Monday, March 16, 2009

Ben Lomond Tour

Matt is now back in town for the time being. How is that good for me? I now have a local touring buddy. We had an impromptu ski tour this weekend up to Ben Lomond. I have never ever summitted Ben Lomond prior to this day. I've been up to the saddle and have played around many times in that area, but never topped the peak. That became an added bonus to the skiing.

The skin up was long and uh, long. The one thing that I don't like about touring in the Ogden area is the approaches. They are very long and flat before you start to actually ascend a slope. Matt and I came in through the north side. As we finally got to the high ridge, the wind started howling with gusts over 80 mph. That was absolutely brutal on the boot pack to the top.

We kind of slacked taking 4 hours to get to the summit. As we got to the top and I had a chance to look at the South Face Couloir. I got so excited as I was mere feet away from a season long goal, a goal that originated at the end of last season. I tried to convince Matt that we should drop the beautiful line, to test our ability. Matt stated that he didn't have enough juice in him to make the dangerous run, plus it was later in the day than is recommended for that line.

I had to accept the fact that I most likely would not attain that goal this season. However, seeing the line from the top helped me visualize my eventual descent, fortifying my confidence of success.

Matt and I skied two differing lines, but still close enough to see and rescue each other if need be. I watched Matt make his way to his first planned safe spot. Once he stopped, I dropped in. Here's my thought train that ensued: Ski cut hard to the left - two inch deep wind slab broke free but only ran 16 feet - I need to do one more cut before I feel good; Hard ski cut to the right - boot deep powder now, no signs of instability - Oh yeah let's get going; First turn - smooth and deep; Second turn - wind scowered hard pack - Oh crap hold tight; Third turn - punching wind crust - Hold on tight; Forth turn I'm going mach 9 this isn't going to be good - back to boot deep powder - Oh s#!t we're going down. At that point I was launched forward over the "handlebars" going head first into the snowpack. Man this is going to be tough.

The line was intense, not because the terrain was extremely steep, but because the spatial variability of the snowpack and quality was so drastic. Also my previously fractured fibula was a bit sore.

After we made our 1800 foot descent we had a lot of traversing and bushwhacking to get back to the car. We both were now getting drained as we spent most of our energy on the way up.

It was a good challenging tour that kept me in the realm of humility as I felt worked. It's good to have days like this every so often.

I apologize for the pic quality; I forgot my camera and used my iPhone for the documentation.

Tons of possibilities

Matt pushing through high winds

It all looks so good

The steep bootpack through 80 mph gusts

Ogden from Ben Lomond Peak

The South Face Couloir from the Summit

I think I'm stoked

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Last Day Skiing with Dakota

Today was my last day taking Dakota out skiing: It was a day of mixed feelings. On one side I was excited to have future Saturdays to myself. On the other hand I wouldn't be spending time with an individual that I've grown to know, taught how to ski, taught how to act in social scenes, and have built a relationship with.

The day started out really well. After a warm up run, Dakota wanted to charge the whole mountain. He asked if we could go ski a black diamond run off of Wilbere. That's a big step for Dakota. He skied the run once about two weeks prior. As we made our way over to the other side of the mountain, I could see Dakota's complexion and energy change. We drop into the run and it all fell apart. The sun had not yet warmed up the snow as the whole run was a sheet of ice. Dakota immediately started to tense up and over pressure his edges. On Dakota's third turn he lost his edge, fell to his side, and started to slide down the run, accelerating and screaming for help. I saw it coming and was ready to help. I skied up to him and stopped his "death slide."

Little Dakota was now freaked out and him being sick didn't help. I gave Dakota a little room to stand back up. As he stood up he let his skis start to move downhill. I could see the crash that was about to ensue in slow motion. I tried to get out of the way but my skis were pointed the wrong way. BOOM!!! Dakota took out my legs and the first thing I landed on happened to be my left thumb. CRUNCH!!! Ok well all I could say was "OWWWWWWW"!!!!! I could see Dakota's energy and health waning quickly. I decided that we were going to be done skiing for the day. Dakota was so upset because he wanted to ski hard so that we could go swimming as a reward for skiing hard. As we got back to the Lodge, Dakota was really upset and disappointed, that it was great to see his face when I said that we could go swimming, he lit up. I told him that being in the warm pool and hot tub would help him feel better and I didn't want him to have a disappointing last day with me.

My experience was one that tested my discipline, commitment, and patience. There were days that I had to forgo powder, skiing with friends, and Saturday morning sleeping in time. I kept telling myself that I was building up my karma points and that I would be repaid with interest.

Dakota taking it easy after swimming


The last car ride

Monday, March 2, 2009

Jackson Hole Trip #2

Alright we made it out to Jackson Hole once again.

We arrived two days after the snow, but managed to get some good turns in on the Headwall during the morning on the first day. Unfortunately that was the highlite of my trip. I dropped Corbet's Couloir again: twice. I brutalized it the first drop. On the second day, I hip checked going into it, recovered for a bit, and then washed my tails out going down as I still had too much weight in the back seat. That really pissed me off as I really wanted to stick Corbet's. I did visit the Doug Coombs Cave afterwards and caught my breath. Enjoy the shots.

Jared waiting on top of the Headwall



Katie, Trevor, and my finger hiking up to the Headwall



Jared lining up a small drop on the Headwall


Corbet's Couloir



The Doug Coombs Cave


More Cave


The tight entrance which I had to duck


Looking out at the tram before I jumped the drop


Looking back up at Corbet's right entrance