telemarker

So should we call it? 2010/2011 winter, time of death....

Next time your rappeling prusik just cut em down and carry them out. just leave one or two new runners behind. then again this qoute may be a joke I cant tell sometimes? Cut the rap slings on Prusik. The W. Ridge can be downclimbed.

God no! You must not confuse me for Teleross (Peritore). And Dan is always dialed in. If Buddha skied, he would look like Helmstadter.

All I can say is that you guys have some big ones. I love to ski and there are a lot of things that I aspire to, but I could never do this. I just don't think I could look death in the face and then ski without making a mistake. trip report In the pics on your trip report I can see that you are wearing harnesses, but were you ever protected or belayed at any time? Also I can't imagine that a self-arrest would be possible using the whippets. How well would they have worked on that slope on that day? Looks like you got the perfect day and you brought the skills and the attitude that were needed. Well done. Very impressive! Hey! Thanks! It was quite the perfect day, minus the postholing below the Cooper Spur. We put the harnesses on just because it looked cooler The harness is handy in case, for some reason, you have to tie into the slope (with your axe, daisied to your belay loop and wedged between your pack and lower back). I think the snow was really too soft for a self-arrest, but the whippets are good psychological pro nonetheless. Conversely, the softer snow meant better edge bite.

My contribution: NE Face descent, upper Cooper Spur. Dan Helmstadter, skier. Skiing NE Face. Skier, Dan H.

It's that time of year. Time to start thinking about losing weight, get into spring sending form. Yes, there's an infinite amount of variables involved in "fitness", but I'm only interested in losing weight. How you do it is up to you. I'm 182, and am shooting for 170 by the end of April. Where you at now and where do you want to be by April?

Cool! Thanks for the kayaking perspective. I was wondering if it was a good winter for you guys.

Ice Update: There ain't any. If you were counting on Fugs Falls, it was looking a bit thin today... However, if you were looking for hand and finger jams on January, sun-warmed basalt, then Vantage was THE place today: Looked, smelled and felt like spring out there. It was nice to chalk up the hands again. I love these mid-winter, spring teasers

I agree! Thanks for posting.

I don't know Pete...you have to admit that this lead is as bad as it gets. I get a good chuckle each time I look at it, then wince in pain. Telemarker on the Careno Left:

A great effort I'm sure Kurt and Dan!

Story of my life Headed back up there this weekend for some revenge...

Okay dammit! Enough. Take it to cafe sensitivo. Ice updates only!

We were on tr at that point, with the ropes left out of the photo.

Wonderful photos. Very Hummel-esque.

I'm no climatologist/scientist, so I'm totally talking out my ass, but it seems to me, from a lay person's standpoint, that this year's La Nina is not living up to the pre-event hype. I'm feeling a bit cheated, as the news PROMISED a nuclear winter. The skiing has been decent but relatively unimpressive. C'mon man! The natives are getting restless.

Anyone up for a day of ice cragging this Saturday, let me know. PM or text: 5096999810. I can do the leading. You provide the rope(s) and a few ice screws. Let's see what's out there! John

nice vid capture! Motivates me to at least think about touring that area at some point soon.

Thanks for the update. I solo tr'd a few laps there tonight, rainbow left side, probably just after you guys left. Definitely looking better!

Super badass! I wouldn't expect anything less from you!

Teresa, I'm sure it will dump consistently now that I left.

Thanks Tazz! I needed to break out of the Leavenworth rut.

Gap Falls I do believe.

Trip: Revelstoke/Rogers Pass - Picks 'n Sticks Date: 12/24/2010 Trip Report: I finally fulfilled a long-standing wish to ski Rogers Pass. And I have to say, it didn't quite deliver as I had hoped, due to a low snowpack, and wind scoured slopes. My Catalonian housemate Yvon, on work study with the CAA (he's the head forecaster for the Pyrenees) remarks that RP is just 15cm above the all-time low snow total for the year so far. What it lacked in snow quality, it more than made up in my first look into the Selkirks and Rockies. There are just too many lines to count; it really is very overwhelming. The first day we skied alder and creek drainages in the fingers area just outside Revelstoke. This got the legs stretched out. By the second day, I had to get up to the pass. With good stability, we chose Youngs Peak. On the ascent, this came into view: I found out later that evening it was the Forever Young couloir, skied about as often as Cannon Mtn. Couloir. It's a very impressive line, and at the top of Youngs Peak, I couldn't corral anyone to join me in having a look see. The climb up to Youngs is about as easy and mellow as it gets, with distracting views. The two Catalonians leading the way to a warm-up at the hut: Further along: Top of Youngs Peak: The descent was not the "powder turns forever" that I have heard and read so much about at Rogers. Rather, it was wind scoured hardpan. Throw in a dose of flat light, and the turns felt more survival than graceful. No matter. The time out in this playground was well worth it. Day 3 it was time to sleep in, then climb some Revy ice. Chave and I followed-up on some local ice beta on an obvious falls behind an historic hotel at the Three Valley Gap area. It's at lest 3 to 4 pitches, with an incredible looking final pitch. Since I speak Spanish, it was easier to coordinate our climbing commands in Spanish. We worked out the basics, and I lead off into a dripping mess, with ugly hangfire looming. About 55 meters later, I crawl into an alcove in the middle of the formation to set up a belay, getting dripped on the entire time. Chave follows in excellent style in sloppy hiking boots and strap-on crampons. We're both anxious to get the hell out of this coffin/cocoon of ice, as the air feels warm, well above freezing. We rap back to the packs, happy to be out of the firing zone, and scramble back down amidst huge blocks of ice that had previously let loose. Final day, I want another shot at Forever Young before heading back to Wenatchee. Stewart and I get up early, and head up to the pass. I take off at a quickened pace at 7:30am, with the idea that I will boot up the FY couloir to get a feel for the snow. As I get closer to it, the weather's deteriorating quickly. I make a snap decision to instead climb an adjacent couloir on a nearby rock formation. It looks fun, and shorter than the FY. In the photo it is the right-most couloir. I originally was shooting for the left couloir, as it looked to be a bit longer. However, the closer I got to it, I realized it had rock barriers that I would not be able to overcome. The snow, again packed hard by wind, was easy booting. I made the top of the gully by 11am, with visibility slipping away in a grey soupiness. The skiing was variable, but steep enough to deliver a shot or two of adrenaline. Looking up the couloir: Halfway down: I made it back to the Asulkan Hut Hiway, and immediately transported myself to side-stepping, skate skiing heaven on the way out, making the car by 12:15pm. A HUGE thanks to Stewart and TVT for hosting! What a playground, the surface just barely scratched. I'm going back...