USA (Filet) Mignon. February 19, 2009

An early and somewhat miraculous pick-up of Giles at 5:15, then Fletch at 5:40. We were to our undisclosed and very appreciated parking spot by 5:55. About 19 degree (f) and clear skies. The moon was a slight fingernail. Our goal was to skin to the radio towers in USA bowl and partake of the good turns on the way down. As you can see from my drawering (sic) there, we started off too far east and then corrected back too far west. By the time we came out of the trees we were no longer on an uphill skin track, but following up someones descent path. No worries, only about 500 ft. of vert. to go. We assessed our path options and bee-lined southwest to the ridge. It was at this time we enjoyed the most beautiful view of the dawn sun reflecting off the Honey Comb cliffs and Wolverine Cirque. "Stay golden Jonny." (I would have taken a picture but... see Toe-Side Bounce post below) As we appraoched to the ridge, the established skin-track was a nice sight. We skirted up the USA/Little Willow ridge to the BCC/Park City ridge, carefully avoiding the heavy wind-blown cornices on the north. We finally summited the 9930 ft. peak just to the west of Scotts Hill, ate some cinnamon buttery biscuits, (that I got a killer deal on at Alby's) made the transition, and dropped in. Fletch, on his inaugural split-board tour, set his board up goofy (or what ever the snowboard term is) so he was having a bit of a time keeping his tip up in the deep virgin snow. We floated down the settled, but very deep powder to the tree-line. Once in the trees, the grade mellowed a bit which made for some nice turns. Overall, a great morning. Despite the early rise, you couldn't pry the grin off Giles face. To work by 9:45.

Vert. 16oo ft. and 1.9 miles one way.

12-Point Skin Track. February 18, 2009

With all the new snow (about 12 inches at around 4,700 ft) Mount Parrish (or 12-Point as I call it) was ready for the taking. I left the office around 12:30 pm (35 degrees (f)). Hit the switch-backs and never looked back. With the goal of increasing efficiency on my kick-turns, I looked for the steepest deepest lines. On top, around 6,200 ft., the snow was deep (24 inches) and soft. I made my transition as quick as possible (sub 1 minute), took a deep breath and started my descent. Snow conditions were as good as they have been all year for that location. I was back to the car, changed and at the office by 2:10. Nothing like bagging foothill pow half a mile from your office chair.

Vert. 1,500 ft., 1.7 miles one way.

Jazz v Grizz. February 17, 2009

Tuesday night Talin and I went to the Jazz v. Grizzlies game. RIP Larry. (Shout-out to Beez and Millcreek Plumbing for the tickets) We had a great time. Talin commented on the Bear, the Dancers and the tasty snacks. By half-time he was on my lap and fading fast. We had a real problem when we saw the cotton candy on the way out. Luckily, I had Batman waiting on the dvd in the car. Its fun to do things with just one kid. I think its good for them to have all the attention once in a while too.

The Toe-Side Bounce. February 16, 2009

On President's Day I just so lucked out to have a great mother-in-law and got to squeak in a free and clear resort day at Solitude. I felt a little twinge of guilt for not bringing L or T, but it soon melted away. Met at Dalt's house at 8:20, quick stop for snacks, on the mountain by 9:10. About 25 degrees (f). We did some super-speeders on the quad and then moved back to Milk Run and got some good footage of Dalt dropping a cliff-band. We hit Summit and got some pretty cool views of Wolverine. Shredded four or five on that side of the mountain and returned via a nice rip down Honeycomb. Ate some fried chicken and reeled off about 10 runs in about 120 minutes or so. The second to last proved to be one too many. As Dalt was getting some high speed footage, he took a wicked toe-side bounce off the soft pack . Diagnosis on the ribs not good, on the camera... about the same. Huge amount of vert and variable terrain covered, a great day.

V-man Strikes Again! February 14, 2009

Last saturday morning Dalt and I kicked-up (XC) Millcreek Canyon with Macy and Banjo. We met at Dalt's house at 5:20, on the trial by 5:45. About 20 degrees (f). Very soft snow conditions. Snow started to fall quite heavily by about 6:30 (and kept up until about 10:00) . We were following moose tracks the last half mile, so we were a bit cautious. We made it to Alexander Basin by about 7:15. Headed down, nice soft snow. Quick and easy. 850 ft 2.5 miles one way.

Later, in the afternoon, L, T-dog and I went to the Duck park and farmed the pow to be had there. L was making perfect S-turns the whole way down... side-step up the hill, and plow the next row. T was straight and fast.

Argenta Slide Path. February 12, 2009.

Early morning pick-up, 4:35 at Dalt's house. Quick to pick-up Dustin, met Tom at the BCC p.a.r. Up 7.1 from the sign, quick river-cross, (about 7000 ft.) and skinning by 5:30ish. 19 degrees (f). Argenta slide path, truely unbelievable the destruction that slide caused. The first part was tough, super steep with switch-backs. Dustin and Tom, (herein reffered to as our Petzel Guides or PG) were like billy-goats-gruff up the hill. Switch-backs, effortless. Like the elf guy on Lord of the Rings, walking on top of the snow. Breaking trail a good portion of the way to boot. Dalt and myself however, not quite so. Got the heart rate up too fast too early. Up over the ridge and a few less switch-backs. About 7:30 (our cut-off time) we were facing the headwall with about 800-900 of vert. to go to the 10,400 ft. summit. To my great relief, as I came around the corner I saw Dalt and PG taking off their skins and switching to downhill. PG made sure beacons were on. Then dropped in, one by one. Bottomless Wasatch pow. The terrain was perfect, a nice 30-35 degree slope, trees if you want them and very few tracks. Got back to the car just before 8:00. With the flakes increasing, enjoyed the ride down the canyon.

Estimated: 2500 ft vert and 1.8 miles

I am now going to blog.

The time has come, I am now going to blog.

The purpose: A medium to chronicle the many "big adventures" I embark upon. I hope you enjoy perusing.