Ski 22 - Saturday Jan 31 - Emigration Reform

Do you think when the pioneers came through Emigration Canyon so many years ago that they knew there was good skiing up there?  I didn't know either!

Where: Emigration Canyon

With Whom: Samwise and Bowie

Time: 9ish to 11:30ish

Ski Conditions: I had been told there was skiing to be had up here where I could bring the dogs, but had never made the trip.  I decided to give it a shot today.  It was worth it.  It wasn't the best skiing of my life, but it was a short approach for some nice low angle turns where the dogs could tag along.  There was not much snow up there and I can imagine it gets pretty crappy pretty fast, but I do intend on coming back.

Looking North, you can see I-80 headed up Parley's.

Yeah, I think they had a good time.

Why does Sam seem to be a better ski model?  Is it because Bowie just doesn't stand still when we ski?  Probably.

Ski 21 - Friday Jan 30 - PPDP

Where: Willow Pines

With Whom: Tom, Jason, and Nazz

Time: 5 and at work by 8:45

Ski Conditions: We are still finding great skiing out there.  We skied through the pines in Willow Fork today and got some great turns.  We were able to get two runs in before we had to get to work.  How do we do this?

PPDP - Petzl Pre-Dawn Patrol.  We are able to use the Ultra Headlamp to facilitate skiing in the darkness.  Sure, the light retails for like $500, but if you had seen what it can do you would understand why.

As we first approach the summit, the stars (and the surface hoar) still shine.

Those lights are on the lowest possible setting in this photo.

There is a bit more light the second time we reach the top.

I tried to get an action shot, but there still just wasn't enough light.

Ski 20 - Thursday Jan 29 - Exhaustion

Exhaustion

Ex*haus"tion\, n. [Cf. F. exhaustion.]

1. The act of draining out or draining off; the act of emptying completely of the contents.

2. The state of being exhausted or emptied; the state of being deprived of strength or spirits.

Where: Reynolds - Wilson - Alexander Basin - Gobblers

With Whom: Bob Athey (www.wowasatch.com) and Mark White

Time: 8am to 6pm

Ski Conditions: It seems like we skied just about everything there is to ski in between big cottonwood canyon and millcreek canyon today.  I know there is a lot more to be skied, but we definitely skied a good portion of it.  We skied deep pow, wind blown, and just about everything in between.  

The thing about Bob is that he keeps a steady pace all day long and never stops to rest.  We were basically skinning or skiing for 10 hours straight.  I feel like I am a pretty fit 25 year old, but it was all I could do to just keep pace with this cigarette smoking 56 year-old man.  I had a blast doing it, though.  I skied a bunch of new lines that I have done skied before.  Bob and I chatted about photography and computer geek stuff for the majority of the day.  Check out his blog post for the day here: http://wowasatch.com/Journal%202008-09/January-09/january-29.html  - I am the one wearing the red in the photos.

Bob approaches Fred's Birthday Chute.

Big Water

Does it look to anyone else like that plane is going to crash?

I thought this looked like a Christmas tree with the light the way it was.

The final climb out to Gobblers - this is where I was just absolutely exhausted.

We stand on top of the world at around 5:30.

The Wizard shreds.

Ski 19 - Wednesday Jan 28 - Lost in the Woods

Where: Laurel Pines

With Whom: Tom and Jason

Time: 5 and at work by 8:40

Ski Conditions: We wanted to ski Argenta.  Conditions were supposed to be great.  The problem was that none of had skied the line before and it was too dark in the morning to see if we were starting in the right spot.  We climbed a considerably smaller peak next to Kessler.  We did get a few turns in this morning, but the best part was the rope swing we found while walking around in the woods.

Just like school children.

He's climbing onto the swing... I promise.

The action shot.

Ski 18 - Saturday Jan 24 - Skiing in the Rain

Where: Porter Fork

With Whom: Stacy, Samwise, and Bowie

Time: I dunno... 10ish to 1ish?

Ski Conditions: It was continued to not snow.  The OR show was this week making for not many opportunities to ski, but it wasn't such a bad situation with the lack of new snow.  I did not have to work the show today so we went skiing.  I kept hoping that the rain would turn to snow as we drove higher up Millcreek Canyon.  It didn't.  It rained on us the entire time we were out.  It wasn't raining super hard, though, so we still had a good time.  

Stacy follows the dogs up the treacherous climb.

Doesn't that just look cold?

Porter Fork has some cool water features.

Skin removal is usually the funniest part about skiing.

Ski 17 - Saturday Jan 17 - THE Y COULOIR

Where: The Y Couloir

With Whom: Tom, James, Nazz, Eric, and Elizabeth

Time: 7ish to Noonish

Ski Conditions: It stopped snowing for a little while.  This means bad skiing in my regular areas... but it also means perfect timing for some chute skiing.  We skied the Y after a number of other groups have earlier this week, but it was still a blast.  The snow was hard packed - this made for easy booting, but less than perfect powder for the down.  The Y Couloir is a 3,400 vertical foot chute in Little Cottonwood Canyon.  There is no skinning involved in the approach.  You just hike straight up it.  I have been wanting to ski this line since I have been skiing in the backcountry... maybe earlier.  It finally happened.  I loved it.  Tom discovered he had left his pack at the top after nearly 1,000 vertical feet had passed.  James and I skied the rest together while the others waited for Tom (I had to get back to meet Stacy for a Sundance movie).  It was a good way to start off the day.

We begin the long walk up the couloir.

Red burn day in the valley.

Tom approaches the summit.

It's all downhill from here - just 3,400' to the road.

Tom:     James, you wanna wear matching jackets tomorrow in the Y?

James:    For sure, dude! LOL!

A view from the top.  James, me, Nazz, Tom, Elizabeth, and Eric.

Eric rips at the top of the chute.

Nazz follows.

Elizabeth shows that boarders can do it, too...

Perhaps even with a little more style.

James pushes through with only 2,000' left to go.

Ski 16 - Saturday Jan 10 - Steeps

Where: Cardiff Fork - LSB, Cardiac, etc.

With Whom: Nate, James, and Richard

Time: 8:30am to 3ish

Ski Conditions: The snow has finally stabilized enough to allow for some skiing of the steeps.  There was new snow to be had and we made our way back to Cardiff.  Didn't notice any major instabilities.  Only saw minor sluffing in the new snow.  We did see some isolated cracking on the south face as we approached LSB in one particular area.  We went around.  We mixed in some ski mountaineering, steep skiing, mellow skiing, route finding, etc. for a successful day in the backcountry.

One of the more interesting sections of the approach.

Nate tries to follow my bitchin' line.

On top of Cardiac Ridge, we had to do a little bootpack.

Ski 15 - Wednesday Jan 7 - Born in the USA

Where: USA Bowl

With Whom: Tom and Jason

Time: 4:40 and at work by 9

Ski Conditions: Kind of a letdown.  The big storm ended up funny leaving a weird snowpack.  The snow that fell yesterday was super light, but the snow that fell overnight was considerably more dense - thus leaving an upside-down snowpack.  Add the wind on the bowl to this and it didn't make for the best skiing.  It was still fun, though.  Don't get me wrong.  But we probably should have gone into the trees.

Ski 14 - Saturday Jan 3 - Introspection Without a Jacket

Where: USA Bowl

With Whom: Strangers

Time: I dunno... 10ish to 1ish

Ski Conditions: Great.  Fresh snow in an open area.  USA bowl is mellow terrain, but it was fun all the same.

I couldn't find a ski partner today.  What's up with that?  We have been skiing all week and now the snow falls and no one is available?  Whatever.  I decided to head up to USA Bowl where I knew a bunch of people would be so I would be safe.  I was right.  The only problem was that I had forgotten a jacket.  I decided it wasn't worth driving all the way back home for.  So I went without.  Strangers are great and all, but backcountry skiing is more fun with friends.

Some of those turns are mine.

Ski 13 - Friday Jan 2 - Fulfilling the Dogs' Resolutions

Where: Porter Fork

With Whom: Samwise, Bowie, and Jorge (the dogs)

Time: 9:30ish to 11:30ish

Ski Conditions: Hard. Fast. Warm.

I awoke this morning and decided to read through what my dogs had set as their New Year's Resolutions.  Bowie said he wanted to get fit.  Sam said he wanted to spend more time in the outdoors.  Jorge (Kristin's dog) said he wanted to lose ten pounds.  Being the thoughtful person I am, I allowed Stacy to stay home and take care of the housework while I helped each of the dogs take the first step toward achieving their goals... and we went skiing.

Ski 12 - Thursday Jan 1 - New Beginnings

Cole - acting as if he wasn't tired for the camera.

Where: Mill D - Short Swing

With Whom: Cole

Time: 9ish to 1ish

Ski Conditions: The snow continues to be warm - thereby skiing fast and heavy.  The skin track is not in good shape as it is super icey.  Since this was Cole's first day ever skinning, this gave him an extra obstacle to overcome.  We took it easy getting to the top, then ripped it coming down.  We (and by "we" I mean Cole) didn't have the energy for a second lap so we called it a little early.  It was fun to get out together and I hope I didn't scare him away from any future backcountry endeavors.

At the top of the run, he was looking strong.

Cole exerts all the energy he has left at the base of the run.

Ski 11 - Wednesday Dec 31 - The Eve of New Beginnings

Where: Butler Fork to Wilson Fork

With Whom: Jer, CJ, Code-man, Jed, Luke, and Don

Time: 8am to 2ish

Ski Conditions: It got super warm yesterday and today, as well.  The sun-exposed aspects acted like it.  We skied some protected tree shots.  They were pretty fun.  The snow skied heavy and fast due to the recent warming.  It was fun to ski some stuff I had not been to before.  I will probably be back here relatively soon.

Jer and Luke approach the heavens.

Luke contemplates eternity.

CJ amidst the aspens.