Govie turns

Had not partners for today so I played it safe and skied the Alpine trail from Government Camp to the top of Blossom or is it stormin norman now. The snow is great right now, deep and soft. Came out of the skis today, so it looks like I will need to up the DIN and double check the boot clearence in the bindings. Good workout and got some good turns. After the poor ski form today I am going to hit the ski resort as soon as Cort gets back from Lakeview. Practice, Practice.

Well, well

X-mas was great. Made out like a bindit as usuall. The kids were great. They are at the age where christmas is perfect. I could almost pass on the whole thing if it were not for them. Off for some turns tomorrow not exciting, just a workout basically, Government camp to lord knows were. Maybe top of palme if I am lucky. we will see.

Newton creek last saturday

Well the storm was still raging in oregon, what to do.....go skiing. What else. We decided to hit up Newton Creek and test out the access. Snow bridges were not put in by the snow cat so we had to hunt around for one. We were lucky to find one that was just large enough to cross with the skis still on. Once across we were on our way. Breaking trail was really tough. Knee deep powder with the skis on and your pole would hit no bottom. Doing kick turns was a crux but looking ahead for turning spots really payed off. We stopped short of the open bowl I usually go, everybody in the party was tired after the slog up. We dropped for one lap of turns that turned out to be not that good. Snow is still not quite deep enough to cover all the small trees so you had to be carefull not to clip one.

This link has pics of the trip. At some point I will get the photos off my camera and add to the collection. What to do for this weekend??? Options are opening up.

First Turns

Last sunday the snow was falling and there was just enough base to make a trip up to the mountain worth while. The big debate was where to go. After a conditions report from a friend that headed up saturday the decision was made. Meadows ski resort. A quick look reveled that we could ski the main area safely since the lifts that were running would not allow access to the #1,2,3 bowls. The snow was just deep enough that hitting the ground was a non-issue. Yes we did have powder and turns were good. It was Cort's first trip on her new gear. Figured out a couple of kinks that will be take care of before she heads out next time. She did great and both her and I had some problems on the first lap. Had to remember how to ski. But the second one went much smoother. With the cold weather and the next dump expected wed and thurs this following weekend is looking good for turns. The additional snow fall will open up the terrain we can ski. Thank god. It was fun to get laps in at the resort.

Glad I did not go

Well the weather really heated up. I was planning on heading up hood for fun and bivi on the summit. After finding out it was going to be 98 deg in portland and mt. hood was going to be really warm I bailed on that plan. Really glad I did. Check out this report. I could have been caught in that slide.

http://cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/798141#Post798141

Wow my life

Well thought I would post this just incase people were wondering. I have been up to absolutly nothing. I went up hood once and had some good turns, and went to smith once. but other than that this spring has been really slow on the adventure front. This weekend I am going to get out and do something and next month is looking good. I have plans finally :) Hope everybodies sping has been better than mine.

Red Rocks pics

here are some choice pics from the First trip to Red Rocks.

The Drama

Went to the Wallowas for a backcountry hut tour. Spilled boiling water on my right hand and right foot. Killed the trip. When the photos come in I will put them with full story on the weekend. The burn ended up not too bad. Second degree, and should be good in a couple of weeks.

Hogs Back Jan 13th 2008

Rare weather window was forcasted for sunday. Emails were sent and plans confirmed. Left the parking lot at 8 am. Idea was to go slow and cruse, no hurry. Well that idea went out the window when we arrived at silcox hut a half our later. We were hoping for a summit bid via the south side route. But that desision was going be made once we were on the Hogs Back. The weather was perfect. Clear, cold and basically no wind. Joel, and Marsha were crusing, Jon was starting to slow as we got closer to Crater rock. We were going to pop his alpine cherry this trip :) Skinning also was getting trickier as we gained elevation. One slope Jon had to take off his split board and boot it. The same idea was crossing my mind but I made it up the slope. But soon I was booting it with Jon. Just as fast and way easier than skinning at that point. Jon and I were just below crater rock and he was hinting that we was getting really tired. Not having that I told him we was going to make it to the hogs bag so get use to that idea. He was really great about it, I have been in the same possition so many times. We got to the hogs back and decided going any higher was not a good idea so stapped in I dropped first. First turns were steep and good, I wished that slope had lasted for a 1,000 ft. So much goodness. The rest of the turns back to the car were GREAT. The snow was fast and wind buffed, took turns like nothing. Fun fun was had by all. Now for the porn.... I mean pics :)

Skinning Palmer, look at her she looks great with all that snow

"Sofa" break, thanks Marsha and Joel for digging that out
Boot packing up the Hogs Back. Steeper than it looks. It rolls over to a nice steep slope, be it a short slope.

Now the fun. Joel skied down to a shorter slope and the next three photos tell the story :) Wish I had my camera on high speed. Love the go for it attitude Joel, keep on it. Now if you would just do a resort day.

Joel almost falling

Joel falling #1
Joel Falling #2... For the record he did better the more turns he got.
Marsha dropping in
Marsha looking good
Nice Jon, best pic right there!!!
Looking good on the traverse.

No more pics, but the turns were perfect.

Lame PBR pic, but manditory :) Great day with great people. Jon we will have to do that again and make it to the summit next time. This trip is the highest Jon has been on hood. Good work, I told you it would be worth it.

Newton Creek 12/30/07

Took saturday off and geared up for a larger goup heading to Newton Creek. It had dumped feet of snow between Friday and Sunday. I recieved more than one phone call about avalanch danger and I said lets at least check it out, there is always a place to ski no matter what. We will have turns, good safe terrain even in high avalanch conditions. It was dumping hard right in the parking lot and it was cold. Good news for us :) Seems like every trip Cort goes on it is some kind of bad weather. Middle Sister snow camping, Colchuck snow caming, and now this trip. What a trooper or maybe I should not take her any more and I will have more good weather trips, food for thought..... On the way up I cut some cornices off to see how things would slide and just as I suspected things were looking good in the trees. We quickly made time up the hill and the weather rolled in or we were more in the wind. Getting cold we decided to make some turns. Joel, and Chris were quick, Cort need some help but doing fine, but dang it leave it to the splitboarder Jon to slowing things down. Geesh you would think these guys would get a clue and learn to ski. Joking, wish I had a split board for that day, snowboarding on big powder days is the best hands down.

Would have taken more photos but it was too cold for camera. Need to a better job keeping it warm. Needless to say blower turns were had by all. Joel was getting the hang of things sort of, first time on skis in many years. Thanks guys for heading out, worth it?? I think so :)

Cooper spur ski 12/28/30

After putting the call out Jen took my up on my offer for some BC turns. Snow had been dumping for the lasts three days and it was set for some sweet turns. We skied through the Cooper Spur resort and headed for the Tilly Jane trail. The weather was looking good, so good I was in shorts and a think long sleeve. Thought we might make it up to the Stone shelter. Well after an hour and half we were up at the A-frame (smoken). Weather had turned for the worse, major wind and snow transport. Jen made the mistake of taking me for my word that I knew where we were going we back tracked a bit and broke out the map and compass. She guided us perfectly up to I figure 100 vertical feet short of
the stone shelter. At this point from the blowing snow it was hard to see
and it was getting cold. We strapped up for the decent and made some

sweet turns on the way down

High five at turn around point. Good job Jen

Jen falling. Was starting to wonder if she could ski.

Finally some turns, yes she can ski... :)
Great day. Thanks Jen for the good time.