Training

Itching for some all-day exercise and mind-clearing mountain time, I poked around in the fog and crust on Jan. 29.  This led to a new way to quantify the backcountry riding experience:

Dust + Crust - Visibility = Training / (Fun + Beer)

Pro Tip:

If the days are still short, the freezing levels are low, and the snow is deep, go ride the south faces that you'd normally overlook and bask in the warmth of the glowing, life-giving orb around which we circulate.  Sure, the snow might be a little deeper and less settled on something north facing, but why shiver in the shade when you live in the constant dank of a maritime clime? Why not shed some layers and feel your melatonin levels rise? 

On Dec. 31, 2010, John and I had a nice time in the Crystal Mountain backcountry.  He had been there the day before and wanted to go back, so this meant that there was absolutely no trail breaking.  I think this was the first winter tour that I've done in quite a while in which there wasn't any trail breaking involved.  Weird.  This made the day feel pretty casual and easy going, which let us focus on the riding and just having fun.

Great snow, sun, and endless views; all the things that I love.  Unfortunately, I went to bed early that night to do it all again the next day, but woke up in the middle of the night with an intense stomach bug that kept me on the couch (and hugging the toilet) for the next 2 days.  Ouch.  But the memories of these turns remain. 

Spoiled?

There has been really high quality powder snow in the Cascades during the end of November through the beginning of December.  No cameras made it out of the pack until yesterday (Dec. 11), but here you go:

Snow conditions: deep, hero; perfect for storm day mini-golf . This little area in the Stevens Pass backcountry is strewn with boulders to fly off, some small, some house size, and since the coverage is still relatively early-season, there are lots of holes to fall into.   Super fun.  But isn't riding in the real mountains always fun?  Yes, it is.

Too Good to Bother to Eat

When: Nov. 20, 2010

Chris and I shook out the cobwebs and remembered what it's like to break trail in and ride super deep snow yesterday in the Crystal Mountain backcountry.  We went in with the expectation that we'd be treading lightly and just poking around, but soon realized that rock skis wouldn't be necessary.  We stuck to (surprise) the loaded north-facing stuff and it was so good that we stayed until dark.  Deep trenches and faceshots all around. 

I seem to break lots of poles.  In this case I managed to lose the powder basket as well as its plastic attachment, resulting in a stabby-weapon.  WTF.  

The ride out on the rocky resort groomer was painful on quivering legs, but dinner at the Safeway in the 'claw tasted that much better for it.

Change of Season

Yep, it's that time of year.  The days are short, the rains have arrived, and the beer is dark and strong.  Sssshhhh, don't tell anyone, but I hear that there's some powder at ___   #$#@  ___.

Dorking around at Sunrise in June:

Boulder/Park Cleaver in a day in July (hot, I bonked):

Some hiking and climbing and swimming:

And now we're back to the first powder turns of the year on Oct. 26.  Here's to a siiiiiiiiiicckkk one.

Fryingpan Glacier, Mount Rainier NP, June 5, 2010

This is a really good line, much better than expected; nice variety with a good flow.  It starts off mellow, rolls over for a few steep pitches, cruises a rib, followed by a final huge bowl.  Chris and I had awesome snow for the majority of the whole 4,000 foot run; a little firm off the top and a little sticky at the bottom, but smooooooth.  So good.  The hike in and out is a little long, but easy on a nice trail.  4 stars, at least in early spring when it's good top to bottom.

As we topped out on Whitman Crest we were shocked to see that a huge slide had taken out the Ingraham Direct, and the circling helicopters did not bode well.  We put that out of our minds and enjoyed the ride down. 

One of the steep pitches.

A minimally edited (and long) video. 

The first 3:45 are cruising the Fryingpan Glacier, from there until 6:15 we're rolling over the steeps of Meany Crest, the next 45 seconds is on a cool little rib, and from 7:00 on we're finishing off the final enormous bowls down into Summerland.

This was a a great tour with a refreshing blue sky; the first after a really moist spring in the PNWet.

Eastern Sierra, Spring 2010

The Eastern Sierra is an incredible spot for spring ski touring.  No bushwacking required.  No devils club, alder, or mushy, un-ridable snow.  No rain.  But there is quite a bit of wind.  Well, a lot of wind.  But there is also a lot of sun, and real corn snow with real melt-freeze cycles.  And it's easy to do a 4,000 foot run and be back to the parking lot by 12:30.

The approaches to some of the goods can be a little long and flat (Rock Creek) and the altitude takes some acclimatization, but the terrain is big, fun, and user-friendly.  The access is incredible with a bunch of nice roads going up to 10k.  Hot springs, bouldering, rednecks, RV people, cheap happy hour at Whiskey Creek in Bishop or Mammoth Lakes, coffee and web surfing at the Black Sheep.  No National Park bureaucracy.

Favorites: riding powder on N. facing slopes at Virginia Lakes, steeps gullies in different drainages near University Peak above Independence, huge bowls and steep faces out of South Lake near Aspendale, partying with other dirtbags in the Buttermilks, Punta Bardini and Solitude Canyon by Mammoth.  Meeting other like-minded souls at trail heads.  

On the list for the future: camping up by Treasure Lakes and hitting a bunch of lines (as opposed to day tripping), Mount Wood (looks like a Volcano), Checkered Demon (need a car with higher clearance).

Lo-lights: having to suck it up and buy a bunch of topos, trying to get up early, getting scared, getting lost.

My dog came along with me and charged.  Good times.

Virginia Lakes at the end of April.

The dog always napped when we got back to the car.

N. face Hurd tracked by a large guided group (with Tom Burt and Jim Zellers).

Looking down a steep gully.  I was stoked.

Chara wasn't that impressed.

Lovely gray granite by University Peak.

Enhanced P Laps.

Chara chillaxing in the milks.

House-sized highball.

Livin' the dream.

Did I mention that there is nobody home?

But it's a long way into here.

Another nice steep chute, with a little excitement off the top.

Here's a video of a run:


Here's another:


A great trip!