Pfeifferporn Part II

On monday I deliberated with some friends over beers on what to go ski the next day.  The iconic Pfeifferhorn came up in the discussion.  Of course the Pfeiff has always had a special spot in my heart, akin to many a Wastach skier.  I gained some inspiration from our friends Tim and Lizard's blog earlier this year. We discussed the NW couloir by North combination.  I've climbed it in the summer and it is a great alpine climb, made only better with some snow and skis on our back.  After Bret and I taunted Kevin with text messages about our start time we finally settled on an approximate 5:00 am start.  The usual junk show in the morning pushed that back a little. It was a pristine bluebird day with the only danger were some strong wind gusts and new snow slabs. A great day in the mountains with friends always helps to keep the ski stoke going.         

   

   

                   

I got a new camera this year, and its been great. I think Bret likes it too.  I'm still not versed in all its features. I sometimes end up shooting short videos when I'm really trying to take pictures. Someday I'll read the directions.  It's usually jumpy video and not premeditated but I thought this captured some good moments of climbing.  Check it out if it uploaded.  

   

The climb was probably the highlight of the day for me, and the NW couloir is always a classic.  It was bare bones up top.  We slipped in the same way a party before us did on west facing steep snow chute that ran off the ridge.  It was actually nice to be the third party down it of the day and not have to worry about too much moving snow.  Bret starts down.

Kevin's first time down the NW couloir, here he is enjoying the turns before the rappel, a little puckered.  He told his girlfriend he would be back at noon, c'mon dude. I'm taking my time, oh yeah.

The rappel was a little bit bigger than one 30 meter rondo line.

       

Is that Bret locking down the heel?

We skied out to Maybird Gulch and enjoyed some creamy pow down the Hogum 500.  I set of a small 10 cm new snow slab on the first rollover below Hogum Divide Peak on a obviously wind-loaded NE aspect. Wonder what those pesky slabs will be like with more snow coming later this week.

He went into the backcountry a man and came out a boyz.

Williams Peak Yurt

Is it the mountain that calls us or is it the thought of adventure?
The new places and what hide around the next corner will always be there.
When is it your time to be in that place?
Somehow you just do it and when it's done you know you've been there.











Thubs up. Go time!!

 Getting the loads down tight.

From here to there and back again.

Long heavy day.



This is what makes it all worth it.

Low snow year but still good approach.

 

Home sweet home.

 

 

 

Steve making the best of the day.

 

Bret nailing it.

Snow can do crazy things.

Em storm skiing.



New place. Hehe.



Thats smiles all around.

The lines Jesus Christ, Resurrection, and others are hiding in these corners.

When Stef started heading for what makes these shadows I knew I was heading over to meet him.

The shadow had led us to great palces. 

Stefan lead a great part of the J.C. I passed by and got this awesome view of Thompson lake.

A scary cornice and the sumit.

This is what we do. We live, breath, sleep, eat, and feel alive.

 

Stefan getting into the J.C.

 

Bret dropping in off the cornice.

 



Hiden treasures.



We might have to come back for this one when theres more snow.

Regrouping. 

Love this shot.

Big Fatty.

Merritt Ridge.

The sun has set. Night is on it's way. Food and good times.

AK in February

We had a late start to the ski season in Alaska. Low snow coupled with holiday obligations conspired to limit my ski days. The only solution to this problem was to ski every day in February. With rapidly increasing daylight, after work skiing becomes the rule.

I haven't skied an entire month since high school. The only way for me to way to accomplish this would be ski-centric cross-training.  I mixed in Nordic, resort, backcountry, and volunteering with Challenge AK. 

There were some great days. There were some mediocre days, and then there was that one awful day. I never thought it was possible to have a bad day of skiing until I ate lunch at the Hot Tainted Mayo Deli. I felt like shit all afternoon and at the trailhead I did not want to get out of the truck. The February Challenge convinced me otherwise. Two steps later and my "No Hurl Streak" was over. After the unpleasantness, I felt good enough to give it a go. Twenty minutes later, I realized my error. The symphony coming from my lower G.I. indicated that an ass-mergency was imminent.  After besmirching an innocent pine, I called it quits and skied back to the car. 

The drive home was torture. More than once I pulled over because I was about to pass out. At home it was impossible to warm up even with all the covers, 2 sleeping bags, and an electric heater. After 14 hours of sleep, I was back at work and was able to rally 2200' of untracked powder that afternoon.

West Bowl Redemption

Throughout the month, the days grew longer and my fitness improved allowing for bigger after work adventures. The snow conditions drastically improved throughout the month with snow falling 27 out of the 28 days.  By late February; it was on!


Gordon Lyon: February 26, 3,400' vert

A nice bonus for February after work skiing are the views around sunset.

Top of North Bowl

Above the Fog

Views of the Alaska range never fail to impress. 


Da-gnarly

I skied at different locations trying to stay out of a rut although the constant refresh of new snow drew me back to old favorites more than once.  Even though I was solo about half the time, the best days were spent showing friends some of my favorite zones. 

Silver Tip

March will be more relaxed, but with the conditioning from February, a deep base, and good touring partners, I expect great things from the next 31 days.

 - U.K.

Dickey Creek Essex, MT

Skiing the vast mountains of the Flathead Valley has been a joy! I am amazed every tour when I don't see a single person out there and snow flies up to my chinny chin. We have had a solid snowpack and I have been lucky enough to have the time and partners to explore all that makes this place Amazing!

Last week I rallied with the always psyched to go big, Dan Koestler. I picked Dan up at his place in West Glacier and drove 30 miles or so up route 2 to the town Essex. On the north side of Route 2 is Glacier Park and to the south is the Great Bear WIlderness.  We pulled off to the south. A quick unload of the snow machine off the truck, a makeshift ski rack on the side and a cordellete attached to the back for Dan to grab onto and we were off as the sky began to show that it was going to be a rare, gorgeous day in Glacier country.

The trail up to Dickey Creek is always plowed for recreationalists and with a few inches of fluff on top of groomed, we throttled the four miles in 15 minutes and were blown away at where we were already at 7:45 a.m. 

Sleddy, revved for another adventure. 

Dan skinning up the first shot we did. With 20 new inches of snow the day before we were a bit nervous of the avy conditions and felt we should investigate the less exposed terrain to get a feel and dig a few pits. The snowpack was decently solid, but the sun was pretty warm so after one lap we were needed to get to the other side of the drainage with northern exposures.

Looking back up at our first run of the day. We skied the smaller shoulder of the peak on creamy powder .

Dan skinning up towards our second lap on the shoulder of Elk Mountain, not to be mistaken by the Elk mountain across Route 2 in GNP.  A shady north facing shot, skiing back into South Dickey Creek

A lone skier is pictured in the center of this photo. He was the only other person in this drainage and we felt he was ballsy skiing the terrain and getting after the lines he did, solo. I think he made 4 laps at about 2000 ft from ridge to the valley floor.

On the south side of Elk Mountain is Almeda Lake and Mt Adams. I plan to return and ski this peak. It looks Awesome!!

Jah Kid Bufo enjoying some north facing chowder on our second lap from the shoulder of Elk Mountain. The saddle in the background is our access point and we climbed to the summit of the peak on the left ridge, No Name for our last run down the NRC chutes. 

Dan accessing the terrain from the summit of No Name Peak. Great fall line runs drop off both sides of the summit  and Marion lake sits 2,000 plus feet to the east and other side of the ridge.

Dan wondering if he is skiing in Canada, Not Really. We had Great conditions down this 2,500 foot fall line. It had already slid on the left side and center so they snow was the softest out of the gut a bit on skiers left and down at the bottom we were skiing deep debris in the center punch. 

Looking back up at the Not Really Canada Chutes. We skied off the summit  angling lookers left and then right down the center, fat line back to Sleddy. What amazing terrain up in South Dickey Creek.

Most of the time I feel lucky to be where I am at that time. This winter has created that moment over and over again. The mountains contain a prize and a lesson from each experience. When you go out and search for this meaning and existence it feels good when you become conscious of our connections with the mighty peaks.

-Kid Bufo