Monthly Archive for May, 2012

5 Chutes: Pipeline, Perlas, Dog Leg, Little, and Main

Published on May 31, 2012 by a ok.

A Bit of Backstory…

Last night I roped J-Bo into joining me on a little project I’d begun dreaming of three years earlier. Back then, I had an outstanding ski day at Alta – on a pass, it’s true! – that unfolded like this: Powder had dropped from the sky in quantity in earlier days. Baldy had been closed in the interim. I expected/guessed/hoped it would open on this bluebird day.

I did a few laps waiting for patrol to drop the rope to the Baldy OB, at the top of the Sugarloaf chairlift. From each vantage point possible, I kept an eye on the scene. People began queueing up. On my fourth chairlift lap or so, while still about 20 chairs from the uppermost lift tower, I watched the rope drop and about 20-30 people rush up the booter. Excitedly, I exited the chair and followed the fray. Everyone seemed to be headed to Main Chute, or the summit. I quickly dropped Perla’s and laughed my way down the deep untracked.

Skiing to the midway loading point for the Collins lift, I took that to the top, then skied down to the Sugarloaf lift, again heading to the top. From there, the booter again. So the day progressed. I ticked off the main four north/northeast facing chutes (Perla’s, Dog Leg, Little, and Main) as the day unfolded.

It was great. The powder was incredible, people were friendly, the weather perfect. However, even back then, it was Continue reading ’5 Chutes: Pipeline, Perlas, Dog Leg, Little, and Main’

Located in 03 Adventures, Going Light(er) Fast(er) Far(ther) and Wasatch 7 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , .

2nd Annual Baconfest Pictorial

Published on May 29, 2012 by a ok.

‘I used to have trouble choking down the pills I have to take for controlling my cholesterol, but it’s a lot easier now that I wrap them in bacon.’ ~ Brad Simanek

Baconfest 2012 summit.

You know the score. In one of Utah’s less vegan friendly style outings, friends, and strangers who became friends, again met up in the Uintas to score some summit bacon on Bald Mountain. This year, the festivities probably marked some people’s last ski/board day of the year. The snow is thin, and receding rapidly. However, as a present for late season dedication, the snow gods saw fit to drop some fresh on the mountains before we arrived.

We let the snow turn to soup while bacon fried in any of four or five fry pans. No matter. It’s only once every belly is full of bacon that movement from the summit is encouraged. 12 people summited, down one from last year. Pretty good considering winter was a fading memory for a lot of people by about March this year. Here’s the day in pictures.

Only one less summiter than last year, but a lot less vehicles. Carpooling was in effect this year.

Hammond weeded out nearly everyone by putting in a booter that was pretty steep for the last few feet. For my part, I got to practice one ‘partner arrest’ as Zach lost his footing and came sliding down. It’s a day of bacon, but eating it all isn’t the biggest challenge..

Phil getting the treatment on the Bald Mountain express route.

Someone even brought a themed snowboard. Rockin’.

In the tasty bacon department, these guys won with Applewood smoked. Yum.

Mark Hammond demonstrates one of the lesser, but varied, Whippet functions – the bacon spear.

Cindy Lou Grant follows suit.

Gettin’ small on the summit.

There are views to be seen in every direction.

…of lakes and mountains.

 

At some point, we headed down, walking over to the launching-in point.

Phil launched in with this cornice 360. Action captured by Mark Hammond.

After a short section of skiing, there was some down climbing involved on the descent.

And still more downclimbing.

Mikell Bova turns it following one of several rocky cruxes.

No matter their route of descent, everyone got to ski above some cliffs this year, due to the low snow coverage. Here, Kyle gets his chance. Good times!

 

Located in 03 Adventures and 09 Quotes 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Outdoor Research Centrifuge Jacket Review

Published on May 25, 2012 by a ok.

Admittedly, my approach to gear is simple: when I find an item that functions exactly as I need, I strive to use it for a looong time. Looking for substitutions isn’t high on my priority list. Often I won’t search for a replacement until I realize that the piece has been, or could be, improved upon. That in mind, I own a couple of non-insulated softshells, one of which I bought almost 10 years ago. It still sees regular winter use. The only reason to replace it, in my mind, is that something better becomes available.

The O.R. Centrifuge jacket in Glacier/True Blue.

Enter the Outdoor Research Centrifuge Jacket. It improves upon the aforementioned softshell in about a half-dozen ways. Check out the improvements, because I’d bet that you’ll be as impressed with them as I’ve been. Here’s how Continue reading ‘Outdoor Research Centrifuge Jacket Review’

Located in 13 Gear Testing 2 Comments Tags: , , , .

Second Annual Mt. Baconfest

Published on May 25, 2012 by a ok.

The inaugural Bald Mountain Baconfest. Ascend, cook, eat, then ski or board. More or less in that order.

Whether you missed out on the inaugural Bald Mountain Baconfest or were among the lucky ones to attend last year, your chance to participate has come around once again. In chatting with Mark Hammond, the event’s brainchild, some weeks (months?) back, I stated the obvious. A July 4th Baconfest might not go this season due to, ahem, no snow. Or very, very little available snow. Rather than protest, adapt.

That in mind, the news is good: this year’s Mt. Baconfest has been moved forward one national holiday, from July 4th to Memorial Day. It’s going down in three days – on Monday, May 28th, 2012 – while there is still some frozen water in those mountains.

Hitch a ride, carpool, do an ultra run, or drive over to the Bald Mountain pass on the Mirror Lake Highway in the Uintas. (It’s about a 2 hour drive from SLC proper for those unfamiliar) Format is pretty loose, but aim for 8 a.m. and expect people to soon thereafter start skinning or hiking up to the Bald Mountain summit. (There are lesser peaks nearby for those who prefer something mellower.) There should be snow right out of the parking lot due to the elevation of the pass.

It’s not called Mt. Baconfest for nothing. If last year is any indicator, there will be many pounds of bacon and even a few sausages fried up. Bring bacon and/or a stove and pan to contribute. As we quickly learned last year, paper towels and bags are handy for cleaning/packing out the mess, so feel free to bring any of that, too. Otherwise, the event is free and open to all.

Last year a few military jets did a flyby – it was July 4th, after all – which was pretty cool to watch from a summit. The skiing was excellent, too. Who knows what memorable event(s) might transpire this time around? There’s only one way to find out, so make your plans to attend now!

Located in 03 Adventures and 12 Random 0 Comments Tags: , .

CAMP Race 290 Crampon Review

Published on May 23, 2012 by a ok.

Throughout a winter cursed with local snow that had all the cohesive properties of dry sand, crampons simply weren’t necessary. That was a bit of a sad anomaly, since I wanted to field test the performance of the CAMP Race 290 crampons. Eventually though, April and May arrived, bringing with them a relative change in the snow surface. Ice and hardpack arrived, heralding the time for spiky footwear. Finally, out came the Race 290’s.

The Race 290 crampon easily folds down to a small size.

Billed as the world’s lightest crampons, I weighed them each, coming up with 146 and 148 grams respectively. C.A.M.P. achieves this weight reduction – as compared to other crampons – through two primary devices: Continue reading ‘CAMP Race 290 Crampon Review’

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Julbo Pipeline Review

Published on May 21, 2012 by a ok.

Perfection. It’s something many people, and many companies, strive to achieve in one specific area. With the Pipeline model of sunglasses, it seems like Julbo has come as close to eyewear perfection as any mountain athlete could require for regular use. I’ve worn these sunglasses virtually every day since they arrived, in a range of sports such as ski mountaineering, rock climbing, trail running, and downhill mountain biking. Early morning, noon, and evening, these things have been plastered to my face – even when I’m just driving around town.

The Julbo Pipeline photochromic sunglasses. Notice that the lenses are shaded differently in this pic - the lens on the right is in sunlight, while the one on the left is not.

And I’ve been completely impressed with their light blocking capabilities. This, although my initial reaction upon opening the box was, ‘I’m not sure if Continue reading ‘Julbo Pipeline Review’

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