Kessler- Catcher's Mitt

Kessler can be a wild card. Slides can be tremendous on all aspects; when timed right however the skiing can be phenomenal. Early this morning, Eric Badger, Blake Fredrickson and I amidst chalking morning skies and dying headlamps ascended the standard Argenta slide path to the top of Kessler. Much to my wonderful surprise we ran into Jake Tauscht on top! I hadn't seen him since our Cathedral Traverse trip in August. Once again he had that wild grin and excitement to be in the mountains.  We chose to descend the Catcher's Mitt, enjoying one pain filled powder turn after another.

Blake entering the top of the Catcher's Mitt

Other than racing against him, I had never skied with Blake on a "tour." It was great! He loves the mountains, is filled with energy charged by the electrical atmosphere of the alpine. Much like Eric! I look forward to many more equally great mountain adventures with him. Unfortunately I haven't replaced my lost camera. This shot is the best I could do this time.

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