We’ve had some set backs over the past couple weeks here in AK and missed all the good weather windows thus far. Luckily we’ve still been able to get out a bunch on the sleds and train up for the next month to come. Usually April is home to the best weather for tagging peaks anyways, and if this adventures runs into May and interrupts our summer work schedule all the better. Today we’re heading up to Thompson Pass to meet with avalanche forecaster Peter Carter and shadow him for a day. I’ll check back with photos from the life of an avalanche forecaster in Thompson Pass. In the mean time here are some pics from the last week or so.
Checking out a class three slide that crossed Thompson Pass the other day.
Travis suffering through another down day across the bay from Valdez.
There are no dead ends in this world. Bridge building on the Alaska Pipeline.
Sometime you have to experiment with the throttle.
Mexico… no! Florida…. No! Alaska… okay, too far. Rather than partaking on a more “normal” spring break adventure, my friend Colin and I departed Durango with nothing but a car outfitted for sleep wherever we might’ve found ourselves and skis to take us farther. It was a rag-tag trip, thrown together completely by word of mouth and executed on terms of finding snow.
The '94 Toyota pickup truck outfitted for success
We skied the first two days (Sat./ Sun.) around Durango at the various passes to the North, and then headed to Monarch Pass (near Salida) after looking at snow reports in a cafe in Ouray. Our decision was a good one and landed us sleeping two miles from Monarch Ski Area while the snow pounded. We awoke to 7″ of fresh and it puked another 7″ that day while we skied. After skiing, we decided to head down to Salida proper and check out the town and sleep in the Walmart parking lot. (wierd…). We slept unusually well with lights and all, and skied a total storm accumulation of 18″ at Monarch completing our resort skiing for the trip. Mirkwood Basin begged to be hiked to and we fired it up 5 times along with Patroller “Tyler” as well as Corey Folks who was nice enough to hook us up with two couches for the night. A good break from the albeit comfortable pickup bed.
Colin gets dirty in the Monarch Powder
From there we skied two days of backcountry directly across the drainage from the resort called “Perfect Trees”. This spot was great for avoiding the massive avalanche danger and supplied around 1100 vertical feet of 30-35 degree open glade skiing. The latter day, after a night of wind-loading, proved to be one of the best of the trip with Colorado Blower powder at it’s finest and the light coming through just right. (See video)
Powder....
Having skied six days straight, we decided to mosey on to Glenwood Springs, my hometown, to see my parents and bask in some comfy beds. We hit up the local backcountry spot near Sunlight Mountain and soaked in the hot springs pool. A great way to rest, although we ended up taking the next day off and driving to Ouray on what was now Saturday to ski Red Mountain the next day, proving to be our second best decision of the trip. We parked and slept right next to the ice climbing park in Ouray and awoke to plenty of tourists as well as ice climbers descending on the famous spot and rolled down into town to get some internet for avalanche conditions and grub. At that point we found out that the dreaded Daylight Savings Time had returned. This put us an hour behind schedule so we hustled up and over the pass to one of our favorite runs, and one that we skied before departing on the trip, “Sam’s Trees”. Taking a different approach than before, we made it too the very top and descended into the best snow of the trip. In copious amounts, it had bonded well to previous layers so we ventured into slide paths and chutes. Certainly a great way t0 finish off a trip involving eight days of skiing in the nine days of break.
Since we rolled into town it hasn’t stopped snowing and in the last 24 hours over two feet of snow has fallen in Valdez. Due to the low visibility and climbing avalanche danger we haven’t been able to get out on our skis yet, but Thursday we adventured out to the base of Meteorite Mountain on the sleds for a little recon mission. This weekend we’re hanging around town as Gabe is helping teach an AIARE Level 1 Course for the Alaska Avalanche Information Center, and Travis and I are shadowing in hopes of gaining our instructor certifications someday.
The van and sleds after a day of dumping
Heading into Meteorite Mountain
Buried, but not stuck
Sledding in pow, the second best thing to skiing the fluffy goodness
And we have lift off...
Gabe explaining the basics of a transceiver
Practicing strategic shoveling techniques
The NOAA forecast looks like it’s going to continue to dump into the week. This might be the only time I ever say this, but I’m actually hoping for a clearing so the snow can settle and we can go make some turns. When it does go blue it’s going to be beyond epic!
We hit the road on Thursday bound for Northern Idaho, after a quick layover to freshen up and get some rest we headed North to Revelstoke. We had hopes of touring in Rogers Pass, but due to the unseasonably low snow in BC the snowpack is sketchy so we headed up to Revelstoke Mountain Resort. Thankfully a couple inches of fresh had fallen the night before, it was a much needed refresh for the resort. We hooked up with some local friends that toured us around the mountain and lead us to all the stashes. Due to the low snow we decided to push through Canada to Alaska. Besides stopping to eat, rest, view the wildlife and a quick dip in Liard Hot Springs we drove non-stop. Our biggest layover was at the boarder when they detained us to search the van and question us about smuggling illegal substances into the US. After two hours of waiting and convincing the boarder patrol we were clean we made the crossing into Alaska. We arrived into Valdez yesterday and it’s been dumping since we got here. It’s currently to socked in to make any turns on the pass, so we’re heading out on the sleds today to do some recon on Meteorite Mountain. Check back regularly for updates of our adventures here in Alaska.
Heading up the Stoke Chair at Revelstoke Mountain
Dropping!
Gabe skiing one of the many pillow lines we found throughout the day.
Green Mountain Freeride is proud to announce partnership with Flylow Gear! GMF is a group of Vermont skiers from Mad River Glen and Stowe, based in Jackson Hole, that compete in the Freeskiing World Tour and coach alpine racing and freeride skiing in the tetons. Look for Flylow athletes Lars Chickering-Ayers and Ryan Hawks (4th place finish at the Telluride qualifier!) in the Flylow van at US Nationals in Kirkwood this week, along with younger brother and GMF team member Silas Chickering-Ayers in the junior comp. Flylow athletes Louis Erickson and Andy Weis will be riding and touring the tetons while coaching the next generation of Freeskiing World Tour athletes through the Teton Valley Ski Education Foundation and the Jackson Hole Ski Club Freeride Team, respectively.
With the Dick’s Ditch Classic, Town Downhill, and Cardboard Box Derby all slated for the next month, we hope to see other Flylow athletes and friends out here in the Tetons!
Photo: Ben Blakely
Much thanks to Dan Abrams for his continued support!
As central mountain snowpacks delve into the realms of average, I can’t help but recollect the countless times I heard, in the midst of a less than “ideal” season’s start, how many people were genuinely upset with the conditions at hand. It amazes me how easily the masses, even happy mountain people masses, can focus their energies on negative elements of a given situation. I suppose it’s reasonable enough to hope for the best in any endeavor but there’s got to be a point when high expectations aren’t met and the ensuing realization is appreciated with a healthy dose of positive perspective. As the old adage goes, “beggars can’t be choosers.” In other words, with all of the shit going on in the world these days, everyone of us that’s lucky enough to partake in a snowsports activity on any level, especially those of us lucky enough to play on mountains on a regular basis, should take a moment or two to step back and appreciate that fact everyday. Winters ebb and winters flow and that’s how it has been for some time and will be for some time to come. So next time you’re ready to rant about how much more epic the winter of ’07-’08 was than this, look around at how beautiful your surroundings are and enjoy the fact that you’re about slide down a mountain or two with an instrument whose sole purpose is to provide you joy strapped to your feet, and smile. Breathe in that sweet mountain air and smile. Now that’s the winter life.
Here is a quick recap of my travels over the last few weeks. I left B-ham on February 2 for the world headquarters of 22-Designs in Driggs, ID. After an awesome day of riding Grand Targee, I joined Team 22 (Chris, Collins, Seth, and Matt) to ski into a backcountry cabin in the secluded Gros Ventre Mountains.
Collins at the saw with Matt and Chris in front of the cabin
We spent three nights in the cabin eating like kings while our days were consumed skiing feathery Wyoming pow. After the trip I joined Matt Kaso for a day at Teton Village were we rode the gondola and skied 3,000ft laps in Granite Canyon before I had to hit the road for SLC.
Chris laying into it
Back in the Salty City I spent a week skiing with the Powderwhores dodging rocks and avalanches in between face shots of the “Greatest Snow on Earth.”
I caught a ride with Noah and Jonah to Tahoe to mingle with irie freeheelers and compete in the Alpine Meadows Telemark Comp.
Coverage of the Tele comp along with images from my week in SLC by photographer Jay Beyer can be found at: www.powderwhore.com/news/
Then I headed back to SLC where I scored a few more days of skiing before making the drive back to B-ham just in time to catch a rainy day at good old “Mank Baker.”
Big thanks to Chris, Collins, and Matt from 22-Designs, to Noah and Jonah of Powderwhore, to Flylow Dan, to Evans Phelps, and to my parents Tom and Barb.
We receivied this email today and thought we should share it:
“Subject: thank you for changing my life
Dan, We met a few yrs ago at a Powderwhore show. I just purchased my Bella Donnas on Sunday in Leadville. Your pants have changed my life!!!!!!!!!!!in over 37 yrs of sliding on snow….i now have pants that fit me. I feel like a rippin’ 5 yr old again. I can not stop talking about them, gushing, I think I love them.
You rock!
Tess Scanlon-Phillips
Concert For Cash”
There was a massive avalanche on the southern boundary of Bridger Bowl yesterday (Feb 16th). Saddle Peak receives virtually non-stop traffic when the Schlasman’s chairlift is open. The slide was triggered by a group of skiers dislodging a cornice on the summit. Miraculously, no one was caught. All photos are courtesy of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center. Read the advisory and report on the incident HERE
A new telemark binding is being developed by mechanical engineer and accomplished telemark skier Jeff Campbell
Jeff Throwing Down. Photo: Steve Lloyd
In order to assist with improving his concept, Campbell is asking that you spend several minutes and complete a short survey. To quote Jeff, “If you do, Ullr will bless you with many face shots for the rest of this horrendous El Nino season.” Take the survey HERE
Posted by mtnhf 
