Stuck in the Rockies

A Volcano Tour Update

ted — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:16:14 +0000

Sierra Slayer Glen Poulsen and friends joined the Volcano Tour for a couple of days, including this one on Mt. Hood's Cooper Spur.

What an incredible trip this has been.

Since joining Chris Davenport and friends on the Spyder Volcano Tour last weekend we’ve skied Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, and Mt. St. Helens. [...]

And we’re off, again

ted — Sat, 12 May 2012 04:33:41 +0000

The Spyder Volcano Tour land yacht, our home for the next week.

It’s a quick turnaround. Since returning from Canada earlier this week, Christy’s bags pretty much remained packed– with only the clothes that needed a visit to the laundry room having been pulled out and since put back clean.

We’re on [...]

Fairy Meadow – 2nd set

ted — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:37:41 +0000

Sean, Friendship Col, opens the second set here.

Here are a few more from the week.

After dropping in off the saddle between Damon and Sentinel, Christy's final run of the trip finished down the Shoestring, back to the hut.

"It looks steep and dangerous. Brad, you go first." The hut [...]

Fairy Meadow – 1st set

ted — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:08:06 +0000

Bianca, from Quebec, charges down from Friendship Col.

Everyone who ever told me that Fairy Meadow was a “must-do” was right. The place rocks. Joey, Sean, Brad Buyers, Christy, and I joined a group of 12 Canadians (including Greg Franson and Jesse Berg from our Bugs to Rogers Traverse last year) for a [...]

A Wapta Whiteout

ted — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:06:52 +0000

A rare break in the morning clouds above the Bow Hut afforded the rare view we sought.

Canadians call it clag. Fortunately for Coloradans, a high treeline and lack of glaciers prevent whiteout conditions from being an issue much of the time. But on a recent trip to the Icefields in the Canadian [...]

Heading Out

ted — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 17:44:21 +0000

It’s time for some spring adventures. We’re off to Canada again.

The map and route of the Wapta Traverse.

Sean and I are doing the Wapta Traverse, a hut-to-hut ski tour similar in style to Europe’s Haute Route. The five day/four night trip will take us over and across the famous Wapta and [...]

Hayden Peak

ted — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 03:01:20 +0000

Christy skis down the Southeast face of Mount Hayden on a perfect bluebird day. Thanks for the pics, Anda!

The abbreviated backcountry ski season keeps going. These photos are from a ski outing that Christy, Anda, and I recently made to Hayden Peak and South Hayden.

Technically speaking, there are three different Hayden [...]

Easter Bunny Peak

ted — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:46:55 +0000

Easter eggs on the summit?

On Easter Sunday, we skied a line off of a local unnamed summit that neither Christy nor I have been to before. Like a lot of 13ers in the state, this 13,500+ foot summit has never been given an official name. Since we were looking to do something [...]

The Pearl Couloir

ted — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 02:29:01 +0000

Sean skiing the Pearl Couloir.

Earlier this week, a group of us went out for our first real backcountry ski day of the season. Better late than never.

Sure, we’ve been in the backcountry on mellow tours through moderate terrain, but conditions and snowfall haven’t been suitable for taking on anything more. Now [...]

Grand Traverse 2012

ted — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 04:26:28 +0000

Good morning Grand Traversers!

Put another Grand Traverse in the books. Having had a few days to think about the whole experience, the short answer is that it was a really good race. The weather was mild, there was no wind, and the sunrise was amazing. We got ourselves on the podium as [...]