Tag Archive for 'Minus33'

The 2010/2011 Ski Season in Pictures

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.

 

 

 

Baldy Main Chute 4X, Plus the Next Wave of Lightweight Gear

Here's a primer of Alta's Baldy, with the four most prominent ski descents highlighted. L-R: Perlas, Dog Leg Chute, Little Chute, and Main Chute.

Ah, there’s nothing like a trip up the ole faithful. As the season begins, so the season often ends.. Got out this morning to make some turns down Main Chute on Baldy. Also on the agenda was to get some vitamin D, as well as to try out some of the new wave of lightweight, fashion based, functional ski wear. Can extraordinarily light fashion be combined successfully with function for the hard charging skier? I wanted to know how far Continue reading ‘Baldy Main Chute 4X, Plus the Next Wave of Lightweight Gear’

Staying Warm and Comfortable in Minus33

Cruising down Suicide Chute, enjoying the heavy snowfall. Picture by Andy Dorias.

There is a joke among those who spend much time in the mountains that they’ve got some mountain goat lineage. That may be truer than it seems at first blush, at least as concerns some people’s skills. The additional realization has dawned that whether I’m a partial goat or not, I definitely feel kinship with sheep. Merino wool producing sheep, specifically.

I’ve worn Minus33 comfortably next to my skin on many endeavors in the two different seasons of the mountains – winter, and non-winter.  Merino wool doesn’t have to grow on one (so to speak), to determine the excellent characteristics of Nature’s finest product for sheep. From the first touch, one wonders Continue reading ‘Staying Warm and Comfortable in Minus33′

Main Chute Laps Plus Sunset Pictures

The sun sinks below Thunder Ridge.

Went up skiing late and long enough yesterday that I got to see sunset, and just about had Alta to myself for some nice turns in Baldy’s Main Chute. Aside from a few grooming machines taking workers off the mountain, and passing an acquaintance on the way up, the place seemed largely deserted. Well, aside from the jibbers – mostly kids, sliding rails and hitting jumps – who only make it about 200 yards out of the parking lot. That’s all the mountain they seem to need though, so bless ‘em.

On the other hand, I prefer the solace and beauty higher up, and took in the sunset Continue reading ‘Main Chute Laps Plus Sunset Pictures’

Double Marathon Attempt / Sheep among Wolves

Familiar sights in GTNP, different angle.. (l-r) The Enclosure, The Grand and Middle Tetons.

John Maxey made it out to SLC and we once more headed to Jackson, Wyoming to try a one day, double marathon length route in Grand Teton National Park. The course contains numerous mountain passes good for nearly 10,000 feet of vertical gain, good water access, a decent amount of loose rock coupled with plenty of stationary rocks, and more stunning views than a Victoria’s Secret fashion show. Fortunately, this time around, the route wasn’t covered in snow as it was the month before. The weather was perfect – cool, not much breeze, no clouds except in the evening. We ran where we could and tried to speed walk most of the uphills.

All that going for us, I felt lackluster for days afterwards, and it was Wednesday before Continue reading ‘Double Marathon Attempt / Sheep among Wolves’

Bamboosa Fabric Test (Part 3)

Summary

In Parts 1 & 2 of the Bamboosa Fabric Test, it became evident that Bamboosa’s shirts do a fine job of fighting off the microorganisms that cause odor. Further, it became clear that these shirts do not dry especially quickly. Basically, they take about as long to dry as a standard 100% cotton shirt.

Here are my complete conclusions on Bamboosa’s shirts, after testing them for six weeks:

I was impressed with the tiny size of the package that arrived, containing two Bamboosa shirts, both a blend of 70% viscose from bamboo / 30% cotton. The motto Reduce, Re-Use and Recycle is easier to apply when companies pay attention and don’t over-package their products.

Upon opening the package, I withdrew two shirts in size medium, both of which were substantially larger than any other medium-sized shirt that I own. As noted in Continue reading ‘Bamboosa Fabric Test (Part 3)’