like the movie franchise, this year's 'descents at speed' sequels are getting up there in number! with this posting, i could easily be on 8, 9, and 10 now!
let's start with a late run on the james jewitt trail, over a week ago now. it was late in the afternoon when i finally got my act together, geared up, and heading out on the jjt--the green trail going counter clockwise--over at lswma.
when i say late afternoon, i mean after 4p, with the sun headed over the horizon. the four or five inches of fluff on top of a somewhat solid crust, seemed fast from the start, and as the temperature dropped, it only got more slippery. the dark was coming fast as well, so i turned at the potato field, locked down, and pushed off. i figured the cruising the less steep jewitt in semi-dark would be safer than flying the sustained, steeper moses in more-dark.
probably a good choice. i was having so much fun playing the edges: zipping up and dropping back off banks, hitting rock launches, turning totally off trail and weaving trees. well, mostly weaving them. a couple of smaller branches i was unable to avoid; at speed and with the dimming light, i barely saw them as they whipped my cheeks. by the time i made it back to the truck i had a few scars, but i was smiling big!
the following day, i made it a point to get going a lot earlier. and given the great snow, i decided to try a cardigan run. hoping the crust was just as firm and maybe even topped by deeper snow, i figured it should be a really sweet run.
it certainly was a beautiful 'blue bird' day. i grabbed a picture of the upper ski trail before i skinned up. it was definitely slippery and the crust seemed a little sketchier than over at lasalette. while i had the camera out i snapped an image of what was going on under ski on the way up.
besides the collapsing crust, the snow was not any 'extra' deep here either, but i kept going higher hoping. at the top of the chute i grabbed another couple of pictures while i still had on a smile and wasn't wearing any new scars! this was going to be fast and i would be chasing control as much as fun.
dropping into the chute off the growing top cornice--well over my head this trip--was enough to get the juices flowing. good thing too as it didn't get any less exciting the rest of the run. on the top tight section, i took two hemlock/snow splats to the face. on the next piece i was feeling good and 'hucked' the ice flow, landed it, and was railing the run out thinking, "i got this."
that might have been a bit premature. immediately, my skis slid out from under me and i went down--sliding toward a tree and a new scar. fortunately i lost speed quickly and was able to tuck my head in and 'take one for the gipper.' (that's paraphrasing--and i never did like reagan.) as i got up i thought of linda always reminding skip to "wear your helmet!"
the rest of the descent i kept on top of things--i.e. my skis and the snow--and away from any trees. it was indeed a sweet run.
the following week, after another 4-5 inches, i decided to give it another try. this time i left the house and was on my skis before noon. i even remembered to grab the camera and my wallet. it was much colder, but another brilliantly clear day and i had the idea to take an artsy picture of my shadow skinning up getting first tracks! that's when i discovered i had left the camera--and wallet--on the front seat.
no problem, i would be down in plenty of light to get a picture, at least of the lower section. as i continued up, i was plotting how to avoid any craziness this time and opted to stop early and ski from below the ice flow. that turned out to be a very wise choice as it was even faster than it was last time.
i made it down to the lower middle section, without mishap and in pretty good style. feeling pumped, i opened it up a bit, staying in the fall line down one of my favorite sections. unfortunately, i flew right by the shortcut to side hill a wicked gully rather than hitting it straight on. i skidded out trying to stop and slid toward another tree and more scars. this time i lay on my back, dragging my pack to cut speed. that worked well but i couldn't watch where i was going and both my knees thudded against said tree, bringing me to a halt.
my first thought was damn, the knee i tweaked earlier in feb. was all better. when i got back up, it moved without too much pain but i was now thinking, not only should i be wearing a helmet, i'm gonna have to get knee pads too!
playing it safe, i hockey stopped at the top of the next sustained drop and stayed upright for the remaining steep bits. by the time i got to the lower road, i was playing the edges again, looking for excitement!
i got to the truck and fetched the camera for a couple of final shots. i was still the only soul on the mountain.
the knees might be sore tomorrow, but for now i was feeling happy to be outside playing!
ps--sawyer came up for a visit and the next day he and i went for a ski in the morning. we limited ourselves to pam's snowshoe trail and the field. not nearly so furious, we had a lot of fun, especially turning in the field. it was like butter out in the open. under the trees, the crust was waiting to grab you--more like butter, then glue, then butter, then glue...! the answer clearly was to stay in the field--it was beautiful out there!
let's start with a late run on the james jewitt trail, over a week ago now. it was late in the afternoon when i finally got my act together, geared up, and heading out on the jjt--the green trail going counter clockwise--over at lswma.
when i say late afternoon, i mean after 4p, with the sun headed over the horizon. the four or five inches of fluff on top of a somewhat solid crust, seemed fast from the start, and as the temperature dropped, it only got more slippery. the dark was coming fast as well, so i turned at the potato field, locked down, and pushed off. i figured the cruising the less steep jewitt in semi-dark would be safer than flying the sustained, steeper moses in more-dark.
probably a good choice. i was having so much fun playing the edges: zipping up and dropping back off banks, hitting rock launches, turning totally off trail and weaving trees. well, mostly weaving them. a couple of smaller branches i was unable to avoid; at speed and with the dimming light, i barely saw them as they whipped my cheeks. by the time i made it back to the truck i had a few scars, but i was smiling big!
the following day, i made it a point to get going a lot earlier. and given the great snow, i decided to try a cardigan run. hoping the crust was just as firm and maybe even topped by deeper snow, i figured it should be a really sweet run.it certainly was a beautiful 'blue bird' day. i grabbed a picture of the upper ski trail before i skinned up. it was definitely slippery and the crust seemed a little sketchier than over at lasalette. while i had the camera out i snapped an image of what was going on under ski on the way up.
besides the collapsing crust, the snow was not any 'extra' deep here either, but i kept going higher hoping. at the top of the chute i grabbed another couple of pictures while i still had on a smile and wasn't wearing any new scars! this was going to be fast and i would be chasing control as much as fun.
dropping into the chute off the growing top cornice--well over my head this trip--was enough to get the juices flowing. good thing too as it didn't get any less exciting the rest of the run. on the top tight section, i took two hemlock/snow splats to the face. on the next piece i was feeling good and 'hucked' the ice flow, landed it, and was railing the run out thinking, "i got this."
that might have been a bit premature. immediately, my skis slid out from under me and i went down--sliding toward a tree and a new scar. fortunately i lost speed quickly and was able to tuck my head in and 'take one for the gipper.' (that's paraphrasing--and i never did like reagan.) as i got up i thought of linda always reminding skip to "wear your helmet!"
the rest of the descent i kept on top of things--i.e. my skis and the snow--and away from any trees. it was indeed a sweet run.
the following week, after another 4-5 inches, i decided to give it another try. this time i left the house and was on my skis before noon. i even remembered to grab the camera and my wallet. it was much colder, but another brilliantly clear day and i had the idea to take an artsy picture of my shadow skinning up getting first tracks! that's when i discovered i had left the camera--and wallet--on the front seat.
no problem, i would be down in plenty of light to get a picture, at least of the lower section. as i continued up, i was plotting how to avoid any craziness this time and opted to stop early and ski from below the ice flow. that turned out to be a very wise choice as it was even faster than it was last time.
i made it down to the lower middle section, without mishap and in pretty good style. feeling pumped, i opened it up a bit, staying in the fall line down one of my favorite sections. unfortunately, i flew right by the shortcut to side hill a wicked gully rather than hitting it straight on. i skidded out trying to stop and slid toward another tree and more scars. this time i lay on my back, dragging my pack to cut speed. that worked well but i couldn't watch where i was going and both my knees thudded against said tree, bringing me to a halt.
my first thought was damn, the knee i tweaked earlier in feb. was all better. when i got back up, it moved without too much pain but i was now thinking, not only should i be wearing a helmet, i'm gonna have to get knee pads too!
playing it safe, i hockey stopped at the top of the next sustained drop and stayed upright for the remaining steep bits. by the time i got to the lower road, i was playing the edges again, looking for excitement!i got to the truck and fetched the camera for a couple of final shots. i was still the only soul on the mountain.
the knees might be sore tomorrow, but for now i was feeling happy to be outside playing!
ps--sawyer came up for a visit and the next day he and i went for a ski in the morning. we limited ourselves to pam's snowshoe trail and the field. not nearly so furious, we had a lot of fun, especially turning in the field. it was like butter out in the open. under the trees, the crust was waiting to grab you--more like butter, then glue, then butter, then glue...! the answer clearly was to stay in the field--it was beautiful out there!
