Bad or Good Luck?

Set out this morning to ski a couloir in the Mission mountains that I've looked at for years. Unfortunately for Patrick and I, temps didn't drop below freezing last night and left us with horrible snow conditions. After 4 hours of bushwhacking and slogging in crotch deep snow, we finally gave up.

Patrick on the approach ice

Our approach wasn't all horrible though. We got to do some ice climbing with ski gear on our backs for the first time. It was a fun moment, but followed by a scary reality. Like I said, temps hadn't been freezing that night and probably hadn't for several nights. We climbed the approach ice, but moments after we crossed underneath some rotten looking ice, it cut loose. Not sure how much, but it definitely had to weight tons.

Just one more incident to add to a long list of close calls.

Crossing under the rotten ice/ The aftermath

Gray Wolf Peak

Thursday, my buddy Chris Spurgeon and I headed into the Mission mountains with plans of skiing the West face couloir on Gray Wolf peak. I had seen the face once before, but it had been about 7 years ago so I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew it would be serious, especially for me with my lack of experience. Other than Chris, I knew of only one other person to ski the couloir. That's not to say others haven't.

West face of Gray Wolf Peak (Couloir is just right of center)

We left the car by 8:30 and began the painful approach up East St. Mary. After 4,000 feet of bushwhacking and skinning, we reached the ridge plateau and the West face of Gray Wolf came into view. "Oh fuck me! I'm planning on skiing that!" It looked more difficult than what I thought my experience could get me through. I figured I could always down climb the couloir so might as well check it out.

Chris kicking steps up the couloir.

We dropped of the ridge and had a wonderful run 1,750 feet to the base of the couloir. Skies went on the packs and we began to kick steps up the couloir. The snow was firm, but with some soft stuff on top. Chris seemed to think it was perfect. There was one icy section, but we figured the sun would come around and soften it up by the time we were descending. 1,700 feet of kicking steps later, we reached the top.

Chris mid-turn.

Still very nervous about what to expect I decided to give it a shot. I wasn't confident that I could ski it, but I was confident that I could self arrest in the event that I fell. We clicked into our skies and I watched Chris make a few turns to a safe point where he could keep an eye on me. Chris is very experienced skier so watching him didn't build any confidence for me. Now it was my turn. I pointed my skies down the couloir, planted my pole firmly and jumped into my first turn. For that brief moment in the air, I wondered what would happen when my skies touched the snow again. Would I land in soft snow or would I start rag-dolling down the couloir? My skies entered the snow with the feeling of firm yet soft snow! "Oh shit, this is money!" The snow was perfect.

Chris continuing down the couloir.

Chris and I leap froged our way down the couloir having a blast with no fears of falling. With the snow conditions the way they were, it was actually quite easy skiing. He opened my eyes to an entirely new style of skiing. Now I can't wait to ski more lines like that, and with spring around the corner, everything will be coming into shape soon.

New Glass

After having several photos published, I was finally able to justify buying a new piece of camera equipment. A new 10-20mm wide angle lens. Since most of my photography has been "close and personal" through hang gliding and climbing, this lens is what I need. It is also awesome for landscape shots.

The sun has just started to come back to Missoula, so of course it took advantage of our beautiful sunsets for photo opportunities.

Superbowl Sunday

Sunday was a good day. While most people were preparing to watch the Superbowl, I was out ice climbing. Without an available partner, I left town anyways with hopes of learning something new about myself. After 2 hours of driving, 4 miles of hiking, and 800 feet of climbing all in 7 hours house to house, I felt once again I had a new understanding of myself.

Mission Falls and the routes I climbed

Classic Mission Falls

Woke up to irritatingly warm temps today. The plan was to head for Mission Falls for a day of ice climbing with Travis. With the warm temps, I knew the ice was going to be wet. Quite honestly I hate climbing ice in wet conditions. On the positive side though, we were going to have "hero ice". Ice so gooey soft that every swing of an ice tool results in a buried pick giving a person the confidence to climbing like a super star.

Mission Falls, Whispering Ice

As expected the ice was running with water and after the first pitch, we were soaked. Luckily a front was moving in and the gusty winds accompanying it dried us out fast. Feeling dry and warm once again, Travis and I moved to a new location to finish off the day with some more climbing. We of course chose a dry line to climb this time.

Climbing Whispering Right-Center

Travis climbing leashless

Horsing around on the ice bridge

A glimpse of sun at the days end

Gash Point

Today was an amazing day of skiing. My buddy Shane and I headed to Gash Point south of town about an hour away. Rumor around town was that the snow was great so we thought we'd check it out. The approach is about a 4,000 ft skin to the top where we indeed found great snow. We found the snow pack to be awesome after some analysis and made our first run. The turns were great and after 500 ft vertical we were at the base of the northern bowl. It was too good to call it quits then so we headed back up for our final run. This time we dropped into the southern bowl and made amazing turns in shin deep powder for 4,000 ft back to the car.

Shane analysing the snow pack

Shane in the northern bowl
Getting ready for our last run

Whistler

The day after Christmas I headed to Seattle to spend some time with family. Bad road conditions and sleep deprivation slowed my progress, but I still managed to get there safely. The next morning my Uncle and I hit the road again. This time I was heading to Whistler, BC.

Whistler Base

Whistler is a trip. It is enormous. The skiing was great and the village was impressive. I got to ski with family for three days and had a blast. That was a great way to enjoy time with everyone.

Main strip though the village

Snow was falling the entire time we were there so the lighting was very flat for photography. I didn't take too many shot, but did get some fun night pics.

Another shot of the strip