Skunked

Published on April 20, 2012 by a ok.

I look at today’s outing as having been a test. A test of whether I’d truly learned to implement the ideas learned very recently about pulling the plug in the face of uncooperative weather. Bad conditions, coupled with personal desire, can lead to some discomfort. But when the weather skunks you, the weather skunks you. It’s good to go home and get cleaned up.

Another early morning, another PROBAR breakfast as I drive to the trailhead. The 10 minutes not spent making and eating breakfast at home leads to more sleep! Wonder if anyone will spot what's wrong with this picture?

It appears both I and the day’s partners passed, because we simply stood beneath the impenetrable cloud layer calmly discussing the fact that since we couldn’t see the higher reaches, it would be somewhat silly to trudge into them. Despite being fully laden for Continue reading ‘Skunked’

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Recharging

Published on April 19, 2012 by a ok.

With rain all the way to about 8,000 feet this morning, J-Bo and I pulled into the White Pine parking lot and more or less started laughing at the grimness. It’s not funny – in fact it’s quite sad for us skiers – but the situation begged the question: which is more desperate; the conditions, or us?

Wait a minute, we're back in ski areas? Wasn't that how we spent the first half of this winter? With more low vis on the menu, I couldn't complain.

I guess the answer turned into ‘the conditions,’ as we agreed to move higher into the fog, and J-Bo backed up the Subie. We drove up until there was no more road, which also corresponded with a lack of visibility. Considering the

Continue reading ‘Recharging’

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One of the Worst Ski Days of My Life

Published on April 17, 2012 by a ok.

It’s difficult to nail down my exact worst day of skiing. Short of a full burial by avalanche, every other episode probably pales in comparison. I say probably because that’s what I’ve heard from survivors.

Anyway, it had to happen sooner or later.. Perhaps it’s fitting that shortly after my best pow day of the season, I treated myself to one of the worst ski days of my life. After all, the idea fits the theme of this season perfectly: best year ever last season, worst year ever this season. Why wouldn’t my life resemble Mother Nature and her manic ways?

Much of the day, this was as good as it got. Is that an overhanging cornice? Underhanging? Is there a difference between ground and sky? Are you certain?

I’ve had days like this before, but as far as I can remember, this one provided just that little extra tickle to the funny bone, assuring that it wouldn’t be classified as just an ordinary off-kilter day. In my view, days like this are largely about sheer Continue reading ‘One of the Worst Ski Days of My Life’

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Cold Fusion

Published on April 15, 2012 by a ok.

Mount Timpanogos's Cold Fusion couloir (the continuous line of snow extending from the summit down to the looker's right) occupies a fine spot on a beautiful piece of real estate.

Well, we didn’t ski it from the top (a perfect excuse to return!), but we did ski it in positively blower Utah conditions. This was no less than a snorkel meter 2 event, for the record. Timpanogos’ Cold Fusion was as close to heaven as Utah offered up on Saturday. With a text from Jim Knight the evening before, I knew only that a few people had signed on, and where and when to meet (Pine Hollow, 6 am). Arriving a full hour late intending to catch up to the group, I pulled in to see several folks milling about. I might have recognized Jim’s van if my head weren’t in the clouds. As it was, at the Continue reading ‘Cold Fusion’

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Denied

Published on April 13, 2012 by a ok.

Aiming for something fun and interesting to ski, Swain and I ended up retreating in the face of unstable snow – widespread cracking on a large slope – and simply skied low angle powder in the vicinity of both Red Baldy and Patsy Marley. I think we spent more time pushing our way out through deep snow than actually making turns. Did I mention that the warm snow stuck to our skins mercilessly on the up, despite the addition of skin wax? Right around 9,000 feet, there was a  noticeable change in the snow consistency, switching from a heavy, cream cheese consistency to light Utah finery. Didn’t matter, both types stuck to our skins. It was a thrill a minute.

Jon gets more skin wax happening.

Fortunately, we received compensation both for being denied, as well as having to push our way downhill. On our final run to the car, we were both treated to full-on face slushies as Continue reading ‘Denied’

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Monte Cristo Direct (Redux)

Published on April 10, 2012 by a ok.

It’s déjà vu all over again. – Yogi Berra

The ski days of late keep requiring a PROBAR breakfast – in my case, usually one PROBAR and one or two Fruition bars tossed down the hatch while driving to the mountains. Today’s feast included the new double chocolate flavor, as well as lemon. Both are flavorful!  It’s a fast breakfast of choice when time is at a premium. And, of late, spare time has been a little spare. Not unlike the direction the snowpack is heading.

Snow is quickly becoming a premium commodity in the ole Wasatch.

But, duty called. A page out of last season’s playbook apparently got mixed in with this year’s edition. The situation was virtually identical, leading to the need for the opening quote. Just as happened with last year’s Hellgate Couloir outing and subsequent solo return visit  Continue reading ‘Monte Cristo Direct (Redux)’

Located in 03 Adventures, 06 Energy Sources, 11 Perspective, Going Light(er) Fast(er) Far(ther) and Wasatch 4 Comments Tags: , , , , .