Day 21 - Saturday Jan. 13 - It's Getting Cold Out Here...

I can't remember if that's how the song goes or not. Cole and I went up to the Bird today to get some much needed turns. What we got instead was some cold extremeties. We listened to Built to Spill - Keep it Like a Secret on the way up thinking that would help pump us up. It did to an extent, but it was so cold out there that it didn't last long. We were able to get a few runs in, though, before I wimped out and we went home. We made our way over to Gad 2 and up to Upper Tiger Tail. We passed a ski school instructor taking some family back there (which I was not happy about - ask Cole). We found some soft snow and got some good turns in. I was excited to get to Lower Tiger Tail, but once we arrived there wasn't much to be excited about. I suppose sometimes my secret places are discovered by others. Bummer. The next time we were headed up Gad 2 we were behind this group of three kids that decided to set off a bottle rocket half way up the lift. I took the liberty of yelling at them and asking them politely to pick it up on their way down. I don't know if sometimes I should be taking things like this into my own hands or not, but I just think someone should educate these kids about what you can and can't do on a mountain. Why can't this be me? I am sure Cole was a bit embarrassed. We didn't make it much longer out there. It was just too cold for me (maybe I should have worn a jacket other than my softshell). It was fun to get out with Cole again, though. It seemed like it had been a while since we had gone together.

Day 20 - Friday Jan. 12 - A Slow, But Enjoyable Morn

I met CJ and David at Jer's house at 6:30 this morning and we packed into the FJ40 for a morning tour up Big Cottonwood. We all enjoyed the drive up as it was accompanied by the soothing sounds of Tool. Yes, Tool. CJ was bummed out that I didn't admit that last time he drove I didn't mention that Tool was on the mix, so they are the only ones being mentioned this time (it was the same mix). We went up to Circle All Peak. Jer and I had never been here before so we were just following the Whittakers (which, in all seriousness, we do every other time as well). We thought the avy danger might be a little higher today so we wanted to go somewhere very well protected. It turns out that the avy danger is still quite low, but we had a good time all the same. The skin up took a lot longer than usual because of some good conversation. But Jer was just glad we got out. Sometimes it is funny to get talking to someone you think you know a little and you find out they share interests with you that you never would have thought. We all enjoyed the time on the ascent, but it definitely took a lot longer than usual. Our rate of ascent was 7 ft/min. With a total of 1591 ft. ascended (like I said, it was a slow morning). Due to the lack of snow this year we had to navigate our way through an assortment of trees and brush on the downhill, but we still got some killer turns in. But Jer was just glad we got out. I didn't get many photos today, because CJ brought his new camera and took a bunch. I don't know if I will ever see those photos, but if I do I will totally share them with you. We were surprised to pass about 10 people on the way down as they were on their way up. We thought we were the only ones headed up that way today, but we were wrong. It was a nice morning. And Jer was just glad we got out.

Day 19 - Saturday Jan. 6 - Porter Fork

Let me just start off by saying that this was a good week. I was kind of freaking out when it was Wenesday night already and I hadn't skied at all. Now as Saturday comes to a close I have three days under my belt and I am a happy guy. This morning Stacy, Bowie, and I went up to Porter Fork in Millcreek Canyon again. We listened to Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea to get us pumped up for the tour. There were a lot more people up there today than last time, but still not bad. We only passed by a few and were passed by a few more. We made it quite a bit further today than we did last time. It is fun to get out and get some exercise with the whole family. We pretty much stuck to the road again this time, but it was a good time none the less. Sometimes it seems like we don't get to show Bowie enough attention during the week, but when we take him touring it totally makes up for it. He loves it out there. I'm hoping that some time soon I will get down to the Provo area to do a tour where he can join me for some steep skiing. I forgot to start my watch today to measure the rate of ascent and other such statistics, but in all seriousness it would have been quite low with the low angle and rate we were traveling. I like the picture with Bowie and myself where he looks super serious. I think that's funny.

Day 18 - Friday Jan. 5 - Dawn Patrol With BD

My standby touring partners all bailed on me yesterday saying that they were not going to be able to go with me this morning so I needed to find someone else. There was no way I was going to miss the first turns from this storm. I called Mike Schultz from Black Diamond (he is in my ward) to see if he wanted to go. He said he was already going, but that I was more than welcome to join. I have to say that this was a bit nerve racking. I have no problem going with one or two new people, but to go with the whole BD crew (not to mention the PowderWhore guys and many others that ended up being there - about 20 total) kind of scared me with questions like whether or not I was going to be able to keep up. We met across from Porcupine Grill at 5:45 and I got in the car with Mike and Jaime (spelling unknown - pronounced 'hi-me'). We made our way up to the Alta Lodge where we parked and began our ascent to Flagstaff. I was ready to work as hard as I needed in order to keep up, but once we got started I found that it wasn't going to be a problem. I am in better shape than I give myself credit for. I kept up with the "B" team no problem, but then waited for Mike and Jaime (Jaime is new to this whole touring and skiing thing) at the top - which was really cold, by the way. We skied down into Day's and the snow was sweet! Way deeper than I thought it was going to be. Even during the skin up I thought we were going to have dust on crust action happening with about 8 or so inches of new snow, but NO! It was probably 18 inches deep and I didn't hit any of the old stuff on the North facing aspect. We skinned back up and due to time and physical restraints (not mine) we decided to ski down the South side and call it a day. Even the skiing on this side was great. It was dust on crust, but the hard stuff underneath didn't throw you out of your turns too much. The light was flat, though, causing some weird things happening closer to the road. I did set off a pretty decent little sluff in a gully while crossing it - that was pretty cool. I didn't take too many pictures today because I didn't want to look like a goon and I didn't want to take the time. Sorry.
Rate of Ascent: 13 ft/min 2244 total feet ascended in 2 laps in 2:36.49

Day 17 - Thursday Jan. 4 - Patsy Again?

Kai and I went up this morning and knowing that there isn't much snow to be had out there we went somewhere we could bail after the first lap if the snow wasn't any good - thus Patsy Marley. I picked him up at 5:30 and we listened to Live Phish 3 on the way up. Sometimes it just seems like I go too long without listening to some good old fashioned live Phish - thanks for the tip, Crazy. The reading for our rate of ascent came out again to be 10 ft/min. This may be a little skewed since we stopped a couple of times on the way up and I tried to show Kai how to do a kick turn. The morning started off with a litte snow, but not so much that it made the tour miserable. The exercise was good, the company was nice, but the skiing totally sucked. It turns out that if it doesn't snow for a long time the snow isn't as much fun to ski on (who knew?). As we had planned for, we simply made the one run and then made our way back to the car. It was nice to get out this morning. I always enjoy the exercise, but I can't wait for tomorrow when we should have a bit of new snow. Peace out.

Climbing - New Year's Weekend in St. George

Even though this is technically a blog about ski touring I figured I could include some pics and thoughts about our weekend in St. George where we did some climbing (who knows, this may just become a climbing blog this summer). Stacy and I went down to St. George this weekend with Jer and Mallory and CJ and Ann. We stayed at Mallory's family's condo and it was sweet. We were able to climb pretty much all day Saturday and all day after church on Sunday. The weather was beautiful all weekend which allowed for some great climbing. We climbed the Bluff Street Cracks and the Blackrocks on Saturday and the Circus Wall in Snow Canyon on Sunday. It turns out that I am a total chicken. Every time I attempted to lead a climb I would get scared and chicken out. I was feeling so confident at the end of the summer, and now I am a total wuss. What is the story? Oh well, I am sure with time I will get over it. We all got in some good climbs and were able to have a good time. It was a great way to finish off the year 2006. As I look back on the year of 2006 I think about the great things that have happened in my life...
I have become a climber,
I have got a job in the telemark world,
I have bought a house,
I have bought lots of gear,
I have a dog,
I continue to have HeMan and Skeletor displayed in my home,
and I have been able to spend time with my beautiful wife.
Some of the problems with this year...
I have ceased watching the OC,
I have struggled at the beginning of this winter season due to a lack of aerobic exercise during the summer,
and I have not watched Heavyweights nearly enough.
All in all I think this has been a good year.

Day 16 - Friday Dec. 29 - Another Morning On Patsy

Jer and I woke up this morning a bit later (we had both taken the day off work) and made our way up to Patsy Marley for some quick turns. We listened to Sufjan Stevens - Illinois on the way up. Check it out if you haven't already. We were leaving this afternoon for St. George with our significant others so we needed to make it quick. We just made 2 quick laps and got in some really good turns. The snow is good for the skiing and very desirable. Christmas was good to me. I got a new altimeter watch. Here are our stats for this morning:
Ascent: 10 ft/min (leaving plenty of room for improvement)
1263 total feet ascended
Descent: 16 ft/min (a lot of time lost in transitions and Jer's incessant talking)
1263 total feet descended
I hope to have improved stats for you each time I go out so you can all see how I am doing (and give me the needed encouragement in order to prepare for the PowderKeg).
Later, dudes.