Training Log Archive: Carbons Offset

Last day of the Hilda Hut ski trip. Seani's friend Kevin sent Seani out with the rest of us so that Seani could enjoy a big final day. We skied down and across the home basin and up to the far end of Gateway Ridge. We dropped down the back of Gateway Ridge near where Revy, Big Fish and I skied two days ago. Then across the Valkalla drainage and up a slope we haven't skied before. Seani and I did some quick tests. My compression test had a resistant planar failure on the first tap at a depth of 15 cm (the storm snow on top off the previous snow), a break on the 16th hit (medium) at 55cm, and a resistant planar failure on the 28th hit (hard) at 70 cm. It was fun to go explore some new terrain. We had a great run down, long and plenty of width for everyone. The snow was a little warmer here this morning but still skied well. There were plenty of lines through the trees to ski here but this would already be a long day for some. We headed back up to Gateway Ridge and all dropped down off the end of the ridge, a run we called "Seani's Day Out". We have skied near here in the past and had good runs if you don't mind tree skiing and some little drops or steeps. This time we went further off the nose and nailed a nice opening that provided space for everyone to get nice turns on a nice open line. Headed back up to the ridge and most people headed back to the hut, but I convinced Big Fish to do another lap of SDO off the nose of the ridge. We started out more to the left this time, then crossed through the patch of trees between the two lower runs and cut hard right of the right run where we each found our lines straight down through the trees. My line had some large fallen logs that were covered in snow and created step-downs that you had to hop off of. On one, I landed on a snow bridge with my weight a bit behind the main log at the front edge of the step. The snow bridge punched though and I fell in, wedged with my skis against the log at the front, and my pack bracing against something behind me. I managed to wiggle onto my side and then hop off the log and continue down, skiing lower than we had before.
Then Big Fish and I continued up onto Gateway Ridge and followed the tracks of the other 8 in the group who did a run down the last Norn or Flight of the Valkyries. We planned to ski just right of their tracks on the same run but Big Fish led me further right. A steep and narrow drop in through some trees took us into the very top of the next Norn to the skier's right. We stayed to the right side of it on the steeper section at the top that we were more concerned and cautious about, then moved over more as we got lower down. A loooong run and the snow was great. A good day of variety and trying new runs, a great finish to a great trip.

C • I took my AST-1 and so now ... 3

Started with a run from hut ridge. Then over to the Mead Pot. First run took us down the Honey Stick. On the second run down, a bunch of us were too far skier's left and picked our way through the trees. Then back up again for a run down the Battlefield. Little Fish followed me as we started through the trees on the skier's right. Knowing that Little Fish can ski anything I can, I took a fairly straight line down through the trees with lots of fun drops. Then down the steep final pitch of the Battlefield.
Back to the cabin where a lot of people retired early. Revy, Big Fish, Seani and I went up above the hut again where I got to ski a nice gully. Then we continued onto the Sauna Chute. We let Seani go first; the poor guy has spent a lot of time babysitting the friend he brought along who is not skiing very well in this terrain and snow. I got to go second. It was a blast!
Convinced Seani to go for one more lap. Back up the ridge above the hut and there was still room for another track in the gully while Seani chose another run down the shoulder. I cut right coming out of the gully and got some good air off of a steep roll-off... The landing resulted in the knees coming to the chest, shoving all of my breath out.
The snow wasn't quite as light today, although it seemed a little easier to land in because it would catch you and support you better.

C • It was super fun to follow ... 1

Today was fully a 10 out of 10, but did verify that yesterday on Secret Lover was a 12.
Deep snow today, still great, just not quite as incredibly impossibly light as yesterday afternoon: those really were conditions that only happen when all the right factors come together and you happen to be there in that brief temporary moment. For all of the fans of Robert Frost (or The Outsiders (novel by S.E. Hinton)): "Nothing gold can stay".
A nice run down Espresso. I had a nice line on the right shoulder above a gully with nice turns through widely spaced trees but it started to cliff out and resulted in some tight maneuvering to get down. Down to the lake and across to the Norns where Revy quizzed us about the route up, how to get around the cruxes, and Carbon and Little Fish each set some uptrack.
A little bit of wind last night made the top layer of snow just a little more consolidated. Still, ridiculous face shots; seeing where you were going was a problem. Had a great run down The Wishbone where BigFish and I ended up skiing side by side. I tried to ski ahead of him to get more space, but on matching skis neither of us was able to pull ahead. We subconsciously agreed that I would continue down the left side of the run and he would ski down the right. Revy got some shots of us skiing in synchronicity. Skied it all the way to the bottom, running a little short of breath.
Then a run down Naugty Norn that was also great, again loads of snow and a long run skied all the way to the lake at the bottom.
Then Revy, BigFish and I hiked to the far end of the ridge to wrap around onto our uptrack from yesterday and skied a run off the back of Gateway Ridge. Ridiculously deep, Revy got shots of BigFish with snow up to his chest and sometimes only his head showing. His shots of me were completely obscured by so much snow being kicked up that you couldn't see me. Even though my jacket was zipped up tight, somehow the snow seemed to pour in at the neck.
Really deep trail breaking on the way back up. BigFish and I each got to try a little so that Revy could briefly catch his breath; it gave extra appreciation for what he does for us all day.
Then a final run down Flight of the Valkyries, again more great stuff. BigFish bombed ahead and skied the whole run without stopping. When I reached a steep roll-off near the bottom, I put the brakes on to look before leaping but saw BigFish's track that went straight off right at the sharpest lip. His tracks continued down the slope and you could see him finishing the run down at the lake - incredible!

C • Big Fish had a good powder ... 2

OMG THAT WAS VERY PROBABLY THE BEST DAY OF SKIING EVER!!!! I need a BIGGER Caps Lock button!!! I need a bigger font!
On every run, the snow was amazing. After each run, I couldn't imagine it being any better, and then the next run was somehow even better.
Started with a climb up by Espresso to the top of Hut Ridge and decided to go over and ski down Burton Direct. Wonderfully steep and lots of snow, so it was sluffing pretty big. Several folks were a little nervous about this, we skied down in groups of two, trying not to sluff down on each other. A really fun run if the sluffing didn't bother you; the steep pitch was exciting.
Then over to the other side of the Burton drainage and skied down a run between Illicit Smile and the Spear. More amazing snow, a great long run down, got to ski a cool little rib that no one had put a track on, then I got waved by and continued onto an untracked run to the lower portion, and you could maneuver through the alders at the bottom.
Wrapped around the end of Hut Ridge on yesterday's track and then 8 of us skied the Scimitar. Wow, it just got even better! Such deep, fun snow that was so consistent and easy to ski...you could jump off anything and have an easy landing in deep powder.
Then the last five keeners (Revy, Carbon, Big Fish, Seani) went back up to the top of Gateway Ridge, with Revy putting in an awesome uptrack through crazy deep snow. Traversed the entire ridge to Gateway Col, and then down Secret Lover which was amaaaaaazing! Somehow even better than the previous excellent runs. It was absolutely incredible. I do think this was probably the best run we have ever skied (and we've had a lot of great ones). Snow was so deep, light, the only problem was that the snow was blowing in your face so much and was so light that it wouldn't settle down in time for you to see your next turn!
Feeling very ALIVE!!! The best feeling there is! At the bottom of this run, I was so pumped that I had more energy than all day, despite what had already been a big day.
I LOVE this sport!! I love life :). What a charmed life we live :)

C • WOW!!!! 3

Over to the Broom for some fun skiing through spaced trees. Then an exciting long and steep run down Illicit Smile. A leg burner on tele.
Then wrapped around hut ridge to get back to the hut.

Up over the Rampart and down East Hilda bowl. Revy offered an extra part lap for those who were willing to hike up again. More crazy good snow, varying from deep to really deep. Back up over the rampart again. Come back near the end of the day, low light and a crust under the snow that was a little tricky