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here in the PNW, i'm learning that there never really is an "off season". nonetheless, i put my snowboard aside for a few months to focus on rock climbing. but with the days getting shorter and the storms getting colder, that focus was starting to disappear.

time to go find some snow.

it's been almost 4 months since i last picked up my board, but that trip started much the same--a nice, long, hike with ale_capone.


the heliotrope trail serves as a fine introduction to the mighty mt baker.


an hour into our hike, we saw the first signs of the changing season.


and soon, we found what we came for!


we weren't the first to visit this new fallen snow...


...but there was plenty to go around!


i'm not sure who was more excited about the first run of the season...


the only thing better than starting the season in mid-october? starting it with over-the-knee shots of dry winter snow!


not bad for october 14!


another lap? of course!


after a few hours' rest (and a pitcher of IPA at chair 9), we greeted the frosty new morning at the hannegan pass trailhead.


sunrise on mt sefrit.


as the moon set, we were still miles from the snow.


a couple hours later, we made it to the snowline. not quite time to put on the skins, though...


a bit more scrambling, and our goal, ruth mountain, was in sight.


kololo was even more anxious than us to begin the descent.


after a mere 7 hours of climbing, we reached the summit!


we met some of the "turns all year" crew and let them drop first.


ale_capone starts the easy part of the long journey back. (the trailhead is near the bend in the valley, accessed by traversing behind the sub-peak on the right).


october pow!!!!!!!!!!



the evening sun highlights the day's tracks on ruth mountain. time to get hiking!


winter has now officially begun!

nice work. heard these rumors of heliotrope pow... nice to see they are, in fact, a reality. might see about heading up there this week/weekend some time...

Thanks for the early season stoke

Nice work guys! That is some fucking great stuff!

Here on the East coast there is not much stuff like that. How did you know that was stable enough to ride, avalanches?

Look forward to your response.

P. S. wicked awesome dude!!

Nice, Thats the first time I've seen a picture of ales face, most pictures are of his ass cuz he's so far in front of everyone else, ripping too ! Way to represent the hardbooter out there and thanks for the stoke bs.

Glad to see the PNW is treating you well!

after a cumulative total of 3 days touring in the cascades, i couldn't be happier about my new home! (although i'm glad i had a new zealand winter to break me out of my spoiled california mindset of always skinning from the car).


pedro, i'm honored that my TR was graced with such a lucky post number from you!


ben (nice name by the way), i did my first riding in northern VT, so i know your pain. the snow we were dealing with was a few inches of dry new snow on a few inches of heavier snow from the previous storm cycle--not much potential to slide. i was more worried about crevasse danger, but again the light snowpack left most of them visible and avoidable.


my only regret is that while we were busy tearing up the light snow on heliotrope, we apparently missed 3 chicks getting naked on the summit! damn.

Looks great. Funny, I was just thinking about Ruth the other day. Good to see its good out there.

i saw the other half of this on turns all year. man im so jealous..i need to get my car fixed now! oh and i need that new board still too!

Great pics Ben! Love the one of Kololo with Baker behind. She looks so serious. Still haven't been able to locate my cord to load mine.

Too bad you you couldn't make it out Colin and Jason. Prolly be pretty crappy up there for a bit, but looks optimistic next midweek sometime if you go high enough.

Utah, I'm really not very fast, on the up at least. a common misconception. Had my 40th b-day this summer and gave myself a solid 2 months of inactive rest... was paying the price the second day out.

As for my face, My girlfriend asked why I was making funny faces in all the pictures, so please don't take them as a true representation.