Old Guys Defy Gravity
Backcountry skiing is a lot of fun. Why? Lots of reasons. Most of them resemble this: Fresh powder. Untracked slopes. Empty, lonely mountains. Yeah. Whatever. Sometimes skiing the backcountry has nothing to do with any of that. Instead—and especially when a natural kicker is discovered outside the front door of the yurt—backcountry skiing becomes all about hucking yourself as […]
Living in Paradise
“Yesterday was one of those days you’re glad to be alive and living in paradise.” So wrote Bruce Tremper in the Friday morning avalanche advisory. And frankly, he understated the brilliance and unmitigated beauty of the day. Indeed, I have never seen a morning as bright, clear, and breathtakingly wonderful as I did Thursday, January […]
White and Red is Pink.
In March of 1939 Charles “Chick” Pfeiffer was found dead in his Salt Lake City shoe shop. He was still wearing his ski clothes. Chick Pfieffer was one of the founding members of the Wasatch Mountain Club, a group dedicated to outdoor recreation and exploration. Indeed, its club charter stated its purpose as—among other things—”to promote […]
How To: Dawn Patrol
There is nothing inherently complex about a Dawn Patrol. And yes, despite Dug’s insistence to the contrary, I will now, and forever, use that term. Step 1: Get up absurdly early and hike up a mountain. Step 2: Keep hiking. Step 3: Hike a little more. And enjoy the sunrise. Step 4: Stop hiking. Commiserate with friends about the […]
2010 Favorites (Part 3)
One of the great days of 2010 happend up on the Pfeifferhorn. High winds, solid snow, and an iconic line. It was, without a doubt, a day to remember.
White Friday
Few days carry more hype than Black Friday. And few days inspire more irrational, frenzied behavior either. That normal, logical adults are willing to fight crowds, stuffy big box stores, and enraged gift-hunting mothers in the dead of night is remarkable. And inexplicable. Even my own wife, who is normally calm, collected, and immune to […]
How To: Backcountry Ski
Cyclocross season is starting to wind down. The mountains are filling with snow. Autumn is giving way to winter. Ski season is staring us all flat in the face, waiting impatiently to dominate our thoughts and free time. Each year more and more people are venturing into the backcountry for their powder fix. And who […]
Of Anticipation
Every sport has that enveloping sense of anticipation. That moment of possibility and chance that hangs briefly in the air before becoming reality and history. It’s what moves us to the edges of our seats or to pause the very rotation of the earth in order to see and witness, or better yet, experience. Baseball […]
