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.
