Vail Mountain Games and the War Wagon

Last weekend, Jared coaxed me into taking a drive with him in his war wagon; listen to him cough most the way there and join him at the starting line of the 2nd annual Teva Mountain Games ski mountaineering race; now the Eddie Bauer Winter Mountain Games, Vail, Colorado.  Having only done a few skimo races this year, and with this to be my first official rando ski race in the same category of the lightweight fast folks, I registered with trepidation. According to my wife, I've done some form of racing nearly our whole marriage (two decades); probably not a good thing. Regardless, toeing the line with a bunch of guys and gals in spandex ski suits, colorful helmets and packs barely large enough for a shovel, probe and some zingers is a bit unnerving.

The weather was nice at the lower elevation; up high the storm let loose in a big way becoming brutal. The course, relatively low angle proved challenging for me as I'm not accustomed to low to flat skinning. In 20 miles the course gains 6,500 or so feet. My first mistake of many, lose the tail clips on the skins. Despite my follies, it was wonderful to race around Vail and the organizers did a fantastic job putting it on. This iconic resort is huge to say the least.

The company of the other racers was fun and even better was seeing Jared have such a great race given the fact that I seriously thought he had a case of the black lung while driving to the venue (probably because of our tremendous high quality air this winter in the  SL valley). His cough disappeared during the event which was a huge blessing and he nailed it. 

With my goals of learning a great deal, a top ten finish, have fun and to find some cool ski pins for my kids, the race and experience proved a success for me. I'm glad Jared pushed me to do it.


A photo I saw on Facebook and then took off Jared's blog.

Jared lower stretch of first back bowl

Winter's Passage of Time

This morning I was alone, skinning amidst a blanket of stars, headlamp doused and a moon piercing the blackness while cascading daunting shadows of tall Wasatch Peaks over me. While moving upwards, I counted my many blessings in life and the chance I had to be surrounded by nature so early in the morning.   

Owen my third boy who is 9 years old has been praying with us as a family for certain people struggling with health challenges. Owen is a special boy of blue eyes, shaggy blond hair and a fire for life. A couple weeks ago he heard me talking about needing to get out and ski. He asked me, "Dad do you need some Skimotherapy?" I smiled and said "for sure." How did he come up with that?

Below are a couple pictures of Skimotherapy over the past few weeks. Gratefully we take the therapy together, challenging one another to achieve goals that independently hold invisible values.

This last Saturday, Jared Inouye, Jason Dorais, Tom Goth, Sam and Aaron Inouye and I traversed from Alta to Millcreek. It was a riot to do it rando style. A few in skinsuits, others a bit more relaxed, but the whole time filled with laughter. It was nice to be out in the sun!! Jared choreographed the shuttles and put it together. The morning was beautiful, outstanding northerly aspects and even better company.  The only bummer, I lost my little camera, so I am using one of Jared's pics below. My camera has been so many places with me.

Courtesy Jared Inouye. Last climb of the day.

The OR Wasatch Skimo Series Race was another great memory in January.  Tom flew away with the race of course.  Andy Dorais put on an incredible morning race, with 3 summits. It was fun to ski with Chad B and several other folks from out of town like Pete Swenson during the event.  Andy and others have really stepped up to put on these outstanding events. 

Post race and spandex! Chad Brackelsberg (left), Tom Goth and me-- Courtesy Andy Dorais

Pfiefferhorn NW Couloir

This morning in an effort to escape the valley's pea soup and get some warm sunshine again, Jared Inouye, Bart Gillespie and I climbed the Pfiefferhorn with the objective of checking out and hopefully skiing the NW Couloir.  The morning was filled with spectacular views and talks of who was winning the Nationals Rando Race at Jackson today (Turns out, our local contingent did incredible).

The Pfiefferhorn is one of the diamonds in the jewelry box of Wasatch Peaks. It affords steep skiing and is one of my favorite mountains to look at. My oldest son too loves this mountain as we hiked it this past summer together, including an overnighter. From Maybird and Hogum drainages the mountain is inspiring and seemingly larger than life.

We skinned up consolidated powder, reaching the east spine which was mostly snow covered. On the east face the snow had stiffened due to sun and wind fatigue. Once on top peering down the objective was the first thing we did.

The NW couloir was super thin on top, with a granite slippery slide the first 150 or so feet.  We entered via the exposed ridge that is skiers right of the couloir instead of down climbing the top slab.  Nope, we weren't the first ones in there this year. We wondered if we would be. Once in, the skiing above the rappel was fair, with lots of wind board snow. Each turn counted.

The rappel this time around was longer than what I have experienced in the couloir in times past. I estimate it was around 65 feet. Here the snow felt like a pool table, luckily not icy though (thank goodness as I accidentally dropped one of my poles setting the rappel anchor and it stopped about 100' below the rappel). The skiing dramatically improved below. The apron was wonderful, filled with consolidated powder.

We then moved up to the top of the Obilesk. We enjoyed the warm sun and parted ways as Jared and Bart cruised down the Hogum 200 and I exited into Maybird then over to the standard Red Pine skinner. Great morning for sure.

Jared east face Pfief

Bart descending sketchy ridge (skiers right of couloir)

Jared, top of Pfief with a thin NW Couloir below him

Bart on long rappel

Do those glasses really have leopard print on them?

Bart below the rappel

Jared, just above him the rappel

Bart, apron and the Cottonwood ridge background

The great Hogum Fork

A New Year's Celebration- Red Baldy

With another great year over and a new one upon us, it seemed appropriate to get out early this morning with friends and enjoy some of the remaining good snow from the last storm system. The frigid temperatures (so it felt like to me), low level snow clouds which parted right around 9,500 elevation,  reminded me of New Years past.  With the winds picking up, time was limited to get some good high alpine skiing in. Scott, Eric and I enjoyed Red Baldy.  A party or two had skied it either yesterday or the days prior, so a skinner was in a good part of the way. The skiing off the main face to skiers right from the top ridge proved to be our line. The conditions in sections were deteriorating, with the beginnings of wind loading. Superficial cracking was also starting.  We did find some wonderful turns though, improving as we descended to the apron. Happy New Year Scott and Eric! Great morning. I made it home as the family was just getting up. Just in time for Danish Pastry too!

Eric and beautifully shrouded cottonwood ridge behind

The always lovely summit ridge on Red Baldy

Stylish Scott on Red Baldy with the Pfief bidding him good morning

Eric!

Coming off Red Baldy

Scott and Lake Peak's East Couloir

Superior with the Dorais- Twice as good.

The silent and super low density snow fell perfectly on all aspects of the Little Cottonwood mountains this week. Amazingly no wind accompanied the last storm so the fluff produced turns that have been out of this world. Yesterday morning, in an effort to stay on safer compass aspects while still thoroughly enjoying the white puff we chose the sunny sides. Jason, Andy and I getting a late morning start, cruised up the skinner to the top of pole line then traversed the ridge to the summit of Mount Superior which was seeing a lot of attention. Traveling on light race gear the ascent was enjoyable (even though people probably laughed at Jason and Andy's skin suits). The snow was incredible. Reaching the bottom of the apron and then to the canyon road the smiles were covered in white.

Realizing how much fun we had we started back at the standard skinner and repeated it. Reaching the top the same way and skiing the same Southeast face of Superior again. Our times reaching the top  both times were quite similar. Just like seconds for dessert this was twice as good.  Mount Superior's Southeast face is so beautiful. I am grateful to have been able to feel its immense energy with great friends. After just over 3 hours from when we first put on the skis for the morning,  I got in my car and headed home to pick up the kids and Marcie for an afternoon at Alta.

Top of Superior

Looking down main chute (are those moguls?)

The newlywed Dorais ripping the pow high on Superior

Andy all smiles

Andy, his new Ski Trab pack and the Apron

Shelter in the Storm

The skiing this week has been outstanding. The day after Christmas brought soft and deep powder turns on low angles. Upper Silver Fork was left untouched for us to enjoy over and over again.  Great friendships made the trip even better!

Scott W.

Justin W

Scott W

Eric B

Skimo/Rando Racing in the Wasatch

While a newbie to the sport of ski mountaineer racing I have come to appreciate what a great sport it is. I have only done a few events, two races on heavy metal-- one being the Powderkeg and two on light gear. While I have skied  and climbed in the mountains most of my life, the combination of the two disciplines is special. I thank Jared for helping me see the light. The past week or so there have been a couple Wasatch Citizen SKIMO races that brought out a great group of folks. I wanted to give my simple perspective on my experiences of these past two events and what I have learned. Andy Dorais along with some other key folks work very hard to assess conditions and set courses that are manageable and safe for all abilities regardless of equipment styles. First of all THANK YOU ANDY FOR YOUR EFFORTS TO BRING US ALL TOGETHER.

Tuesday's Skimo race (Dec 18th)- First event for me using lightweight gear. They always say and I have found that you learn far more in events where you struggle miserably. This was the case on this event. The group took off like a pack of deer being hunted by a desperate group of men in orange. Tom and Andy cruised off the line (apparently like always) and this was my first mistake.  I should have gone at my own pace. I jumped on their backs until we reached the first switch back. Here's my second mistake. As I went to kick turn I slid back about 3 feet (Bart G. got a front row seat). The same happened on nearly all the steep switchbacks during the whole race. Why? I was borrowing the SKIMO Yoda's skins (guess who that is?) because I was dealing with some glue issues on my other ones. He was gracious enough to let me. Well, Yoda likes his skins to be cut ultra short in length and being the SKIMO master that he is, he can skin up just about anything. Me on the other hand, a young (really actually old in age) padowan racing skin guy failed miserable. I am new to skinning on race skins and simply put, I need more practice. Before I knew it all I could see was spandex in front of me in a line of trailing headlamps. Then came the transitions. Mistake number 3. I need to learn how to transition fluidly and patiently.  I'm working on it. The race couldn't end quick enough for me. At the conclusion of the fourth lap I hung my head low, licked my wounds and headed home. It was a great course though!

Christmas Eve Race (Dec 24th)- Andy, Tom (he also won the race) and others (thank you) set a longer course which covered about 3,000 feet of elevation gain over three progressively shorter laps on Great Western. It was a beautiful morning, snowing at the first part and the course was magnificent. Everyone was cheery for the holiday season. As I had tried to work on some of my failures on the last race, the event went a bit smoother. Rather than spaz out at the beginning I went at my own pace. My skin glue issue was resolved (I only have one race set) and I was back to a longer, full length race skin. I have a long way to go before I can skin like the Yoda. It will likely never happen. At the top of Great Western Tom was in front of me and gaining real estate fast.  I topped out behind him with Nick and Tim nipping at my heels. They did this the whole race.  By the time I transitioned these boys were already transitioning. On down some great powder we went. Nearing the top of the second lap, Tom was already long gone. I could see him way up ahead and there was no chance I could reel him in. The third lap was shorter and I could see Tom through the trees skiing down as I was nearing the top. My transitions continued to be sloppy (perhaps I can blame it on my leather work gloves, or my baggy jogging pants-- but probably not). As I reached the bottom, there were two figures standing there. Tom standing with his cheerleader and sweetheart, already with a big coat on and a smile. Probably already had a sandwich. Tom is amazing. Tim and Nick then came in along with Eric, Courtney and other folks. It was so much fun to talk with Nick and Tim while we (I) frantically transitioned. They are wonderful. I was contending with a super stoke factor in Tim as this was his first day on his lightweight set up (Hagan skis) and he was loving it. Family traditions were on my watch so immediately following the race I cruised home to be with my wife and kids. It was a fun morning.

I love my Hagan skis, La Sportiva RSR bindings and of course my TLTs.