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http://s258.photobucket.com/albums/hh266/VTRachelRose/?action=view¤t=BetweentheTrees.flv
Friday, February 1, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
Camel's Hump Recon Mission 1/5/07
Having enjoyed my fair share of powder days for December and January, I headed to the backcountry with Maria. Neither one of us had ever checked out the goods on Camel’s Hump, and Ben’s pictures along with stories from friends made it sound like an enticing destination. So we decided to head out and see what was up for ourselves.
I was all about getting out early and finding the last of the great powder before the thaw. However, I was also aware that we were going on recon mission to learn the lines and that there was no guarantee we’d find the best shots. The day, in fact, ended up being a backcountry comedy of errors, which I am sure was spurred on by the outpouring of skiing folly confessions on the SKIVT-L discussion forum. It was like one of my dreams/nightmares come true.
The previous night I had gone up to BV to pick up Maria’s gear from the Ski Patrol shack. (Conveniently, I had to pick up my gear at the bottom of the hill.) As I approached Ski Patrol the door opened revealing a couple of crusty old BV patrollers ;). They looked at me funny when I told them what I wanted, but went inside to grab Maria’s gear after I described it in detail…blue K2s, flowers, tele setup…and I was off down the hill toward home.
The next morning by 7:30 we’re all geared up and ready to go. I popped my trunk to take out the boards and Maria’s face fell. “Those aren’t my skis,” she said. TIHS! Luckily Maria lives really close to the trailhead so we headed to her house to call BV. Maria talked to the owner of the skis who gave her the thumbs up to ski ‘em. Relieved and already late on our start time, we slipped into a mode where time is no longer of the essence. The kitchen, coffee, and conversation
were comfortable.
We didn’t dawdle too long, though, and were hiking by 9:00. I had heard of a nice line north of the cliffs off the Alpine Trail. Around noon we ducked in there to explore. There weren’t any track going in and the trail was not obvious. The low branches of the trees were heavy with snow and hung over the trail. With my board on my back, I kept ducking and trying not to get hung up in the trees and not to get too much snow down my back. (I couldn’t remember why I like to hike in my raincoat so I didn’t bring it…I remembered.) After about .3 grueling miles, the trail disappeared into the overhanging boughs. We couldn't see any blazes, and the only option was to hike down some to check it out. At this point, we were both running low on energy and didn’t relish the possibly of having to hike back up if the trail was not to be found. We also knew that we had at least another .3 miles to go. So we turned around and hiked back out to the Monroe Trail. Once there we proceeded up to the hut clearing, but stopped just shy of it due to strong winds and low energy.
I got a few powdery turns at the top, but as for the next 1.5 miles…well, let’s suffice it to say that there’s gotta be a way down that’s more fun than a narrow worm hole where you can’t see what’s around the next bend and you know there’s open water somewhere…in more than one spot, really…and you’re glad you wore a helmet because it’s taking a beating from the branches hanging into the trail…a fun factor of 3, an adventure factor of 7…east coast survival skiing…
We were glad to get down to the cliffs and followed a skin track made by a friend earlier in the day below the cliffs. That was a mistake. In going so far in, we missed a bunch of sweet looking lines. We saw them after we descended a short ways and traversed back towards the trail, ending up under the line we had come for. I thought about hiking back up to get ‘em. Alas, I was too tired to rally, and it was getting late.
We continued, I in my snowshoes, and Maria basically cross-country skiing. I was getting really frustrated by this point. All I wanted to do was put my board on and go downhill! Was it too much to ask of a mountain? Finally, we found some pitch and powder. It’s amazing how few perfect turns it takes to make a long, hard day worthwhile. I appreciated the lleh out of those turns…felt every second of each glide and float, soaked it in, reveled in the soft fluffiness and the ease of movement.
And then came the schwackiest run-out known to humankind. Man, it lasted forever…and then there was the trail again. We were out. 4:00, light fading, legs toast, and smiling.
I’ll do it again. (I’ll try just about anything twice.) I did my research and information gathering, marked a few waypoints, inspected terrain, saw where other people’s track were coming from, and got a pretty good idea of how to do it better next time.
Special Bonus Features and Humbling Experiences of the Day
*Running into old friends in the middle of the woods.
*Making new friends in the middle of the woods.
*Two shirtless guys hauling ssa up the trail in snowshoes toting boards on their backs.
*Maria doing the splits in an attempt to cross a creek on the high line.
*Rachel landing upside down, on her back, in a creek after attempting to shoot a high, tight line between two rather large areas of open water that you couldn’t see until you were right on them. She emerged miraculously dry.
*Maria being a typical tele skier and justifying all the traversing by saying, “It’s all still skiing.” Meanwhile, Rachel pines for pitch.
*Less than a mile from the car Rachel’s camel back busts a leak, and a liter of water flows into her pack.
I was all about getting out early and finding the last of the great powder before the thaw. However, I was also aware that we were going on recon mission to learn the lines and that there was no guarantee we’d find the best shots. The day, in fact, ended up being a backcountry comedy of errors, which I am sure was spurred on by the outpouring of skiing folly confessions on the SKIVT-L discussion forum. It was like one of my dreams/nightmares come true.
The previous night I had gone up to BV to pick up Maria’s gear from the Ski Patrol shack. (Conveniently, I had to pick up my gear at the bottom of the hill.) As I approached Ski Patrol the door opened revealing a couple of crusty old BV patrollers ;). They looked at me funny when I told them what I wanted, but went inside to grab Maria’s gear after I described it in detail…blue K2s, flowers, tele setup…and I was off down the hill toward home.
The next morning by 7:30 we’re all geared up and ready to go. I popped my trunk to take out the boards and Maria’s face fell. “Those aren’t my skis,” she said. TIHS! Luckily Maria lives really close to the trailhead so we headed to her house to call BV. Maria talked to the owner of the skis who gave her the thumbs up to ski ‘em. Relieved and already late on our start time, we slipped into a mode where time is no longer of the essence. The kitchen, coffee, and conversation
were comfortable.
We didn’t dawdle too long, though, and were hiking by 9:00. I had heard of a nice line north of the cliffs off the Alpine Trail. Around noon we ducked in there to explore. There weren’t any track going in and the trail was not obvious. The low branches of the trees were heavy with snow and hung over the trail. With my board on my back, I kept ducking and trying not to get hung up in the trees and not to get too much snow down my back. (I couldn’t remember why I like to hike in my raincoat so I didn’t bring it…I remembered.) After about .3 grueling miles, the trail disappeared into the overhanging boughs. We couldn't see any blazes, and the only option was to hike down some to check it out. At this point, we were both running low on energy and didn’t relish the possibly of having to hike back up if the trail was not to be found. We also knew that we had at least another .3 miles to go. So we turned around and hiked back out to the Monroe Trail. Once there we proceeded up to the hut clearing, but stopped just shy of it due to strong winds and low energy.
I got a few powdery turns at the top, but as for the next 1.5 miles…well, let’s suffice it to say that there’s gotta be a way down that’s more fun than a narrow worm hole where you can’t see what’s around the next bend and you know there’s open water somewhere…in more than one spot, really…and you’re glad you wore a helmet because it’s taking a beating from the branches hanging into the trail…a fun factor of 3, an adventure factor of 7…east coast survival skiing…
We were glad to get down to the cliffs and followed a skin track made by a friend earlier in the day below the cliffs. That was a mistake. In going so far in, we missed a bunch of sweet looking lines. We saw them after we descended a short ways and traversed back towards the trail, ending up under the line we had come for. I thought about hiking back up to get ‘em. Alas, I was too tired to rally, and it was getting late.
We continued, I in my snowshoes, and Maria basically cross-country skiing. I was getting really frustrated by this point. All I wanted to do was put my board on and go downhill! Was it too much to ask of a mountain? Finally, we found some pitch and powder. It’s amazing how few perfect turns it takes to make a long, hard day worthwhile. I appreciated the lleh out of those turns…felt every second of each glide and float, soaked it in, reveled in the soft fluffiness and the ease of movement.
And then came the schwackiest run-out known to humankind. Man, it lasted forever…and then there was the trail again. We were out. 4:00, light fading, legs toast, and smiling.
I’ll do it again. (I’ll try just about anything twice.) I did my research and information gathering, marked a few waypoints, inspected terrain, saw where other people’s track were coming from, and got a pretty good idea of how to do it better next time.
Special Bonus Features and Humbling Experiences of the Day
*Running into old friends in the middle of the woods.
*Making new friends in the middle of the woods.
*Two shirtless guys hauling ssa up the trail in snowshoes toting boards on their backs.
*Maria doing the splits in an attempt to cross a creek on the high line.
*Rachel landing upside down, on her back, in a creek after attempting to shoot a high, tight line between two rather large areas of open water that you couldn’t see until you were right on them. She emerged miraculously dry.
*Maria being a typical tele skier and justifying all the traversing by saying, “It’s all still skiing.” Meanwhile, Rachel pines for pitch.
*Less than a mile from the car Rachel’s camel back busts a leak, and a liter of water flows into her pack.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Smuggs New Year's Eve or All About the Pow
Sometimes it about riding with the crew...Sometimes it's all about the pow. Today the pow won out.
6:30 a.m. three inches of snow on my car. It's heavy enough to stick well but
light enough to move around easily. Nice…it's gonna be a great day.
Sterling lift, 8:00 a.m. My friends are late and the lift ops are still digging out. Twenty minutes later, still no friends, but I ride up with someone I met in line and have seen around a bunch. We get fresh down Smuggler's Alley woods as our first run with six inches of snow on top of a hard, crusty base which became softer closer to the bottom.
Second run…M1 to Doc's and the new woods, which are quickly becoming a favorite. I wish I knew where to pop in from the very top instead of half way down the trail. Anyone? The steeper pitch was fun, as well as the run out that rides like a creek bed. Riding high on the "banks" provided plenty of fresh.
Runs three, four, and five…various lines through Attitude…steep and fast, wide open, glorious turns. Rode alone the first time through...like a meditation in glory on snow. Second time, ran into Big John and Hugh halfway down and we hung together back to M1. The lift lines got looong. Met up with Kristian in line and took him along for round three. Sixth run down Shakedown scouting for some obscure line near a big rock on the right…missed it, oh well, still fun.
11:30 Lunch break to refuel for an afternoon of hiking. Coffee, hot lunch of Thai Kitchen ramen, and chatting with folks in the bar. Made a new friend.
12:00 Run seven…Hiking out back with new friend…all the way up…in the lead making small-step boot pack…sorry to all the tall guys behind me ;). Fresh tracks, cut left onto what must be the Sterling Pond trail, and rode it a long ways…farther left than I'd ever been…past the cliffs. Sweet and deep once we finally found a good fall line to ride out. Run eight…all the way up again…our boot pack had disappeared and the new friend took the lead this round. Drop in even further out this time for a long, sweet face shot filled, luxurious good time. Light was waning when we get to the upper lot.
3:00, time for one more. Worm hole to one of my favorite spots. I had purposefully saved it for last with the hopes no one else would go for it in the meantime. No one did. More face shots through steep chutes. The drop was filled in and is no more. The pitch lessens, and I ripped through wide open glades, threadin' needles for fresh…not stopping…until…I hit a small tree luckily with non-essential parts that can sustain a good bruise and not interfere with future days on the hill…still it hurt, and I stayed down for a minute until the pain subsided and the spot of impact went numb (in a good way). The remainder of my run down to
108 went smoothly, effortlessly, beautifully.
We have been blessed and absolutely spoiled with yet another outstanding
powder day :)
Happy New Year!
Rachel
6:30 a.m. three inches of snow on my car. It's heavy enough to stick well but
light enough to move around easily. Nice…it's gonna be a great day.
Sterling lift, 8:00 a.m. My friends are late and the lift ops are still digging out. Twenty minutes later, still no friends, but I ride up with someone I met in line and have seen around a bunch. We get fresh down Smuggler's Alley woods as our first run with six inches of snow on top of a hard, crusty base which became softer closer to the bottom.
Second run…M1 to Doc's and the new woods, which are quickly becoming a favorite. I wish I knew where to pop in from the very top instead of half way down the trail. Anyone? The steeper pitch was fun, as well as the run out that rides like a creek bed. Riding high on the "banks" provided plenty of fresh.
Runs three, four, and five…various lines through Attitude…steep and fast, wide open, glorious turns. Rode alone the first time through...like a meditation in glory on snow. Second time, ran into Big John and Hugh halfway down and we hung together back to M1. The lift lines got looong. Met up with Kristian in line and took him along for round three. Sixth run down Shakedown scouting for some obscure line near a big rock on the right…missed it, oh well, still fun.
11:30 Lunch break to refuel for an afternoon of hiking. Coffee, hot lunch of Thai Kitchen ramen, and chatting with folks in the bar. Made a new friend.
12:00 Run seven…Hiking out back with new friend…all the way up…in the lead making small-step boot pack…sorry to all the tall guys behind me ;). Fresh tracks, cut left onto what must be the Sterling Pond trail, and rode it a long ways…farther left than I'd ever been…past the cliffs. Sweet and deep once we finally found a good fall line to ride out. Run eight…all the way up again…our boot pack had disappeared and the new friend took the lead this round. Drop in even further out this time for a long, sweet face shot filled, luxurious good time. Light was waning when we get to the upper lot.
3:00, time for one more. Worm hole to one of my favorite spots. I had purposefully saved it for last with the hopes no one else would go for it in the meantime. No one did. More face shots through steep chutes. The drop was filled in and is no more. The pitch lessens, and I ripped through wide open glades, threadin' needles for fresh…not stopping…until…I hit a small tree luckily with non-essential parts that can sustain a good bruise and not interfere with future days on the hill…still it hurt, and I stayed down for a minute until the pain subsided and the spot of impact went numb (in a good way). The remainder of my run down to
108 went smoothly, effortlessly, beautifully.
We have been blessed and absolutely spoiled with yet another outstanding
powder day :)
Happy New Year!
Rachel
Monday, December 17, 2007
The Powder Saga Rages On--December 16 Nor'easter Moves In
Smuggs felt like home today. I ran into Ben Bloom first thing in the upper lot gearing up. There were two people in the lift line when I pulled up...just happened to be two of my good buddies. Lost them first run, oh well. Made a couple solo. Deep, deep powder in the woods. Got stuck. Decided I needed people to ride woods with. Gotta go steep or have someone else's track to help out at times. I just don't carry enough weight to plow through when the pitch lessens.
So I went into the bar to warm up, dry out some gear by the fire and run into someone. Saw many friends and made a couple of new ones. Ripped the top of M1 lift line to Robin's Run. Dropped big, compressed my knee (sore, but useable). Made another run that started at the tippy top of fis, what's that called again? Dipped into some too tight trees, but when it opened up, oh boy! Sick powder, steep chutes...the theme for the rest of the day. Took a break around noon to pop 1000mg of bufferin (thought I was buying ibuprophen one hung over morning on the way to the mtn) and dig out my knee brace. Mmmm...compression, the good kind. I did a few test bends and walked around for a little while, decided I was good to go and headed back out...or rather out back.
The chutes off the pond were still fluffy. Sweet ride down. Perfect turns. The knee worked beautifully. Not last run yet. Hiked out, worm holed, dropped in...soooo steep...soooo much snow...mandatory 8-10 with a stomped and stuck landing (I always nail that one...it's my favorite cliff)...gentle slope the rest of the way to 108, rode it hard and fast. That was it. 3:15 looked like beer-thirty. Cheers to yet another epic December day.
So I went into the bar to warm up, dry out some gear by the fire and run into someone. Saw many friends and made a couple of new ones. Ripped the top of M1 lift line to Robin's Run. Dropped big, compressed my knee (sore, but useable). Made another run that started at the tippy top of fis, what's that called again? Dipped into some too tight trees, but when it opened up, oh boy! Sick powder, steep chutes...the theme for the rest of the day. Took a break around noon to pop 1000mg of bufferin (thought I was buying ibuprophen one hung over morning on the way to the mtn) and dig out my knee brace. Mmmm...compression, the good kind. I did a few test bends and walked around for a little while, decided I was good to go and headed back out...or rather out back.
The chutes off the pond were still fluffy. Sweet ride down. Perfect turns. The knee worked beautifully. Not last run yet. Hiked out, worm holed, dropped in...soooo steep...soooo much snow...mandatory 8-10 with a stomped and stuck landing (I always nail that one...it's my favorite cliff)...gentle slope the rest of the way to 108, rode it hard and fast. That was it. 3:15 looked like beer-thirty. Cheers to yet another epic December day.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Dropping in on Bolton
We all got ours today. The backcountry was worth the hike in and out...short, but sick powder and steep chutes. There were also some nice drops. I have my eye on some for round two next week.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Motion on Madonna
Day 11, Smuggs
Uh, oh, there's already two other cars in the upper lot. I guess I'll be third chair again today. Maybe one day I'll be early enough for first...Gear up, slide down to the Sterling lift. What's this? No one in line. I did it! Finally, I made first chair! M1 is scehduled to open soon. I'll make one run and head over.
Dip into the woods just before Smuggler's Alley. Steep, silent, solo...shredding powder in the forest forgetting life's, well, everything except my line...focused, in the zone, in the moment...leg's burning but gotta keep on moving toward the fresh lines that lie in wait on Madonna.
Get down, get up. I wonder what those glades off Doc's are like. No time better than the present to find out. The top is soft. That's a good sign. Keep your eyes peeled. Where's the line? Ahhh....there it is, poof...soft and silky...oops, needed more speed, well, a breather's good, too. Get up, get going down the path less traveled where tracks are sparse...so much fresh powder and no one around...nice, wide open lines...sail through smiling and race to the bottom riding hard in the back seat through the pow on a side trail...f the crunchy groomed stuff littered with death cookies...poppin' over water bars, back leg burning. Rest on the lift, baby, there's powder everywhere.
Robin's Run is open. It's hardly ever open. I shout to a patroler..how's Robin's. It's good. Everything's good. It's day one (officially) on Madonna, and there's untouched everywhere. Thank you, hikers/skinners, for leaving some for me. Lift line looks good. I've never done the whole thing. Most, but not the narliest of the headwalls. Always have dipped onto Freefall and hooked back up with it from Drifter. Today it looks doable...I feel confident...today's the day. Man, the view on the way down sure is steeper than on the way up. That's cool...I got it...jump turns galore...no wimping out, take the drops...EXPLODE! Cartwheel...once...twice...gotta stop this...three times...back on my feet..still moving. Can't breathe for a moment. Gasp! There's the air. Don't drown on the snow, Rachel. Pay attention...stop talking to yourself...shut up and ride! My wax is fast today. Hoots and hollers from above. Do I look good? Chicks rip! Uh, oh...drop, explode, cartwheel...gotta stop that...keep going, take it easy? No such thing today. Pound the pow, stomp the landings, stick 'em, ride away (I'm bound to at some point). Dip into more newly advertised glades...two tracks, I make three...keep those knees bent and eyes wide, fresh lines and powder everywhere! Where is everyone? Oh, there's so much mountain to be had! Hey, there's more...Norweigan Woods...reminds me of the Beatles, of my dad, only for a moment. There's no room for thoughts, just ride.
Breathless at the bottom, load up for another. I have a newfound appreciation for the long, slow ride up. Sips of water, a granola bar. At the top, I'm ready again. They've dropped the rope on Drifter. Guess I know where I'm going. Drifter to Three Mountain...pow stashes...back onto the lift line to get the bottom piece I skipped out on last run. No wimping...take the drops, stomp, stick, ride away...I did it! Raise my arms above my head in trimphant glory! Pump my fists! YES!
Meet a friend at the bottom. He's new to the sport, rides blues, parked in the upper lot, needs a guide back to his car. I'll be nice. I slow down to check on him. Whoa, he's right there...slow down, dude, you're gonna miss your turn...I shout..left, left, left! There he goes...missed it. He stops at the top of Exhibition. I eye it. He says he's gonna walk back up to Black Snake. Have fun, dude, just stay left. Secretly, I'm glad. Now I can bomb down the lift line. Knees bent, flying, stick the turns in the puffs of pow...stay left...hit the steeps, the drops...air off waterbars at the bottom. Legs are toast. One more. Should I hike out back? I'm solo and spent so not today. Long, slow cruiser back to the car. When I finally stop, I realize it's snowing...correction, puking...again! Alas, I've had my fill. My legs are noodles. Tomorrow is another day...another powdery promise. I'll keep my end of the bargain. See ya' for first chair. Thank you, mountain. Thank you, Mama Nature.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Return of the Fluff
Day 9- Powder...mmmm
The pic is the scene as you look out from the lean to beyond the bullwheel.
I didn't getup to the mountain (Smuggs) until around noon as the wind howling outside my door was not encouraging. Turns out four hours were all my legs could take after pounding hard Saturday and hittin' the hill again Sunday. Man, what a day. Unbelievable for December 4! All the woods were wide open. The rock wall on Full Nelson was totally gone, though the drop/launch was significant and tons of fun. I got fresh all the way down! The pitch on Full Nelson was perfect for the sort of heavy snow we had. Ripped down! Got fresh all through the Deer Run Glades, the Boneyard, and a few places I'm hesitant to divulge. The best though was face shots in the Birthday Bowl. It was a little wet getting in near the pond, and I had to pause and scrape ice off my board. (I know there's another way, but not too sure about finding it on my own yet, so I went out the pond way.) Anyway...it was totally worth it! I hit all my favorite steep, tight chutes. That's where the face shots came in to play. Wow! We seem to have picked up right where we left off!
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