Burton Stash Park -- The Campground

This year, Jackson Hole was deemed the site for the sixth Burton Stash Park in the world. Basically, it's a series of "terrain park" features made out of natural objects. Logs instead of rails, rocks instead of trash cans to bonk, you get the picture. Anyway, I headed out with David Duffy and Andy Jardine the other day to take some photos in one of the three stashes we have on the mountain -- The Campground. Enjoy!

Andy Jardine -- 360 rock gap.

David Duffy -- handplant.

And some more fun in the big terrain park...

David Duffy.

David again.

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.

Surprise Powder at the Village

What was forecasted as one inch from flurries ended up turning into five inches of powder...with sunshine. I woke up late today, as I'm trying to kick this cold that is coming on, but still got out to Teton Village for some freshies. Definitely enjoyed the ride!

David shredding the Headwall.

Barely anyone here.

Orange man.

On the gondola enjoying the inversion.

Just getting in my daily exercise up the "White Spider". Ugh.

This is Jackson Hole

On a chilly morning that hit well below -10 degrees, I decided to drive up to Grand Teton National park and get my nature fill in...not that I don't spend enough time outside as it is...but there is something about driving through beautiful landscape in my car while listening to great music that is very peaceful to me. Anyway, here's what I came up with -- my picture of winter, and this is what I love. Enjoy.

12" of Fresh at JHMR

After an angry snowstorm wailed all night on Tuesday, we woke up to a foot of fresh powder that had fallen exclusively overnight. The sun was out for a bit in the morning so I was able to get a few shots in before the clouds took over again. Here's to more powder days!

David stomps a 20+-footer in Bernie's Bowl.

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.

Early Season at its Finest

La Niña years typically equal snow for the Northwest and Northern Rockies. To much delight, those predictions have rung true and brought us Jacksonites an early Christmas present in the form of massive amounts of snow. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort secured record pre-season snowfall and opened "wall-to-wall" It's been amazing so far, and besides the fact that people are just barely in-shape enough to ride, we've had a blast.

Rock Springs powder turns - Day 2 of JHMR.

First time we've seen Cody Peak in a while. Gorgeous day.

New to the resort this year is a series of terrain parks design by Burton called the "Stash Parks." They are placed in random locations all over the resort and contain (fairly massive) terrain park features made out of natural materials...aka tree jibs, bird's nest pillows, wall rides, etc. I thought the wall ride would be pretty sweet to shoot on a random snowy day.

David hittin' the Stash Park.

Finally, we started our morning right today with a "dawn patrol" up at Teton Pass. My friend Julie had an early appointment so she and our friend Robin convinced us to get up for a sunrise lap. Needless to say, it was totally worth it. Who needs sleep anyway when you can snowboard?

Sunrise behind Cache Peak.

Earn your turns -- you won't be disappointed.

On another non-snowboarding related note, I've had some pretty sweet views from work lately. The elk are migrating back to the elk refuge and I guess the Amangani is on their way. I've been checking out these guys for the past week or so. Such beautiful animals.