Month: October 2007

To Ski or Bike?

Posted by Brittany – October 30, 2007

Previously posted on my Thrillhead Blog

This evening, I was talking to my friend Sonya. She asked me, “How was your weekend? Did you end up skiing or biking? That’s always the question this time of year…” My friend Sonya knows me all too well!

I was happy to answer, “BOTH!”

Hartman’s Rocks, just outside of Gunnison, is home to some excellent riding that resembles closely to that in Fruita, parts of Moab, and even parts of the Front Range. The few times I have been able to ride there I’ve always enjoyed it for the technical challenges there. The riding there is very different from that in Crested Butte- no huge vertical, lots of sage instead of trees, less smooth, and more technical overall. I definitely like riding in Crested Butte, but I love the riding at Hartman’s!

My first introduction to Hartman’s was several years ago. It was home to my very first mountain bike race- “Rage in the Sage”. Very appropriate since the course took you through desert rock, sand, and sage. I remember finishing the course by going down a path through the the famed Hartman’s rocks. The path was quite technical, and every girl around me got off their bikes. But, I decided I wanted to ride it, so I did. I passed at least 6 girls by doing that. Perhaps that is why I have such an affinity for Hartman’s. I just like the riding there!

We rode Hartman’s on Sunday. It was a great ride and I was blessed to have Frank as my guide! The ride was long and took me on many of the outter trail that I had never rode before. We rode Jack’s- Beck’s- Rocky Ridge- Skyline- Wienzy’s- Outback- Skull pass- Aberdeen loop- Bambie’s. I loved all of the riding especially out to Skull Pass.

Some pics:

I had to try this technical section by Skull Pass a few times but Frank knocked it clean the first try. The pics don’t do it justice, of course.

This is the Aberdeen Quarry and Frank likes to tell the story that this rock was used to make the steps for the CO state capital.

Aberdeen loop

The California fires were severely inhibiting our lovely view of Uncompahgre. You can BARELY see it in this pic.

And we rode off into the sunset :)

I love riding, but I will never love it as much as skiing. This ride was a great way to “finish” off the bike season. It’s time for skiing now!

Days of Haze

Posted by Brittany – October 28, 2007

Previously posted on my Thrillhead Blog

Today we went for a mountain bike ride at Hartman’s rocks. I’ll post pics later. It was a fun day but our views were terribly obscured by a thick haze. The haze seems to be coming from the fires in Southern California. I first noticed it yesterday afternoon, when we climbed Mt. Baldy. Our views were beautiful in the morning. But, then the haze moved in and our views were dull. You can see this in some of my scenic shots in the trip report below. Similar haze has been reported even in Wyoming and Washington.

Hope the firefighters in CA are able to get that fire out soon! On a good note, the haze sure made a fantastically orange colored moon tonight!

Finding the Emerald at the Bottom of Mt. Baldy

Posted by Brittany – October 27, 2007

Previously posted on my Thrillhead Blog

Sometimes you find yourself in places you don’t expect. Sometimes you find yourself doing things you weren’t planning on doing. Sometimes these things turn out incredibly good- like today!

I had been itching to ski all week, yet I was a bit hesitant to ski in the backcountry for fear the week of hot temperatures and lack of snow would make snow conditions unenjoyable. I found today to be entirely otherwise!

Last night, Frank, Jack Hannon, and I had all talked about returning to Treasury again today (where we had skied last Saturday). In the morning, Frank and I were driving up toward Schofield Pass where we were to meet Jack. Near Emerald Lake, we saw Jack driving his truck down the hill. “Uh, oh,” we though, “What’s up?”. He stopped, got out of his truck and pointed up toward Baldy. We saw the line, and it was a definite YES!

Here’s a pic of the line we saw from the road:

And some more teaser pics:

Today was a great way to begin the ski season! I was challenged a bit by the climb- it’s been 4+ months since I’ve climbed anything like this. The skiing was enjoyable, yet challenging in places. It was a great warm-up for the “climbing” and skiing season yet to come. It got me in the mood to do more, yet gently reminded me of the consequences that are inherent to mountaineering and backcountry skiing. Today was one of those days where everything came together in just the right way- the kind of days you always are striving for in backcountry skiing.

Dare I say, we found our Emerald today
:)

For a full trip report click here: http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99540

Day 2 of Winter

Posted by Brittany – October 21, 2007

Previously posted on my Thrillhead Blog

In Crested Butte today we woke up to about an inch of snow on the ground. But, people around here know an inch in town means a whole lot more elsewhere. We checked SNOTEL and at least 6″ had fallen overnight on Schofield. So, we took the sled up to our old trusty “fall winter” playground on the other side of Schofield pass to near the bottom of Cinnamon. It was about an hour skin to the top, with very very treacherous winds near the summit. But, it was a fantastic reward! The gully we followed down was a lot mellower terrain than yesterday, but filled with 6+ inches of fresh snow. Unlike yesterday, we weren’t sinking through breakable crust. The storm from earlier in the week left us a nice base, and last night’s snow left some nice fresh pow to enjoy!

Me:

Winter has begun!!!

Posted by Brittany – October 20, 2007

Previously posted on my Thrillhead Blog

Frank, friends, and I hit the Wine Bottle Couloirs outside of Crested Butte. It was my first day of skiing for the season and it
included a 3+ hour skin, treacherous winter winds, challenging chunky snow conditions (wind and sun affected), and a couloir that would be considered pretty steep even in the heart of winter. It was a fun day out, but I finished the day wondering how I pulled out 16 hour days last season when this 6 hour day seemed incredibly long. Down the couloir I would make 2 jump turns and a time and then would be ready to fall over! I can do all the mountain biking I want during the winter, but it sure doesn’t get you in shape for skiing!

But the good news is… winter has begun! Bring on the snow!!!!!!

Some pics here…

Treasury Mountain outside of Crested Butte.

Me at the top of the couloir.

Frank

Looking back at the line we skied. The line is difficult to see, but it begins at the “notch” in the mountian.

For a full trip report click here:
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98651