The Power of Mother Nature

I would definitely call myself a backcountry enthusiast. Nearly every day I'm dragging my snowboard out of the safety gates of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. I've taken an avalanche course. I know how it works. I've probably spent hundreds of days out of bounds. With that said, I have never seen an avalanche. It's a common fact that women are more conservative in the backcountry...less willing to take big risks. I'm definitely one that fits into that category, and I'm totally fine with it. My life will not be any less desirable if I don't do "Twice is Nice," a "no fall zone" just south of Cody Peak. I don't look longingly up at "Talk is Cheap" or "Breakneck" and wonder when I'm going to get the chance to hit them. I play it safe.

Nevertheless, I lugged my backcountry/camera bag out of the gates on a sunny Sunday morning, March 29, 2011 -- a date I don't think I'll forget. I was planning to go shoot photos of David Duffy dropping a 40-foot cliff called Smart Bastard. He was planning on entering the slope in an area called "Cowboys and Indians" and then traverse over to hit the big drop. Nothing unusual, just a big line, that many people have hit before. The avalanche danger was "moderate," that being only one step up from "low". We thought we were good to go.

Smart Bastard is on the right. You drop it diagonally into the little couloir.

I posted up just north of the drop so I would have a perfect view of the entire slope. There were tons of people out, as it was a beautiful day with a fresh coating of our world famous champagne powder...not to mention we've received over 500 inches of snow this year so stuff is pretty filled in. A pretty good year to check off some boxes on your backcountry hit list, if you feel the need to do so. I saw David peak over the top of the face, just as I saw two guys about to drop Smart Bastard. They were on a much lower entrance and they set off a pretty good amount of sluff, which was to be expected. The slope is, after all, 55+ degrees steep. I still wasn't worried at this point.

I got on the phone with David to help him navigate underneath a little patch of rocks so that he could easily traverse over to the cliff. Just as he was inching down the last part of the open snow field to his left, the whole slope ripped out. A thundering noise rattled the valley below, with waves of snow pouring over the cliff band. David was lucky enough to be able to make a quick turn and grab onto the nearby rocks for dear life. He was able to withstand the falling snow boulders and stayed safe and uninjured through the whole event. This guy was lucky.

After the avalanche, David climbed his way slowly back up the steep slope and rode to safety. He never did get to drop Smart Bastard, but it didn't really matter seeing as he could have died in an avalanche that day. We are all so thankful for his life.

Before and after shots of the slope.

David next to the massive crown.

I write this blog mainly because I have plenty of friends out there who take big risks on a daily basis. This was a moderate avalanche danger day, and David was able to release a size 2 avalanche with a 55 inch crown with the weight of just one person. Pretty scary. I know it's the end of the season and it's time to ski the lines you've been drooling over all year, but please be careful. I love my friends out here and I would never want anything to happen to them.

With that said, let's throw on some neon onezies this weekend and get our shred on!

Backcountry Kicker Sesh Part II

After our last kicker session in the Jackson Hole backcountry, we decided it needed to be about twice the size in order to get better shots. Riders David Duffy and Andy Jardine spent over five ours building up a new beast. We headed out yesterday morning to get some shots. The inversion layer was a bit higher than I would have preferred, but we still came out with some success.

Andy Jardine marks the jump with some iced tea so the riders could see the lip.

David Duffy hikes up in a balance of moonlight and an orange sunrise.

Heavenly views of Jackson Hole.

Andy Jardine sends it.

Aaron jumps into the mist.

Burgess Custom rider Halina Boyd.

What I've Been Up To

Honestly, it's been hard to even check my email with the chaos that I have going on in my Jackson life. I wake up early, eat, go snowboarding, come home and head off to work. Sometimes I get a full day off in which the work part of the day is replaced with late night chats in my kitchen with friends. Regardless of this tough life that I lead, I get to have some fun every now and then...haha.

Saturday morning was spent out in the backcountry shooting this beautiful backcountry kicker at sunrise. It took hiking up in the dark in sub zero temperatures and nearly freezing my fingers off fiddling with my equipment all morning, but I guess you gotta be committed to get the shots. Robin Pitt and I shot photos, while David, Matt Arvidson, Halina Boyd, & Ed Dujardin got after it, taking laps from sunrise on. I'm gonna keep some of the shots concealed, but just to give you and idea of what ideal conditions we were shooting in......

The beauty of these mountains never ceases to amaze me.

Ed hikes back up to give it another go.

Robin takes in the view.

Not the most mellow of hikes back to the top.

Robin searches for new angles.

Soaking up the morning sun.

More Pictures from the JH Backcountry

Thought I'd post up a few more photos from the weekend that David took with his camera. Sweet shots for sure. It's also cool to show that I snowboard too :)

Me gettin stoked to hike Cody!

On the hike to Cody, looking back at the Grand Teton.

Getting ready to shred Powder 8's.

Me, standing at the top of our line down Granite Canyon.

Some of the deepest snow I've ridden this season!

David's view from the top of a pillow line.

Conor's shapin' up to get rad.

Me on the peaceful part of the hike out of Granite Canyon.

Dirt is the new powder...didn't ya hear?

Fun in Four Pines

A few days off left lots of opportunity for hikes into the backcountry. On Friday, I headed out to Four Pines with David, his buddy Conner, and Halina. It was kind of a foggy day but I took the camera out anyway just in case. After the two hikes, we dropped into the north side of the ridge and were greeted with really deep powder turns. It wasn't long before Conner, David and Halina were scoping out some gnarly pillow/cliff lines. I, of course, tried to veer around such courses. As much as I am looking to drop more this winter, I think I'll hold off on the 20-footers for now. I carefully made my way around the first bunch of cliffs to see what my friends could do.

On the way down we came across several more outcroppings. Conner spotted a pretty crazy pillow drop and nailed it. He was a little fast for me to get a shot but I caught David following in his path. I was pretty glad I got at least one decent photo from the day because it was totally socked in and dumping snow, which made for pretty challenging shooting conditions.

Powder Pillows - David Duffy.

I'm sure we'll all get out together again for more photos. I always get stoked to shoot with talented skiers and riders, especially when they're girls :) Go Halina!

Next up was Saturday, another great day for venturing out of bounds. I was really excited to ride with my friend Laura from University of Washington. She works 9-5 so I haven't ridden with her all year. It was just lucky that I got a Saturday off of work. We started out the day with a hike up the Crags. They weren't open the day before so we thought it would be really good. It was totally deceiving from the top -- a field of untouched powder -- but when we dropped in we realized that it was sunbaked and heavy. Yuck. I still got a decent shot of David ripping down the heavy stuff.

A rare bluebird day in the Crags. Rider: David Duffy.

After that we decided it would be best to go out to Four Pines. We followed a parade of people out there and I felt like I really had to push myself on the hike so that nobody passed me. I'm definitely getting better at hiking at 8,000 - 10,000 feet!

We took a pretty mellow shot down the nose of the ridge in order to avoid avalanche danger on the steeper slopes. We were all stoked and tired by the end of the traverse so a trip to the Mangy Moose was in order.

I can't really think of more perfect days off. Lots of snowboarding, hiking, and spending time with friends...only the best :D

Making the Most of the Mountain

The past few days have been some of the best that I've had here in JH. Yesterday I met up with Anna and we took some runs in the fresh 5 inches of powder. Stuff was good all over the mountain. We stopped for lunch at the Moose and a little Bailey's and coffee to get us going.

After, we prepared for my first trip out to Four Pines. The avalanche conditions were definitely a little more questionable out there than in the comfort of Rock Springs. The journey required passing over Rock Springs and then hiking up a steep knoll. Soon we dropped down into a small canyon, shadowed by the line called "Breakneck". Don't think I'll be hitting that anytime soon. Looks gnarly.

Anna on hike #1 to Four Pines

Cody Peak looming in the fog.

Our destination: the knoll in the left upper corner of the photo.

The line called Breakneck. Yikes!

After a second mellower hike, we reached the top of Four Pines, along with several other go-getters. We looked down at the awesome powder below us and couldn't believe how epic it looked. The sun even started peaking through on our descent.

Hike #2 to Four Pines.

Anna on the descent.

View from where I was about to drop -- fun chute!

We reached the flattened area at the bottom and proceeded to take the long, tiring traverse back to the resort. All of the hard work hiking and traversing was totally worth it.

Looking back at the goods.

Today was another hard hitting day. I got out to the resort early with David so I could show him Rock Springs. It was sunny and the avalanche danger was supposed to increase as the day went on. It was pretty tracked through there with some heavy sun-soaked snow, but it was still a blast. A parade of people were hiking up the ridge to Cody Peak...good idea since this was one of the first sunny days we've had in weeks! I bet that was a good time.

After Rock Springs, we headed up the elevator shaft hike up the Headwall from the top of the Gondola. We met a snowboard instructor named Steve who also had the day off on our way up. Turns out we have lots of mutual friends, so when David took a sweet line down through the trees so he could go to work, I showed Steve the chute David and I had gone down in Casper Bowl a few days before. The snow was lots heavier today but still nice and soft. I ended up meeting with my friend Helena as well, and we had a small crew roaming around the mountain for the rest of the day. Another hike up Headwall and a Saratoga Bowl run later, I was spent. Now here I am writing this and soaking up the afternoon rays that are pouring through my window.

I have to go back to work tomorrow, but the days off I had were amazing, and I think I'll be able to power through while I look forward to some more adventures!

Lifted Spirits

Today put me in a much better mood than I was yesterday. I did have the day off though, so that helped a lot. As usual, David and I caught the bus bright and early to catch some fresh turns out at the resort. With our surprise, we peaked around the corner of the Bridger Restaurant to find the gates OPEN to Casper Bowl. I strapped my board to my pack, and we raced to the top, only to be trailing behind three other guys.

Me, about to drop into Casper Bowl. Look at all that pow!

I stared in awe at the endless field of powder below me in the bowl. We dropped in through a narrow chute and reaped the benefits of our strenuous morning hike. Soon after David had to leave for work and I met up with Anna.

David's first turns through Casper Bowl.

I was a bit skeptical after the insane amounts of recent snowfall, but headed out to Rock Springs with Anna anyway. When we got there I was surprised at the amount of people who had already gone though. I guess that's the story of Jackson people though -- always pushing their limits. At least it made me feel safer.

Quick shot of lower Rock Springs.

We ripped through the fresh powder, happy and tired after the long run down. I have the next two days off and can't wait to do it all over again!

Anna, finishing out a lap through Rock Springs.

Stoked on Snow

In a normal winter weather pattern, I wouldn't be excited about 3" of fresh snow on the ground. In fact, I would probably stay home. But when faced with the disadvantages of and El Niño year, one will definitely jump out of bed for a meager three inches. Today was one of those days. It seems like the storms have finally started reaching Wyoming.

David and I made it out to the Village just after opening. With so many options, we decided on some Thunder laps. I took a few photos of David hitting a drop called Surveyor's. It's roped off right now but it's still possible to slide off of the smallest part of it. With a few more storms, and no ropes, this drop will be pretty fun.

Snowy day on Surveyor's Drop. Rider: David Duffy

When David had to go to work, I ran into my friend Anna down at the bottom. We ended up having a pretty epic day together. First we took a "warm-up" lap down Granny Chutes over to Thunder and then up to Sublette. We decided at Headwall hike was in order. (I really need to get out hiking more. That type of altitude is a killer when you're used to hiking at sea level.) Needless to say, we gained significant distance between us and the dude not far behind us so I still felt pretty good. The snow on the Headwall was awesome and it was due time for a lunch break. I ran into my friend Trevor at 6311 and he suggested we go into Rock Springs.

I've been itching to get out into the backcountry since conditions started settling after the Wally incident. Problem is, I don't know my way around back there and it's hard to find somebody to show a newb around. I even have my Level I Avalanche Class done so it's not like I would be a safety hazard. Luckily Anna has been living here for four years and she was stoked to go out there.

We dropped into the second gate and were amazed to see a big bowl full of deep powder. It was so peaceful and beautiful out there. At times I felt like I was in the resort with the amount of tracks I saw, but the snow was still surprisingly deep and soft. After seeing a few people out there, I felt even safer. We took the sketchy traverse out (there's actually a fallen log right in the middle of it), navigating our way around the brush and dirt patches, and decided we would do it all over again.

After lots of turns, laughs, a questionable log ride and high fives, it was time to hit the Moose for some hot cider beverages. I was so stoked to be out there in the backcountry (finally), especially with another girl who was having just as much fun. Until next time...