just some random winter/spring videos

Today's timelapses: just for fun from chugach ress on Vimeo.

tincan day from chugach ress on Vimeo.

trying to refocus

     In light of the conditions, the resilience of the backcountry snow community is starting to become evident.  Obviously stoke is relatively down, but positive perspectives are still out there and are keeping me going.  

     One that echoes true for me is the voice of former east-coasters and mid-westerners.  The stuff I'm skiing this season is still better than what I skied there.  Another positive is the pics that keep popping up: evidence that someone got the goods.  Every time I go out and the light improves I see lines in places one might assume were too bony or people would have forgotten about this season.  On the flip-side, all this could translate into a longer summer season with the ground drying out faster.  This could mean more rafting/running/biking/hiking/etc, so less of one means more of another.

     I have been trying to do more local stuff because driving to Hatcher is getting a little old but the fresh snow and good conditions there cannot be ignored (more sun, ski to car, good vert, good variety).  The front range has also been skiing well, perhaps after this next dose of snow it will be even better, local is always good for Andy and good for Alaska. 

SHADOW-SHOT!  Oh man, it's been awhile since I posted one of these.  What better place than the front range.  I still prefer the sun of the south face to the shadow of the north.

A little farther back, this dependably filled, low-angle, sunny run had remained untouched for 4 days after a light Anchorage-hills dusting.  Somebody had to do it.

This is my favorite view in Hatcher Pass so far, It is from Friendship Pass looking back toward the valley.  The panorama of surrounding rugged peaks is great, but this slice is my top pick.

I call this one, "Should have eaten breakfast".  We hadn't even done a run yet.  She had such a hard time with the snowballs on her body, I think it's time for a mercy-haircut.  It is warming up anyway.

the spring transition

     Late spring is a great time of year in Alaska and one can really get burnt out if not careful.  With bountiful daylight, residual snow up high/in shaded areas, dry(ish) land down low/on most southern exposures, there are so many things to do.  Think two seasons-worth of activities in the same day.
     Warm temps, long days, and sunshine melt the snow and dry out the trails.  This week I headed out Turnagain Arm-way for some trail running.  The trails along the arm are known for drying out first and with an already dry season throughout AK, this spring was no exception.  The trails were great: not muddy, wildflowers blooming already, greenery increasing and people getting out there.  My ankles and their surrounding muscles got a wake-up call from being in boots all winter, I was a bit sore after the first few runs and surprisingly AT skiing and running work different quadriceps muscles, or at least my style does.
     The road and mountain bikes also made an appearance, though mostly road as the single-tracks are still too soft and muddy.  The first ride of the season was a fail due to my eagerness to ride without proper prep: 3 flat tires and inadequate equipment resulted in the "can you come pick me up?" phone call. After proper prepping the subsequent rides went much better.  I am dabbling in some local organized road rides/races this year which has made it more enjoyable.  My bike seat-zone needed more conditioning than my legs/heart/lungs.
     Skiing is not done, well, maybe after today it is for me with an exception or two.  I have done some spring skiing with moderate success.  The snow is retreating fast and timing is everything, not just the week but the hour.  Today the S-couloir skied variably in the truest sense: sticky/crusty/heavy/moist/chalky /firm/almost dry/punchy.  It was skied for the sake of tradition, for exercising the mind more than the body, and for the uniqueness that it offers.  Good company helps.  Also skied this week was the Rabbit Creek side(north) of McHuch ridgeline.  This area has been on my list for awhile, preferably during winter conditions but I did what I could.  Timing on this was down to the hour: 8am the run was crusty/chattery but 10am it was too mushy to boot but prime skiing.  The long gully back in there was fun but I hit it too early as well, I had a late-morning obligation so I took what I could get.
     This recent stretch of great weather has allowed for all these activities and more: throw in bonus material like frisbee golf, yard work, and daily responsibilities and things can get tight.  Grilling out and cold beer make staying around the house easier.  Now I'm tired (in a good way) but have to work, then it's back out there the next day off.  Summer is sweeeeeeeeet.
     Lucy-dog is callousing her paws on the concrete and rocks after a pampered winter on snow and barely tolerating the warmer temps so I gave her a haircut.  Also, don't forget the bear spray, we came uncomfortably close to a pair of brown bears while alder-bashing down the slopes of McHugh: both parties were surprised.

Pa-tarmigan hunting

     So I have been doing some brief outings during rain-breaks.  Today's was another hunting attempt.  Just so you know, I have a 0% success rate for hunting in AK, so I figure maybe if I go for something almost as populous as salmon, something I see all the time and almost step on, something I can shoot with my own gun, I will be successful. 

     Partly sunny skies + no work = outing.  Despite bouncing off the walls with energy, Chugach Lucy is still recovering from surgery and I didn't think she would handle the gun well so she stayed home.  I headed out to 1 of 2 areas to hunt ptarmigan with a .22, Peters Creek.  After a relaxed hike up and in to Mt Eklutna I saw nothing.  Then I hiked back toward Bear mountain.  Nothing.  I didn't see any wildlife except for 1 magpie.  I did feel pretty BA hiking around with a gun though and I was really tempted just to unload a clip at something. 

     Despite my hunting un-success, the hike was amazing.  On the way up a came across a high pass from which a spring sprung.  Had I been thirsty or low on H2O I would have enjoyed it even more.  The colors on the mountainsides were perfect and the caribou moss was as thick as snow on some of the peaks.  The smell of the start of fall was in the air and the cool blues/grays could be seen on the periphery of the horizon.  Termination dust on the high peaks could be seen out by Hatcher Pass and deeper in the Chugach.  There was also a hint of the still, peaceful cold that I associate with fall. 

     I think this is prime hiking season: colors are great, temperature cools so I don't burn up on the ascents, berries are ripe for the picking and my winter stoke is rising.  After walking around that whole area I sat down and ate some blueberries and cranberries, figuring I might as well be productive in another way.  This is a hot spot for blueberries: the largest and most ripe I have seen all season, particularly on the southern slopes.  They are dense like grape clusters.  I snacked on those for awhile then headed down.  I will try the other site next time but want to practice quickly field dressing so I can do some ski-hunting this winter/spring when more areas back in the valleys are more accessible. 

 

    

 

 

 

    

rain-break hike to ptarmigan pass

     So I am mostly anti-rain and haven't been out for anything long recently.  Yesterday I had the opportunity during the spontaneous multi-hour rain-break to get something in.  I had been wanting to get out to ptarmigan tarn or green lake for some time.  I elected to go for ptarmigan tarn and then ridgewalk peak 4/3/2/flattop back to Glen Alps to keep my legs in shape with some vertical and hopefully good views.  Chugach Lucy just had surgery due to a wad of grass causing a stomach obstruction so she was resting at home. 
     I decided to jog out powerline trail past the bridge to hidden lake, more of a fast-forward to solitude as it is a common turn-around for the masses.  Then I started up the gully to to tarn.  The colors are starting to change with the vibrant reds being most abundant.  The valley bottoms remain a lush green.  Though the pass is relatively low there isn't much climbing before one is afforded views of the valley and surrounding peaks.  Fortunately the clouds were higher and it wasn't raining.
     I noticed that this time the tarn was two-tone, a portion was the typical blue-green and a small somewhat isolated pocket was green which I thought was interesting given it was all connected and had similar depths.  After spending some time at the tarn I decided to take the ridgeline back rather than descend to a heavier-worn path.  On the ascent I stopped for a dense patch of blueberries and also noticed the cranberries were ripe.  A perfect mid-hike snack.  The views of the valley below were the perfect landscape and I found myself thinking of skiing already.
     The clouds were amazing to watch, see the video below to see what I mean.  They came and went on the south side of the ridge but it was clear on the north.  With them they brought a calm and moist mysteriousness like something out of a movie, completely disorienting, shrinking the world to the size of what was visible.  Then with a quick jump to the ridgeline or shift in winds everything would open up like it was a whole new place. 
     Though I didn't see any big game I did see 2 eagles fly rather close over me, walked with some ptarmigan for awhile and had a stare-down with a ground squirrel in the mist.  I would think that the ptarmigan would be more skiddish and the ground squirrel more bold, but they seem to be the opposite of that.  I have never been closer than about 15 yards to a ground squirrel but almost step on ptarmigan all the time.
     I hope the precipitation lets up or turns to snow.

Perfect Post-work ski

Shadow-shot for the ski.

     So as I was staring out at the Chugach Front Range the past two days while working, I was eyeing the Ptarmigan S-Couloir.  I had been running/biking/hiking in the amazing weather and wanted to do my first summer "cooler ski" and given the high temps I knew my time was running out.  Right now we are nearing the summer solstice which allows for dangerously long days if you lose track of time but amazing potential for evening activities.  Therefore after work I got my junk together for an evening solo ski.
     I scoped the Powerline trail a few days ago: bike-able to the base with a few snow patches for sure.  Leaving Glen Alps trailhead at about 2030, my strategy was to bike out to the base of it, boot up, ski down with the sunset on the horizon lighting up the run in alpenglow.  Weather was unseasonably warm, sunny, clear, with a mild breeze on the ascent.  It was shaping up to be perfect.  The slews of tourists were fixed on summiting Flat-top, leaving the rest of the area peacefully quiet on a Sunday evening.
     A short bike and I began to climb.  The breeze alternated between a warm summer one and one that was snow-cooled.  I climbed in the shade, frequently watching the prolonged sunset coat the valley below.  The snow up was soft and almost ankle deep, the mildest of sun crusts here and there.  The last time I did this the lighting was flat, snow was variable, and I skinned all the way out.  Today was much better.
     The top provided amazing views of countless mountains with pinkish white patches running down the sides.  I was still scoping lines for next season.  There were still mosquitos at the top despite the breeze.  My changeover was quick since I had no layers to don.  Shorts, T-shirt, that was all I was wearing while backcountry skiing at 2230 in perfect lighting in the middle of June.  Only in Alaska.

     The run down was perfect.  An easy mountain bike out with an amazing sunset behind the Talkeetnas and the mountain I had just spent 2.5 weeks on.  MMMMM.


View from the bottom. 

View from the top.  Roughly 40degrees and ~2000ft.









Denali on the right horizon.



Ptarmigans' S. Couloir

     So Christmas came in April this year.  A storm dropped about 15" in the front range followed by another ~5" last night.  I lucked out and took a vacation day this week so that is one more day of skiing for me.  With snow this deep you need steeper terrain to get enough speed so touring solo wasn't much of an option, especially so close to the end of the storm.  I went out one day to Peak 3 and enjoyed super deep and soft powder, then headed out to Harp for more of the same.  Surprisingly, wind has not yet blown it all away! 
     The S-couloir is a classic front range ski that has been on my list of things to do for 2 winters now and 3 for a buddy of mine.  For me, this is mostly due to skiing inability and lack of confidence, both of which have decreased quite a bit this season due to gaining experience.  We decided today would be the day to get after it.  We were skeptical about the avy conditions so we kept the possibility of a no-go in the back of our minds.  We had heard reports of heavy sluffing a day or two earlier and knew this new snow could be sitting on a sun-melted ice crust, depending on aspect.
     The S-couloir was just about my only option today as it is a flat skin in and a boot-pack up.  My riser broke off yesterday and I was going to get it fixed after this outing.  No riser = no climbing for this guy, it's just too awkward.  Poor timing given my affinity for front range A/T skiing.  I lucked out and SkiAK had a part and would hold it for me.
     No one was at the TH: perfect.  Weather was cool, gentle breeze, calm, slight snow-haze with the sun trying to poke through.  No trail was broken yet so we followed remnants of a previous one, likely from the reporter of heavy sloughing.  We noticed whoompfing on the way out, but knew the couloir held a different snow pack. 
     We got to the bottom of the apron and started up.  Conditions were variable throughout the whole couloir.  Apron was mostly soft and deep with some soft debris and the lower 'S'.  At the narrow point it was half stiff chalky slab and half soft-and-deep.  Same for the upper portions.  Ligh quality deteriorated as we ascended.
     Boot-packing was hard.  I had never done it, never skied a back-country couloir either.  The hard pack was ok, but anything else seemed like I was making no progress.  I like skinning better, it is easier. I do believe I would rather skin an extra couple hundred yards than boot pack.  Yup.  I arrived at the top soaked with sweat and snow, and quite fatigued.  I knew I could ski it down, but not like I had hoped to: with fresher legs.  Maybe it's just the nature of the beast. 
     I looked over into the couloir behind it and it looked fun: note to self for another day.  We skied it down without any signs of instability.  There was just some minor sloughing of the top 2" near the top but that ceased soon.  Lighting was less than ideal, mostly flat.  We did get to check it off the list though. 






the tall peak in the center is Ptarmigan



 

camp/ski S ptarmi and N suicide

     So more winter camp/ski trips are filling my schedule now that I am acquiring some gear for an upcoming mountaineering trip.  That gear and my legs both need testing so two buddies and I headed out for an overnighter in the front range.  We headed out from the canyon road trailhead and skinned along the base of peak 2/3/4 and flaketop in perfect weather: sunny, calm, clear and warmish.

     We were shooting for skiing something back near Rabbit Lake and decided to set up camp near the base of Ptarmigan's south face.  We went with the Black Diamond mid as we had another person compared to last outing's Go-lite shangri-la 3 as it offered a bit more room.  After constructing our sleeping ground and wind-break we skinned up Ptarmigan's south face to the bottom of the cliff bands and turned it from there as the sun was getting low and snow was hardening up.  A beautiful sunset run on better-than-expected conditions was the perfect way to conclude the day along with dinner.

      We melted our snow for water and ate dinner then hit the sack.  We were hoping for the forecasted northern lights show like the night before but didn't see anything.  The night was cold, calm and super-bright.  The lights from the city, stars and 1/3 moon reflecting off the snow were enough to make a headlamp unnecessary. 
     Rise and shine we got up whenever it was we got up, ate some breakfast and melted more snow, geared up for the goal of skiing something around Rabbit lake.  I had in mind one of the chutes off the Suicides, North in particular as that aspect had decent snow elsewhere.  After a short and easy skin back to the base we found the S. Suicide gully blown bare but the North one looked promising despite the rock field 2/3 of the way up so we went for it.

     It skied better than it skinned which was nice.  Amazing views out there, especially from Rabbit lake with all those peaks just shooting straight up.  Looking down Rabbit creek(?) valley was a great view of the Alaska Range and Sleeping Lady.  Nothing but breathtaking views in every direction: sunshine, ice flowing, rimey mountain tops, blue-est of blue skies, endless beautiful sastrugi.  The ski down was the cherry on top.
     We had a mellow and easy mostly-downhill skin back to camp, broke it down and skied the remaining ~3 miles back to the trailhead.  Another good outing. 
     My winter camping skills are improving as far as temperature and moisture management.  Still need work on hydration, but on the nutrition front I made huge progress with the help of a Mountainhouse Beef-Stroganoff meal and some home-made burritos.  mmm, mmm.  Good news is I can ski with a large and heavy pack.  The bad news is that the pack is noticably heavy and took it's toll on my legs by day 2.  Good news is I skied something new and after looking around back there I have a ton of ideas for other outings, both day-trips and overnight.

video of this outing:
https://vimeo.com/62133332
recent video i forgot to upload from the twin peaks outing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_0ZdxvgwNM

skiing today.....IN MY MIND

     So I had to work again today what's new yada yada.  I realized my iphone takes pretty good video.  It shows up on youtube better than my Gopro stuff, something I will have to fix and figure out.  Any tips anyone?  Anyway this is a crazy Canuck demonstrating some front range action.  Until next time.........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsg9rpHBa48

Ski in the front range? What???

     So another day off means another day of skiing.  Partly cloudy skies, mild winds, warmer temps set the stage.  I met up with a ski buddy or two and elected to hope for the near-impossible: ski something in the front range.  We were going to pick a place further out and plan for a long skin to see what we could see.  We did not get our hopes up for much vertical, you can see from the pics what the front range looks like now.
     We skinned back toward rabbit lake, eyeing the typical close front-range runs: peak 2, peak 3, any of the peak 4/flaketop gullies.  A peak 4 gully looked somewhat promising but we decided to keep skinning to check out Ptarmigan, maybe even the Suicides if we were ambitious and desperate enough.  There had to be snow somewhere.

     As we skinned across icy patches of tundra and rock we saw a large white swath that ran continuously from top of Ptarmigan to the valley floor.  OK, so there is snow, but is it ski-able?  We sure as heck were going to find out.  As we approached things looked better and better, my mind was drooling over the appetizing thought of skiing something today.  We skinned up a wind-buffed but carveable snow to the shoulder.  We noticed the gullies were loaded with more of what looked like softer snow.

 

     We were proven right.  We traverse-booted to a couloir, ate some food, soaked in the sun, ripped the skins and skied a pleasantly long run down to the valley floor.  After a second and shorter skin up to the shoulder and a ski down the large wind-blown field of snow we were able to ski almost the whole way back to the car.  Easy on us, but the dogs were definately beat.

     Driving back down to town I soaked up the water-color sky as the sun approached the cloudline.  My legs were tired, my stomach was hungry, my mouth was thirsty, but no big deal because it was worth it.  A small price to pay to spend a day in the backcountry with friends, doing what we love, no place to be, looking at a constant stream of national geographic quality views but actually being there.  mmmm,mmmm.  No words.  If you've been there you know what I mean.