Month: January 2008

Crested Butte Report from 1/26 and 1/27

Posted by Brittany – January 30, 2008

Previously posted on my Thrillhead Blog

On Saturday we headed out to the backcountry for some powdery goodness. Frank had been enjoying feet of powder earlier in the week. There were definitely some leftovers to be found.

Rob made an alien

Scenic shot

I don’t know the name of this face, but I decided to call it “Mini-Maroon”, because it looks like a minature version of North Maroon peak. This face tempted us, but the avy conditions were still to uncertain. So, we’ll have to try it on a later date.

Sydney likes to eat snow

Frank

Sydney

Rob

Me

Looking back at what we skied.

We were able to get in two laps on this face on Saturday. It was another fantastic day!

UPDATE: Rob posted a TR on Teton Gravity Research on 1/31. You can find it here:
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=111148

How much can you pack in a day?

Posted by Brittany – January 23, 2008

Previously posted on my Thrillhead Blog

I have always known that if you want to, you really can pack a whole lot into just one short day. I do it regularly. But, I put the theory really to the test last Monday.

It began with dropping my folks off at the bus stop, to catch a bus to the airport. We waited outside in the scorching 7 degree temperatures. We waited. And we waited some more. Buses came and went, but the right bus didn’t come. Finally, I said, “Okay, put your things back in the car. I’m driving you to the airport.” Just as we were driving through the parking lot, their bus arrived, over half an hour late. So, the unpacking of the car commences. Skis, a big suitcase, and 2 little ones… all out, but not quick enough. The bus came and went. It didn’t even stop actually. It blasted right on through the bus stop when it didn’t see anyone there with bags.

So, the re-packing of the car occurs again for the third time in an hour. We rush. “The trunk isn’t closed all the way!” “That’s okay, don’t worry about it. We’re going to try to catch that bus at the next stop.” I drive fast, or at least I try. But there’s four buses on the highway, all blocking traffic… and the one we want is in the front. Finally the bus gets off a the exit and as we stop at a traffic light I have a vague flashback in my memory of this particular bus stop. I would need to go through two other lights to get to the parking lot, but the bus goes through it’s own lane with no stoplights. If I go through those stop lights, then we will once again catch the bus. Screw it, I decide, I’m following that bus. So, I did. I drove right through the bus stop lane. Yep. But, hey, we caught the bus!

All this had happened and it wasn’t even yet 8am. There was still so much more to happen in the day. I drove frantically to meet Sydney, Rob, Pete, and Zach in Golden. Mission number 1 was Berthoud Pass.

When we first arrived at Berthoud the sky was still sunny and happy, but that quickly changed with the oncoming front. Nevertheless, we found some good turns there.

Sydney

Rob

Pete

Rob and Zach even hit Gaffney’s on the first run. Kudos boys! You can see their lines here:

After three runs we were kinda hungry, and the weather kept getting colder and windier. We decided to head to Loveland, but not without stopping at the Sweet Shop in Empire first for a bit of lunch.

Rob and Pete

Zach and Me

Loveland was skiing well. We got a solid hour and 15 minutes of skiing in before they closed the lifts. But, we had a plan even then. We had stashed our packs near the hut on the top of Chair One. From there we would go out the access gate to ski Mine Dumps back down to the road. Nothing like ending a great ski day with some backcountry pow.

The hike was a tad windy….

Zach emerging from the blizzard

Sydney and Me

Rob, Pete, Zach

The best turns of the day were on this run. Unfortunately, we only have a couple of pics to show.

From the bus stop, to Berthoud, to Loveland, to Mine Dumps… and it wasn’t even dark yet. How much can you pack in a day? ;) It was a great day!

Enjoying Winter Park on a lovely sunny day!

Posted by Brittany – January 22, 2008

Previously posted on my Thrillhead Blog

Winter Park
Sunday Jan 20, 2008

My dad and his wife Susan came to visit me in Colorado from Ohio for the holiday weekend. Sunday was a perfect ski day. Sunny, not too cold but not too warm, practically windless, and just one of those days you’d be silly to not enjoy.

I often ski at Winter Park, but rarely do I bother to bring a camera with me. I couldn’t resist bringing it with me on Sunday though, as I knew it was going to be one of those great days.

I knew it was going to be a great day when I got to the top of the Super Gauge chair that the chutes were open. I made sure to hit them for my first run of the day:

Hole-in-the-Wall is always my favorite. So, of course I headed there. Looking down the chute from part-way.

Looking back up the chute

Looking across the chute (pillows beckoning for someone!)

It was fantastic snow in Hole-in-the-Wall. Very few rocks were showing. It really doesn’t get much better than that!

We then headed to the Panoramic Express chair, the new 6-pack that takes you to the top of Parsenn’s Bowl. This chair replaces the old Timberline chair, which is now gone. Thoughts were that a 6-pack would eliminate the always-long-line of the dinky-double that was Timberline, but this is simply not the case. Everyone wanted to try the new chair and the line was at least a half an hour long! We didn’t want to deal with that line again so we headed over to the Eagle Wind chair. From the runs off Eagle Wind you can get a good view of the Cirque.

The side you can view is typically not open, but when it is, there’s some great lines.

While we were skiing the Eagle Wind, we could hear the ski patrollers bombing the Cirque. I was hoping it would open. I got lucky because while I was waiting for my dad at the bottom of the Eagle Wind, a ski patroller came out of the Cirque and announced it was open. To the Cirque we went.

I like the Cirque. I like it because it’s a nice pitch and because the snow is usually pretty good. Part of reason it stays good is due to the fact that the Cirque is hard to get to, and requires a 20 minute hike or skate-ski. Doing one lap requires AT LEAST two chair lift rides. This makes it difficult for people to do multiple laps.

You have to access the Cirque from the top of the new Panoramic Express. With views like this, it’s no wonder why the chair bears its name.

Couple of shots of me skiing the Cirque.

I wish I had remembered to buckle my boots before I actually skied it! Oh well, such is life :)

Susan

Dad on the way out of the Cirque.

Winter Park is a whole different ski area on a day like this day. It was a good day and I’m glad I brought my camera :)

Friends doing 24 hrs of Sunlight for a good cause

Posted by Brittany – January 17, 2008

Previously posted on my Thrillhead Blog

I recently received this email from my friend Jason. I wanted to pass on the information, so I’ thought I’d post it on my blog.

Four close friends and I are entering in the 24 hours of sunlight ski and climbing race and are using the race as an excuse to raise money for Gavin Ozanne. As many of you know we lost two very close friends, Simon Ozanne and Alexis Dodin, in an avalanche last year while Simon, Alexis, and I were backcountry skiing outside of Aspen last year. As tragic as the accident was by itself, Simon’s wife was 8 months pregnant at the time. Simon’s wife Jenn gave birth a month later to a healthy baby boy, Gavin Ozanne. A college fund was set up for Gavin by some of his closest friends and we would like to raise as much as we can for Gavin’s future through this race.

The event occurs at sunlight ski area outside of Glenwood Springs, Colorado on Feb 23-4, and in a nutshell is a relay race to see how many times your team members can climb to the top of the mountain (under you own power) and ski down in 24 hours (its about 1600 vertical feet up per lap). Here’s a link to their website if you want to check it out – http://www.24hoursofsunlight.com/
Our team consists of Jason Luck, Angela Kontas, Julien Du Castel, John Bloomfield, and Jordan Hixson.

Some of you may remember the tragedy that happened last year on Sunshine Peak (Mt. Shimer) last March. This blog entry is not the time or place to discuss details, as the even is now long past. But, some information can be found here:
http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=643″
http://aspentimes.com/article/20070314/NEWS/103140048

To bring it to heart, here’s some pictures.

Poor baby Gavin who will never know his father.

Alexis

Simon

If you would like any more information, or would like to contribute to The Simon Ozanne Memorial Fund, please contact me via e-mail or personal message, listed on the right side of this page.

The avalanche was a tragedy. But we can transform it into a blessing. Even though poor Jenn had to bear the burden of her own husband’s death, she thankfully was blessed with a beautiful baby boy. Let’s make sure his future is bright.

STEEP: A movie to see!!!

Posted by Brittany – January 15, 2008

Previously posted on my Thrillhead Blog

STEEP: A movie to see!!!

I was able to see “Steep” this weekend while in Crested Butte. If the movie comes your way, it’s a definite must-see. A big thumbs-up goes to this movie from me.

STEEP is a documentary about the history of skiing over the last 35 years and it’s movement into the backcountry. The movie makes the case that skiing was never really considered dangerous until people began pushing the sport to a new level. Skiers started looking at mountains- big mountains- and wanted to ski them too. Slowly, the world of skiing 25 degree slopes was left by the wayside, and a sport was reborn.

One of the first pivotal points in American skiing was the Bill Briggs’ ski descent of the Grand Teton. His story and interview is truly an amazing one. People thought he was crazy for skiing one of the gnarliest mountains in the range, and expected him to die. But Briggs truly thought it could be done, and thought people should be doing it. So, he gathered a team of mountaineers to help him to the top of the mountain. But, part way up, they claimed they could go no farther, leaving Bill Briggs to summit the peak on his own. His team waited as he went out of sight, and then later saw an avalanche. They took Briggs for dead, but then turned around and saw him skiing down the mountain. Bill Briggs completed the first ski descent of the Grand Tetons in 5 hours. Most amazing, though, is that he did the climb and ski on a surgically fused hip which caused him to limp whenever he walked. Truly amazing.

STEEP then transitions back to Europe, talking about 1970’s ski pioneers from France, Anselme Baud and Patrick Vallencant. The movie slowly takes you through the evolution of the sport, focusing on why people do it. The constant underlying theme that pulls the movie together is, “Why do people do this? Why are these people putting their lives at risk?” Every athlete in the movie has a different version of the same answer: You don’t want to die, but something that brings this much joy is worth some risk.

STEEP focuses on the discontent of filmmaker Greg Stump in the late ‘80’s. He was discontent with the portrayal of skiing as it was, and desired to change that. He did so when he released the epic movie, “The Blizzard of Aahhh’s”. I particularly liked this segment of the documentary because I could remember very vividly watching “The Blizzard of Aahhh’s” for the first time, and loving it. I watched it over and over and over and over again. I am surprised the video tape didn’t wear out. While I was watching this cult-classic film, others were too. The shots of Glen Plake and Scott Schmidt down the Aguille de Midi influenced an entire generation of future skiers, whose eyes were wide open, searching for the next adventure. Skiing could be fun. Skiing could be dangerous. Skiing was again reborn in America and we discovered our own Chamonix, in the mountains of Alaska.

STEEP has several interview segments from Doug Coombs and his wife Emily. Both Coombs and his wife reflect back on their lives as skiers. “I didn’t choose the mountains, they chose me.” STEEP follows them through the lives in establishing the first heli-skiing operation in Valdez, Alaska and then on to La Grave in the Alps. “Being able to feel what the mountains are saying to you is huge. They’re alive…. And they’ll make you more alive, or they’ll make you dead.” Coombs’s comments in his interviews are particularly saddening, mind boggling and profound, especially considering his own ski-related death in April, 2006.

STEEP follows the evolution of skiing through today, covering Seth Morrison’s big air, Shane McConkey’s base jumps, and Ingrid Backstrom as a true “lady-who-rips-like-a-guy”. The question is, “Where will the sport go next?”

STEEP is full of excellent cinematography, like most ski movies. But what sets this movie apart from others is the story. The story is portrayed with genuine interviews, profound statements and reflections, all while covering the history of one of America’s most interesting sports. This documentary not only covers the rebirth and evolution of skiing, but digs deep into the heart and soul of the sport itself.

The quotes that sum it all up for me:
“We are mountain people. This is what we do, this is how we live.”
“You can either live your life like a lamb. Or you can live your life like a lion. We have a choice.”
“Without risk there is no adventure.”

This movie is the best ski movie I have seen since the “The Blizzard of Aahhh’s” itself. Go see it. :)

Trailers:
http://www.steeplines.com/homepage.html
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4122125&affil=ktvx
http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/392217/Steep/trailers


Other Recommendations
If you like this movie, then I higly recommend Piton Productions’movie “Legend of the Fall Line”. This movie is a documentary that focuses on the history of skiing and ski mountaineering in the Tetons of Wyoming.
Trailers:
Big
or
Small

#1: My boyfriend happens to live here

Posted by Brittany – January 14, 2008

Previously posted on my Thrillhead Blog

Having a boyfriend that lives in a cool little place is definitely a plus!

He’s pretty nice.

And he likes cats.

He likes making cooky faces, and he’s a good drywaller.

He’s a little nutty sometimes :)

And he’s a pretty darned good skier too!

#2: I can actually scare myself skiing inbounds

Posted by Brittany – January 13, 2008

Previously posted on my Thrillhead Blog

The terrain at Crested Butte is steeper and generally more entertaining than most of the ski areas in Colorado, especially those near the Front Ranges. I usually don’t bother to bring my camera while skiing at the resort, but I do have a few photos to share.

Toilet Bowl is in Spellbound. Frank skis this a lot and I’ve had my eye on this line since before I even met him (before I even knew the name of the line, too). This pic is from the top looking down, and doesn’t do the line justice.

Frank enjoys finding fun tight lines and pillows.

One of my favorites is just the classic Staircase chute. Looking up from part way down the chute:

Lots of terrain to explore! Every little area of the mtn has it’s own name, like below

Some of the names are more well-known than others.

Rambos is one of my favorite cut runs. It’s supposedly 55+ degrees at the top. Regardless, it’s pretty steep and fun. I just wish they’d do some cutting of the pungies (baby trees). They do kind of get in the way sometimes.

Pete skiing the top of Rambos

Okay, enough blogging. It’s time to go skiing now! Third bowl is opening for the first time after a week and a half. It should be great conditions with all the new snow. It has only been open two other days this season so far and was never opened last season. Should be fun!

#3: The skiing rocks out of bounds!

Posted by Brittany – January 11, 2008

Previously posted on my Thrillhead Blog

The backcountry skiing in Crested Butte is fantastic. When it has only snowed an inch or so at the resort, you can count on the backcountry to have a foot or more. Much of the backcountry is best accessed by sleds via dirt roads that are snow-covered during the winter. I can’t wait to explore this area more, as it is full of fantastic and challenging lines.

Below are some pics and links to trip reports of CB backcountry fun!

Anthracites
Trip Report

Mt. Baldy
Trip Report

Mt. Baldy- North Face
Trip Report

Cinnamon
Trip Report #1
Trip Report #2

Cascade
Trip Report

Axtel
Trip Report

Purple Palace
Trip Report

#4: The people are excellent!

Posted by Brittany – January 10, 2008

Previously posted on my Thrillhead Blog

Crested Butte has a great community of people. In knowing only a few people, I feel that the whole community has welcomed me. The people are fantastic there… enthusiastic, athletic, active, and they love the outdoors. Everyone helps everyone else when they need it, and that’s what’s best about this community. I think this community largely fuctions on the philosophy of “karma”, which is a great thing.

Crested Butte does a lot to keep its community heritage. One of those things is providing free concerts on Monday evenings at the Center for the Arts park. The park is filled with more locals than tourists.

People bring food for picnics, and beer for fun. It truly is a social event.

It’s even fun for the little ones. And boy, Crested Butte is full of the little ones!

I’ve made so many wonderful friends in Crested Butte, and I wish I had pictures of all of them, but I don’t. Below is just a glimpse of all the fantastic people that have made my experiences in Crested Butte all the more wonderful.

Alison and Susan. Susan lives in Pemberton, BC now (near Whistler), but was happy to be able to spend some time with her this summer when she visited CB. Alison is a well known skier and a huge advocate of reducing Global Warming.

Laura… fantastic skierchick whom I had the pleasure of painting houses with this summer. I first met Laura at a party that Frank brought me to with several of his friends. Frank didn’t introduce me to many people there, and finally Laura looked over at me and said, “Who are you???” :)

… and her boyfriend (fiance) Jack.

At Susan and Jon’s rehersal dinner for their wedding, I met Jack for one of the first times. He had a plaid flannel shirt on, and I kept calling him “Al” (from Tool Time- cuz he looked just like him!). I know he was kind of irritated, but it made everyone laugh… because, well, he looked like Al! Thankfully, he forgave me, and we laugh about it now. :)

Sonya… she is my friend in both places. I first met her racing mountain bikes. She is a math teacher near Denver, in the same district where I teach. We were instant friends. Previously, she had spent a couple of years teaching and living in Crested Butte. She still visits from time to time because she still owns her condo there. She was happy when I started spending more and more time in Crested Butte. Now, I spend just as much or more time with her in Crested Butte as I do in Denver!

Kelly, her boyfriend Jeremy behind, and Frank.

Kelly and Jeremy are great people and fun to hang out with. Both are vibrant, and have energy that seems endless. We climbed Lindsey with them, which was a fun experience!

Jeremy has a particularly interesting sense of humor. He sometimes goes by “Foster Grant”, as in this get-up. :)

Jay is one of Frank’s best friends. Because of that, I’ve skied with him a lot. I worked for him this summer, painting houses, and he is a great boss to all of his employees. He truly treats them well. He’s also fun, and probably the only person I know to bring wine to the top of a mountain :) It had a screw-off cap, to top it off!

I wish I had pictures of more people: Pat, Pete S, Jasper, Carrie-Jo, Nancy, Gutter, Krista… and many more. All of these are people that make the Crested Butte community even better than it already is!

#5: The mountain biking is pretty dang fun!

Posted by Brittany – January 9, 2008

Previously posted on my Thrillhead Blog

It’s great being able to mountain bike for hours on some of the most amazing trails, right out the back door!

The pics below show some of the highlights of the listed trails:

403

401

The Dyke Trail

Dyke for which the trail is named

View at the top of the trail (the Raggeds)

The ski area

Reno-Flagg-Bear

Star Pass

“Tour De Axtel”