THE WANDERER - Derek's Blog

2010.12.21 SKI SCENES FROM MOUNT HOOD

2010-12-21T17:04:00.000-07:00

After making the decision to move to Oregon, I started looking into the skiing scene that would await in my new playground. Sure, Oregon has gigantic monoliths for mountains and Mount Hood alone has 5 ski resorts operating on its flanks, but I wasn't sure how I'd adapt after experiencing the immense possibilities (in both resort and backcountry access) available throughout the mountain ranges of Colorado. Based on the recommendations from friends, I decided on a season pass for Mount Hood Meadows this year while I research and become familiar with the surroundings. Here's some photos from a half-dozen days around Mount Hood so far:

Timing is a big part of the perfect season pass picture:

Devon is all smiles during a powder session on Meadows opening day Nov 20th:

During a rare break in the clouds, Mount Hood rises spectacularly above the resort:

Devon skinning on our lone semi-backcountry trip:

Devon enjoying Pacific Northwest powder:

Rob riding the soft stuff:

So far, so good. With the new year should also come some increased explorations of the backcountry areas around Hood and mountains of the southern Cascade range.

2010.06.27 Tabeguache Peak (#49)

2010-06-29T08:28:00.004-06:00

I've been planning to climb Tabeguache Peak at the southern end of the Sawatch range for months, but the weather never seemed to cooperate whenever I had the chance. I even had my doubts this past weekend, when dark, ominous clouds started developing around 9 am after reaching the summit of Mount Shavano.

Devon on the upper slopes of Mount Shavano:

Tabeguache Peak seen from the summit of Mount Shavano:

Fortunately, with the exception of some minor hail and thunder, I made the quick hustle across the one-mile ridge connecting Shavano to Tabeguache and was able to summit #49 on my list of Colorado 14ers.

Tabeguache Peak summit - 14,155 feet; #49 on my list (Photo - Devon S):

Devon and I on the Tabeguache Peak summit:

Only four Colorado 14ers remain on the list, with plans coming together for the finale party on August 7th at the 14,073 feet summit of Mount Columbia.

2010.05.23 NORTH MAROON PEAK

2010-06-09T11:50:00.009-06:00

Just outside of Aspen, North Maroon Peak is among the most photographed and recognizable mountain in the world and remains a classic route for any ski mountaineer. I've climbed this peak twice previously in the summer (once via the standard northeast ridge and another time via the Bell Cord couloir and ridge traverse from South Maroon Peak) but I always felt the urge to take on the north face. North Maroon has been on my 'must-do/ski' list for 2-3 seasons, but conditions or timing with partners just never seemed to work out right. It seemed like the same might happen again this year, but I got in contact with a group that planning to give it a try the upcoming weekend. After a few e-mails to make sure we were on the same page, Carl invited me along the trip. I have to say that I've extremely grateful to Carl, Marc and Ben for taking some risk inviting me along despite not having any personal experience with my skiing or climbing abilities.

The Bells (North Maroon peak to right) from Maroon Lake:

Carl put together an excellent trip report on 14ers. com that can be viewed here: Carl's North Maroon Peak report. Instead of re-writing many of the same descriptions, I've included some of the better (and most telling) photos from the day.

Keeping high spirits at 4 am despite a horrendous bushwhack after losing the trail above Crater Lake (Photo - Carl D):

Carl pausing the take in the north face:

Climbing up the north face included some steep bootpacking, traversing, and breath-taking views (Photos - Carl D and Ben C):

On the summit at 14,014 feet, ready to ski (Photo - Carl D):

Making turns off the summit, Pyramid Peak providing the picturesque background (Photo - Ben C):

Ben taking off through the Punk Rock Band at 13,800 feet. A fall here might be the last one you ever take (Photo - Carl D):

Good turns await down the north face:

Linking some turns on the upper face, Snowmass and Capitol Peaks in background (Photo - Carl D):

Ben traversing back to the central couloir:

Carl banking some turns in the narrow couloir:

Getting in a few more turns before the final traverse (Photo - Ben C):

The line:

2010.06.04 ITS OFFICIAL...MOVING TO OREGON

2010-06-04T11:41:00.005-06:00

Its been very busy the past few weeks with graduations and vacation, but I'm slowly putting together some more posts to recap these events and perhaps my last Colorado skiing adventure for a while.

Although its been in the works for a few weeks, by signing an offer letter this morning I've accepted a postdoctoral position at Oregon State University. OSU is located in Corvallis in the western part of the state about one and one-half hour south of Portland. Additionally, the area is situated only about 1 hr from both the beach/ocean (west) and mountains (east).

At OSU, I'll be joining the Environmental Health Sciences Center with funding through the NIEHS training grant entitled, Mode of Action of Environmental Toxicants. I'll be working in the laboratory of Dr. Joe Beckman, a true pioneer in the free radical biology field. His research interests have focused in understanding the basis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease. More information on Joe's lab can be found here.

The decision to leave Colorado was a difficult as the last six years have been amazing. However, postdoctoral positions provide the opportunity to explore new avenues, both personal and professional, for a short (2-5 years) period of time that I wanted to take advantage of. The propensity for rain and lush green landscape of the northwest will take some getting used to, but hopefully I'll be hiking, climbing, and skiing the mountains/volcanoes of the Cascade range in no time.

Mount Hood rises above the Portland skyline:

For now, I have one month to wrap up work in the lab at UC Denver. Then I'm planning to use July/August for an extended vacation to enjoy Colorado and spend some time back east before making the move in early September. Of course, Devon will be making the journey as well as she has sought out her own postdoctoral position at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland. The distance between Portland and Corvallis presents some challenges, but we're confident that we can meet halfway, literally as we search for housing in the Salem area.

2010.05.22 GRAND TRAVERSE PEAK

2010-05-26T15:16:00.007-06:00

Any visit to Vail will have one admiring the Gore Range mountains. While not as popular as other ranges throughout Colorado (probably because it doesn't contain any 14ers), the peaks are no less spectacular. Grand Traverse Peak particularly stands out and captures the view to the east from anywhere in town. Some friends in Vail Valley had been talking about this peak for a few weeks, so we finally put together a plan.

Ryan skinning towards the objective - Grand Traverse Peak southwest face:

J and Mike bootpacking up the steep main couloir:

The Vail boys - Ryan, Mike and J, who despite his small stature is threatening with an ice ax:

We encountered some strong forecasted winds all morning, and on the 13,040 feet summit we struggled to stay standing. We didn't like the idea of waiting around for snow to soften and coverage in the narrow main couloir was a bit thin at times during the ascent. So we decided to head south along the ridge and ski down a more appropriate line given the conditions. Frozen snow persisted in our descent down the face and we had a good teeth-rattling ride over a section of old avalanche debris. However, the apron provided some fun turns on perfect corn snow.

Ryan skiing down the couloir:

Ascent (red) and descent (blue) lines on the southwest face:

2010.05.16 A SPECIAL DAY ON LONGS PEAK

2010-05-26T12:35:00.007-06:00

This post is going to focus on Jarrett Luttrell, who with the descent of Longs Peak on Sunday 5/16 became the 1st person to snowboard (and the 8th overall on some form of snow-sliding device) all of the Colorado 14ers. I had the chance to meet and climb with Jarrett on Culebra Peak last spring and I was immediately impressed by his snowboarding ability and humble, laid-back style. After conquering Capitol Peak, the most difficult of the 14er descents the week before (see Jarrett's intense trip report here), Longs Peak was the lone remaining hurdle. Luckily, I got a hold of Jarrett to pass along congratulations and managed to jump on board with his attempt on Longs.

After leaving a car at the Wild Basin trailhead on the south end of Rocky Mountain National Park, Jarrett, Brennan and I started off from the Longs Peak ranger station at 3:45 am. During the summer, this trailhead would be overflowing with cars and climbers going for the summit, but we didn't see another person until the end of the day. From year's past, I'm pretty familiar with the trail and we made quick progress towards the Chasm Lake turn-off and our first views of the impressive Diamond face.

Sunrise on Meeker and Longs:

We chose to ascend the Loft couloir (splitting Meeker and Longs), skinning up steep slopes before switching over the crampons to traverse on the narrow snow ramp to avoid the cliff band at the the top.

Jarrett skinning towards the snow ramp serving as our exit from the Loft couloir:

As expected, we had some trouble finding the proper route towards Clark's arrow, which indicated the correct downclimb into Keplinger's couloir. Fortunately, both Brennan and I had climbed this route before which helped save some time. We did encounter two sections which required some class 4/5 moves including a sporty chimney that we debated about descending for a while.

Jarrett downclimbing on some mixed terrain:

This led us into Keplinger's couloir on the south side of Longs Peak, which we would climb for the next 1,000 feet. Heavy snowstorms had blanketed the area with two feet of snow earlier in the week, and we quickly encountered deep, heavy, unconsolidated snow that made bootpacking a chore.

Jarrett climbing the upper sections of Keplinger's couloir:

By this point, I was completely gassed and could only take a few steps before doubling over to catch my breath and rest my legs. Brennan recovered from a bout with altitude sickness earlier in the day and Jarrett pushed on with determination in the lead through thigh-deep snow towards the Homestretch and up to the summit.

Jarrett admires the snow-filled Homestretch to the summit:

We reached the summit at 2 pm, much later than anticipated, but the windy morning kept temperatures cool enough that warming snow and wet slides weren't a great concern. We extended congratulations to Jarrett and wasted no time clicking into skis and snowboards for the descent. We opted against a descent of the north face due to unknown snow conditions, instead retracing our path back to the south side and Keplinger's couloir which would provide nearly 2,800 vertical feet of quality skiing.

Jarrett making his last first turns down a Colorado 14er:

Brennan is all smiles:

Myself enjoying some open turns (Photo - Jarrett L):

Brennan banks a turn (Photo - Jarrett L):

Negotiating around rocks or linking up snow patches is the norm for this descent, but we enjoyed continuous snow on the upper sections thanks to the recent storm. The couloir seems to never end, as after every twist or turn, more snow lay beneath our feet. After enjoying soft, but heavy and tiring snow for the entire descent we reached the bottom of the couloir. The Wild Basin trailhead and our car shuttle lay 6 miles to our east, so we set off blazing a trail through the forest in that general direction.

Satisfied after an excellent descent on Colorado's most iconic 14er (Photo - Brennan M):

The ski descent off the summit down the Homestretch linking to Keplinger's couloir:

The south side of Longs and the Wild Basin area is among the least travelled areas of the park, but Brennan had previous experiences hiking, backpacking, and getting lost in the area, so he was able to guide in the general direction and follow the trail during some difficult turns. Exhausted and with aching feet we finally arrived back to the car at 7:30 pm, capping off a 14.5 mile and 16 hour affair with 5,400 vertical feet climbed.

Once again, congratulations to Jarrett on his amazing accomplishment and much thanks for inviting me along for the adventurous finale.

2010.05.01-02 MAY POWDER DAYS

2010-05-05T14:27:00.006-06:00

Although the calendar turned to May last weekend, winter was in full-swing throughout Colorado. Despite a relatively light year in terms of snowfall, a series of spring storms has made up for previously subpar conditions, providing excellent skiing conditions which hopefully last for a few more weeks.

On Saturday, I met up with Joe and his friends for a circuit route at Berthoud Pass. We braved some strong winds on the ridges at high elevations, but the 4 north-facing couliors all provided deep powder and mid-winter conditions.

Joe getting deep & steep:

Touring towards the last run of the day, Chimney chute, after harvesting the slopes behind:

On Sunday, I made a solo trip towards a peak/line that caught my eye last spring: the southeast face of Hagar Mountain (13,185 feet). Fortunately, there was barely a breath of wind and the snow held off just long enough to provide enough visibility for the descent.

Hagar (left) and Citadel on the approach from Dry Gulch:

On the summit of Hagar Mountain:

Preparing to ski the southeast face:

I could just make out the terrain features through the flat light at the start of the line, but I unintentionally ventured from my intended route about halfway down. However, the snow was a perfect blend of powder and corn so I didn't stop to adjust and enjoyed nearly 2,000 vertical feet of skiing back to the creek bed.

My line down the southeast face:

With the ski descents of Crystal and Hagar complete, that's 2/3 of my goals completed for the spring season. Only North Maroon outside of Aspen still remains. Hopefully the plans will materialize in coming weeks to take on this classic!

2010.04.16 ALASKA - THE GREAT LAND

2010-04-16T08:58:00.009-06:00

Tomorrow marks the start of a week-long ski mountaineering trip into the heart of the Alaska Mountains. I'll be arriving in Anchorage on Saturday afternoon and driving 2+ hrs north to Talkeetna. The following morning (weather-dependent), we'll be boarding a small aircraft modified for glacier landings and enjoy a short (~30 min), but spectacular flight over and into the heart of the Alaska range.

Talkeetna Air Taxi:

We'll be landing on a small offshoot of the enormous Kahiltna glacier, unofficially known as the Pika Glacier. Located about 30 miles south of the highest mountain in North America, Denali Peak, this area has been dubbed 'Little Switzerland' for the spectacular alpine setting reminiscent of the Alps.

Little Switzerland:

The plane will leave and we will set up our basecamp at 5,600 feet. For 5 days, we'll be free to explore the beautiful soaring rock buttresses and surrounding glaciers for ski descents ranging from 500 - 2,500 feet. On Friday, the plane will return and we'll sadly be brought back to reality.

I've created and annotated a Google Map with a few areas of interest, including the Pika Glacier which will be my home for the next week. Simply click on the link and you should be directed to the custom map: Alaska - Pika Glacier. I highly recommend selecting the terrain or satellite views for topographic perspectives of the areas. You can also use the toolbars to zoom in on these areas.

2010.04.10-11 TENMILE TWO-FER...PART II

2010-04-15T11:12:00.013-06:00

The north face of Crystal Peak (13,850 feet) can be seen in full as you pass Copper on I-70 and has been on my list of must-do ski descents. Based on reports from previous years, I knew that a continuous line from the summit existed through a narrow couloir. So with hopes for decent coverage in a lean snow year, Andy and J joined me along with the dogs, Rainier and Kona for an attempt on the peak.

Crystal's north face from Highway 91:

There is no official trailhead on the north side of Crystal, so a car was left along highway 91 around where we estimated that we would emerge at the end of the day, then shuttled back up to the Mayflower Gulch trailhead. However, we quickly realized that we actually started at the Clinton reservoir trailhead, one gully to the north of our intended start. Fortunately, this didn't put us too far out of the way and we quickly found our way into the correct area which required only about a 600 vertical feet and 0.5 mile detour.

J climbing into the sunrise:

First views of Crystal Peak and its false summit in the far distance:

Despite already reaching an elevation of over 12,000 feet, we still had to travel for ~2.5 miles across several gullies before finally reaching the summit. The constant traversing was frustrating as we had to reclimb to gain any lost elevation and progress seemed slow. After a steep skin up the final pitch on quickly softening, yet sticky snow, we reached the summit around 12:30 pm.

J bootpacking a short section with the impressive north face of Pacific Peak as the backdrop:

Without a cloud in the sky, the sun was blazing but a light wind kept the temperatures cool. We hoped that the shady north face would soften up enough to avoid skiing hard- and wind-packed snow.

Peering down the north face of the summit:

Fortunately, the conditions were much better than expected (at least on the upper portion of the route), as a few inches of soft snow remained from the storm earlier in the week. Andy and I started down the route to ensure safe passage before giving J the okay to descend with the dogs. Although we skied cautiously to avoid any variable conditions, Rainier and Kona charged downhill with little hesitation.

Myself starting the descent (Photo - J W):

Rainier charging down the steep slopes:

Andy skis soft snow in a gully before funelling into the tight couloir:

Andy and J admiring our route down the north face:

A closer look at the line:

After staring repeatedly at Crystal Peak over the past years, this ski descent more than exceeded my expectations. Good snow, a steep fall-line, and tight coulior all contributed to the high quality of this route. We skied through the basin and down the river bed with soft, collapsing snow while taking our best guesses as to where the car was parked. Surprisingly, we emerged pretty close, with only a 1/4 mile downhill walk needed to reach some cold beers and the end of an excellent and much anticipated day.

A complete view of the route (courtesy Google Earth):

Many more photos, including some great shots of the dogs, can be found here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/derek.drechsel/20100411CrystalPeak#

2010.04.10-11 TENMILE TWO-FER

2010-04-15T10:41:00.006-06:00

With the ski mountaineering trip to Alaska only one week away, I needed to get in some conditioning and test my new AT boots, Dynafit Titans. So I ventured into the Tenmile range last weekend to accomplish both these tasks during a beautiful spring weekend.

On Saturday, Devon and I headed up Quandary Peak, a 14er just south of Breckenridge as a warm-up for more challenging peaks to come later in the season. With this ascent I've now hiked to Quandary's summit four times via the standard east ridge route and descended three times on skis. Although the route isn't very challenging, it provides some great turns in spring snow and over 3,000 vertical feet of quality skiing.

Alpenglow on the upper slopes of Quandary Peak (14,265 feet):

Devon approaches the summit:

I've had the chance to test out my new AT boots already, but this was the first time taking them out for an extended tour. I'm happy to report that they are a huge upgrade over the alpine boots I've been slugging around with for the past few years. The Dynafit Titans are among the burliest and stiffest AT boots on the market currently, but they remain much lighter and agile than I expected. Plus, I greatly appreciated being able to increase ankle flexion by using a walk mode for the first time.

I'm not sure if I'll be able to use the Titans as my exclusive footwear for skiing, as the lowered cuff makes it feel as though I'm sometimes falling out of the boot. Also, there is a little bit of awkwardness between the pressuring of the boot and ski response that results from the lack of unibody plastic construction of the boot (including the interchangable alpine and AT/vibram sole blocks). For the backcountry, the Titans receive my support for anyone looking for a hard-charging boot without much compromise.

Admiring the Dynafit Titans and views of the Tenmile range:

With my legs, lungs, and boots feeling good, I set my goals for Sunday a bit higher, but only a few miles to the north...

2010.03.27 BIRTHDAY TURNS

2010-03-31T21:04:00.008-06:00

There's almost nothing that I enjoy more than skiing, so I feel fortunate each year when I can make some turns on my birthday in late March. Add in some fresh snow and the day becomes even more special. Last year in Utah was probably one of the better celebrations as two storms each dropped 15+ inches during a four-day weekend. This year, another storm lined up to hit Colorado on my birthday, and even though the snow totals were only 5-8", the skiing was still good. Devon and I ventured into the mountains to explore the Dry Gulch area, just east of the Continental Divide, not far removed from I-70.

Devon skinning up Dry Gulch:

Devon and I, taking a short rest while changing over to ski mode:

Devon carves smooth tele-turns in the powder:

Playing around with photo-editing software, sometimes makes for cool pictures like this one (Photo - Devon S.):

And sometimes, just one single turn can make your run, day, week, month, or even season worthwhile. Fortunately, on this day was able to experience such a turn. I came through a narrow corridor of trees a bit faster than expected and started to carve a left turn to control my speed over a small rollover. The southeast facing aspect on this roll had developed a slick surface underneath the new snow which caused me to get on edge a little more and hold my turn a little longer as I cut across the slope. The result was what I'll refer to as 'turn #29', since it occurred on my 29th birthday. It was one of those when you are suddenly submerged in white, unable to see through your goggles, causing you to hoot excitedly and smile ear-to-ear despite the snow crystals sweeping across your face. Its a moment that seems to last forever. Fortunately, Devon uniquely captured the moment on camera.

Turn #29 (Photo - Devon S.):

Unlike previous weeks where preparing for my thesis kept me away from the mountains too often that I am comfortable with, I was able to get out skiing on Sunday too. Spring weather appeared in the form of beautiful blue skies and sunshine as I enjoyed the leftover powder from the previous day's storm. I'm approaching (if this wasn't already) the last of my days at Vail, where I've been fortunate to ski so often the last few years. While I may complain sometimes about Vail for various reasons, its days like these, with great friends, that make me realize how fortunate I've been.

Ryan, Lizzie, and I in the heart of the Gore range (Photo - Joel G.):

2010.03.17 THE DOCTOR IS IN

2010-03-22T11:13:00.005-06:00

Nearly six years after moving to Colorado and entering into the Toxicology graduate program at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (as it was known then), the day finally came to showcase and defend my work. The last few days were spent finalizing my presentation and cramming in some last-minute studying for any possible question that I could be asked.

Flyers around school for my thesis defense:

Despite some initial jitters, I went through my 1 hour seminar without much trouble since I've presented my work in various formats more than a dozen times already. I also fielded some difficult, yet expected, questions following my seminar. However, the real fun was only just beginning. Following my seminar, I entered into my thesis defense with only the five faculty members who would determine my fate. While scheduled for two hours, the tough questions ceased after only 40 minutes when I was asked to step out of the room as they deliberated. Although I couldn't address all the questions and I was stumped on a few occasions, I thought that the defense went well and I was feeling very confident. Only afterwards did I realize that maybe it was a bit more difficult than I initially thought. However, my advisor (Dr. Manisha Patel) soon emerged with a smile, handshake, and 'congratulations, doctor'. I was ecstatic and received more congratulations before the meeting adjourned. In the end, I passed the final hurdle in achieving my Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Toxicology and can now be referred to as Dr. Derek Drechsel.

Sunny, spring weather and St. Patrick's Day made for a perfect setting as I relaxed, celebrated and enjoyed the afternoon/evening with family, friends, and co-workers at the Bull & Bush in Cherry Creek. However, my work is certainly not finished yet. I still have do make a few changes to my written thesis before having it published, perform some further experiments to address some revisions for a manuscript, and tie up some loose ends before leaving the lab.

As for my future endeavors, the first order of business is the much anticipated trip to Alaska for some ski mountaineering in mid-April. Then, I'll have to make the decision as to where to go next. I anticipate moving away from Colorado to pursue an academic post-doc and Oregon seems the likely destination at this time. However, who knows how things may change in the coming months.

During my presentation, I was able to thank some people personally who have supported me throughout my graduate career and entire life:

My family, some of whom made it to my thesis defense and others who will be present at my graduation in May:

A fantastic group of friends, who have fostered my love for the Colorado outdoors:

And Devon, who has shown unbelievably patience and understanding over the past years. With whom I can't wait to share more adventures in the future:

2010.01.30 FULL MOON OVER VAIL PASS

2010-02-08T14:23:00.007-07:00

Taking advantage of clear skies and the brightest moon of the year, Devon and I spent an evening on Vail Pass. A thaw-freeze cycle prevented us from doing much skiing as we stuck to the established skin track and snowmobile trails. However, it was beautiful night and we had some fun using long exposures and headlamps.

Full moon rising:

Lighting Devon's skin path:

That's supposed to be two "D"'s, but Devon got confused:

Devon and I:

2010.02.06 MARBLE WHITE ROOM

2010-02-08T14:00:00.005-07:00

I've long heard rumors of the deep powder to be found in the backcountry outside the town of Marble. So, I figured that if I was driving 4 hrs in that direction to pick up ski gear, I might as well check it out. $72 in discounted Black Diamond equipment, 1.5 tanks of gas, musical entertainment from a disco cover band with a pregnant lead singer, and two stops for tortas from the finest Mexican restaurant in the state was a small admission price for the snow conditions on this day. Much thanks to Jordan for guiding me to his favorite stashes and unselfishly playing photographer as I left my camera at home.

2010.02.06 SUCCESS IN ROCKY MTN NATL PARK

2010-02-07T23:15:00.005-07:00

Finally, I can report a successful ski outing in Rocky Mountain National Park. To prepare for our upcoming ski mountaineering trip to Alaska in April, I got out with Eli on Friday to check out the skiing options at the popular Bear Lake trailhead. Despite some windy conditions, Eli and I pushed on from Emerald Lake to the Dragontail coulior. The huge, granite rock walls provided relief from the weather where we enjoyed great ski conditions. Below is some video of the day shot and edited by Eli, with musical accompaniment by Pearl Jam - Amonsgt the Waves. A beautiful song from their most recent album, Backspacer, which I enjoy more with each listen.

Eli operates Climbing Life Guides, a year-round service for rock climbing, avalanche education, mountaineering, and skiing. Based in Estes Park, Eli offers a multitude of local outings and expeditions across the world that are worth checking out. In addition, Eli does an invaluable service to all Colorado outdoor enthusiasts by updating snow and ice conditions throughout RMNP on a weekly basis throughout the year. A visit to his site is most worthwhile to see what Climbing Life Guides has to offer and check out some cool videos and info: Climbing Life

2010.01.03 VAIL'S BLUE SKY BASIN

2010-01-06T14:52:00.005-07:00

Last weekend, I celebrated the opening of Vail's back bowls and Blue Sky Basin. Despite some limited openings, the skiing was spectacular as friends and I layed the first tracks of the year down sections of Red Square, Iron Mask and Pete's Bowl. Although the pictures below are from a not-so-secret out-of-bounds stash at Vail they accurately reflect the weekend's conditions: Blue skies and blower snow!

(Photos - Joel G):

Today, January 6th, Vail celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Blue Sky Basin expansion. These north-facing slopes which require mutliple chairlifts and excessive traversing to reach have been the sight of many quality memories over the past few years including:

1) Big hits off the Lover's Leap cornice (Photo - Jesse H):

2) Megan and J's engagement in 2007:

and 3) one of the funnier stories of last year's ski season:

2009.12.22-23 WOLF CREEK

2010-01-05T08:46:00.005-07:00

Powder Fever (pou-der fee-ver):

-noun

1. an affliction causing one to abandon all responsibility and possibly travel long distances to satisfy their desire for deep snow

With Wolf Creek ski resort already receiving 10+ feet of snow on the year and another storm on the way, Ryan and I headed to southern Colorado in hopes of escaping the subpar conditions of Eagle/Summit counties for a few days before the holidays. The storm didn't pan out as expected and a mere six inches was reported over the course of the two days we visited. However, plenty of deep, untracked snow was found in the trees that helped alleviate our powder fever for a few days.

Ryan teles down a spine off the ridge:

Who says Wolf Creek is flat? Finding a cure in Keith's glade (Photo - Ryan A):

Ryan's turn:

I left with a great impression of Wolf Creek after my first visit. Despite hearing complaints from others about the flatness or slow lifts, I thought there was plenty of challenging terrain to keep things interesting and the complete absence of lift lines makes up for any limits in uphill capacity. I found Wolf Creek a refreshing change of pace from the corporate-stuffiness often encountered at other resorts throughout Colorado. Some tips for anyone planning a trip in the future: 1) you'll need to refuel after hiking laps on the knife-edge ridge. So bring only two slices of bread for lunch and a fulfilling vegetarian sandwich can be made from the vast assortment of quality toppings at the condiment bar in the base lodge. And 2) arrive early on a powder day! Despite the advertised 8:30 am opening, we caught the day's first chair at 8:06 am on Wednesday.

2009.12.05 EXPLORING ROCKY MTN NATL PARK

2009-12-06T17:46:00.007-07:00

What hoped to be a decent ski outing turned into an exploratory mission for future trips. A desire to sleep in led to a late start and early-season snow levels didn't make for many decent turns. From the popular Bear Lake trailhead, we headed west towards Notchtop Mountain and the Ptarmigan Headwall/Glacier area. Some good views of the area showed that more snow is still needed before this set of couloirs and bowls comes into decent skiing shape.

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

The day's route (in red) from Bear Lake to Lake Helene (Photo - Google Earth):

The wind-swept slopes of Longs Peak:

Skinning towards Notchtop Mountain:

A view up the basin to Ptarmigan glacier:

Devon takes a break beneath Notchtop:

Its amazing how often these amazing areas of Rocky Mtn Natl Park are overlooked when in comes to backcountry skiing. After last year's failed attempt on the Dragontail couloir due to avalanche danger, Andy, Jesse and I are now 0-2 in our ski trips to the park. Hopefully we'll change that trend later this year.

2009.11.27-28 JONES PASS

2009-11-30T14:04:00.004-07:00

Finally, some skiing pictures! I spent two days at Jones Pass over the weekend to work off the indulgences of Thanksgiving and get the first backcountry turns of the season.

On Friday, a short skin provided soft, sugary snow in north-facing gullies at treeline, while Saturday's high-altitude turns were assisted by riding Caleb's snowmobile to 12,000 feet.

Devon:

Joel:

Caleb skinning to Jones Pass:

Caleb on another lap:

More pictures can be seen here. Tomorrow is December 1st and Colorado needs some more snow soon!

2009.11.07 GOLD DUST PEAK

2009-11-10T19:37:00.006-07:00

Gold Dust Peak is a mountain you won't find in any guidebook. Despite its location in the Northern Sawatch range and proximity to the Vail Valley, little information existed on this 13er (at least within the usual climbing communities online).

Gold Dust Peak from Negro Basin:

With a topo map and compass to guide us, we followed the defined trail up towards Lake Charles before bushwhacking up a cliff-strewn basin towards the base of the peak. Ankle- to thigh-deep snow slowed us at times, but we pushed on towards our target. At the base of the peak, we decided to climb a mellow couloir, then traverse through chilly winds to a spectacular summit where a corniced ridge overhangs the steep north face.

Brandon and the dogs (Rainier and Kona) start the couloir climbing:

Bridget and I near the couloir's end (Photo - Brandon C):

Gold Dust Peak (13,365 feet) with Mount of the Holy Cross looming over my right arm(Photo - J W):

The views from Gold Dust included Holy Cross to the east, Elk Range and Aspen ski resorts to the south, and this one to the north:

New York and Finnegan Peaks (Photo - Brandon C):

Despite easy access and spectacular views, Gold Dust doesn't see much traffic as we were among only a few groups to sign the summit register over the past year, including the first since August. While I've enjoyed climbing the 14ers in Colorado for the past five years, I probably get an even greater thrill from exploring new areas and less-trodden peaks. I expect more of these adventures to come after I close out my final five 14ers next spring/summer.

2009.10.28 FRONT YARD SKIING

2009-10-29T08:51:00.005-06:00

What do you do with 12+ inches of snow and a small hill in your front yard? Go skiing, of course!

Devon's pumpkin:

2009.10.15 NEW YORK CITY FROM ABOVE

2009-10-25T16:33:00.003-06:00

Aerial pictures of New York City, taken from a recent flight out of Newark.

2009.10.20 PHILLIES 5 - DODGERS 4

2009-10-20T08:21:00.006-06:00

After a pair of ninth-inning comebacks in Colorado, should Philadelphians expect anything else?

A Walk, a hit by pitch, and Jimmy Rollins' two-run double to the right-center field gap gave the Phillies a walk-off win in Game 4 of the NLCS, leaving them only 1 win away from reaching the World Series for the second consecutive year. Need some perspective on how unbelievable this game was?

(Courtesy of Jayson Stark at ESPN.com): "There have been 1,251 postseason games in baseball history. Only two others --two -- ever ended this way, with a walk-off extra-base hit by a team that was one out away from losing."

The last time something like this happened was Kirk Gibson's infamous homerun in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series ("I can't believe what I just saw").

Today's Daily News Sports Page:

2009.10.03 BRANDON & KRISTINE'S WEDDING IN TELLURIDE, CO

2009-10-09T16:41:00.005-06:00

Congratulations to Brandon and Kristine! The newlyweds tied the knot this past weekend in Telluride, CO under blue skies, golden aspen leaves and snow-peaked mountains. The Gorrono Ranch, an re-vamped homestead at 10,100 feet at Telluride ski resort provided a perfect setting and gorgeous sunset for the wedding and reception. Fittingly for these two mountaineers, snow started falling just as the reception ended and we boarded the shuttles and gondolas back into town, of course not before a spontaneous dance party broke out to honor Ullr, the Norweigan God of Snow. Add in some karaoke, rock climbing, 80s music, and great friends making for one of the funnest and ridiculous weekends yet.

Brandon and Kristine now journey towards their trip-of-a-lifetime: a 2010 date with Mount Everest. You can read all about their adventures and plans for Everest here: www.brandonandkristine.org

(click any photo to enlarge)

Devon and I at the base of Bridal Veil Falls, the largest waterfall in Colorado (Photo - Megan G):

Devon and I enjoying the sunset at Goronno Ranch (Photo - Caleb W):

Wilson Peak provides the perfect backdrop for the wedding (Photo - Joel G):

The happy couple (Photo - Joel G):

Many, many more pictures and hilarious videos here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/gratzo/2009100304BrandonKOSWedding

http://picasaweb.google.com/derek.drechsel/2009100204TellurideBrandonAndKristineSWedding#

2009.09.12 GRAYS PEAK: DAD'S 1ST FOURTEENER

2009-09-23T12:33:00.012-06:00

While Grays Peak is generally considered among the least challenging of the Colorado 14ers, this trip was very special to me but also confirmed my often said words: "There's no such thing as an easy 14er."

The journey up this mountain started in March of 2007 when my father, Rudy, was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 60. During that time, I continued climbing mountains in Colorado and also Russia's Mount Elbrus (the highest peak in Europe at ~18,500 feet) while carrying thoughts and prayers of my dad. Unknown to me, Dad personally vowed to climb a mountain with me when he recovered. Surgery and treatment followed in July of that same year, and to this day there have been no signs of the cancer's return.

Fast-forward to 2009 and Dad's visit to Colorado. In between driving cross country with a truck full of furniture/household items and watching my brother and I play baseball on the same team for the first time, Dad also wanted to go for a hike. I was quite surprised when he admitted that he wanted to do "one of those 14-things". I was a bit hesitant since I feared he was underestimating the challenge, but I obliged that we would at least try. So on Saturday morning, Dad (a 62 year old, beer-drinker, flat-lander with no high-altitude hiking experience) and I (a 28 year old with over sixty 14er summits who spends most weekends above 10,000 feet) set off to climb Grays Peak - 14,267 feet.

Dad, Devon and I in the early morning:

Dad and I hiking in front of Torreys Peak with clouds rising from the valley (Photo - Devon S):

Dad with Kelso Mountain enclosed in clouds:

Wispy clouds were building and rising from the valley throughout the morning and the temperatures turned colder as snow started to fall as we approached 13,000 feet. However, the winds so characteristic of the Continental Divide were virtually absent. Despite slow progress, worsening conditions, and my concerns, Dad was motivated to push on.

Encountering our first patch of snow around 13,000 feet (Photo - Devon S):

Dad approaching the summit throughout the snow and clouds:

Success! Dad and I atop the chilly summit of Grays Peak - 14,267 feet:

Our celebration time on the summit was cut short due to cold temperatures, accumulating snow, and the need to start descending quickly. Near white-out conditions persisted until we passed below 13,000 feet. Dad battled sore knees and fatigued legs all the way down while I tried to keep him moving to avoid getting caught in developing thunderstorms.

Dad taking one of his "little breaks" on the descent:

We finally arrived back to the trailhead at 5:15 pm, 10.5 hours after we had left in the morning. Although the day took much longer than expected, I was still incredibly impressed with Dad's perseverance and good-spirits in dealing with the less than ideal conditions. Furthermore, I took great pleasure insharing the beautiful high-alpine environment and mountains of Colorado with my dad.

We would later learn that Grays Peak is named after Asa Gray, a 19th century botanist and advocate of Darwin's theory of evolution. Interestingly, Asa Gray visited and climbed his namesake peak in 1872 at the age of 62. Therefore, totally by chance, it seemed appropriate that Dad completed his quest on the same peak at the same age.

Congratulations Dad! You Made It! Always remember:

"Whether it be climbing the mountain or fighting cancer, you can only look forward to the next step you have to take. Sometimes it seems too overwhelming to consider the obstacle as a whole, but by taking it slowly and only focusing on what you can at that moment, it slowly becomes more manageable. Whether it be moving a few inches up the mountain with each step, or being optimistic and enjoying each day, you’ll eventually find yourself where you want to be."

2009.08.22 TENMILE RANGE TRAVERSE

2009-08-26T18:48:00.006-06:00

Its not often that you have the chance to stand atop 10 peaks in a single day, but I did just that on the Tenmile Range traverse last Saturday. The Tenmile mountain range runs south through the central Rocky Mountains of Colorado, passing the ski areas of Breckenridge and Copper along the way. Our day started with an early start at 4:30 am and a steep ascent out of Frisco towards Peak 1, our first summit of the day as we watched the sun rise over the Continental Divide to the east.

Sunrise over the Continental Divide and Lake Dillon:

Approaching Peak 1 in the early morning light:

From the summit of Peak 1, we could see the 10+ miles of ridge line ahead that we would cross. At this point, our legs and lungs were fresh, while our eyes suggested that Peak 10 wasn't too far in the distance. And with absolutely perfect weather, we hiked in t-shirts above 12,000 feet with no concern for gathering thunderstorms.

The traverse route from the summit of Peak 1 (Peak 10 in the distance):

Tenmile ridgeline casts its shadow:

Soon enough, we were on Peak 2 and continued on to more challenging terrain on the sharp ridgeline connecting to Peaks 3 and 4.

Alex and Ryan negotiate an exposed section on ridge:

From the summit of Peak 4, the terrain changes drastically providing a gentle stroll along alpine tundra across Peaks 5, 6, and 7.

Previewing gentler terrain from Peak 4's summit:

Peak 8 is where your mental and physical fitness are tested. The legs and lungs start to tire as you move along the grassy slopes and it seems the summit will never come. Soon enough at 12 pm, we found ourselves atop Peak 8 with the Imperial Express lift (the highest chairlift in North America) and the town of Breckenridge underneath our feet.

Myself atop Peak 8 (Photo - J W):

However, the two highest peaks were still to come, Peak 9 - 13,195 feet and Peak 10 - 13,633 feet. We pushed on despite fatigue and low water supplies under cloudless blue skies. The steep, loose rocky terrain up to Peak 10 provided the last test of the day at high elevations.

Approaching the steep, loose rock on the final pitch to Peak 10:

Success! We reached the summit of Peak 10 around 2 pm and spent some time relaxing and taking in the views of our accomplishment.

Peak 10's summit, the final peak on the Tenmile Range traverse:

Looking back on the traverse route (Peaks 1, 2, 4, 8, and 9 labeled):

By parking a car at the Peak 9 lifts on Breckenridge, we saved ourselves an additional 3-4 miles of descent and found ourselves quickly back in Frisco for beers and food in unseasonably warm 95 degree temperatures!

Final stats for the day: 10 peaks, 15 miles, 8,000 vertical feet gained. Among the biggest days I've had in the mountains so far. For more pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/derek.drechsel/20090822TenmileRangeTraverse#

Elevation profile from SummitPost:

2009.08.15 RAFTING THE ARKANSAS RIVER

2009-08-18T20:38:00.004-06:00

Its been much too long (over 3 years) since my last whitewater rafting experience and it seems that I always have other plans in place whenever the Wamsley brothers invite me for a day of the raft. So, when e-mails started circulating about joining Brett for a trip down the Arkansas River, I jumped at the chance. We ran the Numbers section of the river, just south of Leadville through Buena Vista. The usual class 5 sections of whitewater were much tamer with the low water level, but we all enjoyed a beautiful day on the water. Any much thanks to Brett who proved an excellent guide (for free!) for us inexperienced paddlers.

The crew on Yellow Fever - J W., Jesse H., Andy D., Myself, Brett W., and Chuck P. (Photo: Gary G.):

Taking a break between rapids (Photo - Brett W.):

2009.07.25 SUNRISE CENTURY

2009-07-30T08:15:00.006-06:00

Since my road bike was destroyed in an accident last fall (and I used the insurance money to buy new skis and snow tires), I've missed out on the spring/summer biking season. However, I decided that I'd join some friends in riding the Sunrise Century with a rental bike. Despite a serious lack of training (only 30 miles), I was able to complete the 100-mile course through the canyons of Boulder and add on another 13 miles in riding to and from the start. After finishing, I realized that I spent nearly a full-day of work (~8 hrs) on the bike.

Map overview and vertical profile of the route:

Devon and I ride up St Vrain canyon with the Indian Peaks providing a stellar backdrop:

2009.07.18-19 6...5... (HUMBOLDT PEAK AND CRESTONE NEEDLE)

2009-07-22T12:59:00.009-06:00

It was a weekend of celebration as Ryan was set to climb his last 14er, Humboldt Peak in the Sangre de Cristo range. A large group of 22 (+ 5 dogs) joined for a weekend of car camping, hiking, and non-stop laughs. A big congratulations to Ryan and his Dad, Terry, on the successful summit! Sharing stories around the campfire on Friday night: Humboldt Peak from the summit of Crestone Needle: Devon and I on the trail to Humboldt with Crestone Needle in background (Photo: Nico C.): Ryan (Baba) and I on Humboldt Peak, celebrating his final 14er (Photo: Devon S.): Celebrating on the summit (Photo: Caleb W.): J, Steve, and I scouting out the Ellingwood Arete, a plan which never materialized (Photo: Rick W.): The next day, several of us headed for Crestone Peak to attempt the classic traverse of the Crestone summits. After bailing on the climb of Crestone Peak, I hiked back to Broken Hand Pass surprised to see the weather holding in the early afternoon. I decided to make a bid for Crestone Needle and quickly scrambled up the conglomerate rock to reach the summit at 1:15 pm. Myself on the descent from Crestone Needle (Photo: J W.): A friendly marmot along the trail: The successful climbs of Humboldt and the Needle leave me with only 5 14ers in Colorado to climb. Unfortunately, in an effort to leave an easier one for last and the difficult logistics of organizing several days to access the Eolus group 14ers (and my desire to ski these three 14ers) it seems that my finisher won't happen until 2010. However with all the shenanigans that has become standard on 14er finishers with this group, its probably best we only do one of these each year.

2009.07.10-11 10...9...8 (REDCLOUD, SUNSHINE, & HANDIES PEAKS)

2009-07-16T15:52:00.004-06:00

Three more of Colorado's 14ers checked off the list, leaving only 7 more to go. Redcloud, Sunshine, and Handies Peak are situated in the heart of the San Juan mountain range in southwestern Colorado. From the summit of these peaks, the 360 degree panoramic view of mountains in all directions in truly spectacular. I chose to do these peaks in summer in hopes of seeing the wildflowers in full bloom. Although, my visit turned out to be a week or so early, the basins were full of color nonetheless.

Devon hiking at sunrise with Handies Peak looming across the valley:

Devon and I on the summit of Redcloud Peak (14,036 feet):

Starting on the traverse to Sunshine Peak (14,001 feet):

Devon, relieved to be back on solid ground after a steep, loose descent down the north slopes of Sunshine:

The state flower of Colorado, columbines, in the beautiful Grizzly Gulch basin:

Hiking towards the summit of Handies Peak:

Devon spots a moose!:

A closer look:

2009.07.05 MOUNT ANTERO (10 more to go...)

2009-07-06T15:31:00.005-06:00

Mount Antero is probably one of the least inspiring Colorado 14ers as its most distinguishing feature is a 4wd road to 13,800 feet. However, its on the list so it needed to be done sometime.

Antero from outside Buena Vista:

With hopes of camping high on the mountain, Devon and I lugged our camping gear to 12,500 feet where we watched the sunset over the Sawatch mountains.

Sunset:

Antero's west face at sunset:

Uncertain weather and building clouds forced a change of plans, as we descended to treeline at 11,500 feet to camp. Rain/snow and wind persisted throughout the night, as Devon and I were thankful to have moved down to the lower elevation. An early start the next day provided some great views on the relatively gentle hike to the 14,269 feet summit.

Hiking above the clouds:

Devon approaching the summit:

Devon and I on the summit with Tabegauche Peak in background:

Antero is the 43rd "official" Colorado 14er that I've hiked leaving only 10 left on the list. And with trips to the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo ranges planned for the next two weeks, the countdown will continue...

2009.05.23-25 CANYONLANDS AND ARCHES NAT'L PARKS

2009-06-01T16:18:00.009-06:00

Photo highlights from a Memorial Day Weekend trip to the national parks of southeastern Utah.

Devon at the Mesa Arch Overlook on a cloudy, rainy day in Canyonlands:

Backpacking into Upheaval Canyon (Photo: Devon S.):

Exploring the canyon (Photo: Devon S.):

Sunrise on the sandstone walls:

Devon hiking along the wash:

Campsite in Upheaval Canyon:

Hiking steeply out of the canyon (Photo: Devon S.)

Devon at one of the Island in the Sky overlooks:

Delicate Arch:

Looking insignificant in Double Arch (Photo: Devon S.):

North and South Windows Arches:

Holding up South Windows Arch (Photo: Devon S.):

2009.05.10 MOUNT SNEFFELS - SNAKE COULIOR

2009-05-15T12:26:00.007-06:00

After an unsuccessful attempt on Mount Sneffels last May due to significant avalanche danger, I was incredibly excited to get back this year for another try. Chris, J, Brandon and I backpacked into the gorgeous Blaine Basin beneath the north face of Sneffels where we set up base-camp for the weekend.

Packing in with heavy loads (Photo: Chris C):

Skinning for some turns on Saturday afternoon (Photo: Brandon C):

Camp in Blaine Basin with Snake couloir slightly visible on right side of Sneffels' north face:

The Snake couloir on the north face of Mount Sneffels, is a deeply insert aestethic line that cannot be viewed in full from any one angle. The steepness of the couloir is consistently 40 degrees with some steeper sections approaching and exceeding ~50 degrees. We started bootpacking up the couloir, each taking turns through snow conditions varying from icy hardpack to unconsolidated recycled powder.

Myself leading the bootpack through the couloir's choke (Photo: Chris C):

Brandon, J, and myself climbing the upper section of the couloir, notice the cornice below where the couloir sharply turns (Photo: Chris C):

We reached the top of the couloir around 11 am, but still had 100 feet of technical climbing up a 5.6 pitch to reach the summit. Brandon and J bravely free climbed the snow/rock, while Chris and I chose to rope up for safety's sake.

J climbing the final pitch (Photo: Brandon C):

Mount Sneffels' summit (14,150 feet), my 42nd Colorado 14er with Wilson group in far background (Photo: Brandon C):

Now came the fun part....the skiing! Brandon decided the steepness and snow conditions of the Snake couloir were beyond his comfort zone, so he descended to the Lavender Col and met us later in Blaine Basin. Meanwhile, we rappelled back into the Snake couloir, clicked into our skis in a precarious position, and cautiously made our first turns down the couloir. Rappelling off the summit (Photo: Chris C):

Making my first turns in the couloir. Our camp is at the crest of the U-shaped area at treeline (Photo: J W):

During the ascent, we were a bit concerned about the quality of skiing to be had in the couloir. However, the sun did its work and softened up the snow just enough. There was even some great turns through recycled powder that put a smile on my face.

Myself skiing the upper couloir (Photo: J W):

Chris tele's down the lower section above the choke:

J makes jump-turns:

The choke proved interesting as we were forced to slide-slip down through a choppy hardpack that snowboarders had throughly scraped off the previous day. We all breathed a sigh of relief when exiting the no-fall zone of the couloir and enjoyed skiing spring corn snow back to camp.

Chris takes a break on the ski back to camp:

Skiing and hiking with full packs back through soft, unsupportive snow back to the trailhead is never enjoyable. However, the extra effort is worth every pound after a weekend of excellent climbing and skiing a classic peak like Mount Sneffels.

Crossing streams on the pack out, content with the weekend's success (Photo: Brandon C):

2009.05.02 CULEBRA PEAK NORTH FACE SKI DESCENT

2009-05-04T21:31:00.007-06:00

Of all the peaks above 14,000 feet in Colorado, Culebra Peak in the Sangre de Cristo range by far holds the most history with records dating back to 1694. Unfortunately, this remote peak also carries quite a bit of controversy as it lies on private land. Access to Culebra Peak has varied over the years, but the current owners of the Cielo Vista Ranch have welcomed hikers (for a moderate fee) since the summer of 2004. Gaining permission for a winter/spring climb of Culebra is rare but it appears that with the increasing popularity of 14er ski descents, the owners are becoming more receptive to the idea. Joe negotiated with the ranch owners for a spring trip when the relatively unexplored north face would be prime for a potential ski descent. Despite brutal winds, white-out conditions, and little information on the route down the north face, we headed down into the unknown/unseen. An excellent ski descent was only briefly interrupted by a ~30 feet rock band that required some careful downclimbing. Here's a few pictures from the day:

Culebra Peak from the north (Photo: Caleb W):

Skinning up the west bowl in worsening conditions (Photo: Joe B):

Hiking the ridge in blizzard conditions (Photo: Caleb W):

Jarrett sporting some ice rime (Photo: Joe B):

On the summit of my 41st Colorado 14er (Photo: Caleb W):

Caleb skis into the unknown on the north face (Photo: Jarrett L):

Jarrett making smooth turns (Photo: Joe B):

Myself downclimbing a rocky section that interrupted our ski descent (Photo: Joe B):

To learn more about the history of Culebra Peak, check out the SummitPost page: http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/151463/culebra-peak.html

For a detailed account of the day and extensive photographic documentation, check out Joe's excellent and thorough trip report: http://14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=5854&cpgm=tripmain

2009.04.25-26 Red Mountain Pass

2009-04-29T11:31:00.009-06:00

Hut trips are not only a unique way of getting into the backcountry, they also provide a great opportunity to spend valuable time with friends sharing laughs and memories. 17 people joined for the second annual trip to the Addie S hut atop Red Mountain Pass in the San Juan mountains. Although this hut provides amenities not usually found in a hut (running hot water, stereo, propane grill) and is situated only ~50 yards from the road, the skiing and backdrop are absolutely stunning in the area. After a celebratory night on Friday, those who weren't nursing hangovers headed out in search of suitable ski lines.

Skinning towards the day's objective:

Dust layers in the snowpack from recent storms had me thinking I was back on the east coast instead of the pristine Colorado high-alpine. After tagging the summit of Red Mountain C (12,890 feet) J, Jesse, and I descended the north face before hitching rides back up the pass to the hut.

J skis off the summit of Red Mountain C: Jesse descends the north face: Enjoying dinner and friends in the hut (Photo: Joel G): Devon and I cook up a southern-style breakfast - biscuits and sausage gravy (Photo: Caleb W):

Everyone got out on Sunday as we skinned up familiar terrain on the west side of the pass. Despite some snow and cold temperatures in the morning, the snow softened up just enough for some spring corn skiing.

Follow the leader of the conga line (Photo: Caleb W):

Devon and I taking a short break (Photo: Steve C): Myself spring-skiing on the pass (Photo: Caleb W): Myself making turns in a beautiful backdrop: (Photo: Caleb W):

Information about booking the Addie S Hut can be found here: http://www.skihuts.com/

2009.04.19 Vail Pond Skim

2009-04-23T09:55:00.008-06:00

Here's a few video highlights from YouTube of my somewhat-successful attempt at the World Pond Skimming Championships at Vail last weekend. This year's kicker was the biggest I've seen in my 4 years of participating in this event and only got bigger as the pool started leaking. Unfortunately I couldn't find the time (nor motivation) to design an elaborate costume, so I instead recycled my dad's plaid pants and an afro wig into a 70's outfit.

Here's a short highlight video from TV8 in Vail with a better angle (My run is at 2:11): And here's Joel's footage of my run:

I'd like to say that I tried to ride switch out of the pond, but its more that I was carrying way too much speed. Therefore, my backwards crash exit was completely unintentional. As always, an awesome day with lots of laughs and big splashes. A few more pictures from the day: Devon and I in costume:

Devon warms up in the hot tub after an unsuccessful pond skim attempt: Joel, Jen, Megan, Tamra, and I:

Also, huge congrats to Devon, Jen, Megan and Tamra. They were the only girls in the field of 75 competitors. They all straight-lined into the kicker too, carrying much more speed than most guys were comfortable with.

2009.04.10 Phillies @ Rockies Home Opener

2009-04-12T21:57:00.004-06:00

The defending World Champion Phillies came into town for a three-game set over the weekend. Pictures are from the Rockies' home opener on Friday afternoon, which the Phils dropped 10-3 after a sub-par pitching performance by the Cole Hamels, the 2008 NLCS and World Series MVP. However, the Phillies bounced back with wins on Saturday night and Sunday to take the series.

Enjoying baseball on a beatuiful Friday afternoon:

Rockies' Home Opener festivities:

Dad, Christian and I (Photo: Andy D):

2009.03.29-30 Utah - Part II

2009-04-06T16:39:00.007-06:00

Another major snowstorm was scheduled to hit Utah on Sunday, so there was a decision to be made: 1) forego skiing and drive home early before the storm, or 2) call off work Monday and ski two more days. This was an easy decision so Devon and I joined Laura and Aaron as they showed us around Snowbird.

Devon and I on a snowy day at the 'Bird (Photo: Laura P): The snow started falling at 9 am and quickly filled in the crusty snow from previous warm days. I was incredibly excited to ski Snowbird but limited visibility, heavy snow, and fierce winds prevented access to more challenging terrain as the upper mountain remained closed for the majority of the day. Snow continued, falling at rates of 2-3 inches per hour for most of the morning. ~12 inches fell by early afternoon leaving me excited for the next day!

Nuking, puking, dumping. Whatever you may call it, the snow was coming down hard!:

Aaron takes a break to defrost:

Any break from the storm was welcomed, even a short trip through the tunnel to Mineral Basin:

Monday dawned with snow totals approaching two feet as Devon and I prepared to return to Snowbird. However, Little Cottonwood Canyon remained closed for avalanche work preventing access to the mountain. So, we headed back to Solitude with Laura's brother, Wally, to test 15 inches of fresh snow. Honeycomb Canyon remained closed this day, but Wally led us to his favorite stashes. Unfortunately, these pictures don't do justice to the faceshots and whiterooms we experienced all morning.

Wally and Devon ride the Summit chair to reach the goods:

Devon gets fresh tracks:

Wally tears through the powder:

Enjoying my last turns through Utah powder before heading home (Photo: Devon S):

Spring Back to Vail Commercial

2009-04-03T08:36:00.003-06:00

I www'd over to the Vail's website (www.springbacktovail.com) the other day and was welcomed by this fabulous video:

Yes, thats the fabulous Jen and I celebrating her successfull pond-crossing in 2007! Later that evening, I again saw the same clip on TV featured in a commercial promoting Vail's end of season parties/events. Two years later, the Dick in a Box costume still reigns supreme!

Come check out or stay tuned for highlights from this year's pond-skim at Vail on Saturday 4/18. Its a party and event you don't want to miss!

2009.03.27-28 Birthday Weekend in Utah - Part I

2009-04-01T13:32:00.011-06:00

Multiple storms tracked through the west last week providing a much welcomed change to the dry weather that had persisted for the past several weeks. With my birthday on Friday, Devon and I decided last-minute to travel to Utah where the snow totals were being measured in feet rather than inches. A snowstorm targeting the urban Denver/Boulder area arrived on Thursday morning which made travel out of the cities difficult, but allowed us to get an early start on the trip as most places of work shut down by mid-day. Devon's long-time friend, Laura, greeted us upon our arrival in Salt Lake City at 11 pm and was gracious enough to provide accomodations for the long(er than expected) weekend. Friday 3/27: Typically, I find plenty of joy and satisfaction in skiing no matter the conditions, so spending my birthday skiing powder was extra special. Devon and I traveled up Big Cottonwood Canyon to Solitude, where the gates to Honeycomb Canyon were opened for the first time after receiving 15 inches the previous day: Devon traverses into Honeycomb Canyon to reach the goods:

We did laps in this area, finding untracked powder on each occasion until we felt satisfied that we'd had enough on the day.

Celebrating my 28th birthday in the best imaginable way (Photos: Devon S):

Devon's turn below the cliffs:

Taking a lunch break on a spectacular day:

Devon is all smiles after another run through untracked powder:

I must be getting old because after dinner and ice cream cake, I wanted nothing more than to go to bed. However, Devon provided the last surprise of the day with a fantastic present: an Avalung backpack to keep me safe on my skiing adventures! (I'll have a more detailed review of the BD Anarchist Pack in coming weeks after its gets some use)

Saturday 3/28: Today was a calm between storms so the decision was made to forego skiing. While it felt like a lazy choice, the weekend trip was extended through Monday to catch another significant snow-producing storm. This worked out for the best as we enjoyed the warm weather with a short hike and rested the legs for upcoming ski days.

The Wasatch mountains overlooking the Salt Lake valley:

Stay tuned for Part II.....a whiteout at Snowbird and more powder at Solitude!

2009.03.21-22 Buffalo Mountain and Return to Citadel

2009-03-23T12:06:00.008-06:00

After being back east for the annual Society of Toxicology meeting last week, I was missing the mountains and anxious to get back to Colorado. Blue skies, sunshine, and warm temperatures continued through the weekend and offered another opporunity to get in some early spring skiing on lines that usually don't set up with low avalanche danger until later in the season. First up: Buffalo Mountain. Most visitors to Colorado will recognize Buffalo Mountain as the large hump rising directly from Silverthorne viewed after traveling westbound through the Eisenhower Tunnel on I-70. Buffalo Mountain is characterized by the long, wide North (or Silver) couloir that splits its north face. This couloir stretching ~2,000 vertical feet is considered one of the longest in Colorado and has long stood among the state's classic ski descents. A large group of 11 met on Saturday morning and ascended the steep east slopes to Buffalo Mtn's summit at 12,777 feet.

Sunrise over Frisco/Dillon/Silverthorne valley:

On the summit, switching gear for the ski descent:

The snow conditions in the couloir were quite variable, ranging from soft spring corn to icy hardpack. We all skied cautiously especially after Brandon fell and slid a ways before arresting without injury. The 2,000 vertical feet of uninterrupted skiing completely satisfied my expectations for the day. It was especially fun to get out with such a large group, although it takes a loooong time when skiing one at a time down short sections between safe zones.

Rainier takes a break:

Myself skiing the upper entrance of the couloir:

Andy turns through spring corn:

Devon reaches the bottom of the couloir with much relief:

Buffalo Mtn and north couloir (right of center) seen from CO-9 north of Silverthorne:

On Sunday, I set out on a solo adventure and returned to Herman Gulch and Citadel Peak. After last weekend's experience, I couldn't resist getting back to this area in hopes of finding similar conditions. This basin is a favorite playground for snowmobilers, and I arrived to see tracks littering Citadel's slopes.

Snowmobiles highmark in every direction:

However, I had the place to my lonesome on this day. My summit attempt was stopped a mere 100 feet shy due to quickly softening snow under the sun's intense rays. However, I was able to get some turns down the summit snowfield before traversing back along the ridge to find untracked snow on north-facing aspects that held plenty of spring powder. Enough so that after one lap, I turned right around and hiked up for another.

Hiking along the south ridge:

Preparing to descend the steep summit snowfield:

Finding the goods (snowmobiles can't get everywhere):

With quick access from Denver, beautiful views, and a myriad of skiing and hiking potential, this area is quickly moving up the list of my favorite places in Colorado.

2009.03.13 - Citadel Ski Descent

2009-03-20T13:30:00.008-06:00

The month of March in Colorado usually signals a renewed ski season as early spring storms bring plenty of snow to enjoy in the warmer temperatures. However, there hasn't been much snow lately so finding good conditions (let alone powder) has been a bit more difficult than usual. After doing some extensive searching last week, I came across a north-facing, high-elevation bowl in the Front Range mountains that I thought might still hold some soft snow with minimal avalanche danger. Caleb, Devon, and I joined up for the second time in a few days and made our attempt on Citadel Peak, just east of the Continental Divide on a beautiful bluebird, spring-like Colorado day.

Skinning through the Dry Gulch area on the early morning approach:

The southern face of the Citadel is littered with numerous chutes and gullies, all waiting to be skied. Devon decided to ski a section lower on the ridge. After watching Devon make smooth powder turns, Caleb and I were stoked about the conditions and hiked farther to find a more challenging and aesthetic line.

Devon makes tele turns down a chute:

Hiking along the ridge to find a suitable ski descent:

After finding a good line and assessing snow conditions, it was time to get ready for some skiing:

Myself dropping in:

At this point, I yelled back to Caleb: "I'm not waiting. I'm going to bomb this thing!":

And off I went, making fast turns down 1,000 vertical feet of powder:

Devon's view of my descent from below:

Caleb takes his turns in a more controlled manner:

Caleb and I look at our tracks and reflect on a day's work:

The Herman Gulch area was absolutely beautiful and the ski conditions amazing. It is always satisfying when a little bit of research pays off with great skiing. I'm hopeful that I'll be able to get back to Citadel Peak in the coming weeks to check out some of the other ski descents in the area.

2009.03.11 - Jones Pass Dawn Patrol

2009-03-11T19:17:00.013-06:00

What did you do before work this morning? Devon, Caleb, and I took advantage of the recent snowfall and promising forecast to get in a dawn patrol. Caleb turned us towards the Jones Pass area where we found some great early morning powder turns. The weather was absolutely gorgeous as the winds calmed and temperatures climbed on a typical bluebird Colorado spring day.

Skinning in the early morning light:

Caleb tears down the first lap:

After dealing with some slick dust on crust conditions on the approach and first lap, we swung around to a northeast-facing gully to find our best turns of the day.

Myself, trying to get a taste of the snow:

Devon and I taking a break between laps: Devon: A good morning, now off to work:

Penn State Basketball to go dancing!?!?

2009-03-06T08:08:00.007-07:00

For basketball fans, you usually won't find much information here but there are a few times each year when I actually watch and get excited about a game. Last night was one of these occasions as Penn State played Illinois in the most important home game in the history of PSU basketball. Win and secure a bid in the NCAA tournament, lose and watch from home. Here's how it played out: And here's the aftermath:

WE ARE....PENN STATE!

2009.02.21 Skiing Rocky Mountain National Park

2009-03-03T15:11:00.006-07:00

Rocky Mountain National Park has always been one of my favorite places in Colorado, especially during the off-season when "tourons" aren't clogging the roads and trailheads. Since taking an avalanche I course through CMS in December '06, I've always wanted to check out some of the stunning couloirs and skiing options throughout the park. I gathered much information from Eli Helmuth's site (check out Eli's useful info and guide services at http://www.climbinglife.com/) as Jesse and Andy joined me for the day trip. We started skinning from the Bear Lake trailhead and proceeded to take a detoured route to reach the series of lakes leading up to the Tyndall glacier area. Our objective for the day was the Dragontail Couloir arising from Emerald Lake.

Our first views of the Dragontail Coulior:

The weather wasn't fully cooperating as swirling winds pelted us with blowing snow for most of the morning. We started our ascent to the base of the couloir, where we assessed avalanche conditions by digging a snow pit. We quickly discovered a fresh windslab layer sitting atop softer snow that sheared very easily. Unfortunately this meant the end of our climb as we all agreed that the avalanche danger was significant. However, we still managed some good turns below the couloir and in the Terrain Park area as the winds eased and we enjoyed a bluebird afternoon.

Jesse makes turns on the apron below the Dragontail couloir:

Andy and Jesse crossing Emerald Lake:

Also, much thanks to Rich for giving us an intimate tour of the Oscar Blues Brewery. And Joel and Devon for letting us use their place as party central later that evening.

2009.02.13-15 President's Day Weekend

2009-02-17T13:09:00.004-07:00

With snow finally falling again in the mountains and a holiday on Monday, I was excited to get back to skiing in winter conditions this last weekend. Devon, Caleb and I started the weekend off right with a quick trip to Berthoud Pass on Friday afternoon. While the rest of the pass was crowded with cars and backcountry users, Caleb led us to some untracked snow in the Middle 1o1s. While an icy sun-crust lurked underneath, we found enough powder to celebrate Caleb's birthday in proper fashion. (Much thanks to Caleb for his camera and photography, both of which far exceed my capabilities).

Myself:

Despite a broken hand, Devon makes one-poled tele turns at dusk:

After a long-awaited powder day at Beaver Creek on Saturday, I headed south to the Northern San Juan range. Jordan invited me along to attempt a winter climb/ski of Uncompaghre Peak in his quest to ski all the Colorado 14ers. Joe and Prakash joined us for an overnight in Jordan's family cabin in Lake City and a few hours of sleep. I previously climbed Uncompaghre Peak last summer, but I was anxious at the opportunity to approach this aesthetic peak in the winter. We started from the Nellie Creek road closure at 3:45 am with 4 miles to skin before reaching the normal summer trailhead. We made quick progress under clear, starry skies despite temperatures below zero degrees and perfectly timed our first views of the peak at sunrise.

Jordan had the strength to lead the majority of the way, while I struggled to keep up with his pace, feeling the effects of the cold and fatigue. (I even fell asleep standing up while taking a short break at one point).

Jordan skins west across the huge basin towards Uncompaghre:

Eventually, we all reached the summit at 14,309 feet around 11 am and enjoyed a few minutes to relax away from the fierce winds that pummelled us during the ascent up the south ridge.

Team "Red jacket, black pants" on the summit (l to r: Prakash, myself, Jordan, and Joe):

While Prakash and I downclimbed to the saddle before starting our ski descent, Jordan and Joe made their best attempts at a continuous descent from the summit by linking together small snow patches and walking over rocks. We eventually found a rocky route down the southeast slopes before skiing through the valley on a gorgeous afternoon.

Joe navigates down the southeast slopes:

Jordan takes a break on the descent:

Although the ski conditions left much to be desired, it was another great day in mountains. Stats: 16 miles roundtrip, 5,500 vertical feet gained, 10 hours car-to-car. I ended the day with a hearty dinner at my favorite Mexican restaurant in Glenwood Springs (Taqueria el Nopal) to cap off a long, exhausting day.

2009.02.14 - The Defending World Ph*cking Champions

2009-02-14T08:44:00.000-07:00

Baseball is back!........well almost. Pitchers and catchers report today as the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies get ready to defend their title. Baseball is far and away my favorite sport.....to play, watch, talk about, analyze, etc. There's a multitude of reasons that I love baseball, probably because I've played the game my entire life and appreciate the small nuasances and strategy that goes into every pitch. Baseball has also been a large part of my family and it dominates my childhood. Some of the fondest, strongest memories of my youth revolved around baseball including:

Fielding an endless supply of balls hit by my Grandparents
My Grandmother's love of Pete Rose because he didn't put on a show, he just played the game
Breaking my wrist while running down the hills in Williamsport PA, home of the Little League World Series
Attending Phillies games with my Mom, Dad, and brother including the 1993 World Series
Playing on the legendary Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, NY

Baseball is the best because you always have to get that last out. There’s no clock to run down. You can’t kneel. You bleed time off. In baseball, the other team always gets a last chance at you. And you have to stop them for the damn thing to finally be over.....The existence of the clock means that certain leads are insurmountable. But not baseball. In baseball, leads are ALWAYS surmountable. So you can’t rest until that last out.....So when that final out comes, what it does is provide a single unified moment of pure, shared ecstasy. Everyone explodes together, in that one instant. And that’s why that moment is forever.

I know that I'll never forget the final pitches thrown by Tug McGraw, Mitch Williams, or Brad Lidge! I just simply love baseball!

And HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY BRIDGET!

2009.02.07 - East Vail Ice Climbing

2009-02-12T08:27:00.000-07:00

Colorado has been under a high pressure ridge the past few weeks which means minimal snowfall and uninspiring ski conditions. Therefore, I was left searching for an alternative winter activity for the weekend. Brandon and I decided that ice climbing would be the perfect change of pace and we quickly recruited Jesse, Steve, and J to join the fun. We headed to East Vail and found a suitable route at Pitkin Falls.

J practices his technique on the drywall (*Note: this is not recommended training)

Myself climbing a route dubbed by Jesse: "East Vail Armpit"

Brandon takes the direct route

Steve is an extreme swiss-bob sledder

Brandon, Steve, and Jesse in front of Pitkin Falls