Moab

Conjuring the canyon energy and channeling its vibrations.

Colorado Deep Powder May Day!

Three feet of powder makes for an EPIC day in Northern Colorado. The crew in a "Powder Frenzy" charge the mountain in the early morning hours when the snow is at it's coldest and most fluffy, adrenalin levels maxed. Today required a 4:30 am launch from Golden, well worth it. Afternoon wet slides ensued, snow melted quickly, felt like concrete on the way out....coarse it is May. Some action shots of the day.







My sentiments exactly.

Will's Bachelor Party

...was fast Carts, cold Beer, great Food, and nude Women.(carts pictures)

Floating Utah: The Green River.

Overlooking the Green River from 5 hole Arch.
Last week I floated almost 70miles of the Green River, from Green River, Utah to Mineral Bottom, Utah. It was a five day float. The week was filled with adventure; here are my thoughts and a recount of my trip.
It is roughly a 6 hour drive from Denver to Green River, less if traffic behaves, and more, lots more if things go a rye, as we would find out on our drive.
Things started out smoothly enough. My buddy Will, Milo (Will’s Dog) and I headed out of Denver in the Jeep, which was moderately packed with river and camping gear, shortly after 5pm Tuesday night. Our plan was to meet the rest of the group (9 people total) at the Green River camp grounds in Utah shortly after 10pm. About an hour and a half into our drive west, around Copper Mountain, Milo the dog started getting antsy and we figured he probably needed to take a leak.So did Will and I, so we stopped at Officer’s Gulch (a pull off to a frontage road near Copper) to relieve the bladders. Milo scampered off as we did our business. After 5 minutes or so we called Milo back in and headed off for Utah.
It was seconds after leaving Officer’s Gulch when Will and I noticed the smell of DEATH emanating from the back seat, from Milo. That very distinct smell of rotting flesh filled the jeep as Will and I whipped around to check Milo out. What the Hell did you get into?!
Milo peered back at us with that dogie smile as if to say, “Hey guys don’t I smell awesome!? Tasted great too. Aren’t you stoked with dead stinky stuff? I sure am, it's the greatest!”
As we gagged all four windows flew down in an attempt to vent the Jeep of the nastiness. Milo was covered head to toe with something foul, it looked like he had rolled around in it and worst part; it was on his breath, which was bad enough in the first place.


A shot of the Canyon from the Rim, day 3.
So there Will and I are, flying down the high mountain pass (10k feet) at 75mph with all four windows down and a dog that smells like, and is breathing death in the back seat. It was well dark by now and our situation was about to take another turn.
We lasted about hour before the decision was made to stop and wash the dog. We simply had to. We exited the highway and entered the small town of Avon which had several car washes and a grocery store open late. Figuring the car wash would just freak Milo out; we stopped at the grocery store and picked up two gallons of water, Dr Bonner’s soap, a roll of paper towels and some Lysol disinfectant wipes. Milo got leashed to the tow hitch of the jeep and scrubbed like he’d never been scrubbed before. Two times soaped up from head to toe and rinsed thoroughly, then completely wiped down with the disinfectant wipes. Milo kept trying to crawl underneath the jeep as I’m sure this is the first time he had his bath by two slightly annoyed men in the middle of a dark mountain parking lot.
With Milo clean, happy and smelling like eucalyptus we washed up, had a quick bite at the Burger King and headed west yet again.
We made it another 20 miles or so when we saw, to our dismay, the taillights of miles of stopped traffic. In fact the Colorado highway patrol was routing traffic off the highway to the frontage road and emergency parking lots to clear the highway for emergency vehicles. After a call to CDOT we learned that there had been a bad accident involving an 18 wheeler in the Glenwood canyon and that the highway was closed in both directions indefinitely. CDOT said to "expect major delays". I turned off the jeep after being directed off the highway and we waited with the rest of the westbound drivers…For 9 hours!
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Map of River section.

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Around 7am Wednesday morning the highway was reopened and we were able to make it to the camp grounds just two hours off of our original boat launch time, less a night's sleep and breakfast. We had a clean dog though…which would not last. Lucky we were on a river (good for dog dunking)
It always takes me a couple days to wind down and settle in to the wildness of my vacations. Shrugging off the tenseness of everyday life and forgetting your troubles is one of the best parts of going to the middle of nowhere to relax. We floated 21 miles the first day, which gave me plenty of time to unwind. When we got to camp the first night Will and I had been up for 36+ hours. Sleeping was not a problem that night.


The Animal at the Bowknot Bend saddle.
A very cool section of the Green River is called the Bowknot Bend. The river actually meanders around near 360 degrees over seven miles. We camped below the saddle on day 2 and got up before sunrise for the hike to the top. The short (20 minute) hike to the saddle almost straight up, was an eye opener and gave the group perspective of how far we had floated thus far.


There is a large variety of birds on the river, including ducks, geese, herrings and gulls
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Around Camp Series.





I've been trying to step out of the mold with my photography this year. Pursuing that next level of imagery. Lately I've been experimenting a lot of low light.

Colorado Textures

Vail Junk show.

Event: MTNOPS Tailgate Party Alaska with LIVE Feed

[Day 1] | [Day 2] | [Day 3] | [Day 4] | [Day 5] | [Day 6] | [Day 7] | [Day 8]
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Live with JP! Alaska Live Feed.
MTNOPS in cooperation with Smith Optics, Alaskan Brewing, Redbull Energy Drink, Alaska Backcountry Adventures, CFR, Dagger Skates and Freecaster.TV bring you an event unlike any other. There will be no winners and the only losers will be those that do not attend. This is a tailgate party, snowboard style, deep in the Chugach Range of Alaska.
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LATEST ALASKA BLOG UPDATES ::

Heliboarding 2

Helibarding

Snomoboarding

View From The Top

Tailgating At It's Finest

The Boys Are in Town Day Two: The Set Up

Day One: Mini Tailgate

Road To Valdez

Made It Into Valdez

More Pics from Chugach Moutain Rec Center

Checking in From Toad River, B.C.

Ready to Hit the Road

On The Road

CMRC Cat Riding

Tech Upgrades

Looks Like Everything is Set

Getting Set
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Live Feed Link:
MTNOPS
This is TAILGATE ALASKA. Witness the world's most legendary terrain and the world's most legendary riders face off again this spring to push the limits of what man and snowboard can accomplish – all from the comfort of your living room.
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JP's Location via The Spot Beacon.

LATEST COORDINATES ::
04/02/2008 22:21:57 (GMT)

SPOT MSG from JP: I AM OK/CHECKING IN [googleMap]

04/01/2008 00:38:39 (GMT)
SPOT MSG from JP: I AM OK/CHECKING IN [googleMap]
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The Smith Van and Four Arctic Cat Sleds along for the party.
AK legend Nick Perata will host a series of webcasts from our basecamp on Thompson Pass. For the more adventurous, TAILGATE ALASKA welcomes all comers with free WiFi hub, a warming shelter, and entertainment courtesy of Olympic, US Open and Vans DJ, DJ Smoky. If that isn’t enough, come gorge yourself on food and beer and hang out with some of the largest legends in the sport. From April 1st-10th the MTNOPS crew will produce a live, interactive webcast hosted by Nick Perata,, giving an in depth look into a riders personal contest with the mountains and the party that follows. Look us up on at the Worthington Glacier Air Strip on Thompson Pass, or in an ABA heli.. For updates on party, or help in making travel arrangements log onto mtnops.com/alaska2008.

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Live Feed Link:
MTNOPS

Colorado Textures

Sea Sick.

Avalanche Game

During National Anthem.
Colorado : 2 Calgary: 0

A peewee goal during intermission.

Colorado Backcountry: Current Creek

Longs peak from Current Creek

Berthoud Pass Communication Stations

Skiers ascend the Postage Stamp.

More Colorado Sledding : Man Eatting Tree Wells

Northern Colorado delivers yet another great day on the sleds.

Partly cloudy conditions made for varying visibility and temperature. Today was warm overall with highs in the mid 30’s. The snow softened in to the day as the sun poked through the cloud layer, making for spring like fluff.

The trees feed on sledders here.

Squealing Pig Sound, The Apex from the snow point of view.

Oops! Dumped the Yamaha into a tree well while goofing off and jumping the sled riding tandem. HA! What else can you do up there? It looks like a fish out of water, you can almost see the gills flapping and hear the squealing. Took the whole crew and one photographer (thanks Nell for the images!) to capture the struggle of getting this 600 pound Pig back on its track and skis.

-- The Struggle --

Feature: The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation

FTPF’s “Reservation Preservation” program provides fruit and nut tree orchards to low-income communities on Native American Indian Reservations. The harvest not only provides healthy nutrition, but also a potential source of income. Orchards last for generations are donated strictly for the benefit of the community. In April, 2007, FTPF donated hundreds of trees and created two community orchards for the Havasupai tribe, located near the base of the Grand Canyon in Supai, Arizona. The reservation has no roads leading in and is thus difficult to supply with a consistent source of fresh produce. The village is often referred to as the most remote in the country, requiring that the trees be airlifted down via helicopter. In conjunction with the Havasupai Tribal Administration, FTPF established community fruit tree orchards which are open to all members of the tribe, and planted the remaining trees in residential backyards to provide a healthy source of improved nutrition for decades to follow. Check back soon for the short documentary film that was made about this important project or click here for photos!

Via -> The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation

Snowmass, Colorado

Maroon Bells from Snowmass.
~A brief history~
Ranchers and homesteaders had settled in what is now Snowmass Village by 1890. Mostly farm land then , it was not until May of 1955, Pitkin County zoned the area to include forestry and residential, and established a minimum lot size of two acres.The Hoaglund Ranch was purchased by the Janss Colorado Corporation around 1958. Janss continued to make land purchases and prepared a development plan for the area in 1964. The natural assets of "Snowmass-at-Aspen" would be developed into a profitable year-round resort, linked to the Aspen areas' lodging and amenities but including its own unique ski-in/ski-out residential opportunity. The Janss Plan integrated 8,145 dwelling units into several small, alpine pedestrian villages on the slopes of Burnt and Baldy Mountains. Building materials would come from the natural wood and stone available in the immediate area. Internal circulation would rely on pedestrian trails and an effective, accessible transit system. Less intensive residential use and recreational open space separated the planned villages.The formation of the Snowmass-at-Aspen ski area attracted growth and investors to the area. Commercial and retail construction began in the West Village. The first lifts began operating up Fanny Hill and Sam's Knob on December 16, 1967.As Snowmass Village evolved, the Pitkin County Commissioners favored a less intense buildout, preserving open space and buffers around population centers. The Snowmass Corporation, now the major landholder, favored higher density pockets throughout the area. The result: West and East Village would be oriented toward visitors and Sinclair/Meadow Ranch toward permanent residents.In 1977, Snowmass-at-Aspen officially was incorporated as a Home Rule Town under Colorado law, and became the Town of Snowmass Village. via AllAspen


Patrollers with Avy Dog on morning patrol.

Feature: Hand Cut

"Sweetgrass Productions LLC is a Colorado-based film company rooted in the winter backcountry and mountain lifestyle."

This British Columbia Teaser blends the hand-fired days of the Canadian Pacific steam trains with blower skiing on Rogers Pass and Revelstoke. From these early railroad days to the miners of Colorado's San Juan mountains, Hand Cut will convey the rugged, calloused-hand history of North American mountains. The film will focus on the purity of backcountry travel, blending self-propelled skiing with the rugged western history.

DVD release September 2008, and check out www.sweetgrass-productions.com for tour dates.

Colorado Backcountry: Northern Rockies Sled Access

Sled access above tree line in “spring like” conditions, Northern Colorado.
Lots of gooping up with Sunscreen today, it was a beauty! I spent most of it on and off the snowboard, taking turns shuttling up and down the ridge on the sleds. The snow condition today we call “hero snow”, because it is stable enough to allow the sled to go pretty much anywhere but soft enough to maintain great turns on the boards. The sun helps this along, as long as it doesn't get too warm. If temperatures get too high the snow starts melting and destabilizes in layers. "Wet slabs" have been known to slide in the heat of the day making the "hero" snow considerably more dangerous and sloppy to get around in.


Khyber via Apex Mountain and the crew, 2008.
We stop at the top for morning snack and/or smoke break and some avalanche assessment. Conditions looked great so we get to work cutting in the "sled road" for snowboard laps at the top. Most of us were shedding layers as the day warmed up, by mid day I was in a single layer and a windbreaker, no gloves or hat. We guesstimated the temperature today at noon to be near 50F. Got to love that at 12,000 plus feet in early March.


Tandem taxi to altitude on the sled road.
We take turns dropping riders at the top of the mountain on the sleds. One guy get "short bus" duty and drives the sled back down the hill, another guy is the spotter (usually takes pictures too), this is me today. the spotter makes sure that if there is an avalanche the rider's location is pinpointed on the slope for a speedy recovery . The other guys in the crew are diggers, most of the time they just hang out and watch the shralpage, but really they are all on "standby" just encase there is a slide and the rider needs immediate assistance. We all carry avalanche gear and try to maintain a level of awareness even on days like today. As anybody who has been out here long enough knows, a ski slope can go from being perfectly safe to a death trap in a few degrees.


The ascending taxi roars to ridge road, a hard right follows.

Jordon "points" the first run of the day.

Our different riding styles appear in the morning lines.
(From left to right: Me, Jordan, JP(pictured))

Jp riding near the summit.

GEAR REVIEW : Khyber Splitboard

My Khyber and a Colorado sunset.
After a decade or so of research and development, today's splitboards are the harmonious fusion of both ski and snowboard. When used as skis (with their climbing skins), the split-skis allows you to ascend slopes very effectively, the same way an alpine touring or telemark ski would. The width of the split-skis is beneficial. The added float in deep powder helps save the legs when packing an overnighter. However the real fun begins when the two halves are combined to form the snowboard.
Descending on a snowboard is why Splitboards were invented. The fat mans way to slide; snowboarding deep powder seems effortless on these mountain guns. Even your Tele friends will agree, splitboards have arrived and could even change some perspectives on “Those damn Jibbers”.

Review:

Specs
~Me~
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 205lbs
Boot size: 10.5
Stance: 23 inches (20,20)
Riding Style: Powder hound, steep and deep, tree junkie.

~Board~
Make: Prior
Model: 08 Khyber
Size: 170
Hardware: Vole
Skins: Vole

~Use~
Backcountry riding in all conditions during the Colorado 2007-08 season.

~Snow Conditions for this review~
Mostly Powder! (The snow is awesome this year). But also some wind crust, zipper crust and scoured drifted bullshit.

Overall comments.
Ascending:
Pros: I can climb like a mountain goat on the split-skis! The super-wide skins and the increased surface area had me well in front of my Tele-friends most of the day. I found that the split-skis are about the same or in a few cases a little lighter than AT or Tele setups especially if you consider boot weight. They float and break trail very well even with a full pack (mine is ~30 pounds), and in light fluffy powder. On steep aspects the climbing heel bar is handy and easy to flip up and down.

Cons: This might be because my gear is relatively new but, I found the breaking down and building up of the bindings and interface on the skis was sometimes difficult in cold, icy conditions. Any snow or ice that builds up can interfere and affect the conversion. The fit is very precise and tight which adds to the board’s stable feel, but getting there can require a little poking and scraping. This may be the nature of the beast with the interface, but chipping off ice and snow buildup from the bindings, board interface, touring bracket, as well as the tip and tail locking (Chinese) hooks took some time for the board to fit together properly.

Descending:
Pros: I really like the ride of this board. The Khyber absolutely slays big mountain! I haven't noticed any chattering or wobble at speeds. The board feels solid, responsive and floats very well. It handles the occasional chop and crust the edges are burley and the board seems well crafted. The side-cut, shape and stance options allow the rider to tweak the setup to perfection. I was carving the steeps and weaving through tight trees effortlessly the first day on mine. I didn’t notice any sluggishness or sign that it could be converted into skis…what splitboard?

Cons: This board rides awesome, getting there takes a little practice. When the board is iced packed and your frozen fingers fail to convert the board completely you’ll notice a little slop in the ride. Take the time to bang off ice and snow so that the conversion fits snuggly, there is really no other way it will fit together.

...then hold on to your hat!

~Product outline by Prior snowboards ~
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The Khyber Splitboard is a performance backcountry powderboard whose popularity continues to grow as word spreads about its amazing ride. Its wider nose, generous sidecut and increased taper provide improved float and maneuverability in powder conditions compared with standard freeride shapes. Drop into chutes, pillow lines and trees with quick-turning confidence.

Riders	The Khyber splitboard is designed for snowboard enthusiasts who desire a performance snowboard that provides unparalleled, self-propelled, backcountry snowboard access combined with a great ride over all winter snow conditions - with an accent on tight trees and terrain requiring extra maneuverability.
Ride	The Khyber splitboard trims up in the powder with ease and exceeds all others in tight trees. Its ride is quick turning, stable and predictable. Its tapered shape performs extremely well on hardpack conditions and varied snowpack - something all splitboarders have to deal with at lower elevations at some point during the season. The side-cut is slightly set back due to the width of the nose giving it a "surfy" feel.
Recommended length	We suggest you ride the Khyber either the same length as your standard freeride board or a few cm shorter.
Conditions	The Khyber excels in powder of all kinds. The Khyber also performs surprisingly well on groomed runs, ice, crud, and all-mountain conditions. It also rides switch with ease.
Design	Shape: The Khyber has a longer, wider, more gradually shaped nose than our regular freeride boards for improved float in the powder. A combination of a narrower, shorter tail, setback inserts and significant taper, complete the powder profile. Note there is still plenty of width through the rear insert pack to minimize heel and toe drag. Turning radius: Moderate for quick edge-to-edge transfer and turning ability. Flex: The Khyber is stable underfoot with a slightly softer nose and tail for powder performance. Strength: All Prior splitboards have steel edges and UHMW sidewalls around each board half. This feature combined with Prior's handcrafted sidewall construction and new resin system, results in board longevity- the Khyber splitboard retains its camber and delivers a high performance ride even after several years of hard use.

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Feature: Abbondanza Farms

Boulder's Farmers Market, Abbondanza Farms 2008
"There seem to be but three ways for a nation to acquire wealth. The first is by war, as the Romans did, in plundering their neighbors. This is robbery. The second by commerce, which is generally cheating. The third is by agriculture, the only honest way, wherein man receives a real increase of the seed thrown into the ground, in a kind of continual miracle, wrought by the hand of God in his favor, as reward for his innocent life and his virtuous industry."
~Benjamin Franklin
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Basil, Fennel, and Roasted Red Bell Pepper Pesto
Yields about 2 cups

• 2 cups basil leaves, loosely packed
• ¼ cup virgin olive oil
• 1/8 cup whole toasted almonds
• 1 ½ cups fresh spinach leaves, loosely packed
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup fennel root, diced
• 1 medium red bell pepper, roasted, diced
• salt and black pepper

Place the first five ingredients in a food processor and puree. Saute’ the fennel root in the tablespoon of olive oil until slightly golden. Cool and add to the processor. Puree again.
Transfer puree to a bowl and stir in the red bell pepper. Add salt and pepper to taste.
This is savory treat when spread on focaccia or bruschetta, either by itself or with the addition of creamy goat cheese. Or try it as a quick and satisfying starter when tossed with hot pasta.
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Produce from Abbondanza
The fruit and vegetable growing season in Colorado above 9000 feet is a difficult one even for the experienced gardener. If it is not the wildlife getting to your crops, it is the unpredictable and sometimes severe summer storms. Hail, sleet and snow are not unusual. Blasting your plants with ice and soil a hail storm’s can ruin many months of work in minutes.
Vegetable gardens in my neighborhood look like they are serving time in a penitentiary. Caged in deer proof structures constructed of chicken wire, these gardens become carefully guarded sanctuaries…man against nature. The gardener must take great care and spend many hard hours to squeeze every last bit of produce from the rocky soil during the summer season. I admire anyone who can pull it off, because it is extremely difficult.
I backpack during the summer and have no time to tend a garden. But I like fresh food and eating. So I’m doing the next best thing, "the veggie share". Here’s the skinny.
Food Share “The Veggie Share” from Abbaondanza Farms.
The Veggie Share gives you a variety of fresh, seasonal produce for 20 weeks, typically beginning in late May and running into October. Whole shares include a larger dose of food as well as extra diversity; this amount is ideal for a family of four or a veggie-lovin’ couple (and some individuals). Half shares are great for beginners or those who eat out frequently. We take a week off in July for maintenance. There is a break in October between the stop of Veggie Share and the start of our Keeper Share, a separate season extender program taking you into the winter with local produce grown for storage.

Share includes:
Spinach,Carrots,Snow Peas,Basil,Garlic,Radishes,Summer Squash,Lettuce,Cabbage,Sugar Snap Peas,Beets,Sweet Peppers,Turnips,Cucumbers,Kale,Broccoli,Melons,Potatoes,Hot Peppers,Tomatoes,Green Beans,Chard,Onions,Parsley,Asian Greens,Leeks,Arugula,Fennel

Information and Images from -----> Abbondanza

1922 Tyler Rd.
Boulder, CO 80304
info@eatabbo.org
303.440.8205

Colorado Texture

Feature: The Denver Art Museum

My visit in pictures.
Snapshots of Art that caught my eye and from inside the cool new building.

Denver Art Museum
www.denverartmuseum.org

100 W 14th Avenue Pkwy
Denver, CO 80204
(720) 865-5000

Colorado Boondocking: DEEP Wolf Creek

Get the snorkel! Wolf Creek is Deep!
The national Weather service forecasted strong winds and blowing snow for the northern and central Rockies this weekend. Arctic storm systems delivered with treacherous temperatures, snow and 90 mph winds. Avalanche conditions in these areas rocket to “extreme” and most of the high mountain passes close quickly as snow and blowing snow pack the highways and create white out conditions on ice sheets. No place for vehicles. I70 (the POW pipeline) in the high-country slows to a parking lot. Traveling in the mayhem is a long, tedious, white knuckle journey that makes standing in lift lines even more disheartening. Most people skip it and track cdot reports and snow totals from home. We head south.
After being absolutely pounded with heavy snow falls last week (86 inches) on top of the record accumulation for the year (totals around 431 inches now) we find a window with perfect temperatures and bluebird skies. The same storm system clobbering the northern and central part of the state pushes pressure into southern Colorado making for clear skies and relatively warm daytime temperatures.
From the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
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The avalanche danger for the Southern San Juan zone is overall MODERATE.
Snow has ended across the state this afternoon though there are still a lot of clouds across the northern Front Range and the Steamboat zone. The bright yellow orb on the southern horizon is the sun. Enjoy it while you can, or shovel your roof, whatever your priorities happen to be.
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JP and Dragon near 12,000Ft find it.
We took turns breaking trail to the alpine meadows in the nipple deep snow. It was a 17 mile journey to the “goods” at 12,000ft. With three of us rotating it took a good part of day one to cut the initial trail. Sidehilling the sled most of the way the trail got narrow and snow drifted in places. Any mistakes could mean a spring recovery or worse. We passed a resort groomer that was stuck and broke down in the snow along the way. At full throttle my sled would reach about 25mph on the ascent. With that much snow it was crucial to keep your speed and momentum, the riding took on characteristics of jet skiing on water. The long mountain track churned the powder and the engine labored up to altitude where we were treated to untouched deep Southern Colorado goodness for as far as the eye could see. Being careful to stay out of slide zones we took full advantage of the great weather and played in the backcountry until we were out of gas both mechanically and physically.


Keith pops off pretty much every feature he can. He spent most of the day in the air.

White room landing in 7 feet of fresh powder. Rider:Keith
Southern Colorado is a year around playground with some of the most remote areas in the state for backpacking, awesome backcountry and resort skiing and snowboarding, snowmobiling, pristine rivers and lakes, diverse wildlife, plenty of tall peaks, and even sand dunes. If you have never spent any time in South Fork Colorado you are missing Colorado in its native form. It is a simple, quiet mountain plains town with a little something for everybody. The surround landscapes are as beautiful as they are diverse.

Coal Creek Canyon Night Lights

Coal Creek Canyon by full moonlight tonight. +15F

Snowmobiling Colorado.

Clearing skies, no wind, temperatures warming, and new snow, Does it get any better?
Today was the one I have been waiting for all year, the first really nice day after a series of big snow storms. Of course not all the topology was ridable due to the considerable avalanche danger that existed today (our first priority), but the lower angle terrain was fair game.
It was the deepest day to date for me on a snowmobile with around 5 feet of snow. My riding really got tested today, any mistakes meant digging yourself and the sled out of a deep hole. This amount of snow is exhausting to move around in. I sometimes forget that fact when I am on the sled cruising around like an idiot. But immediately reminded when I find myself digging out of chest deep snow, squirming like a fish, and panting for air. Humans really are helpless back here. Many times in this much snow it would be near impossible for one person to get unstuck. Those sled can get really buried, especially my tank Yamaha (600 lbs). I call it the Submarine.
It is important that we always ride with buddies, check in, and keep an eye on each other. It can get ugly fast and we all keep that in the back of our minds. Having a tight crew makes days like today possible.


Powder Dragon 2008 -Rider: JP
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Crazy E's Wacky World of Flying Machines -Outtake.





Crash sequence 2008 -Rider: E
He was ok! ...and pumped his fist after digging out as we cheered.
Notice he is still wearing his full pack with snowboard. This was early in the day when we were still scoping out the terrain and snow coverage. I had just finished my usual morning snack (cliff bar and E-mergen C , strawberry) and snapped a few photos of the crew. I was thinking, "Man this looks pretty good."
Then I hear a Braaawop!!! as only a Polars two-stoke engine can howl. Then see an airborne RMK 800 slowly getting away from my buddy E. A die hard "snowmoshredder", he was also slaying it (at about 80%) on the snowboard today.

Snowmoshred
–verb
1. sled access backcountry snowboarding.
–noun (used with der’)
2. a person who uses a snowmobile to access the backcountry with the intent of snowboarding.

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Morning flight. 2008 -Rider: Keith
Keith likes to fly and it shows. As he puts it, "I don't want to be all cock and no balls."
HA! ...which killed me. He felt like it was his duty to get the day started and the gang amped up with a few BIG airs early in the day. It worked!

Colorado Texture