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Brittany

A Little Bit of Backcountry

Posted by Brittany – February 2, 2012

Scary is just one of the words I’ve used to describe Colorado’s snowpack this year. With recent snowfall on top of thick unstable facet layers, this year is turning out to be the kind that makes you really think about your backcountry choices. Frank and I hazard to even venture to some of our winter standards. That being said, this weekend we decided to take a walk outside the gates for a bit of mellow terrain on Loveland Pass. We weren’t out for long, but we still took the time to get just a few pictures.

The sky was beautiful in the late afternoon.
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Hagar and Citadel in the distance.
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Kim.
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Frank.
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This backcountry experience had me hyper-alert compared to most others, simply due to the snow pack. While I love the backcountry and what it has to offer, Frank and I wish to stay safe and will be backing off from it for a while – likely until we head to Alaska in just a little over two weeks. Until then, enjoy the reviews and other food for thought we offer!

Weekend Powder Stoke (21 & 22 Jan 2012)

Posted by Brittany – January 22, 2012

The town was buzzing on Friday, knowing that the first significant snowfall for months was quickly approaching. NOAA forecasted the storm would hit at 11 am on Saturday morning. Flakes began to fall from the sky at 10:30 that morning, and we were elated. We let the snow accumulate while we worked on a few projects in our apartment. But, when we looked glanced out the window at 11:30, we realized it had already snowed a couple of inches. It was time to grab the skis and go!

It dumped all afternoon, yet the lines were like this.
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The snow continued to fall all day long. When I took a quick break, I came out and my skis had been quickly buried.
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The skiing got better and better throughout the day. And during our last two runs, we decided to grab a few quick shots.

Frank sporting his tele-steeze.
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Gear Review: Marmot Power Stretch Hoody

Posted by Brittany – January 21, 2012

I recently purchased a Marmot Power Stretch Hoody and have been so happy with it, that I wanted to make sure I let our followers know about this fantastic product.
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The Marmot Power Stretch Hoody is one of those versatile pieces that I love so much. I can wear it around the house, around town, skiing, and backcountry skiing. Made from Polartech Power Stretch material, this hoody is soft to the touch, is exceptionally warm. Even better, the material is highly breathable and repels moisture, including snow, making the Power Stretch Hoody perfect for touring in the backcountry, even on big pow-days!
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The power stretch hoody has two zippered hand-warming pockets in the front and thumb-holesin the sleeves. The hood is attached, and useful for when you need something extra to stay warm. The fabric is lightweight, so you don’t get that annoying bulky feeling that comes with some sweat-shirt type hoodies.

All in all, Marmot has designed a great product for the female athlete. Both comfortable and functional, this simple hoody has become one of the first things I grab out of my closet. I purchased my Marmot Power Stretch Hoody from Appalachian Ski & Outdoors. Be sure to check them out!

TR: Blue skies and and warm highs

Posted by Brittany – January 20, 2012

A week ago we were in the middle of a high pressure following a snow storm that dumped the first significant amount of snow we’d seen in over a month. Unfortunately, that same snow storm left us with wind that scoured our peaks. I headed out with my friends Mike, Rachel, and Grete, sticking to terrain below treeline, hoping to find decent snow in the sheltered trees.

As we skinned up, the windscouring was evident everywhere. And even though temperatures were forecasted in 20′s, it felt much warmer, as we all stripped down to our thermal layers.
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Mike dropped in first.
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Though the snow was certainly wind-affected, we did find some good turns. However, our turns were most abruptly interrupted when we hit old frozen tracks beneath the new snow.

Grete.
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Rachel.
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Mike.
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Though I enjoy blue skies, it’s certainly good to have the white clouds this week. With snow falling every day since Saturday, this season is finally starting to turn :)

Gear Review: Black Diamond Shiva Boots with Intuition Liners

Posted by Brittany – January 12, 2012

Last winter, my beloved Scarpa Diva boots began to fall apart on me. I knew it was time to keep my eye out for a new pair of AT boots. The selection of women’s AT boots has grown significantly since I last purchased my Divas in 2008. Back then, I basically had two choices for “stiff” women’s AT boots: the Garmont Xena and the Scarpa Diva. Now, the choices are exponentially more plentiful.

I kept my eye out for sales and finally buckled down at the end-of-season sale at our local mountaineering shop, the Alpineer. I tried on a number of boots and also demoed a few pairs before determining that the Black Diamond Shiva was the right one for me.

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However, after using the boot for a few weeks without working out a few kinks, I developed a foot issue that stuck around for the rest of the spring. I had to return to my Divas to give the foot issue a break. I finally dug the Shivas back out of the closet last month.

Sizing
My feet are small and I typically use a shell size of 2 or 22.5 in an alpine ski boot. I prefer slightly larger boots for touring so I usually settle on a size 23 as most AT boots don’t come in a smaller size. The Scarpas and Garmonts I’ve used in the past have been slightly on the big side for me. However, I’d say BD’s sizing runs a tad small. A size 23 was much smaller than any size 23 I’d ever tried on before. I might have been better off with a size 23.5, but the Alpineer had none in stock at that time. However, I’ve been told that BD’s sizing has changed this year. Whether that’s true or not, I have not yet verified myself. As always, it’s best to try on the boots to determine which size is best for you.

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What we’ve got

Posted by Brittany – January 8, 2012

We’ve been waiting for this. We’ve been waiting for far too long. On Saturday morning, we were awakened by the sound of a snow plow. The building shook as the mighty machine scraped the two inches of snow off the parking lot pavement and dumped it on top of our tiny snow banks. It’s been a bad snow year so far. There’s no debate about it. And while last year two inches of fresh felt like dust on crust, this year’s dry spell has made two inches feel more like two feet. It was declared a powder day.

We grabbed our skis and headed to the ski area. Yelps and smiles and shouts of elation were everywhere. Two inches became three inches and three inches became five as snow continued to fall throughout the day. I felt my edges carving through the newly fallen snow as if they were razor sharp, something I rarely feel on the man-made frozen congealed slop.

We made our way to the East River lift. “Scrape, scrape, brush, brush,” was the sound our skis made as we glazed over rock after rock and blasted through the small trees and bushes. The coverage was thin, but it was natural snow- natural snow with fresh snow on top of it. And that made it fantastic.

Last year we were spoiled. We would have either laughed or cried at the desperation we find ourselves in today, where skiing a black diamond bump run laden with rocks and bushes has been the highlight of our lift-served experience, where two inches of fresh is declared a pow-day. But, no skier on the mountain yesterday could deny that it wasn’t a good day. Because it WAS a good day!

Sometimes the best days are the ones that remind you what you’ve got :)

Front Range Frolicking (Dec 2011)

Posted by Brittany – January 4, 2012

Besides our Berthoud Pass tour, we did a bit more frolicking during our time in the Front Range over the holidays. One day we headed up Herman Gulch for a little tour.
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Our intended line, but strong winds kept us from venturing above treeline.
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Good-bye 2011!

Posted by Brittany – January 1, 2012

Happy New Year to everyone! While we welcome 2012, but at the same time, I’m sad to say good-bye to 2011. The past year has been full of some of the greatest and most memorable adventures. From a fantastic winter to finishing my 14er project, a spring full of fantastic skiing, our wonderful wedding followed by the perfect honeymoon, a fall full of fun riding and a few early-season pow-days. 2011 was simply a fantastic year for us. In tribute to the past year, I’ve put together a slideshow video showcasing the year’s highlights. Enjoy it :)

TR: Berthoud Pass Flashbacks (28 Dec 2011)

Posted by Brittany – December 29, 2011

There is no doubt that the skiing conditions are uninspiring due to the season’s general lack of snow. But Frank and I are in the Front Range area visiting family for the holidays, and we decided to head to our old stomping ground – Berthoud Pass.
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As we made a quick stop in Downieville, wind blasted ice and gravel in our faces. I won’t deny that I nearly gave up just then. “Maybe we should just turn around and go back now.” But, we were almost there. Why not just stick it out and at least check out the actual conditions on Berthoud Pass? We were pleasantly surprised when we stepped out of the car on top of the pass- the hurricane we’d felt down valley was a mere breeze up high.

Frank and I last skied Berthoud Pass prior to the days of the warming hut. Ah, the memories of changing in the exposed parking lot, with snow and wind blowing all around, trying to buckle icy boots with frozen hands. Today, we decided to reap the benefits of this new shelter.
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So, the flashbacks of our old stomping ground continued as we began skinning.
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The views were beautiful despite the clouds and lack of snow.
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Belated Azores Slideshow Video

Posted by Brittany – December 28, 2011

In continuation from our previous entry where we posted a slideshow video from the first part of our honeymoon in Spain, here is Part II of our honeymoon. We spent the second half of our honeymoon in the Azores, which are a group of volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. These islands belong to Portugal. Enjoy the video!