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

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 “
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.
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.
Driving down the canyon we could see the avalanche debris on the side of the road and the crowns above.
Back to Telluride. Hmmm they just reported 16″ tomorrow’s going to be good…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Back in to town and to the boot stretcher, do not pass go do not collect $200, well after one at Oak…
My first video using a Canon 5D and some new Adobe Software, shot in downtown Missoula, Montana at the Rocky Mountain School of Photography.