While half the crew enjoyed a second season in AK, the rest of us watched the snow melt as the mountain closed lift by lift, and ultimately, shut down last week for the 2012 season. Good riddance. For the past two months, I had been looking more forward to the sounds of sitars and Thievery [...]
Bluebird skies have been too good to pass up. Booked a heli trip wtih Alaska Snowboard Guides for a full day. Brand new op, cool guys and some I know. Headed out with Dave and had an opportunity to get out and hit a legend. Our first warm up run out the heli? Meteorite. No [...]
A little update from the North on EVI’s inaugural trip to Alaska. Letting the boys sleep in today after a bluebird windless stretch like I’ve never seen up here. We were up at 4500 feet yesterday and not a breath of wind. Unreal. Snowed 20 to 100 cms depending on the aspect and elevation last [...]
“In the eyes of many Afghans, only manly men can be leaders. And all manly men have beards. Thus leadership starts with facial fair. Plus, the beards look awesome.” With Vail quickly moving into bike season, its time to get yo AK beard on.
New snow, back to summer break on Wednesday. Some shots of a recent EVId project. Get some!
I stand on top of the Top of The world and stare in awe at what I see. A mid-May landscape of brown and white stares right back. Barren Vail pass and a rapidly melting east vail are an indicator of just how off this season has been in terms of snow. Nothing to do [...]
Last night could not have been a better night to get out under the bright moonshine on Vail Mountain! EVI was in full force, we met up with the Surefoot guys and brought “Beeeaaans” the legendary “Wayward Pup” for some priceless entertainment. The full moon rose brightly just after 7pm and our group of 8 [...]
Haven’t been out in a few days, no real reason since EV got blown out on snow balls weekend. The temperatures spiked again after the recent snow, manking up the lowers and making the east facing areas susceptible to slides with the intense sun over the last few days. I’m sure the tree dweller faction [...]
Bluebird weekend with the Snowball festival. EV saw big numbers. 140 by two o’clock yesterday, 90 by noon today. Top of the World today reveals tracks everywhere. Temperatures rising again over 30 degrees. Saw JD the Poma. He mentioned that he has seen plenty of large groups yesterday teeing it up everywhere. Tracks in the middle of [...]
Wednesday and Thursday were two very different days. Wednesday the six or so inches came in wind affected and dense. The mountain was overrun, the front range emptying out for the busiest mid-week day this year. Eighty people out in EV. Based on what I saw, the black flag warning was warranted. Recently formed windslabs [...]
By writing this blog, I’ve given up the idea that EV is my personal space. People other than those I know, know about this area and will be out there at the same time I am. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a local’s only rant. The caveat is in my experience that almost every time, no [...]
Headed out into the moonscape of the scoured world. Wind event 2012 is in full swing and EV is not immune. One look at the Gore Range says it all. Mountains bathed in white a few days ago are stripped bare, the precious contents transferred to Nebraska. Flagging on the peaks yesterday was huge, clouds of [...]
Fire was falling from the sky, locusts clouding the air, frogs and toads eclipsing the streets… Satan’s Etch-a-Sketch was in full effect with winds of ash and red hot glowing embers!! Got everyone checked out of my building and finished dealing with a livid Big Appler who’s ski bags have sat in my lobby since [...]
Old Mans ripped huge sometime Thursday Morning, direct result of the cross loaded conditions created by the west Winds and heavy snow. Wasn’t able to see it yesterday, as I took the advice of the updated message boards at the Poma and stayed away from the heavily loaded North aspects, choosing an East tree line next [...]
Windows to ski things this season have been few and far between. Last year the opportunity remained open for extended periods with excellent snow to ski things not available all the time. This year the time to send things even moderate lines can be measured in a just a couple of days. Today the wind that was supposed to hit on [...]
Headed out in to the 11 inch day at Vail yesterday on my day off. Skied the in bounds for a couple nice runs and then headed out to see the conditions in EV. We seem to have avoided the big winds predicted for Wednesday, and the new snow was accompanied by warm temps and layered in the resort like [...]
Howling ridge top winds today had me thinking of severe wind slabs. Anything North facing and open had to be severely crossloaded in the upper areas due to the north westerly winds gusting at times over 40 mph. Temperatures were warmer by ten degrees from the previous day. Headed out into the whiteout to the Top of the World [...]
Our first official retraction. It was bound to happen. I swore off Tweeners, but today I cracked. Faced with the snow(although not the 39 inches in Steamboat) and increasing winds overnight, potential for wind slabs in areas and stories emerging about tragic, multi fatality accidents like the one at Stevens Pass like had me eating my [...]
