1.24.2012

Running on little sleep and sore legs, casual tuesday was just that…

Hear no evil See no evil JW

JW

Galena

… now I sleep.

Alta.

The Peruvian hallway

Laying on my sleeping pad next to the wall and two desks with computers and a printer was not where I thought I would be calling my bed for the night but, sometimes thing change.  Two days of snowy weather in Little Cottonwood Canyon had brought high avalanche conditions to the canyon and just before midnight we were told to leave our room and find what ever space in the lobby, dining room, or computer room for the night, the east wing of the Peruvian had been hit before   ” maximum interlodge “

Dr. Dan "the new manager at the car wash" checking the weather

For a while the snow was falling at over 4" an hour

Interlodged

After a restless night of sleep we woke to a beautiful, blue sky day, 22″ of new snow reported.  The only thing to do now was to drink copious amounts of coffee and wait for the Interlodge to lift.

Dylan, Beck, Kim, and Tony playing the waiting game

1:00 in the lift line. Finally. 1:39 on the lift a cozy little double chair.  The six cups of coffee earlier was making it hard to sit still, having finished my day here with face shots and giggles the day before we knew it was going to be good.

Dr. Dan

Tony the Tuna

Driving down the canyon we could see the avalanche debris on the side of the road and the crowns above.

Above the Peruvian

Back to Telluride. Hmmm they just reported 16″ tomorrow’s going to be good…

17 hours later. Galena Gleason in the backyard

But it’s dumping in Jackson…

Last winter’s La Nina brought the fifth snowiest winter to the Tahoe basin, with forecast models predicting a repeat La Nina winter conventional wisdom said go to Tahoe.  Conventional wisdom is not always true.  As of December 30th it is officially the driest December since 1921.  After a trip to San Francisco for some good eats and some “culture” it was up to Auburn to spend some time with the folks, but it’s dumping in Jackson.  2012 a new year, a new focus looks like another road trip as Johnny and June sang “I’m going to Jackson”

A little time lapse video from an afternoon in the city.

The Loneliest Road in America Hwy 50

On the road to California to spend the holiday with family and friends I took the more interesting route from Colorado to Tahoe and on to Auburn for a cracked crab dinner and some god wine.  Hwy 50 may be the called Loneliest Road in America and that may be true, but it is also one of the more beautiful ways across the west and might be one of the most interesting.

Mile 81 Hwy 50 in Utah

New Vans...Never been worn

Power lines and dirt road, Nevada

Power lines, these lines go north over 100 miles across the Ruby Mtns. to interstate 80

Sunset

A few sunset images on the way to Ophir this evening.

Sheep Mountain and San Miguel Peak

The Magnolia slide path, Yellow Mountain

Lookout Peak

 

Some like to ski, some love to ski…

I was going thru some photos from a few seasons back and found this gem.  How much does a powder day mean to you?

Excuse me, I live here...

Winter Pugzin’

Like the SUP board or rockered skis it seems now that ones recreational quiver would not be complete without a snow bike.  Early December snow has been a little less than we hoped for so far  this season so to make due a little ride in the snow.

JW on the river trail

Gore-tex boots and gaiters

JW

JW on the river

Josh and Miriam rollin on the river trail

Did you know Pika don’t hibernate?

Right boot heaven, left boot hell.  I never had that problem with ski boots, mine have always felt like a cozy pair of house slippers, lucky I guess.  Thanks to the Boot Doctors, new boots this season has now made me all to familiar with the pain of breaking in a new pair of ski boots.    The thought of my big left toe smashing into a boot that now fits more like a surgical glove than my cozy house slipper was almost enough to send me to the bakery for another cup of coffee. The first true days of winter rolled into town with cold temps, in the single digits, and around a foot of new snow. Itching to get into the “Darkside” and work on a new project for this season I thought of   soft powder turns and the softest puppy in the world I saw at the base of the mountain and buckled my boots.

The unhappy little "Screaming Toe"

The Puppy

A few rides on the chair lifts and we were back standing at the What Hut in deep snow laughing and looking out at the Little     Wasatch face.  Tips up and slow skiing with still early season conditions in the Southern San Juan’s, Josh and I made another “Best Ever” runs in a regular place.

Fist bump and heads up. Dropping in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JW doing his thing in Regs

JW

Back in to town and to the boot stretcher, do not pass go do not collect $200, well after one at Oak…

B Young...Super Fries

Tip your boot fitter

Oak St.

Nothing says the ski season is here like coffee at the bottom of Oak St. as the best shop in town before heading up on the hill.

rental poles, let the games begin

RMSP in Missoula, Montana

My first video using a Canon 5D and some new Adobe Software, shot in downtown Missoula, Montana at the Rocky Mountain School of Photography.