Splitboard.com Forums

Curious slab of meat

all good things must come to an end, and my first winter in the cascades is no exception. i know that technically, winter ended a few weeks ago, but yet in my mind, nothing was different, for i was still chasing storms and seeking out cold winter snow.

but watching the storms get warmer and wetter, and knowing that i'll be out of town this coming weekend, i figured that last weekend was my final chance this season to ride top to bottom runs of true pow. so i did my best to capitalize.

friday seemed like a good day to check out crystal for the first time. and i was lucky enough to have a top notch tour guide.


the snow was deep, and the tracks were fresh...


...but soon we ventured outside the resort.



nothing concludes a full day of lift-riding better than a few hours of touring!


kyle is still not sick of riding pow.


i heard scott was planning to close up the surprise cave, so i bounced up to steven's pass saturday morning. man this place looks different after a season of snow!


digging deep to find the entrance.


the cave entrance tunnel grew with each storm. at some point it developed a right angle turn. shoulders and elbows are useful for traction on the way up.


after a nice lunch of rye whiskey there was time for an evening tour in the perpetual snowstorm that always starts as soon as i get to camp.


amazingly, the sun came out around 6pm, just as we were getting ready to ride.


it was tough breaking trail in the dense, sticky new snow, so we picked a line that was short and steep.




a clear night... good for drunkenly jumping off the top of "cave rock".


strange lawn art.


one last cave dinner.


and time for bed.


sunday morning... too much new snow to ride safely, and yesterday's skin track is buried. let's head home.


the new snow was so heavy that scott opted to split ski the exit descent.


we made it out by 1 and contemplated going for a lap or two on heather ridge... but opted to get a growler and go fire up the bbq instead. after all, winter's over...


it's been a good one... (at least to the extent that is possible while working full time). many thanks to all the great northwesterners that i've met this winter; i am forever grateful to all of you for showing me around your mountains and resorts. i look forward to calling the cascades my home and enjoying all the great spring alpine riding that is about to begin!