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
7 a.m. The cheerful beats of Steel Pulse jump out of the stereo alerting me to the fact that it’s time to go skiing. It’s February 14th, a dreaded day of the year if you don’t have a significant other. That’s the way that three of us found ourselves yesterday as we departed for Coalbank Pass 45 minutes from Durango, Colorado. Riley Berman, Nick Malik, and myself, all freshman at Fort Lewis College and all single (besides for our devotion to snow) going for what would turn out to be a beautiful day. A slew of laps on untouched faces, the lack of women rubbed in our faces by a somewhat more fortunate soul, and over 140 photos on one camera. One Love!
Enjoy– Luke Lubchenco
Nick gives up the girls for powder
Riley taking in the view and hiking for more
Yours truly loving every minute of it. Photo: Nick Malik
The annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition never disappoints, but this year it’s that much better. Ski racer Lindsey Vonn and three other members of the 2010 Olympic team graced the pages. Here’s a shot of Vonn in Whistler, BC, for the complete gallery and a behind the scenes video check out the Sport Illustrated site.
Posted by mtnhf 
