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...