TT43 Ski - 4.4.2013

Last winter, when we began to research skiing in Alaska, one of the first things we found was a Youtube video of someone skiing a sustained pitch of 1,300 vertical meters of spines, flutes, and ramps. Named TT43 for the number of terrain traps on the face, this zone has been on our hit list ever since. 

Last Thursday we headed out to finally check it out. With downright hot temperatures in the forecast, we decided to approach it from the southwest instead of the more standard southeast route. We quickly realized why this approach is unusual:

Matt, being a real Alaskan, ripped off his boots and was soon watching us barefoot from the far snowbank.


Nick and I, who are of a far less hearty breed, went back to the car for my rubber boots. Which Nick then returned for my use:

Pittsburg Ski - 3.3.2013

With the recent heat and wind adding to the persistent instabilities lurking in the snowpack, many of our first choices for today were quickly knocked off the list. Nick suggested heading north of Crested Butte up the Slate River valley to a zone I've never skied before. 30 minutes of jarring tandem sledding through huge crusty whoops did not increase my enthusiasm as we arrived at the base of the zone.

Warm weather and light snow greeted us as we headed up:

At the top we quickly realized that we were looking at an untracked zone filled with creamy settled powder; we started it out in proper fashion:

Photo: Nick Matisse

Nick:

Adam composed in the air...

...only to find a grabby wind crust in the landing:

Run two brought more drops:

Photo: Nick Matisse

Adam:

back to his usual stomping form:

Beat from the first two runs, we enjoyed the creamy snow and some fun pillows on our last run: 

Photo: Adam Buckwalter

Adam scopes lines for another day:

Today was one of those sleeper days - I went out not expecting to find good snow, but instead found creamy untracked snow with the zone to ourselves! 

Buffalo Pass Skiing - February 2013

After several years hearing stories of the deep and stable snowpack north of Steamboat, Rachel and I spent several days earlier this winter starting to explore the zone. But, we just touched the tip of the iceberg, and since then I've wanted to go deeper. Last weekend, Jordan, Conor and I headed west from the Front Range, while Nick drove north from Crested Butte.

Like the rest of the state, the Yampa River Basin snowpack is hurting this year, at about 70% of average. I'll start with a few frame grabs of what a bad year looks like here:










With three days ahead of us I, was excited to explore, get lost, suffer, and enjoy. We spent the first day very successfully accomplishing the first three items.


After a day spent digging out sleds, breaking trail, and skiing bad snow, we knew just how much good snow there was for us to find the next day.


Day two started with mini golf through a pillow/cliff zone:

Photo: Nick Matisse

Nick:


Yep, thats deep:


Conor:


still deep...


After thoroughly skiing out the zone we headed deeper:

Photo: Nick Matisse

Conor on our last run of the day:

Photo: Nick Matisse

Waking up Monday morning the cold that I had had the previous two days had progressed to the point where I could barely stand; but with 9 inches of new snow reported at the ski area we knew Buff Pass would be even deeper. There was no way Nick was going to let us miss a day like this. A bottle of DayQuil later and we were sledding through untouched snow towards a zone we had seen the day before.

Nick in the midst of a rad triple pillow line:


Success!


Floating down a steep pitch:

Photo: Nick Matisse

Nick:


For the last run of the day we lined up a steep pillow zone; I dropped first, looking up at Nick who I assumed would be skipping off the pillows below him.


But, he had other plans, and cleared the whole stack:


And what weekend would be complete without a little sledding. 5 PM, President's Day:


Monday through Nick's eyes:


Deep snow, no wind, and few people, I can't wait to go back - this was a Top 10 trip!

Looking Back: Winter 2011 - 2012 Review

I'm sure as hell itching for ski season, so I figured its about time to post up my best stoke from last winter in Colorado and Alaska.

Even with minimal snow, last season was so so so FUN, here's to another memory filled season with friends new and old!

The touring season got off to a bit of a late start, but by the beginning of November Saint Mary's had a creamy coat of new snow:


A week later our early season zones were filling in:


Yep, that was fun!


Around the middle of November I moved down to Crested Butte for the winter. Things were a bit firm:


But, on November 19th, two inches in town meant snorkeling up high:




Not to say that the snow was building up around town:


Even the Front Range had some fun skiing:


December brought small pillows and more pow:




Colorado dried out for a while, but exploring new zones meant life was good:


By January, even the northern mountains were beginning to look like winter:


In early January we went to Wolf Creek Pass, it hadn't snowed in three weeks, it was awesome:








Wolf Creek Pass was so good that we went back...which got off to a bit of a rough start after Nick's sled died:


9 miles from the trailhead...


Our luck quickly improved:


Nick and I practiced our tandem pow slaying:


Then it started snowing, and the avy danger shot up, so we built little jumps:


and medium sized ones:




and big ones:


Did more exploring:






Started the long road of learning how to sled:




Brett came to visit:








Not to say there wasn't skiing to be had:




In March the snowpack started to stabilize, more touring was had:


It also felt quite a bit like spring:


So...Josh skied Red Lady in about 3 turns:


Adam was nice enough to show us around:


More warm temps...and curious sledding conditions...


...brought a full on corn cycle:




...and smiles all around:


In April, Nick and I were lucky enough to go to Alaska. We left summer behind in CO:


Rented an RV in Anchorage and headed to Valdez:


Where we were treated to a day of epic flat light:


Followed by bluebird:


And more bluebird:


Sadly, we had to return the RV. Happily, Hatcher Pass was awesome:


Hatcher stayed good for days:




We weren't the only ones enjoying the weather:


Eventually, we headed back to CO, where it was still summer:


Met up with the usual suspects:








And skied some spring lines:












Unfortunately, my external hard drive was stolen at the beginning of the summer, and my main hard drive died shortly after. So, no season edit this season, but boy am I thankful for all the amazing memories that remain!

What a year! I feel so thankful to be part of such an amazing community of skiers, photographers, and amazing friends. I love you all!