Member rky mtn srfr

Nice photos MtnDog!

Saw some of the biggest avalanches I’ve seen all season up in James Peak Wilderness when I toured up there on Tuesday (1/7). Guessing they all ran over the previous weekend. All slides were on East to Northeast aspects, near/above treeline. Snow was kind of crap (heavily wind effected) for splitboarding, but a pleasant day and nice tour. Pics…[Read more]

Got up to Caribou/Anchor Mine yesterday to clear my head, and have a look at how it’s filling in there. Coverage is surprisingly good, looks like it was heavily skied on 1/1, but wind had filled in most tracks and was building. Conditions were ok in the trees (leeward side), and hard wind slab in the open (not so good riding conditions).

In…[Read more]

Got up into James Peak Wilderness yesterday, and it’s gotten much better since my last trip a few weeks ago. Was able to skin from the parking lot thanks to the new foot of snow from this last system. Tree’s down low are still too thin, but near treeline provided some great powder turns. Didn’t see any avy activity, but visibility above…[Read more]

Took the splitboard for a hike in James Peak Wilderness yesterday, and we need more snow. Trees are completely too thin and impossible to ride. Looks like there may be a few small slopes above treeline holding enough snow for a few turns if you put the work in though.

I got up to Loveland Resort on Tuesday, and could see the crown still in place. It’s an image I wont forget anytime soon, and it felt like a bad bad sucker punch to the gut. It’s so easy to imagine myself or close friends in their shoes, it’s just awful.

To honor our fallen brother’s memory I hope we can all take away some sort of wisdom from…[Read more]

I’m not sure what to say other than this really sucks, and I’m pretty bummed about finding out this news today. Be safe out there everyone. My thoughts and condolences go out to their friends and family.

Conditions are pretty freaking good at the moment on the Front Range. In James Peak Wilderness yesterday, didn’t see any avy activity on any aspects, and encountered no instabilities, which is nice for a change. Video from yesterday, https://vimeo.com/62588392

I upgraded to a 2011/12 162cm Freebird this season too. Before giving it praise I’ll first give some background on my riding. Going on season #14 for snowboarding (was previously a 2 planker), and average 50-65 days of riding a year. Now 5’9″ and 165lb’s. I’m a powder snob and like to go fast in the open and also ride tight trees.

Previous…[Read more]

Yep, been getting my powder turns in at James Peak Wilderness and Caribou (yesterday), and it’s been good! Lot’s of wind yesterday and today making for miserable conditions above treeline, but powder is piling up nicely in the trees. Finally got into this 20 foot in diameter natural half-pipe/avy chute (NW aspect) that I’ve been watching from…[Read more]

HFT, nice big tour. You can still see remnants of the crown (top left of your Iceberg Lakes photo) from the big natural above Iceberg Lakes from 2 weeks ago.

Interesting that you got decent turns off that peak (Heartbeat?), I was on the peak (about same aspect and slope angle but about 600 feet lower) between Crater Lakes and Iceberg on 12/29,…[Read more]

Besides the spare pair of light warm gloves in my pack, I use Burton AK gloves for going down and in real cold ascents. Typically I use an old set of light duty/liners by 4Square for the ascent, but now one of the fingers is starting to blow out. If it’s really warm enough I’ll even get down to bare hands (I run on the warm side for…[Read more]

(Front Range) Heading up to James Peak Wilderness to suss out this new snow on Thursday, probably a 6-7 hour tour…

Nice!

Took my split for a hike yesterday in James Peak Wilderness to check the situation, go through the motions, and enjoy a nice day and fresh air. It’s farlooking right now; looks good from afar, but far from good looking.

If you go, you’ll have a 3 mile hike/bootpack in most any direction (from the Moffet Tunnel parking lot) before you can even…[Read more]

I spent 3 days prior to the Thursday/Friday (2/22 & 23) storm learning a new zone in James Peak Wilderness, east facing trees near and below treeline- probably my new favorite zone for tree skiing. Powder turns in trees were VERY good. Lot’s of visible loading/slab formation above treeline, so much that I wouldn’t dare get above treeline just…[Read more]

Talk about a terrain trap.

I postponed going for a tour today so my girlfriend wouldn’t worry about me on Valentines Day. So sad this news is, my thoughts and condolences to his family and friends.

(edit) I felt compelled to post an online informational checklist of mine that hopefully folks can use to plan safe backcountry missions. Consider it as a helpful resource, as…[Read more]

We got a shit ton of snow here on the Front Range, and it’s still coming down. The trees skied very nicely today, best powder turns of the season. Tomorrow should be even better, better get after it!

I’m possibly (want to) going. Still have to get confirmation on schedule before I can commit…