Tag Archive for 'chute'

Open Terrain (Answer 1 of 12)

Published on September 17, 2011 by a ok.

In my view, it’s one of the great tragedies of the outdoor sports world that ski areas end up closing off some of the most choice terrain. Sometimes this real estate is closed permanently – such as Jackson Hole’s Hourglass Couloir (since renamed Haas Couloir after Steve Haas perished in the line), and sometimes it’s simply closed a lot of the time, and open infrequently as ski patrol deems the conditions warrant. Alta’s Baldy Chutes or Snowbird’s Pipeline qualify as examples of the latter.

Here's a fine example of the problem at hand - the highest terrain above looks appealing to me, while the apron (everything below the traverse line) gets skied out endlessly.

The tragedy exists in that Continue reading ‘Open Terrain (Answer 1 of 12)’

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The 2010/2011 Ski Season in Pictures

Published on August 16, 2011 by a ok.

Ah, the middle of August. A good time to reflect on less brutally hot times. That’s not too hard to accomplish when you’ve brought a camera along for many days of fun skiing on the snow. These may not all be the best pictures I (and others) took this year, but they’re among my favorites. Each one brings back plenty of memories. Good stuff. And a fine way to cool off in the heat..

We began the year with much the same ideal as we ended it - 'we don't need much snow to call it skiing.' Andy on the ridge between Sugarloaf and Devil's Castle.

I still think 'complete trust' sums up this shot just fine.

Well, I'll be...! Jason Borro was probably the first person to set foot into the Northwest Couloir of the Pfeifferhorn this season.

J-Bo rappels the Hellgate Couloir.

Andy Coyle is a funny guy no matter how you slice it. He set up this shot.

Red Baldy, rimed.

Zach Guy comes face to face with Jungle-whacking in the PNW.

A OK about to disappear over the edge, on the Pfeifferhorn. Pic by Jason Borro.

Jon Swain drives it down the Hallway.

Cold, lonely, and single. I'm talking about the tree. Zach Guy adds some companionship..

White Baldy ridge.

Andy Dorais takes to the backside of the Question Mark wall.

Fine scenery on Timpanogos.

Jason Dorais climbs a chimney. I'm giving it a 10 on the butt shot meter!

At least this tree has some company.

Matthew Turley on the other end of a camera for a change. West face of Timpanogos.

Greg Foster opens up a clogged chimney in a rime blasted winter wonderland.

Jason Dorais gets his hop on.

Beware of your neighbors. They may invite you to heaven. Jason Borro on the receiving end of an invite.

AD nearing full submersion in Country Lane.

Starting the day off near unfrozen waters.

Jon Swain sacks it up for his first ski rappel. First with me, at least.

Proving these pictures are in no particular order, this was the scene on July 4th. Aliens took all the people and left all the ski (and board) gear behind. Boy, did they ever get that one wrong!

'Uh, guys, the roof is caving in..' Never has a man pulled on his pants and exited a snow cave so quickly as Zach did following my morning greeting. And why, I wonder, did he have to pull on his pants? Mmm, maybe it was his boots...

Ansel OKeefe on the camera.

Andy Dorais searches for passage over the block on Cioccetti's Ribbon.

This picture still makes me laugh. Jason Dorais getting his inner monkey on.

I saw a lot of Jon Swain's hand(s) this winter.

Sometimes I even glimpsed other body parts. Often, just a powder flume. Or a powder sweater.

If you look close, you'll see JD.

Jon executing a smooth kick turn in a tricky spot on Mount Raymond.

Jon blows it down Red Stack.

Sometimes the stark, cold, grey nature of clouds and the landscape has absolute beauty. Maybe moreso in August, but I doubt that.

It really was that steep, in that section. A OK traversing Cioccetti's Ribbon. Photo by Andy Dorais.

Fresh tracks getting the black and white treatment. A new-to-us line on the Pfeifferhorn.

Timpanogos, from the north.

JD brings it down the lower half of the Pfeiff's NW Couloir.

And who is this avid proponent of lycra outerwear, wearing sensible and warm clothing in the deep mountain snow? None other than Andy Dorais!

JD going for it on Timpanogos.

Sunrise is fine when you've got snow on the mind..

A OK watching the visibility roll out.

The brothers Dorais trot up Provo Peak.

This is where I get all my ideas on lightweight ski clothing. JD getting air over the valley. A lot of air, it seems!

Jon Swain after having laid waste to Main Baldy Chute 9 times. He looked how I felt!

My favorite shot of myself skiing this season. Heading down Y Couloir. Pic by Jason Dorais.

 

 

 

Located in 03 Adventures, 14 Pictorials and Wasatch 8 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

10 Laps of Bliss in Baldy’s Main Chute

Published on July 19, 2011 by a ok.

When Jon Swain called yesterday to inquire what I was up to for today, my answer was short and sweet. “I’m aiming to beat myself up a little bit on the skis. Interested in joining in?” Like some people, Jon is a sucker for such a sweet answer when it involves ski turns. Of course he was in..

Jon's introduction to Baldy's Main Chute.

The plan as conceived was to head to Baldy and throw down Continue reading ’10 Laps of Bliss in Baldy’s Main Chute’

Located in 02 Personal Info, 11 Perspective and Wasatch 6 Comments Tags: , , .

A Black Comedy in One Act* (with Ski Pictures)

Published on April 21, 2011 by a ok.

Spring has sprung, but not really. This is a repeating theme this season. Today, it led to the following stage play, conducted in One Act, which we can refer to as the Suicide / Homicide Combo Pack:

Jason Dorais, midway up the very windy Suicide Chute: ‘Gosh darn it, I forgot my avalanche beacon!’

Adam OKeefe: ‘Is it in the car?’

JD: ‘I’m not sure.’

A OK: ‘Well, why don’t you ski down, and see if it’s there. If it isn’t, dance around for a while in one spot; I’ll see you, and come down.’ (JD becomes invisible long before reaching the car. Fortunately, beacon is in car. JD begins re-ascent from Highway 210.)

Jason found a way to squeeze in an extra lap.

Meanwhile, on middle stage, midway up Suicide Chute, the scene continues..

A OK, silently, to self: ‘Ahh, good. Beacon was in car. Here comes JD. I’ll get going up the Chute.’ After standing in place for 20 minutes, A OK takes one step, and the snow around him Continue reading ‘A Black Comedy in One Act* (with Ski Pictures)’

Located in 12 Random and Wasatch 2 Comments Tags: , , , .

Learning From Mistakes

Published on March 10, 2011 by a ok.

I’ve learned a lot in my life from observing the mistakes of others, and trying not to repeat them. This has, in my view, saved me a lot of grief. Today, others can learn from my mistakes. I made many, in sequence, which caused me to get hit by a fast moving wet slide in steep terrain. It was a very close call, as well as a wake-up call. Follow along and take mental notes – they could help you out in a big way. Further note that very few of my actions today were informed by ignorance. Rather, personal stupidity was the culprit. I’m not including pictures in this article because I want people to read it and learn, rather than simply look at the pictures.

Complacency – Following a 3 foot dump of snow in prior days, today was the first day that brought cloudless skies from sunrise, with resultant, immediate heat. While the snow had settled nicely following the storm’s conclusion on Tuesday, Wednesday was cloudy until late in the day, keeping wet slides to a relative minimum. That meant that little true snow flushing had yet occurred. Additionally, I was aware that it was going to be a hot day, and that south facing slopes would be particularly unsafe.

Overconfidence – Despite knowing that south facing slopes would be highly suspect, I figured that I could pull off my ski descent before the avalanches fired up, if I began early enough. That was probably true enough, but I showed up half an hour after the starting time I’d chosen. Further, with deep, relatively slow trail breaking, I was slower than I’d planned as well. I’d already chosen a ‘turn around time’ at which point I wanted to be heading down, in order to avoid any avalanche issues.

Ignoring Personal Guidelines – I ignored my ‘turn around’ timeframe. It’s that simple. Mentally, I told myself that the safe window could be extended by 30-45 minutes. I knew better, but convinced myself otherwise. Why?

Continue reading ‘Learning From Mistakes’

Located in 02 Personal Info and 11 Perspective 2 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Storm Turns

Published on March 7, 2011 by a ok.

Before my Garmont Masterlite boots failed for the second time, I did manage to get out for one day of turns with Jason Borro and Andy Coyle. The storm was consistent and dropped snow on us for the duration of our outing. We selected west facing slopes to ski as the winds were generally loading north and east facing aspects – this kept our exposure to danger from snow slides manageable. Before we got to any terrain that was likely to see (minor) avalanche activity in the new snow layer, Andy had bowed out and headed to Alta. Jason and I pressed on.

Onwards into the snow, A OK pushes along a windswept ridge. It was a Minus33 balaclava kind of a day. All day long.

We danced down Continue reading ‘Storm Turns’

Located in 03 Adventures, 04 Gear I Use, 13 Gear Testing and Wasatch 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .