddling and canyoneering season is right around the corner.

This winter brought many "firsts" into my life. I did my first solo ascent/ski descent on a peak reaching over 11,000 ft. This leaves only King's Peak for next season (the highest peak in the state at 13,528 ft). I toured with Bruce Tremper, a legend in the backcountry skiing world and author of "Surviving in Avalanche Terrain". He literally wrote the book on staying alive while skiing the gnarliest lines in the world. This allowed me to take my backcountry safety skills and knowledge to a new level. 2 years in the making, I finally took my passion for climbing rock to a new realm. Ice climbing one of the hardest multi-pitch routes in the area was one of the most difficult and rewarding challenges I have ever undertaken. I pushed myself to new heights every week of the 07/08 season and never looked back. I pushed my limits every day and the results were unexplainable in words or text. I felt connections and feelings that will be hard to beat.

Overall, I am satisfied with my personal accomplishments this past winter. Even with all of the terrain I covered this year, it is satisfying to know that there will always be a higher peak to climb and a burlier line to ski. Until then, you can find me paddling on secluded rivers or exploring slot canyons rarely seen by human eyes, all the while waiting for that first snowflake of the new season to fall.

Long time - Update

Long time since the ol' blog has been updated...Its been a pretty busy spring for me, so here's the update:

March was visitation month for the Petway house. Grunke came out for a long weekend, and we had an awesome time catching up and rippin' the slopes. A couple of days at the canyons, followed by a blue bird day at Alta. When are you comin' back man? :)

Tasha and Leeanne "Blazer" Friese came to visit shortly after the Grunk man left. We had almost a full week's worth of debauchery before they had to fly home. My cousin Will also stopped by for a few days during the same week. Good times!

A day or so after Tasha and Lee left, Bri and I flew to Puerto rico to surf and catch up with Rusty for my birthday. What a trip! The surfing conditions were unreal, and I can't wait to go back in the fall. Russell and Lauren were AMAZING hosts. The Easter Bunny even managed to find us somehow all the way down in Puerto Rico.

Shortly after we got back from Puerto Rico, I finally gave in and decided it was time to buy a motorcycle. It has been a blast so far, and its even proving itself to be practical with gas prices around $4 in Park City.

The sun is shining in Park City now, and the mercury is rising. I may have a couple of ski days left in me, but they will be in shorts and a t-shirt. I am in a 180 mile adventure race in June, so most of my time will now be devoted to distance training...if I can muster up the motivation. I hope everyone is doing well...more posts to come as my summer adventures begin.

Puerto Rico

We returned safe and sounds from our surf trip in Puerto Rico. Look for an update soon, but for now my creative juices are zapped...

Uber Weekend

This past weekend was definitely action packed! Saturday's rigorous all-day tour opened my eyes to some of the best views that can be found in the entire state, especially the way I got to personally witness them. The destination was Castle Peak in the Uinta Mountain Range. The ascent was a mix of ski touring and mountaineering. I hit the trail head around 1:40 and began the climb. I met a couple celebrating their 2nd honeymoon as they parked next my Tacoma. We chit chatted as we both got our gear together and learned that they were going about half way to the mountain to the Castle Yurt, a luxurious Yurt that can be rented out nightly. I soon blew by them on the skin track, adrenaline pumping. The peak was not in my view yet, but I really cranked up the speed in anticipation of my first sighting of Castle Peak.

If summited, this would be a new personal best for me. Castle Peak tops out at 10,226 ft. The highest I had previously been was just over 9,600 ft. The forecast was supposed to be sunny, but the burning beauty was nowhere in sight. The sky was gloomy and dark gray. After about an hour and a half of determined skinning, I finally got my first view of the peak. Due to the fog and cloud cover, it suddenly appeared out of nowhere as I topped out on the southeastern ridge that had been my approach route. The traditional approach continued up the ridge and then circled around the mountain as it reached the top. I, however, caught a glimpse of a do-able "shortcut" and headed straight for it. I bootpacked about 100 yards up the face until it became too steep to climb without aid. this is where things got interesting. I dug an avy pit at the base of the steep incline and dawned my crampons and ice axe.

Due to the 8+ feet of snow we had received in the past 13 days, the warming temps, and severe windblown drifts, safety was my main concern. When traveling solo, one mistake could literally be my last. Thankfully the sun-baked snow had bonded well and the avy danger seemed to be more than manageable. I was only about 60 meters from the summit and would have been devastated if I would have had to bail. While it can be frustrating, turning around is sometimes the only way you will have a chance to re-try the ascent on a different day. After a careful assessment, I decided it was totally safe to proceed. The final face was a mix of neve crust snow, ice, and rock. The crampons and axe turned out to be priceless as I mix-climbed the final 20 meters to the top.

About an hour after switching to mountaineering gear, I had reached the peak. My altimeter (which is never 100% accurate due to barometric pressure changes) read 10, 212 ft at 1:54 pm. The USGS survey claims the spot I was standing on to be 10,226 ft so it was pretty close regardless of the low pressure. I was literally screaming with excitement, as I had never summited a peak this high with nothing but determination and human power. The views were indescribable. I have included a few pictures, but they hardly do it justice. The sun had peeked it's rays out onto the neighboring Wasatch Range while I was still covered in dark gray clouds. The result: an absolutely majestic view (click on the top photo) of my home mountain range a few miles away that mimicked landscapes from computer generated movie backgrounds. I enjoyed the views, solitude, and sense of accomplishment by having a quick lunch on the peak. Snow was boiled for water, and it was time to head down.

The following descent was almost as good as the climb. While the snow was a little crusty up top from the heat, my K2 Seth's dug in perfectly for the 2 mile ski down. The trip that had taken me about 3 hours in only took about 35 minutes out. I limped the remaining 30 yards to my car in complete and utter exhaustion.

Sunday's excursion was one that I have been anticipating for over 2 years. My dreams of ice climbing were now becoming a reality. One of my reps at work used to be an ice-climbing guide in NY and VT, so I coaxed him into taking me. When he learned of my dreams to climb ice, he was just about as excited to take me as I was to go. I was expecting a super-mellow 60ft top rope. After all, I had never actually done this before. The adventure that followed was nothing even close to a 60ft beginner route. It was truly epic!

Once we finally got the date set, we decided that we would have to play it by ear and make a game-time decision. Warming temps = melting ice = falling ice chunks the size of coffee tables. However, I got the "its a go" call at about 1pm on Sunday afternoon. I gathered my gear, loaded up the car, and hauled it down Parley's Canyon. I met Will in a parking lot near the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon. "You climb rock in the the summer, right?" he said. "Sure do", I replied. "Great, because there's this route I've been wanting to do for quite some time. I think we'll still have time, but bring your headlamp." I soon learned that this "route" that he was talking about was truly a monster. Combined, it was a 3-pitch 540ft route of vertical ice. It was also a dedicated route, meaning that once we got on the ice the only way down was to get to the top and descend down a trail off the backside. I was PUMPED!!!

At the base, we went over basic pick and crampon placements, practiced on a small chunk of ice, and then it was go time. Other than the ice tools, crampons, twin ropes, and cold weather it is basically the same as climbing on rock. Rope management, belay technique, communication, and safety were all almost identical to multi-pitch rock routes. The main difference is that rock rarely breaks off, unlike ice. The danger of a fall is much more pressing.

Last winter I was supposed to go climbing with a friend (my former backcountry ski partner). She met a guy who guided for the Utah Guides Association that agreed to take her, and then on the second trip take us both. They got to the trailhead of a different climb in neighboring Provo Canyon for her first climb on Jan 30, 2007. A few minutes after their arrival, an writer for Black Diamond named Chris Hunnicutt fell to his death while ice climbing. Her trip, as well as the follow up trip I was to be included in, fell apart and never happened.

We started the first pitch with Will leading as I played the "second". I belayed him as he placed protection (ice screws) into the frozen face to help arrest a fall. The lead-second method of climbing is basically this: The first climber leads the climb placing protection as the second belays him. Once the pitch (length of rope) is complete, the second climbs the pitch removing the protection as the leader belays from the top. For multi-pitch climbs, this process is repeated until the apex is reached. I have lead many rock climbs, but am definitely a newbie when it comes to placing ice screws.

The first pitch was relatively mellow and the vert and technicality of the route increased as we progressed up the ice wall. We were making excellent time, but as we reached the beginning of the third pitch the sun was already going down. We dawned our headlamps as Will started up the third pitch with the darkness creeping in. I belayed him from a hanging belay, attached to the face only by a small sling while I hung 360ft above the ground. Once he had reached the belay point at the top, I commenced to climb the most technical third pitch with only the light from my headlamp. I'm not afraid of heights, but when I looked down to catch the tail end of an indescribable sunset I couldn't help but notice how high up we were. That split second was probably the single largest rush of adrenaline I've ever experienced.

After navigating the final placements in what was essentially candle light, I had reached the top. We high-fived, got our strength back, and then took the trail down the backside of the mountain around and back to the car. I may have found a new passion on Sunday evening, as this experience was one of the most exhilarating I've ever known. As the best winter of my life continues, I can't even imagine what it's future holds. While I have always deeply enjoyed the outdoors, my adventures this winter have turned in to something more than that. I am now in a full-blown state of obsession.

The "Big Dig"

What do you do when you have to work during the the resort skiing hours and it has snowed enough in the past 3 days to completely fill in your backyard? You build a halfpipe of course!

Yesterday I got a test message on my phone from one of my roommates asking if I had a snowskate. I was a little surprised at the random question so I decided to give him a call to investigate. "Why do you need a snowskate?" I asked. "We're building a halfpipe in the backyard!" he says! Amazed at the idea, I told my boss what was going on. "Sounds like you need to go home right now" was his response. What a cool company that I work for.

When I pulled in the driveway I was literally taken back by the monster that was forming before my eyes. I expected to come home to a half-ass lump of snow piled up in the yard. What was in its place was truly beautiful. Cat and Tim must have been working on it for hours. The walls were already nearly as tall as I am, and the transitions in the lip were already being shaped. To better explain the motives in place here I will let you in on a little secret. The previous day Tim had scored a car-full of liquor from a Sundance acquaintance left over from their private functions in exchange for 2 free lift tickets. I think that boredom and the yard literally being filled almost to the fence with snow, coupled with delving into the booze stash large enough to kill several horses, led to this ingenious idea.

Regardless of motives or reasons, the "Big Dig" was already in full swing. Naturally, I was the guinea pig. I tried the pipe, we made adjustments, and repeated this process for quite some time. We finally got it big enough to make it up the opposite side and bank the turn. After the photo sesh we built the pipe up even more. I'll have to get some more pictures up to do it justice.
As we continue to build the pipe higher and higher, I also have plans to put in a couple of rails off the back of it.

PS: I ordered a snowskate last night. It'll be here tomorrow...and hopefully will not lead to broken appendages or hospital trips.

1/29 Morning Shred at The Canyons

Yesterday's insane blizzard set up an amazing mornin' pow session at The Canyons today. I have never witnessed a winter storm as violent as the one that set in yesterday around 10:30 am. Father Snow dumped a foot on us in about 45 minutes. That was only the beginning. The Canyons Resort claimed a skimpy 15 inches of freshies, which must have been measured on a wind scorched slope. The blown-in slope I spent most of the morning on was more like 30". My buddy Kyle decided to document the pre-workday festivities and here's what he captured:

Petway going deep! (photos taken at my secret aspen stash, notice the untracked snow)

Peak Baggin'

Utah's backcountry was in pristine condition this weekend, so I decided to venture out and begin bagging the peaks near my home. The goal by the end of this spring is to do a solo-ascent/ski-descent of Mt. Nebo (11, 928 ft), the highest and southernmost peak in the Wasatch Range. These backyard peaks are excellent "practice" for the Mt. Nebo poach.

Saturday I pushed myself to a new personal best by summiting Little Water Peak (elevation 9,650 ft). I began the morning with a delayed departure, but since I was on my own time table I figured it wouldn't matter too much. After all, it was my first day to sleep in in a while. The temperature in my Tacoma as I left the driveway was a chilling 9 degrees. After driving the 25 minutes to my starting point the mercury had already risen to 24 degrees according to my truck thermometer. While the more forgiving climate would make for a more comfortable excursion, the warming snow was becoming more unstable by the minute. While rising temperatures do aid in bonding snow layers together, if the warming is too rapid it can cause wet slides on exposed faces. With this in the back of my mind, I raced up as quickly as my lungs and legs could tolerate. As I climbed higher, the temperature continued to rise. I was forced to carefully choose my resting spots, being cautious to pause only on unexposed terrain. Once I reached the ridgeline, I felt a lot better. After a few hundred yards of skinning up the top of the ridge and I had reached the summit. My belated start hadn't killed the attempt at the peak.

After snapping a photo with the timer on my camera, it was time to prepare for the descent. While I was rushed due to the danger of wet slides from the sun-baked snow-pack, I made sure to be thorough in checking the avy danger. I dug a Rutschblock to check the danger, felt confident that the face would hold, and ripped my skins off of my skis. The skiing down was some of the best I have ever experienced. Steep lines, fluffy snow in the shade, and sun softened crust out of the shade. The trip was a successful solo summit push. While Little Water Peak is no Everest, it sure felt like I was on top of the world during the brief moments I took in the view from the peak. Being alone atop one of the highest points in sight was a feeling that cannot be described in words. This trip was more than just a morning backcountry lap. It was the beginning of turning my dreams of a single day solo round-trip of Nebo into reality.

This morning the peak bagging tradition continued as my buddy CJ and I summited Summit Park Peak (8,750 ft) and then skied down. While I love going solo in the backcountry, it was nice to have a little company to share the experience with. The warming and cooling cycle of Saturday's weather had completely stabilized the snow-pack on the Northeastern face we chose for our descent. With no considerations of an avalanche in the back of my mind this time, the rip down was stress free.

Touring Season

While we have been getting absolutely POUNDED by snow for most of January, this week it finally tapered off just enough to let the snow-pack settle a little and bond together. From the last post until the beginning of this week, I had been skiing close to 5 days per week inbounds at The Canyons. We have had too many powder days to even count. I was lame, however, and didn't take the camera with me to the slopes.

Starting Monday the snowfall began to slow, stabilizing snow layers and opening up the backcountry for safe (well, safer) travel. The avalanche report finally fell below the "considerable-to-high" mark on Sunday. Seeing as how I work at a sweet outdoor company of like-minded people, my boss decided to tell me to bail from work and go skiing at 1 on Monday. Excited by the good news, yet pressed for time as the resorts close at 4:30, I decided that my free afternoon would best be spent in the backcountry. Not only had I been closely watching the avy warning waiting for it to drop, but this would also let me ski long after the resort lifts closed.

I quickly threw my gear together and headed up Guardsman's Pass, a summer road impassible (and closed) in winter that winds over the Wasatch Range and down into the Cottonwood Canyons. I parked at the gate where the road is closed, slapped the skins on my skis, and started up the pass. As I got to the gate, I noticed a scruffy looking man waiting for me in his white beat-up Suburban. "Wanna lift?", said the bearded mountain man. "Really?" I said, taken back by his generosity. I jumped at the opportunity, and a couple of minutes later we were chit chatting as he took me up the ridge. We swapped stories while his dog Lucky panted on my leg. It was late in the day, and his charitable ride saved me an hours worth of skinning up. Through our conversation, I learned that he lived in a cabin just on the other side of the ridge. Scott, as it turns out his name was, had lived there since '93. this was the reason he had a key to the gate that blocks the road in the winter. He dropped me off at the top of the ridge (about 8750ft) and we waved as he started down the other side.

This is where I began my man-powered ascent across the ridge. It was super foggy out, but I was lucky enough to be above most of the clouds. As I started up the ridge, I got a eerie feeling being alone in what looked like a snow covered misty graveyard. This soon subsided as I turnied on the Ipod and zoned out to Umphrey's McGee while I skinned. Soon I passed a couple of jib-monkeys building a kicker just off of the ridge. I stopped for a moment to say hi before continuing along my path. Once they were lost in the distance and I had reached about 9500 feet, I decided it was time to peel off the skins and rip down the chute I spotted to my right. Since I was by myself, I dug a quick snow pit to double check the snow-pack. This, coupled with the slope meter I got for Christmas, ensured that the line I had chosen should be stable enough to ski without it coming out from under me. As soon as I clicked in and locked down my bindings, the sun began to peak out before it started to set over the ridge. Words, nor pictures, can describe the beauty or feeling experienced in that unforgettable moment.

After taking in the beauty of Utah's backcountry, I began my descent. The snow was light, fluffy, and thigh deep. I turned at the bottom to take in my lone track down the mountainside and then skinned back to the car. I had made it safe and sound.

The next morning I met up with my boss Rob and another co-worker Jay for a dawn patrol backcountry lap of Parleys Summit. We met at 6:30, strapped on our gear, and skinned up the peak. We reached the summit just as the sun was coming up over the valley. we then joked around for a bit, turned on our beacons, and ripped down the mountain we had worked so hard to ascend. I can't think of a better way to start the day.

In those two days I saw Utah's untouched backcountry in oppositely perfect situations. While watching the sunset by myself remote in the mountains while living my dreams of skiing lines where almost no one else goes was one of the most amazing feelings I have ever experienced, it was almost equally as nice to see the sun come up the following morning in a similar place with friends to share it with.

I'm Back!

Hey guys. Its been a long while since I've been able to sit down and write. I got caught up in the fourth quarter madness of the e-tailing business and haven't had much time to get on to blog. Now that things have calmed down I will be able to keep you posted more frequently.

So, today was yet another killer pow day. The storms have really started rollin' in, and the snow has been absolutely amazing! Here's a short refresher on what I've been up to:

Thanksgiving rocked. I spent the holiday at Jeremy and Marieke's house in Kamas. 3 Turkeys and all the fixin's. Oh yeah, Bri and I dominated corn hole.

The snow really started rollin' in December. I had quite a few killer days at the Canyons. Paul and I got 3rd chair on the opening day of 9990. 7 laps of waist deep powder later, we relaxed with a few PBR's and let the legs recoup.

I took a nice 5 day trip to see friends and fam just before Christmas. It was really nice to see everyone from the river at a killer Zac Brown concert. The rest of the time was spent with the fam, which rocked. I got to see my sis's new house (super cool by the way Sally!). It was really nice to just hang and relax with Mom, Dad, and Sally. I hadn't been home in a while, so it was great to get to spend time you guys!

Christmas eve and most of Christmas day were also spent in Kamas. Bri and I then went to hang out with some friends that live close to me. Even though I couldn't be with my real family, it was nice to get to spend it with my surrogate Park City fam.

More skiing, killer snow...

New Year's was a rockin' time. We went to the Spur and celebrated the calendar's turning with close friends, co-workers, and a ton of booze.

This past Sunday was an awesome ski day with the remains of the massive CA storm dropping in on us. My buddy Kyle and I lapped my secret stash at the Canyons until we couldn't walk.

Today I skied with 3 co-workers for a mornin' shred sesh before work. With the temps getting into the negatives in the evenings, the snow has stayed pristine. We skied knee deep powder all morning due to the sustained powder left from the CA storm capped off with the 5 or so inches of champagne Utah powder that fell last night. I'll start taking my camera along with me on my daily excursions to share the surreal eye candy with everyone. The skiing has been too good for words to describe, so I'll back it up with visual proof as soon as I get my camera back from it's kidnapper, who will remain un-named :)

I hope this post finds everyone well and in good spirits. The New Year has barely begun, and I already know its going to be a great one! Expect to hear from me soon...