tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23166999556053718452024-02-18T19:16:10.505-08:00Sierra Ski JournalAdventures from the Sierra and beyond...John Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505095325688311047noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316699955605371845.post-11565357694950488632013-09-01T20:04:00.000-07:002013-10-22T10:10:19.408-07:00Skiing the Alaska Range<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Alaska Range</span></b></h2>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Incredible company, incredible
weather, incredible location, …what more could one hope for while climbing and
skiing in the mountains, let alone the mountains of Denali National Park. Clif
Bar athlete Chris Davenport, action sports photographer Christian Pondella,
globetrotting entrepreneur Jim Morrison, and myself were lucky enough to score 7 sunny days
with amazingly stable/cold winter snow during our recent trip to the Alaska
Range.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4vGwyTEOqkg7JoCKDM2PH8mSydTQTS07bucm4o74PGW4hSYIERHuAAqIsvNh7KjavcNAdPfH2HBdaSjjxniNLl0hnD8PNODKHAm7pUWNrIG6fbrQGIfpZIBnlsIlSwWYpHb8n0TO8lY/s1600/1+Clif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4vGwyTEOqkg7JoCKDM2PH8mSydTQTS07bucm4o74PGW4hSYIERHuAAqIsvNh7KjavcNAdPfH2HBdaSjjxniNLl0hnD8PNODKHAm7pUWNrIG6fbrQGIfpZIBnlsIlSwWYpHb8n0TO8lY/s200/1+Clif.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; clear: right; display: inline !important; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Our plan was simple: To fly a heavy base camp
into a remote, glaciated region high in the mountains of Alaska to spend a week enjoying what the mountains had to offer. Knowing what kind of weather AK likes to dish out, we hoped to ski 3 or 4 days out of the 9 planned. Little did we know what Mother Nature and the mountains had in store. After waiting out a storm in Talkeetna, Paul Roderick of Talkeetna Air Taxi dropped us on the glacier and bid us good luck. During the next 7 days, we were greeted by breathless, cold clear day after breathless, cold clear day and racked up the vertical, skiing numerous 50+ degrees lines scattered about the area around our camp.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvswqgxc0yF2ux_orUa7DAeRMB31TDtmgII4TzslYLal_DejYbZ1X_bzxw39yT1tQPFDcRxT3yfTIJnwjeTX0vrZyR0W6J3WA7grMZKiPDGfgcJV2cFIdx4f39aS8UVyZwf9CH4HdkJho/s1600/1+Skinning+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvswqgxc0yF2ux_orUa7DAeRMB31TDtmgII4TzslYLal_DejYbZ1X_bzxw39yT1tQPFDcRxT3yfTIJnwjeTX0vrZyR0W6J3WA7grMZKiPDGfgcJV2cFIdx4f39aS8UVyZwf9CH4HdkJho/s200/1+Skinning+up.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4vGwyTEOqkg7JoCKDM2PH8mSydTQTS07bucm4o74PGW4hSYIERHuAAqIsvNh7KjavcNAdPfH2HBdaSjjxniNLl0hnD8PNODKHAm7pUWNrIG6fbrQGIfpZIBnlsIlSwWYpHb8n0TO8lY/s1600/1+Clif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;"></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">Our ski-zone was located in the sweet spot elevation wise to score deep stable snow. Each day, two morning/mid-day lines, were followed by a big lunch and a quick nap before heading back out for an evening lap. Never had any of us climbed and skied so many steep lines in a week. During our celebration dinner back at the West Rib in Talkeetna, we clinked or glasses together in hopes that we could again visit the AK Range in such amazing condition. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Thanks to Pondella and Dav who had the vision to get out there, to Clif Bar for fueling our action packed days, and to Patagonia.</span></div>
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John Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505095325688311047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316699955605371845.post-32756083553728976052012-04-07T20:23:00.000-07:002012-04-07T20:31:43.675-07:00Tecnica Cochise Light/Cochise Pro 130<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyu8IptzxNp9nnCvEmcxcObGYtBGLxbdWVp8vE4UzgT3CJAKj6UdAEbq1iRs1XmulCJCULT-7qaqI6CNDv_4-as3NJ2QD0pmqRVgXrvoQYx5UzljScM9nTQAZh8-GTL0JizbaCQj3gHSQ/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
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2012/13 Tecnica Cochise Light/Cochise Pro 130 </div>
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For years, I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect balance of
downhill performance and back country mobility in a touring set up. I like to ski dynamic lines with speed, to
point it, and land good size airs when the conditions warrant. I also want a
set up that can lay down carves on wind buff, inspire confidence in
steep/technical/firm terrain, and is still playful enough to wiggle though the
trees on a storm day. Enter the Tecnica/Blizzard Cochise line.<br />
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Tecnica and Blizzard have made a beautiful match and are
leading the charge in the Dynafit compatible performance category. Two boot models are offered, the Cochise
Light and Cochise Pro 130. Both answer the call for a high performance
tour-able ski boot. In my Cochise Lights, I can rally BC laps in the morning
and head straight to KT without changing my footwear (I’ve waited years for
this). After 6 weeks in the boot, I can confidently say they are my favorite
ski boots …ever, period. </div>
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Testing grounds: <o:p></o:p></div>
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From Squaw Valley’s Chimney to Chute 75 I’ve rallied these
suckers hard in bounds. BC testing ranged from laps on Tahoe’s West shore, to
big vert days in the High Sierra on Matterhorn Peak and Red Slate.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Performance:<o:p></o:p></div>
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The skiing support these boots offer is not only far better
than any BC I’ve skied, they rival my fixed flex, race oriented Tecnica Diablos
for performance yet walk as well as my previous Dynafit compatible boot, the
Dynafit Titans Ultra Light. Forward flex
is smooth and progressive and does not feel like it ‘bottoms out’ at the end of
the boots flex range. Ski control is responsive and precise. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Weight:<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Cochise Light shells measured 3.3 lbs. on the digital
scale at home. For comparison, the Titan UL came in at 3.4 lbs. (Note:
Weighing/comparing shells offers a more apples to apples comparison for me
because my liner of choice is a Intuition wrap.) <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oayLMVEuMk7cp0SAS4Dhtc91i63e2ImBWy1ppnG3vvzoa2ZaaK_JL75yIxkLklcXUQ5dlAI5B5bOb-xSBtdOMwLNt7p-RdAgjJh8dJ00ps02pgklW6fwtM_nAi8PzNq9U1JKhEuqeMw/s1600/IMG_2123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oayLMVEuMk7cp0SAS4Dhtc91i63e2ImBWy1ppnG3vvzoa2ZaaK_JL75yIxkLklcXUQ5dlAI5B5bOb-xSBtdOMwLNt7p-RdAgjJh8dJ00ps02pgklW6fwtM_nAi8PzNq9U1JKhEuqeMw/s200/IMG_2123.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>
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Fit:<o:p></o:p></div>
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For me, the fit was not perfect out of the box. I chose to
drop 1 full size have the boot stretched by a boot fitter. At first I was
skeptical that we could get the boot to fit and wondered if I’d made a sizing
mistake, but alas, the boots now fit perfectly.
The Cochise Light is a 120 flex, 100mm last boot, the Pro 130 a true 130
flex, 98mm last. Both are a touch big for me in the vertical volume department,
hence the downsize/stretch. The stance in the boot follows the current trend in
race boots and is somewhat upright. I shimmed my heels and put spoilers behind
the cuffs to put me in my preferred position for skiing aggressively. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Wondering which boot is right for you? I’d say skiers that
spend 50%+ of their time in bounds go for the Pro 130. Spend most of your time in the BC, go Cochise
Light. Either way, you’ll be a happy camper in these boots. Looking for a second opinion? <a href="http://stormdaysales.com/tecnica-ski-boots/testimonials/2012-2013-cochise-130-pro-review/" target="_blank">Read what Clem Smith from Stormy Day Sales has to say.</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidTyg4J5YYb38s-jkwF2z-0wMPbSlaSRuGvQD3sMx8BaedSLyrQPyQOg7fe4Np04wRswHJW1HRzVpJwz5MJ3rpJ5VBZznLnUdOkoScua0Sh_dp8ILINgrpMQqhnD0GNWKkNIfT6BFsKw/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidTyg4J5YYb38s-jkwF2z-0wMPbSlaSRuGvQD3sMx8BaedSLyrQPyQOg7fe4Np04wRswHJW1HRzVpJwz5MJ3rpJ5VBZznLnUdOkoScua0Sh_dp8ILINgrpMQqhnD0GNWKkNIfT6BFsKw/s320/photo+3.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnTal86oqmQYgI9IB8z-dQZxNoUu51PmFlCyCvkTnkz0Um_2Z4OwwFfaHyg3_GCfQS1AIERUmJjkWQbhvSFuaN3BtPNJnstldhd1E25Dt0RcAzf0vhGs6n31DRjlheWtMV0wQFdPND9Y/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnTal86oqmQYgI9IB8z-dQZxNoUu51PmFlCyCvkTnkz0Um_2Z4OwwFfaHyg3_GCfQS1AIERUmJjkWQbhvSFuaN3BtPNJnstldhd1E25Dt0RcAzf0vhGs6n31DRjlheWtMV0wQFdPND9Y/s320/photo+4.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="239" /></a><br />
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<br /></div>John Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505095325688311047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316699955605371845.post-73608532392095030162011-04-24T21:34:00.000-07:002011-04-25T19:35:17.999-07:00Middel Pallisade - 14,016' & Polemonium Peak - 14,200'<style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Keo2QSGq3tuSN6TwVVypbqBk1XBi0mQ207ZdJsNU9qXAXXd3SbdCIG99o_h6mWrGmBLCULcWiRPG7lOpDlpIh2W__eo72cM5CQeGFCmmKfCEW6nzyugZtsPI9SdRDcfQCxHCVCNyuzw/s1600/MiddlePal14erSkiApr2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Keo2QSGq3tuSN6TwVVypbqBk1XBi0mQ207ZdJsNU9qXAXXd3SbdCIG99o_h6mWrGmBLCULcWiRPG7lOpDlpIh2W__eo72cM5CQeGFCmmKfCEW6nzyugZtsPI9SdRDcfQCxHCVCNyuzw/s640/MiddlePal14erSkiApr2011.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">In what has become a winter to remember, the 2011 ski season keeps rocking on here in the Sierra. In <a href="http://christianpondella.com/blog/">Christian Pondella’s</a> and my continued ‘Big Game’ hunt, we ticked off another couple of big lines on Friday. Our primary goal, the NE face of Middle Pallisade (14,016’) had not been in condition since 2006 and we were psyched to give it a go. Three weeks ago, a visit to the base of the face revealed a proper amount of coverage for a decent ski, but the snow surface was tattered by the wind and by slides. We decided to wait for the ‘right’ kind of storm to resurface the face before we skied it.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday brought 11,000’ snow levels and wind from the due west, a perfect combo. I picked up Christian from his house in Mammoth at 8:30p and we hit the road planning to get a good night’s rest at the trailhead and a pre-dawn start. Our day commenced a touch earlier than we considered ‘civilized’ thanks to a nudge from some fellow skiers aiming to ski the same mountain. Though our 3:30a start hurt a bit, it quickly became our blessing in disguise. A ¾ moon lit the way perfectly as we ascended 4000’ or so to the base of the climb. Up on the glacier, Christian rattled off photos in the pink morning light and we soon stood at the bergschrund, and readied for the climb.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZsVVCZ5hEeTsptD7L4ptjukZy8V53AzsD6OXlrSeP2VHJnxloD69p2B8DjuY8Sv8DtqKiqeiVMkZFq6I7j12HErY_vCSbEt7ofyBja7RfkxZHsxDOxKixWGnvaIkLERIgtWynOY-5Uk/s1600/PONDELLA_MIDDLE_42220%25237962D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZsVVCZ5hEeTsptD7L4ptjukZy8V53AzsD6OXlrSeP2VHJnxloD69p2B8DjuY8Sv8DtqKiqeiVMkZFq6I7j12HErY_vCSbEt7ofyBja7RfkxZHsxDOxKixWGnvaIkLERIgtWynOY-5Uk/s320/PONDELLA_MIDDLE_42220%25237962D.jpg" width="320" /></a>Climbing was fairly easy thanks to a supportable layer under the foot or so of new snow. The new snow bonded well with the old and showed no signs of weaknesses or wind affect. We were psyched! We encountered a couple of ice cruxes along the way that were sure to offer a challenge on descent. At 8:30a we stood atop Middle Pal and clinked our poles together as we buckled down for the ski. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eCsIshO8D1iHI2N9x1eF7yjeMSLKNRqNChY-IP3G92d6tdXhptqm3XO0x5_Wpuvo98X_-TvGn98LR2l-fgWn82m6mYl2gJOUU9gtLJvxZVTkdhXSbsI5zV55Rr6N8ZbzXbeQ8Hyb1pQ/s1600/PONDELLA_MIDDLE_42220%25237962F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eCsIshO8D1iHI2N9x1eF7yjeMSLKNRqNChY-IP3G92d6tdXhptqm3XO0x5_Wpuvo98X_-TvGn98LR2l-fgWn82m6mYl2gJOUU9gtLJvxZVTkdhXSbsI5zV55Rr6N8ZbzXbeQ8Hyb1pQ/s320/PONDELLA_MIDDLE_42220%25237962F.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjST1nWxNJfdYCiG6rlczkXkjPbxpEc9WqpshoFSd5NHwGVc3orqv0VisvUr2fPcFhoGPRYEmeEuhUL3SELWr9bJoWRvBJflTuqKoQPrskXm1xiRECMMxJrETTz7DLKDXI2d4Txu7p4jI/s1600/PONDELLA_MIDDLE_42220%252379631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjST1nWxNJfdYCiG6rlczkXkjPbxpEc9WqpshoFSd5NHwGVc3orqv0VisvUr2fPcFhoGPRYEmeEuhUL3SELWr9bJoWRvBJflTuqKoQPrskXm1xiRECMMxJrETTz7DLKDXI2d4Txu7p4jI/s320/PONDELLA_MIDDLE_42220%252379631.jpg" width="212" /></a>The first turns off the top were in glorious Sierra pow, followed by a bit of rock and ice navigation, which led to the main face. We arched turns down the face at a cautiously fast pace due to exposure worked through a bit more ice and rock and jumped the cliff at the bottom. At the schrund we met Ben and Shane, our fellow climbers/skiers, thanked them for getting us started an hour earlier than we had planned and the chance to climb and ski first. We wished them luck and descended the glacier and valley below back to 10,000’. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELon_B3MqK2W6w78-w8iV3yrvAeU-XiuWfSU1n1NTm7HFThS9bC2pcXePGkqr_t3D0JtSnXe_wUMA7HBbIgtOSmCdRVvZQP1BfZgrVXXxj7zpHJFK3gY59TJib6Dno95jnmoKQDGdYvM/s1600/PONDELLA_MIDDLE_42220%252379632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELon_B3MqK2W6w78-w8iV3yrvAeU-XiuWfSU1n1NTm7HFThS9bC2pcXePGkqr_t3D0JtSnXe_wUMA7HBbIgtOSmCdRVvZQP1BfZgrVXXxj7zpHJFK3gY59TJib6Dno95jnmoKQDGdYvM/s400/PONDELLA_MIDDLE_42220%252379632.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELUBBjOHKGlRUgSxcKAgFbuFFjz3Q6EjSPNFhll08tobmo_riok50NUjKLere9alNkzL8nEBpZSbH1r1CnhHtxYg7a_c4E5q_zuURgQ8EyZlj47A63erxSiRSqAS5KI1h52WB5kace8Q/s1600/PONDELLA_MIDDLE_42220%252379635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELUBBjOHKGlRUgSxcKAgFbuFFjz3Q6EjSPNFhll08tobmo_riok50NUjKLere9alNkzL8nEBpZSbH1r1CnhHtxYg7a_c4E5q_zuURgQ8EyZlj47A63erxSiRSqAS5KI1h52WB5kace8Q/s320/PONDELLA_MIDDLE_42220%252379635.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEqUAObV0XO06qc-YmOREATMpbRIJ-61jIo61ZovmaOKQRYVpiJ8QC5nf-w9vmf60a4sJh-wlEQFVjaGrTdCJ7fwPxQXCHrWfSW312mIfeVXShHqC955eD_WkUX5yxhTMfnJdOS_q02g/s1600/PONDELLA_MIDDLE_42220%252379636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEqUAObV0XO06qc-YmOREATMpbRIJ-61jIo61ZovmaOKQRYVpiJ8QC5nf-w9vmf60a4sJh-wlEQFVjaGrTdCJ7fwPxQXCHrWfSW312mIfeVXShHqC955eD_WkUX5yxhTMfnJdOS_q02g/s320/PONDELLA_MIDDLE_42220%252379636.jpg" width="213" /></a>Now 9:30a, it seemed far to early to return to the truck and snow conditions were perfect up high. We discussed our options and decided to head for the V-Notch on Polemonium Peak (14,200’) for an afternoon ski. This meant heading directly up the South Fork of Big Pine Creek to a notch on Mt. Sill (14,162’)at 13,800’ and a descent of Sill’s NW Couloir. Skinning was easy and the breeze kept us cool. At 12,500’we ran into Bishop’s Dan Mingori and joined forces for the skin to the notch. At the notch Dan decided to drop back into South Fork and we parted ways pointing our skis down the NW slope. A few scratchy turns led to perfect creamy powder and we knew our senses had led us in the right direction. As we traversed further North onto the glacier, I looked up in awe at the amount of snow stacked in the V-Notch.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEW-X0CRpW3uQHxpC_ofU0jiVDJAsNiIpBnMiLqDEtzyVRKMrI6atNS2jduHpGmz05JuR8YT45UstMhrtLnIX8dy3BbKKePnJWAg6LOm_-gJItHrec6pNk5-ojIrhiMgE_ouCEbiYP2U/s1600/V-Notch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEW-X0CRpW3uQHxpC_ofU0jiVDJAsNiIpBnMiLqDEtzyVRKMrI6atNS2jduHpGmz05JuR8YT45UstMhrtLnIX8dy3BbKKePnJWAg6LOm_-gJItHrec6pNk5-ojIrhiMgE_ouCEbiYP2U/s320/V-Notch.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">V-Notch April 2005</td></tr>
</tbody></table>As predicted for the afternoon, the blue skies had turned to grey and a light snow began to fall from above. As we cruised towards our intended line, I called to Christian, “That doesn’t look like the V-Notch I’ve skied.” He responded with a very positive grin and we pulled or skins out for the climb to the bergie. The snow was of perfect gradient density and conditions seemed almost to good to be true. As we climbed, the skies continued to darken and the scene began to turn from bright and happy to dark and eerie, a welcomed tone for the afternoon ski. Before we knew it we topped out, and battled the wind and driving snow to 14. A quick buckle of the boots and a jump off the cornice and we were off carving perfect turns down the creamy 50 degree slope laughing the whole way. We took the run well out onto the glacier, scoped the other lines in the area, clanked our poles together in celebration. I called out a few yodels and listened in disbelief as they bounced over and over again off the hulking walls of granite that surrounded us. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim44I0S-w0v-svpagvMc7m6QZWtOq9PCvFmWIsljjMcM6FDs5DBuTJIzgKPh8OTo1aPHiChexhHeGjxxqiIGqKqPc1gr33SZ89demeGHyk5ZXkZxgaFPodfNccvhIrDz6r63QWRwypUuM/s1600/PONDELLA_VNOTCH_42220%252379637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim44I0S-w0v-svpagvMc7m6QZWtOq9PCvFmWIsljjMcM6FDs5DBuTJIzgKPh8OTo1aPHiChexhHeGjxxqiIGqKqPc1gr33SZ89demeGHyk5ZXkZxgaFPodfNccvhIrDz6r63QWRwypUuM/s320/PONDELLA_VNOTCH_42220%252379637.jpg" width="320" /></a>Less than an hour later we were back at the truck clinking a toast with our fellow climbers/skiers Shane and Ben as they too had enjoyed success with a ski of Middle Pal. We reveled in the glory of the moment and congratulated each other on a day well played in the mountains. Off to Bishop for tacos and tequila! Christian and I had now ‘officially’ completely skiing all 14 CA 14ers from their highest skiable points and it was time to celebrate. </div>John Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505095325688311047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316699955605371845.post-13512167119760906622011-04-11T12:06:00.000-07:002011-04-25T20:18:21.787-07:00Split Couloir<div class="MsoNormal"><b>Split Mountain 14,058'</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Perhaps the most aesthetic snowy line in the Sierra Nevada, the Split Couloir begs to be skied. In addition to the beauty and grace of the route, there is the problematic year to year snow coverage that makes this line tough to nail, and even more special when skied in proper condition. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrNCD82to9cVaURQahDKTs3hVB1dkJCy4rEeZgiiLbIik5t7vAmjslFB-NAxBoQOQkstkmVJpzUIdsizVISY_AS801HNBEMtONXCb_px_gV4_BeDyZGLjQr8TZ4WRvnI1Uy8E3qNJmWQ/s1600/14erSplitFatYear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrNCD82to9cVaURQahDKTs3hVB1dkJCy4rEeZgiiLbIik5t7vAmjslFB-NAxBoQOQkstkmVJpzUIdsizVISY_AS801HNBEMtONXCb_px_gV4_BeDyZGLjQr8TZ4WRvnI1Uy8E3qNJmWQ/s320/14erSplitFatYear.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>In early April, <a href="http://christianpondella.com/blog/">Christian Pondella</a> and I made plans to climb and ski the couloir, after inspecting the snow coverage with a spotting scope from the valley floor nearly 10000 feet below. If it went, it would be my second descent of the line and Christian’s first. Through the scope, coverage looked to be in the ‘good enough’ category so we made plans to go. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Upon arrival Sunday night, we were surprised to see 3 other trucks at the trailhead. We figured the others were headed for the South Face of Split, which has become quite the go to line this year, due to fantastic coverage. Just as we saddled our packs somewhere around 4:30a, <a href="http://www.slcsherpa.blogspot.com/">Andy</a> and <a href="http://jasondorais.blogspot.com/">Jason Dorais</a> of SLC, Utah walked up, and mentioned they were gunning for the Split Coulie as well. </div><div class="MsoNormal">After the initial ‘uh, ya, whatever’ thought ran through my mind, we said, ‘let’s go!’, half figuring there’d be a good chance they’d fall off the back, somewhere on the approach. Turns out these guys are as solid as they come, and if anyone was going to get dropped, it was Chris and I. These two know how to move in the mountains!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8M3tP3yARkxgk9s_rhpbCPnAqZhVrMG8aCOSh527D6O9KRa7cBz_c30Sr-wSZaNhM7Q3j3t0fYO7qTsTpoC4f1M5lqh6Tv5pAbLz41tXZlHThE1R0LQZUcbSqAXIR5n8ZRrEeHT0NUN4/s1600/PONDELLA_SPLIT_2011_0350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8M3tP3yARkxgk9s_rhpbCPnAqZhVrMG8aCOSh527D6O9KRa7cBz_c30Sr-wSZaNhM7Q3j3t0fYO7qTsTpoC4f1M5lqh6Tv5pAbLz41tXZlHThE1R0LQZUcbSqAXIR5n8ZRrEeHT0NUN4/s200/PONDELLA_SPLIT_2011_0350.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br />
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From the Red Lake trailhead, a 5500‘ ascent puts you at the base of the technical ice climb that guards this beautiful, 2000+ vertical foot gash in the mountain. Whether approached via the hopefully snowy, main drain or via the Red Lake Trail, the approach climb is steep and arduous. <br />
We hopped on snow right at 6500’ and skinned all the way to the top of the apron just 300 feet below the ice. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzhxqpx5r_3q-o4WbIho6TZwgz_jgBfMOnQKAqeeK_89wFDYRYx6ogIJ6eq81TwRRNhXucmwOsoRh0TCeKhcA1WC1m94vfjUCV_HrcgZk_81s6ouAv5QvtsEXhb1v1uC_vu-FkqaXdSk/s1600/PONDELLA_SPLIT_2011_0380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzhxqpx5r_3q-o4WbIho6TZwgz_jgBfMOnQKAqeeK_89wFDYRYx6ogIJ6eq81TwRRNhXucmwOsoRh0TCeKhcA1WC1m94vfjUCV_HrcgZk_81s6ouAv5QvtsEXhb1v1uC_vu-FkqaXdSk/s200/PONDELLA_SPLIT_2011_0380.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDjjeMYVrpmNJrHaHZiUvGucpZuBMRoSDUpDekF5mWMIF-PQM3vfwOWwHtfzaysPYyMDSzk6T3C3hC4st3zSOsZnPk3P6mQgF4fjdrmbF9p-HKNwoZdyRZ7lx0gspUyKzVD_DNAsPtDM/s1600/PONDELLA_SPLIT_2011_0429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDjjeMYVrpmNJrHaHZiUvGucpZuBMRoSDUpDekF5mWMIF-PQM3vfwOWwHtfzaysPYyMDSzk6T3C3hC4st3zSOsZnPk3P6mQgF4fjdrmbF9p-HKNwoZdyRZ7lx0gspUyKzVD_DNAsPtDM/s200/PONDELLA_SPLIT_2011_0429.jpg" width="133" /></a><br />
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As we now were a group of 4, we divvied up the tasks of setting boot pack in the upper couloir and building a solid anchor for the rappel on the way back down. Andy and Jason soloed the 60 feet or so of vertical ice, and were off kicking steps up the line.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Chris followed, protecting the climb, and began work on building the anchor on the climber’s right side of the gully just above the ledge and vertical drop below. Once the anchor was set, Chris quickly belayed me to the ledge, and we were off to catch the brothers from Utah.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFRZhM_B70DjOt8SKHS9w_B5fRE7kEMNz7bM9dn17CAT6IPXUBcVqtGsbB6oqsMdwiugqcNhDuc47NCQ_kq-EgXI03OZ8tBYzP8596HxDTRIcN-7qspmQ4n1yAUudZiafZDegofDWdfk/s1600/PONDELLA_SPLIT_2011_0446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFRZhM_B70DjOt8SKHS9w_B5fRE7kEMNz7bM9dn17CAT6IPXUBcVqtGsbB6oqsMdwiugqcNhDuc47NCQ_kq-EgXI03OZ8tBYzP8596HxDTRIcN-7qspmQ4n1yAUudZiafZDegofDWdfk/s200/PONDELLA_SPLIT_2011_0446.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br />
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From the ledge, fun, relatively easy ice climbing led to boot top winter snow in the upper couloir and the Dorais’s beautiful boot pack.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHAXInxnDeW_dTS6-_-Jh-yEc_Ur7bGs47xbjSYmqqpRP0ss_vGa4POE-W0odSuHJJKecke-le_Bv1y-wE9kbiNLrsot3MzYelzPGTQ9cxV_bgyID2Hz-VdPRNW8kSOAJp1WnS3Tx2kw/s1600/PONDELLA_SPLIT_2011_0469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHAXInxnDeW_dTS6-_-Jh-yEc_Ur7bGs47xbjSYmqqpRP0ss_vGa4POE-W0odSuHJJKecke-le_Bv1y-wE9kbiNLrsot3MzYelzPGTQ9cxV_bgyID2Hz-VdPRNW8kSOAJp1WnS3Tx2kw/s200/PONDELLA_SPLIT_2011_0469.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Christian and I caught the brothers at the summit, shared some good food, and readied for the descent. I gave a shout out and shed a few tears for my brother who tragically lost his wife and kids in a plane crash the week before. We clicked in for a amazing ski, with their spirits along for the ride.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPatIdR7bJu6u4uwrtIsslvBgr04WujSSP1Ea48BMn8pmnqO2Gb9VD_KAn9XMpFTXqC2z4SzVEHvTSAXzlue6TehJfkfOzJWKzQAUOL_8UlfJQbyyHs5MQp4SUbAa5oEUt6mt2hvVAqM/s1600/PONDELLA_SPLIT_2011_0494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPatIdR7bJu6u4uwrtIsslvBgr04WujSSP1Ea48BMn8pmnqO2Gb9VD_KAn9XMpFTXqC2z4SzVEHvTSAXzlue6TehJfkfOzJWKzQAUOL_8UlfJQbyyHs5MQp4SUbAa5oEUt6mt2hvVAqM/s400/PONDELLA_SPLIT_2011_0494.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_afPbd63YmYQw0iWw7n1kclgvKG7YuJXsPPkfSNk5y7geMyT8e0P6A5MqBpIr8wsGKz4iqyhzgZ-jI7PjGJaaJ_JXENZ509dJI2w4PcKmkh024MiIX_Qd7WoXxAEVOVlyXqTZ13c_GA/s1600/PONDELLA_SPLIT_2011_0577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_afPbd63YmYQw0iWw7n1kclgvKG7YuJXsPPkfSNk5y7geMyT8e0P6A5MqBpIr8wsGKz4iqyhzgZ-jI7PjGJaaJ_JXENZ509dJI2w4PcKmkh024MiIX_Qd7WoXxAEVOVlyXqTZ13c_GA/s200/PONDELLA_SPLIT_2011_0577.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvofku2FQN3KyLRbk8-BYEQAjjuHc0dvxuJFukADMAzNFBrwhD9KYXgqNtsdg6Ecbw8H7ny3mliJzjCDdzMD-SJnAKieVQv9YALEHnYpwSsdLSPoX7Fy34Y3rFy581fR1kV4eq0p5pp4/s1600/PONDELLA_SPLIT_2011_0555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvofku2FQN3KyLRbk8-BYEQAjjuHc0dvxuJFukADMAzNFBrwhD9KYXgqNtsdg6Ecbw8H7ny3mliJzjCDdzMD-SJnAKieVQv9YALEHnYpwSsdLSPoX7Fy34Y3rFy581fR1kV4eq0p5pp4/s200/PONDELLA_SPLIT_2011_0555.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The snow was ‘mostly’ good and wintry on descent, but a few patches of refrozen glaze in the center of the couloir kept us on our toes. We snapped photos where we could and made our way to the rappel, choosing to down climb the short section of ice just above the ledge and anchor.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIQudlqO4GuuMJfN-OSHv0f9YisfVenNy0KF95z-bVU3WanclkRGOn75RQTJjPWVX6tAdCmpZGkSSoQTxFMvDXOgbg6kPflfUtP2_mxJAWNv-rNBjj5Pk3M4MOVvzJp0dzvcsBvpIbBg/s1600/PONDELLA_SPLIT_2011_0586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIQudlqO4GuuMJfN-OSHv0f9YisfVenNy0KF95z-bVU3WanclkRGOn75RQTJjPWVX6tAdCmpZGkSSoQTxFMvDXOgbg6kPflfUtP2_mxJAWNv-rNBjj5Pk3M4MOVvzJp0dzvcsBvpIbBg/s320/PONDELLA_SPLIT_2011_0586.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 30m rappel led to a few more decent turns lower couloir, followed by some more refrozen glaze. We emerged on the apron with huge grins, happy to have safely climbed and skied this beautiful line. 5500 feet of velvety corn snow led back to the desert and cooler full of cold beer. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4bBcuA3-6SYzmx9-NMB8jwNGbhn84TkDps9AZFNSnasjzEMwmyY2WplkFmteW3RI9z7KXbQ4WsR669-xxK3fjsBN7XvDBzgQ6xhBAvkQ_LeQJMZZt0k65GBK0g1gJ9dldPsxcZDar10/s1600/PONDELLA_SPLIT_2011_0625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4bBcuA3-6SYzmx9-NMB8jwNGbhn84TkDps9AZFNSnasjzEMwmyY2WplkFmteW3RI9z7KXbQ4WsR669-xxK3fjsBN7XvDBzgQ6xhBAvkQ_LeQJMZZt0k65GBK0g1gJ9dldPsxcZDar10/s200/PONDELLA_SPLIT_2011_0625.jpg" width="200" /></a>At the tailgate of the truck, we shared some more stories with the Dorais brothers, talked about other possible ski descents for them to tackle and made plans to ski with them again in the future. It is always a pleasure to meet and share time with good peeps in the mountains, especially on a big day like this one. Another great adventure in the Sierra Nevada!<br />
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Thank you to Christian Pondella for the great photos. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.avantlink.com/affiliate_app_confirm.php?mode=generate-js&application_id=154259"><br />
</a></div>John Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505095325688311047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316699955605371845.post-78125566323044564622011-03-13T13:00:00.000-07:002011-03-13T13:10:50.401-07:00Hulk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijq4cO9hIGikcQiCGmJ_IWDgq4q148iCoI9DXIYTvPVLZh1FHtqQZO7jDPfgpokGCfgS1UkvkKkjsqPeW-ipe7ziIYCANhKy8YyTpBrlGy_eUXW47ppfhRtDjX-xUxdpozWnSUaIvqAak/s1600/PONDELLA_HULK_03092010_2583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijq4cO9hIGikcQiCGmJ_IWDgq4q148iCoI9DXIYTvPVLZh1FHtqQZO7jDPfgpokGCfgS1UkvkKkjsqPeW-ipe7ziIYCANhKy8YyTpBrlGy_eUXW47ppfhRtDjX-xUxdpozWnSUaIvqAak/s200/PONDELLA_HULK_03092010_2583.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Life above 11,000 feet in the High Sierra is never dull. Wednesday’s adventure to the Hulk couloirs outside Bridgeport, CA helped me scratch my steep skiing itch once again. Teamed up with Mammoth’s Christian Pondella and Nate Greenburg, and joined by Tahoe’s Lorenzo Worster, we struck out to make the most of yet another glorious California sun shiny day. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Climbing was fast thanks to a little help from the wind. Buckle deep penetration into creamy winter wind bluff. No complaints.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDS3Z65N1t_CPZs17mUrynEezPjc51Y10Ql9PGKmqoWpYIrPV9Zq2K7hstg6LReMHWyvH4sbfo_UlTn5jkxmkbITKG-4dj8yv8weT6Aa33StRAcuUhSSTWcjzcrkJQAsHI1wQvK5YVvmA/s1600/PONDELLA_HULK_03092010_2617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDS3Z65N1t_CPZs17mUrynEezPjc51Y10Ql9PGKmqoWpYIrPV9Zq2K7hstg6LReMHWyvH4sbfo_UlTn5jkxmkbITKG-4dj8yv8weT6Aa33StRAcuUhSSTWcjzcrkJQAsHI1wQvK5YVvmA/s200/PONDELLA_HULK_03092010_2617.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKkZDeLsa2lm3ydidRoKNm48GX2HGzL0j5kJer-H9EavA7yBaE_GuD6EnIbrLHMED2pAGxf4_Cr2jpKOEfewuW8spTLJdkyhxPTBxGqtOP6FzXwegOALRIctaURZEExuDeoyupxgxCY0/s1600/PONDELLA_HULK_03092010_2787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKkZDeLsa2lm3ydidRoKNm48GX2HGzL0j5kJer-H9EavA7yBaE_GuD6EnIbrLHMED2pAGxf4_Cr2jpKOEfewuW8spTLJdkyhxPTBxGqtOP6FzXwegOALRIctaURZEExuDeoyupxgxCY0/s200/PONDELLA_HULK_03092010_2787.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Descending the creamy winter snow deep between the granite walls.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXbgAzAn4Qdm8anX8XB-vn14_uT4POiJ-hZOJO9oOWV40Iy3K0XxC3miQ3_cT5vii0IwczN7nw-7RSs3mrM8Kr9QF8cb8faAvm8j8HOqM7RKZhXihtrS4xNfmYlnDkHtRiLcGKr1ZHEs/s1600/PONDELLA_HULK_03092010_3038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXbgAzAn4Qdm8anX8XB-vn14_uT4POiJ-hZOJO9oOWV40Iy3K0XxC3miQ3_cT5vii0IwczN7nw-7RSs3mrM8Kr9QF8cb8faAvm8j8HOqM7RKZhXihtrS4xNfmYlnDkHtRiLcGKr1ZHEs/s640/PONDELLA_HULK_03092010_3038.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nate slashing next to the wall. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9A_dJOhoCF6cdGzmr09n3LPfZojyGH9OziRMJ3Jx7FFlQqJBqpfrt44hdh3aPy9LtUmSe-iv4sQrlXnZTvO_3HDQ-A4ndBMqqi3SgjC1Sa7t5F1_hM0RyRxOzqIyY8W2T7SW4zchb7E/s1600/PONDELLA_HULK_03092010_3409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9A_dJOhoCF6cdGzmr09n3LPfZojyGH9OziRMJ3Jx7FFlQqJBqpfrt44hdh3aPy9LtUmSe-iv4sQrlXnZTvO_3HDQ-A4ndBMqqi3SgjC1Sa7t5F1_hM0RyRxOzqIyY8W2T7SW4zchb7E/s320/PONDELLA_HULK_03092010_3409.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br />
After a quick lunch, we skinned up for couloir number 2. Another 1500' to go...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHIgrU9C8pqb6ojUMUZmIRhjrfTxr2gCjlr0FRFNeuO1JSH_u5sssjX6i4IEt5K8WiAwLAJRBHej1QHd9j1UeiMtJK15dBfNzQR3j-tnSsHNuWrO30XYS9IrDuCRvIE79KmWqL814rf0/s1600/PONDELLA_HULK_03092010_3423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHIgrU9C8pqb6ojUMUZmIRhjrfTxr2gCjlr0FRFNeuO1JSH_u5sssjX6i4IEt5K8WiAwLAJRBHej1QHd9j1UeiMtJK15dBfNzQR3j-tnSsHNuWrO30XYS9IrDuCRvIE79KmWqL814rf0/s200/PONDELLA_HULK_03092010_3423.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1XNjG1x9kQiGQwXSg-o7YJQ4V1uqO8kW-lZj5UXOXL6h5sTrbpLgmwRE04uW6AN5AfWK8LlfNnS7nlObySBsk2Vmpu25Hb_U-wiKyof_KH8R8MtuIEkj5OOgoXLiFaGq50wfswXOMGY/s1600/PONDELLA_HULK_03092010_3513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1XNjG1x9kQiGQwXSg-o7YJQ4V1uqO8kW-lZj5UXOXL6h5sTrbpLgmwRE04uW6AN5AfWK8LlfNnS7nlObySBsk2Vmpu25Hb_U-wiKyof_KH8R8MtuIEkj5OOgoXLiFaGq50wfswXOMGY/s200/PONDELLA_HULK_03092010_3513.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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The second line of the day proved to be more protected from the wind. Climbing was a bit more difficult, but the pay off was POW! Dropping in near the top was steep!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiyiLjdObRF5x-k6AzBj0ZN7AUd2Hpb7xuOSnFNiJ6LpmZTY7BpB1W-efF_Kd89Rygap-HeWIvyOF9uyUc_jxUwkdCWFqjzN17RcGN-BISM6j942ul2Id2vzSlpSKyoQDsflJlqIhsVA/s1600/PONDELLA_HULK_03092010_3526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiyiLjdObRF5x-k6AzBj0ZN7AUd2Hpb7xuOSnFNiJ6LpmZTY7BpB1W-efF_Kd89Rygap-HeWIvyOF9uyUc_jxUwkdCWFqjzN17RcGN-BISM6j942ul2Id2vzSlpSKyoQDsflJlqIhsVA/s320/PONDELLA_HULK_03092010_3526.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV59fUI25NjbcyJz2WZJgeJw7EAymHgF6mBhB65_fRds2Cmc1JTLJqdfz54ZmPH6NP_OrLIgLKHHya4Al5u4EaNMxJ9he6o-WAi9g0z6bW3i65qrXDfif6m9Qg3-Pan54AzurMbAscoTc/s1600/PONDELLA_HULK_03092010_3733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV59fUI25NjbcyJz2WZJgeJw7EAymHgF6mBhB65_fRds2Cmc1JTLJqdfz54ZmPH6NP_OrLIgLKHHya4Al5u4EaNMxJ9he6o-WAi9g0z6bW3i65qrXDfif6m9Qg3-Pan54AzurMbAscoTc/s320/PONDELLA_HULK_03092010_3733.jpg" width="214" /></a></div> Not a bad way to spend the day!John Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505095325688311047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316699955605371845.post-17399926484764390512011-02-02T22:38:00.000-08:002011-04-11T12:08:55.194-07:00A glimspe from my favorite mountain, ...Tallac<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vSdCYZgiXIcnKBJC5z3_hfvy8rYq8xCvHNgtH02ZscW2Lwnx24Bistw36HIViYuLajbGfjicxKOj_zrH8VuBrcADBdwaZmONm2Y5HUa9wnssxshAo5sfq3amB-UsbUwb5TFXUfW5CFE/s1600/Tallac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vSdCYZgiXIcnKBJC5z3_hfvy8rYq8xCvHNgtH02ZscW2Lwnx24Bistw36HIViYuLajbGfjicxKOj_zrH8VuBrcADBdwaZmONm2Y5HUa9wnssxshAo5sfq3amB-UsbUwb5TFXUfW5CFE/s320/Tallac.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxaLjWY-bZSBwvRXa6M8xLv1Uw6lIR_07-Tr_TdkWtfo8ADhngJ-pAjmVlomThxb9ZRqfZ-uI9WrI6dTDMK2Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Last weekend's snowfall bonded well to the hard pack here in Tahoe resulting in stellar conditions right in our own backyard. After dropping a line with Kip Garre skier's left through the Cross on Monday morning, I returned with South Lake ripper Sean Havastar for an all out pistol fest in the same zone. Despite a kickin' East wind, conditions remained all time. The Tahoe area's ability to transform overnight into a magical powder playground, once again reminds us why we live here.John Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505095325688311047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316699955605371845.post-62919479674142024972011-01-07T16:54:00.000-08:002011-01-08T17:12:21.691-08:00Another fine day in the mountains...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8K4eVIvvF3PWtvZ_BWVLSc_mxI7tQ4vwe8w8zXGfBMC2Uu5BTsv9A9fGjq2FOmKzC7IPcN8M0qrLrVCj4ixwuq_YvhU6GzktfzaaQ0i_wFaVDZcL8I6sy2Dw5PiZCL0rCJoDWs_i6Nfs/s1600/Esha+Headwall.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8K4eVIvvF3PWtvZ_BWVLSc_mxI7tQ4vwe8w8zXGfBMC2Uu5BTsv9A9fGjq2FOmKzC7IPcN8M0qrLrVCj4ixwuq_YvhU6GzktfzaaQ0i_wFaVDZcL8I6sy2Dw5PiZCL0rCJoDWs_i6Nfs/s320/Esha+Headwall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559983866792720786" border="0" /></a>Another fine day out on the East Side of the Sierra. Today was spent with Dave Schemenauer and Christain Pondella for an all day pow slaying session. After lapping cold north facing pow we dropped a NW line in epic evening light. Christain was freaking out, stoked on the light and pow on the seemingly endless wave that dropped more than 3000 vert into Mcgee Creek. Here is a little footy from the lines we skied while waiting for evening light.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzvkLf_VFx4ljJikJlzpL0d2nH8D5vgUs7xSVPwocb0aXSMTzJAOil-FGnGz6a5Nc67gZr7QCZ_EsLyaKhKhA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>John Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505095325688311047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316699955605371845.post-46515402910010242222011-01-04T16:31:00.000-08:002011-02-19T16:16:14.767-08:00Mendenhall Couloir<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGF3eKgVdHoRqmdfKccpYQPsZSIGslkuFl2BGrO4BjVrgBXd0k8DmklGc4QhP6LLC1cKMW5AXjnqR-j26M9MhFgNaA4czn7bOMIcCrPEryU0U8IbxqQoPA2nbWx5Yc7kRvCaKrIXtFUOY/s1600/Mendenhall.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558500256195847810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGF3eKgVdHoRqmdfKccpYQPsZSIGslkuFl2BGrO4BjVrgBXd0k8DmklGc4QhP6LLC1cKMW5AXjnqR-j26M9MhFgNaA4czn7bOMIcCrPEryU0U8IbxqQoPA2nbWx5Yc7kRvCaKrIXtFUOY/s320/Mendenhall.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<br />
This morning, I had the pleasure of sharing company with Powder Dan Molnar and Christian Pondella for an incredible ski in the Mendenhall Couloir, just outside Mammoth Lakes, CA. Conditions were all time! 4000 vertical of blissful, steep powder skiing. Hoping to crack another big line tomorrow.<br />
<br />
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/20049993" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/20049993">Mendenhall Couloir High Sierra, CA</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user6043274">John Morrison</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>John Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505095325688311047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316699955605371845.post-54011633195945488452010-09-30T09:20:00.000-07:002010-09-30T12:59:13.331-07:00Powder Mag - 2 page spread!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDcSD66zeykIeIyrv0n-XYB2YrAwApz_lCxAhrdRoEaJP_dvIPuN0FLc5KmaazzGNiGw7AnQ5jAgEcBQ2BxL0x0EBVvssw5q_Q8tI8FeDpDtaXXWNDu2A7oFfE_EWgyc8_7sTaD9N8VQ/s1600/PowderArticle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDcSD66zeykIeIyrv0n-XYB2YrAwApz_lCxAhrdRoEaJP_dvIPuN0FLc5KmaazzGNiGw7AnQ5jAgEcBQ2BxL0x0EBVvssw5q_Q8tI8FeDpDtaXXWNDu2A7oFfE_EWgyc8_7sTaD9N8VQ/s400/PowderArticle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522743947992002882" border="0" /></a><br />A great journey into the mountains last spring with an all-star crew produced, good times and some lasting memories. Tom Bie tells a great story of the trip in this month's Powder. This is the trip that started my quest to ski a select 14 peaks in CA. Why not?John Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505095325688311047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316699955605371845.post-851437303340402662010-04-30T15:41:00.000-07:002011-04-24T22:07:12.613-07:00California 14ersSo I guess it is official. I'm aiming to ski all of California's 14,000' peaks this spring. Here's the list:<br />
<ol><li>Mt Langley<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdsnwCiXB2Dy_B_eEkruwCKNrfFRW77dq6r5RskMFYAjDA8Q9BZFJ_DTm_MHR5Usign1P_sZ3ARaB8hjFQc_XSly8patZD_KcNDRv_knj4yoA3MxIVSLbVovc7JU_IO-qoFVfrkZG8F4/s1600/SelfPortait.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477200923416980498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdsnwCiXB2Dy_B_eEkruwCKNrfFRW77dq6r5RskMFYAjDA8Q9BZFJ_DTm_MHR5Usign1P_sZ3ARaB8hjFQc_XSly8patZD_KcNDRv_knj4yoA3MxIVSLbVovc7JU_IO-qoFVfrkZG8F4/s200/SelfPortait.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 134px;" /></a></li>
<li><a href="http://sierraskijournal.blogspot.com/2010/04/mt-muir-east-couloir.html">Mt Muir</a> </li>
<li>Mt Whitney</li>
<li>Mt Russel</li>
<li>Mt Williamson</li>
<li>Mt Tyndal</li>
<li><a href="http://sierraskijournal.blogspot.com/2011/04/split-couloir.html">Split Mountain</a></li>
<li><a href="http://sierraskijournal.blogspot.com/2011/04/font-face-font-family-cambriap.html">Middle Pallisade</a></li>
<li>Mt Sill</li>
<li><a href="http://sierraskijournal.blogspot.com/2011/04/font-face-font-family-cambriap.html">Polemonium Peak</a></li>
<li>North Pallisade </li>
<li>Thunderbolt Mountain</li>
<li>White Mountain<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gZ5G92_1-Hw2dwJWMm9hyphenhyphenJLK5YEO-D_ykbFKqBAP6xzZ6p9I_HVV_SulIBmF2AIlIvqnbiAEQNQ2Lix6YEj8GB_GJt9wsHc51Qf1mNzhQkh9vEJgEgkqBGb794PJpQYV5-Wefrfzf28/s1600/IMG_0229.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477200780807583778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gZ5G92_1-Hw2dwJWMm9hyphenhyphenJLK5YEO-D_ykbFKqBAP6xzZ6p9I_HVV_SulIBmF2AIlIvqnbiAEQNQ2Lix6YEj8GB_GJt9wsHc51Qf1mNzhQkh9vEJgEgkqBGb794PJpQYV5-Wefrfzf28/s200/IMG_0229.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 134px;" /></a></li>
<li>Mt. Shasta</li>
</ol>Ironically, I've always tried to stay away from 'lists' when it comes to skiing in California's High Sierra. Conditions vary so greatly week to week and month to month, I've found it best to pick mountains to ski based on current weather and snow conditions. The idea of cranking out a list of peaks can mean skiing in less than favorable conditions, thus taking away from the experience. Well, conditions have been so good this Spring, I figure it is perhaps possible to get them all in reasonably good shape. More to come.....<br />
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July 2, 2010 - Skied #14 today, Mt. Shasta.<br />
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April 11, 2011 Note: As time allows, I look forward to publishing accounts from each of the CA 14ers listed above. Be sure to read about our recent adventure on <a href="http://sierraskijournal.blogspot.com/2011/04/split-couloir.html">Split</a>.John Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505095325688311047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316699955605371845.post-73713575420712809852010-04-27T09:46:00.000-07:002010-05-30T15:22:24.004-07:00Mt. Muir East Couloir<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3m4jfr4ftQ1csS2WoGzjSVTFVdd6xz-XzyT-KV5uB89S0uILYfyh3ReNYOi3ybHGuTnRa0RmKNuogepZ3zGNI4gM0mPfaZi6CKMeZEOgXTO4K8Tof1QujJMLTJ30avRRlCt_J-tRzhas/s1600/2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3m4jfr4ftQ1csS2WoGzjSVTFVdd6xz-XzyT-KV5uB89S0uILYfyh3ReNYOi3ybHGuTnRa0RmKNuogepZ3zGNI4gM0mPfaZi6CKMeZEOgXTO4K8Tof1QujJMLTJ30avRRlCt_J-tRzhas/s200/2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464862649239379090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wn7bH8ED4iGaCEnr7qBXQ-WQ_N0t2rvbb4yPmasZwV0J_SWQG7OgHaOAe1BelGEU6gZU-KofNLpgK-UhMBsDyWVk6Ld1-1HDrd_DShBDyh-TS7gTK96WJgrA5JnPa1CM-LyFLixJrxo/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wn7bH8ED4iGaCEnr7qBXQ-WQ_N0t2rvbb4yPmasZwV0J_SWQG7OgHaOAe1BelGEU6gZU-KofNLpgK-UhMBsDyWVk6Ld1-1HDrd_DShBDyh-TS7gTK96WJgrA5JnPa1CM-LyFLixJrxo/s400/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464860742691151810" border="0" /></a><br /><br />April 23, 2010 The past couple weeks in the Sierra have provided ideal conditions for steep powder skiing. Following in the footsteps of our friends <a href="http://www.christianpondella.com/">Chris Pondella</a>, Ryan Boyer, and <a href="http://steepskiing.hookit.com/members/chrisdavenport/default.aspx">Chris Davenport</a>, Glen and I set out to ski the East Couloir on Mt. Muir, a 14er just south of Mt. Whitney. With forecast temps for wind chill values of -15, the day started with a brutal North wind. The approach was cold and blustery. We skinned to the base and sat down for a bite to eat. A small slide came down the gully to the right, and we started to wonder about the potential for hang-fire taking us out on the climb. Glen wanted to skin around trail crest and deal w/ the hazard on the descent. I wanted to climb, but wasn't going to push the issue and told Glen if we approached via trail crest we had to<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyKp-z4YriuNcHRHY2DfWIRn2bKDR89ZTMJRGQf-3dvaBN9b8uddmwv_ULr6NcmwIJHvB-tb-fDnIbbY0GroIeVu0uwwleMSIOKBZgDcddxTlsLC6a2Cp_Yc5nvfcEyaqM6IBfIsPF38/s1600/IMG_3627_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyKp-z4YriuNcHRHY2DfWIRn2bKDR89ZTMJRGQf-3dvaBN9b8uddmwv_ULr6NcmwIJHvB-tb-fDnIbbY0GroIeVu0uwwleMSIOKBZgDcddxTlsLC6a2Cp_Yc5nvfcEyaqM6IBfIsPF38/s200/IMG_3627_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477190962751023394" border="0" /></a> climb to the summit before descending. As we skinned the snow face to trail crest, the wind began to ease, and all but died once we hit the ridge. The short rock climb to th<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlfHN9kJTg6vSF0ARSltD8dwzyiEbRt3HQ9NMubGYW9v5d2seQACdeoZqx2_JQMT8szDMMFasenvSV8-PZTyT_rq85UJfAgZI28JxCLCWPRr-WNe_Bt3Zunk_yqV9VmAxnLJgqA_NrdY/s1600/IMG_3609.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlfHN9kJTg6vSF0ARSltD8dwzyiEbRt3HQ9NMubGYW9v5d2seQACdeoZqx2_JQMT8szDMMFasenvSV8-PZTyT_rq85UJfAgZI28JxCLCWPRr-WNe_Bt3Zunk_yqV9VmAxnLJgqA_NrdY/s200/IMG_3609.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477190573488503266" border="0" /></a>e summit was fun in ski boots and added a touch of spice to the day. As I made my way over to the top of the line, I kept thinking about Boyer's beta. 1st anchor skiers left, 2nd anchor skiers right, don't slip! The upper pitch was stripped of new snow and provided some quality steep ICY survival skiing. Yikes. As I lowered myself on the first rappel, I wondered how the next 2 pitches would b<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYiww6UppjjApJ8ZOpkybs5EFG-ZwLz7IebuFSk1_FbRZg4tx9sRRsMf2DIbBgZXN1n-mUmfMrL0Ru2rvAl_ca6FdOLh1aftrzVp7BzF9MT3HqXaYpV0q0Fhj3lxv4pssSowqfqePv-Y/s1600/IMG_3640.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYiww6UppjjApJ8ZOpkybs5EFG-ZwLz7IebuFSk1_FbRZg4tx9sRRsMf2DIbBgZXN1n-mUmfMrL0Ru2rvAl_ca6FdOLh1aftrzVp7BzF9MT3HqXaYpV0q0Fhj3lxv4pssSowqfqePv-Y/s200/IMG_3640.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477191214668981874" border="0" /></a>e, and kinda wished we'd climbed the route to know. Fortunately, I dropped off the end of the rope into a foot plus of pow. The second pitch skied really well, sloughing a bit. The wind had somehow only affected the very top of the li<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVX8QA0LVciNPyUJ-aRLRFLttLsJ6RJb3eXk_MHDR3XH2lDcjBCtT-TrAd7ZsZrW77injTovrKbdpOoKinxS_kU0P_YOKzU0Txf-VUqt8IKH4JdPiBUjrQKJzSAsSm979oXEyfLm1Kok/s1600/IMG_3669.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVX8QA0LVciNPyUJ-aRLRFLttLsJ6RJb3eXk_MHDR3XH2lDcjBCtT-TrAd7ZsZrW77injTovrKbdpOoKinxS_kU0P_YOKzU0Txf-VUqt8IKH4JdPiBUjrQKJzSAsSm979oXEyfLm1Kok/s200/IMG_3669.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477191686850185186" border="0" /></a>ne. I pulled the rope out for the 2nd rap and again rapped into more pow. The bottom pitch was brilliant and we skied pow all the way back to the car. Thanks to Chris, Ryan and Chris for pioneering the line! It was epic. I really wanted to follow in the same style and climb it, but was happy the way things worked out. You've got to go with the flow!John Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505095325688311047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316699955605371845.post-2064155366909912102010-04-20T08:51:00.000-07:002010-04-20T09:35:00.548-07:00Dana Plateau Sessions<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-eT8hd7iloiyJz40tGT_xCljh9M09VyZ8VIPP39V5LxoEal0n71ncg32LlDQRqWDSjxGgicj65JJSW0GERvvBGQsJ4YgN6dO_utNlRCqawwYPJocwSHofCIj-dlV8ACZULY9En6kFB0/s1600/3rd+Pillar+Hanging+Bowl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-eT8hd7iloiyJz40tGT_xCljh9M09VyZ8VIPP39V5LxoEal0n71ncg32LlDQRqWDSjxGgicj65JJSW0GERvvBGQsJ4YgN6dO_utNlRCqawwYPJocwSHofCIj-dlV8ACZULY9En6kFB0/s400/3rd+Pillar+Hanging+Bowl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462252481436920386" border="0"></a><br />April 16, 2010 Tired from blasting four 14ers in 2 days with Pondella and Dav, I wasn't sure I'd even make it up the Third Pillar couloir when I set out Friday morning. Oh, how the Plateau terrain inspires. Glen and I each rallied for 2 laps and made it home in time for dinner.<br /><br />John Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505095325688311047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316699955605371845.post-24957906438623626692009-07-30T15:23:00.000-07:002010-05-30T16:03:12.903-07:00Skiing Denali<h1>Skiing off the summit of Denali in June of 09 wrapped up another great winter of ski descents in North America.</h1> <div class="thumb tleft"><div style="width: 502px;"> <h1><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbBwE9g9hSMguugCPRqUayqx0fgrKg6yxtBMLXIGLLZYydMXwy35jPehVr8torGb5k_IgtnoZzzq6PzZc5o1uzSfeutq3u2fJbXEdM7fm_shwkCColbPny8GrCxl5AOAE1JLqkDmlLTA/s1600/Denali-Panorama.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 96px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbBwE9g9hSMguugCPRqUayqx0fgrKg6yxtBMLXIGLLZYydMXwy35jPehVr8torGb5k_IgtnoZzzq6PzZc5o1uzSfeutq3u2fJbXEdM7fm_shwkCColbPny8GrCxl5AOAE1JLqkDmlLTA/s320/Denali-Panorama.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477193865583059138" border="0" /></a></h1></div></div><div class="thumb tleft"><div style="width: 502px;"> </div></div>When April hit this year I felt winter had really just started. Hanging up the skis didn’t feel right, <div class="thumb tleft"><div style="width: 502px;"> </div></div><div class="thumb tleft"><div style="width: 502px;"> </div></div> as I’d not yet racked up my fare share of turns for the season. By the side of a campfire at the foot of an Eastern Sierra Giant, Glen and I hatched a plan to keep winter rolling right through June. We would attempt a ski descent of North America’s highest peak, Denali.<br />Of course, an attempt on a mountain the size of Denali required a good deal of preparation including a number of climb <h1><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5-t_odnDJiczxf0onxp9VfA3FV1L-wVEc9pqlDONstLaXW-SetT_QwfrvVg1IIhHfs2zyz_nqZpMVw2Su3FdvXhUrmbf3_SOq1i8hwXMIV54i4Rvhx8iFSSw5VFi7VSx5a3U7Z2clrU/s1600/Airplane.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5-t_odnDJiczxf0onxp9VfA3FV1L-wVEc9pqlDONstLaXW-SetT_QwfrvVg1IIhHfs2zyz_nqZpMVw2Su3FdvXhUrmbf3_SOq1i8hwXMIV54i4Rvhx8iFSSw5VFi7VSx5a3U7Z2clrU/s200/Airplane.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477193693511799986" border="0" /></a></h1> s of other mountains to maintain our fitness from a winter of laps on Jakes, Tallac, and other Tahoe peaks. We racked up numerous descents of 13ers and 14ers in the Eastern Sierra, visited Wyoming’s Teton Range for a ski of the Grand Teton, and went for a mini volcano tour skiing on Lassen, Shasta, and Rainier.<br />Planning the trip and assembling our list of gear was <h1><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsUFi_4Ei8mrIRAv3ZYQdvBIXBR8aszn3XxgaUOGKlk3KKYhHXmTqJ1ZfD8c_8gAUaOA2k-rJ1iTBm9JqHz7yKMCu-ZER6-XrZGoUir_-2wJKDVD94oEnbSl_8lCXrpEsAdhFIcn2oqs/s1600/Camp.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsUFi_4Ei8mrIRAv3ZYQdvBIXBR8aszn3XxgaUOGKlk3KKYhHXmTqJ1ZfD8c_8gAUaOA2k-rJ1iTBm9JqHz7yKMCu-ZER6-XrZGoUir_-2wJKDVD94oEnbSl_8lCXrpEsAdhFIcn2oqs/s200/Camp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477194779258356706" border="0" /></a></h1> an easy task thanks to the help and advice of good friends Kip Garre, Doug Stoup, and Bela Vadasz. Between Kip’s recommendation to bring 5 or 6 pounds of bacon and a minimum of 2 gallons of whiskey and Bela’s idea of light and fast with no frills, we settled closer to Doug’s advised, ‘light but comfortable’.<br /><h1><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKU3BylX8oFFQPoWiMR847Ah0Jnt3B1_VCbcEjNVpzTWAf8U6IMzHpxhVxTjAMMzxOQF98E535MDkUiO6_gxZXSZiFB4lbI6KOgSBqKc0tRNAJoYemSEgSx-bHfobBXE8GeHAkxtsd2s/s1600/Glen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKU3BylX8oFFQPoWiMR847Ah0Jnt3B1_VCbcEjNVpzTWAf8U6IMzHpxhVxTjAMMzxOQF98E535MDkUiO6_gxZXSZiFB4lbI6KOgSBqKc0tRNAJoYemSEgSx-bHfobBXE8GeHAkxtsd2s/s200/Glen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477195832207741266" border="0" /></a></h1><br />In the early afternoon of June 19, we flew onto the Kahiltna Glacier with lots of down, plenty of salami & cheese, and the nervous wonder of what we would encounter high in the Alaska Range. We checked out with the Park Service and skied off for a two week adventure. Our goal was to haul our gear and food to a well established camp at 14,200 feet on the mountain’s west side. ‘14’ would serve as our ‘advanced base camp’ from which we would make our summit attempt. Heavy snowfal l and driving wind seemed to be the theme in the early days of our climb. For 2 ½ day s we skinned with heavy packs and sleds, knowing life would get better once we reached 14. We arrived tired and hungry and hurried to set up the tent for a bit of well earned rest. The sun poked through the clouds for brief mome nt affording us one last look at the mountain above before another 3 days of snow would fall.<br /><div class="thumb tleft"><div style="width: 202px;"><div class="thumbcaption"> </div></div></div><div class="thumb tleft"><div style="width: 202px;"><a href="http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.php?object_id=529323"><br /></a><div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify" style="float: right;"><a href="http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.php?object_id=529323" title="Enlarge"><br /></a></div> </div></div></div> For the next few days, we acclimatized to the thin air at 14,000 ft. by skinning and skiing laps on a 1500 foot slope above camp. A group of girls from Telluride, that had already been on the mountain for two weeks, showed us the way through the <h1><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8H6OjJ840K1v71ywHReDnusBVI6klDNdxTnyyVlLyrB_hv_IIAKlEDJIaCFvBUP9eo8gY9RFOd5BpVHVtC-wZTAXGBaLexij_7ujNMVgCln0nf0hvbgq47Bcd6eg-NbA1bWe5bqmXN3U/s1600/Denali+Pow-Go+Johnny.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8H6OjJ840K1v71ywHReDnusBVI6klDNdxTnyyVlLyrB_hv_IIAKlEDJIaCFvBUP9eo8gY9RFOd5BpVHVtC-wZTAXGBaLexij_7ujNMVgCln0nf0hvbgq47Bcd6eg-NbA1bWe5bqmXN3U/s200/Denali+Pow-Go+Johnny.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477194862990544402" border="0" /></a></h1> near whiteout conditions. Though the heavy snowfall impeded vision, it left a velvety powder surface to glide across run after run.<div class="thumb tright"><div style="width: 202px;"><div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify" style="float: right;"><a href="http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.php?object_id=529322" title="Enlarge"><br /></a></div> </div></div></div> With each run, I felt stronger and more acclimatized, and began to look forward to the storm breaking so we could move higher on the mountain. Our plan, if the weather ever cleared was to climb to 17000 ft. for a longer ski run and one final day of acclimatization befo re attempting to summit.<br />I awoke the morning of the 25th to what sounded like fellow climbers moving around in a bit of a frenzy. Poking my head out of the tent, I quickly realized why. The sky was as deep a shade of blue as I’d ever seen, the wind was light to non-existent, and the temperature, though cold, seemed reasonable for 14000 feet in Alaska. My heart rate quickened as I started up the stove to begin the process of melting snow for coffee and oatmeal. I climbed back in the tent to discuss our plan for the day. “Glen, It looks pretty nice out there. We might think about upping the ante.”<br /><div class="thumb tleft"><div style="width: 202px;"><div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify" style="float: right;"><a href="http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.php?object_id=529320" title="Enlarge"><br /></a></div> </div></div></div><br /><h1><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuCm_Y809MNng7ntI1SFnRdhGqdUcKjO8lm2gkMEOjwgWbM-4Mls3-WQ8Bx-P-lMV-QLl1kORzakbAjey8BTZRRhvSSblJSE7eoWNdRtBvFmfmZj6fA05Gg17SXvHKF0l2ttM1vxGwmg/s1600/Denali+Weather.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuCm_Y809MNng7ntI1SFnRdhGqdUcKjO8lm2gkMEOjwgWbM-4Mls3-WQ8Bx-P-lMV-QLl1kORzakbAjey8BTZRRhvSSblJSE7eoWNdRtBvFmfmZj6fA05Gg17SXvHKF0l2ttM1vxGwmg/s200/Denali+Weather.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477195679172674690" border="0" /></a></h1> Fortunately, the days are long in Alaska in June and we were in no rush. After a good breakfast we decid ed to load our packs with Gu, snickers, and down to see ‘how high’ we could acclimatize to. Leaving camp at 11:15a in T-shirts we began to ascend the ‘Headwall’ section of the Washburn Route. Our intended climbing route, the Orient Express, was blanketed with nearly 5 feet of new snow, and the avalanche hazard was off the charts. Our choice to climb the Washburn seemed wise as climbing was relatively easy on the wind swept ridge to 17,200 feet. Temps cooled as we moved higher on the mountain, but winds remained light. We both felt good at 17 and were<h1><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMnk5LL5YqzVPWvpOfbG8hwdcRJBPk1hLf6hb22YF-KIaP7tdQvomTuTbeTndbjAKH1-nGJ5pynsWMw1uRSoKmUxJlmq2dElDQsjc6ygM70LzyPzanpeYU2NTjUvIAVBr2Lkil01bYgU/s1600/buttress.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMnk5LL5YqzVPWvpOfbG8hwdcRJBPk1hLf6hb22YF-KIaP7tdQvomTuTbeTndbjAKH1-nGJ5pynsWMw1uRSoKmUxJlmq2dElDQsjc6ygM70LzyPzanpeYU2NTjUvIAVBr2Lkil01bYgU/s200/buttress.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477194996834101314" border="0" /></a></h1> making very good time so we chose to continue higher.<br />Moving through 18,000 to 19,000 feet, I felt remarkably good and began to catch groups of climbers that had slept at 17 and begun their morning there. Glen continued moving well, and it seemed the summit was within reach. At 19,000 feet we took a break and fired back a bit of water and Gu. “Only 1,300 feet to go,” I said to Glen. “That’s only a half-lap on Jakes.” For some reason, that half-lap seemed a bit harder on Denali, but before we knew it, there was no more mountain to climb. <div class="thumb tright"><div style="width: 202px;"><a href="http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.php?object_id=529326"><br /></a><div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify" style="float: right;"><a href="http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.php?object_id=529326" title="Enlarge"><br /></a></div> </div></div></div>I was ecstatic and ran over to the USGS summit marker to kiss the continent’s highest point, quickly pulling away as my lips nearly froze to the marker.<br />Though well below 0, the sun’s rays, down coats, and adrenaline kept us warm on the summit as we snapped photos, ate, and readied for our ski descent. It was only when I removed a glove to reach into my pack that I realized how cold it really was. After nearly 30 minutes on the summit, I clicked into my Dynafit bindings and pushed off, with more than 6000 feet of vertical to ski. I thought of the hundreds, if not thous ands, of turns that lay between us and our tent, as I arched medium sized turns down firm, but edge-able and smooth snow at 20,000 feet. Descending was easier than anticipated as we linked together the best sections of snow between 20 and 17.<br />Soon, we were back at 17 camp. As we moved through the small group of tents towards our intended descent route to 14, a National Park Service ranger hurried over to inform us of an accident lower on the mountain involving a skier and an avalanche. It seemed our choice to stick to the more wind swept and packed snow was a good one. He asked that we avoid the slopes directly below 17 and descend via the ridge. <div class="thumb tleft"><div style="width: 202px;"><a href="http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.php?object_id=529321"><br /></a><div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify" style="float: right;"><a href="http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.php?object_id=529321" title="Enlarge"><br /></a></div> </div></div></div>We happily obliged, and descended the ridge in the fantastic golden light of a beautiful Alaskan evening. At the top of the headwall, we discussed down climbing past the area of dod gy snow, but chose to keep the skis on, sticking as close as possible to the fixed lines. Glen kicked off a small slide that rushed over my skis and threatened to pull me down the hill, but my edges held well. Soon the snow conditions improved and we carved easy turns through silky powder down to 14 camp and our waiting sleeping bags. After a quick dinner of soup and chicken dumplings, my head hit the pillow hard.<br /><div class="thumb tright"><div style="width: 202px;"><div class="thumbcaption"> </div></div></div>We spent the following day resting, socializing, and hanging out around 14 camp. We discussed our options as we were well acclimatized and psyched to stick around and ski. Should the weather continue to hold the Thunderbird Couloir, the Messner Couloir, and the Orient Express all lay within striking distance of our camp. Knowing these descents were only possible only in the right conditions, we went to sleep wondering what the coming days would bring in terms of weather and avalanche hazard.<br />The next morn ing was extremely cold and windy, with a large lenticular cloud on the upper mountain. Our goal to tackle the North Peak and Thunderbird would have to wait. We altered our plan accordingly and ventured toward the lower reaches of the Orient Express to assess snow stability. A pit dug at 16,300 showed increased bonding in the snow pack and though we were nervous to move higher, we felt as though the avalanche hazard was decreasing for the less wind swept, deeper snow covered slopes. We tucked up under the rocks of the West Rib and pulled our skins to descend. I chose to move just a bit higher to get a look up the Orient and began to kick steps into a harder wind slab. Not happy with the conditions, I moved to turn around and crack, the wind slab gave way pulling Glen and I down the slope in an avalanche. We both fought, successfully, to stay on the snow’s surface, but lost a bit of gear. Humbly, we returned to 14 camp and decided the mountain had showed us a good time, but that it was time to leave. With the new blanket of snow hiding giant swaths of blue ice that had been visible only days before, it seemed the a valanche hazard would continue to linger. The additional descents were just out of reach. Denali had given us a good slap in the face and reminded us never to take the high peaks and extreme conditions of the Alaska Range lightly.<br />Grateful to have attained our primary goal of climbing and skiing from the summit of ‘the great one’, we packed our sleds and departed our comfortable enclosure in the village at 14 the following day.<h1><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNJZHoI4Ff8piANmqDuGnWfXoLAahGjKgiioduCexAkc_JwBB5R6aR2Sn78dhBN4Y1OgzLm0XxnqxbSUUYfX2wDNoRbPLCneNpNr6lt6DLswbzOdMOhKYP056xU98Az0ftt2eDDeWf9I/s1600/apres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNJZHoI4Ff8piANmqDuGnWfXoLAahGjKgiioduCexAkc_JwBB5R6aR2Sn78dhBN4Y1OgzLm0XxnqxbSUUYfX2wDNoRbPLCneNpNr6lt6DLswbzOdMOhKYP056xU98Az0ftt2eDDeWf9I/s200/apres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477193780257389842" border="0" /></a></h1> Skiing out was incredible as we were once more treated to blue skies and a perfect weather day. The views of the surrounding peaks and of Denali itself, which we had missed during our stormy ascent of the lower mountain, were now visible. We snapped countless more photos and were back at the air strip by 1pm.<br />Just 10 days after our departure from the lower 48, we sat aboard one of Talkeetna Air Taxi’s Dehavilland Beavers on our way back to ‘civilization’. That evening we clinked beer mugs together at the Fairview, a watering hole made famous by pioneering miners, sourdoughs, mountaineers, and bush pilots. Ours was a joyous celebration of our successful journey.<br /><br />-- Thanks goes to Helly Hansen for providing the gear that kept me warm all the way to 20,000 feet, to Doug Stoup from Ice Axe Expeditions for lending us a tent and a bit of down, and to my wife for encouraging me to chase my dreams.<br /><br /><div class="magnify" style="float: right; margin-top: 5px;"><a href="http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.php?object_id=529327" title="Enlarge"> <img src="http://www.summitpost.org/images/layout/abby/magnify.gif" alt="Enlarge" /></a></div>John Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505095325688311047noreply@blogger.com