#skijournal

[eddiebauerpr]

Eddie Bauer featured in The Ski Journal.

[tetongravitypr]

Ski Journal, October 2016 issue.

[powjournal-blog]

A day in the backcountry Dec 30

A  day in the backcountry is always incredibly refreshing, a good day in the backcountry starts with a good crew ready for a day of touring. The most important thing about riding backcountry isn't the epic untracked pow it's SAFETY. With this is mind Keenan, Kyle and myself headed out to crystal theaters an area I had always known as the g-spot. After sorting out our confusion with the name and coming to the conclusion that older and younger backcountry groups have flipped flopped the name so not to date myself we went to Crystal theaters. Skinning is so natural its such a refreshing way to travel. Crystal requires a medium length approach through absolutely gorgeous country. Skinning through an old growth forest and watching the snow get better and better as we gain elevation is tantalizing. Getting lost in the moment and then thinking a little about the glades and pillows ahead. 

When we arrived at the mid way spot, we discussed option on what to hit. The snow pack seemed stable but we decided to head to the top and dig a pit. We dug a pit and did an isolated column test with good results indicating a strong snowpack with no weak layers to concern us. With that out of the way it was time for some turns, we rode the far left lines of the bowl avoiding most the pillows, saving those for a day with more fluff. Fun turns to the bottom with Keenan and Kyle sending a sick tree line drop. We ate a quick bite and then skinned back up to the midway, planing to drop the trees down to the road. The snow and turns on this section has always treated me right, it always seems to hold amazing snow. I love that line, tree skiing through sprayer pow super epic!!  Fun turns to the road and then it was time to boot it back around and then ride back to the truck. Had an awesome innovation, on the walk last year I would just kick my board and walk behind it, this year I did a little kick push skate while standing on my board. Explanation I kept both feet out of my binding with one stagnant foot then kicking with the other in a kick push coast motion that added quite a bit of efficiency to my flat road travel. Lastly we skied the sketchy snow down to the highway and headed for home. Super fun day in the Backcountry think snow and safety first. 

[powjournal-blog]

Disco Dec 21

Second day at Disco this young season and the base is getting better. It was a pretty slow day allowing for plenty of riding. Actually thats all I did because there weren't any snowboard lessons. Things were slow in the morning sticking to the front side exclusively not by choice, we were limited to what was open. Fun morning cruising groomers, when around lunchtime the much awaited word came as Jed ran into the shack grabbed a coat and hollered "there opening Limelight". For those not familiar with Discovery, Limelight is the chairlift on the backside with exclusively steep terrain. I ate my noodles as fast as possible and put my boots back on only to run out of time. Having to wait until after check in to go explore the backside, but hats where I headed when there was no afternoon snowboard lesson.

My first run on the backside was a special run, being away from an area that you've had amazing runs in the past and being back at that spot is incredible. That moment when your back at the top and it's fresh deep snow and your about to drop that line you've wanted ever since the last time. Well this first run was that and then some. I probably had the tenth line on the backside as the base was a bit unsettled leaving lots of hidden obstacles and few riders. The turns were thick but with a big wide board I floated and slashed and found a couple faceshots and blower turns on my couple of laps shredding the backside. #whats a little more P-tex 

[powjournal-blog]

A serendipitous day at the pass. Great story from a random Tuesday in December. So decided to give my roommate a ride to his car before I headed to the pass for a day of splitting a couple easy laps. Driving through the University district when I see someone who looks pretty familiar taking a nice set of pow skis out to his subaru. I quickly drop off my roommate and pull around the block to try and catch him before he heads off (tuesday only close place to ski is the pass). I pulled up next to his ride and we got to chatting about our plans for the day. Turns out we are both headed to the pass for some casual pow turns. Keenan grabbed my number and headed off to pick up his other friend, we plan to meet at my place in ten. He pulls through the alley ten minutes later, he didn’t save my number but turns out it wasn’t a problem. Loaded up my boots, poles, strap on the board and were headed for the pass. Keenan drove really fast skinned really fast and skied at that same pace. His friend Morgan was real handy with her snowshoes and just as fast on the track, we made really good time and good turns on our three laps. Spring skiing in December, fun but more winter weather would be pleasant. Blue bird day, fresh snow and the fun crew made for a really great day at the pass. We finished our third lap hiked up the road and still managed to make it back for happy hour at the Bridge. Nothing better then a slice and a cold smoke (brew) after a day of riding some pow at the pass. #earnyourownturns 

photo note: Had some sun flares on a few shots so black and white was the only option for those shots. Also note some pixelation across the board due to a variety of issues one being operator, mainly point of focus but that said not a bad set of stills if I say so myself.  

photos by Keith McGlothlin 

featured: Keenan and Morgan thanks for a fun day!!

[powjournal-blog]

500 miles part 3 Discovery opening day

The opening day of the season at Discovery Basin was like heading home for me. I worked at Disco last season teaching snowboard lessons. Super stoked to be back at work and at the best job I've ever had hands down. The build up to the opening day at Disco was a brutal wait, about two weeks delayed but it was finally here. So all of us instructors and locals were itching to get back out there. It was incredible arriving back at the mountain, seeing friends and co-workers I haven't seen since late last season. Lots of big smiles and hugs, high fives and how ya doing, was the most common reunion interaction of the day. It was a super fun day with good friends and a couple inches of nice fluffy on top. So grateful for this job that has put me around good people, and great riding partners. It's awesome!! toward the end of the day I was getting a little burnt out but the vibe of the group said "keep pushing it" we all ripped up all the pow and the steep that was available to us til the last chair had stopped turning. My friend Alex and I enjoyed the nice long drive back to Missoula chatting about the wonderful day back at Disco. Good friends, good times and memories that will last a lifetime. Looking forward to another year teaching and shredding at Disco. Think SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW!! Another foot and Limelight might be an option !! 

[powjournal-blog]

I would drive 500 miles part 1 Big Mtn

Whats up all been a few days and I've been out a couple times. First day day out was Wednesday, me and three buddies decided to celebrate our recently attained freedom from finals and go up to Big Mtn to shred some pow. Champaign powder for sure, it was incredible. Steep terrain, awesome features, deep snow, and quad chairs wowza, to quote Dylan "powow for days". It was a fantastic day at the fish. Knee deep and some fun drops and what better way to finish the day then at Mooses, for some pizza and a pitcher before the drive back to Missoula. Extra special trip for me, as I grew up skiing at the fish so its always incredible to go back and enjoy "disney world" for a day. 

[powjournal-blog]

Opening day Lost Trail !! 

Back in Missoula, Montana it's dead week, means were wrapping up our classes and then next week is finals week. So we got dumped on early in the week LT was reporting 48 inches so obviously everything else kinda either got dropped or put on hold for powder thursday. So early in the week me and my roommate are looking over the pow reports, LT got hit hard. I just start laughing because my afternoon class thursday got moved to friday afternoon, I'm golden. My roommate Dylan is in a little harrier situation. He's suppose to present for a class on thursday afternoon with his group. After tossing around bad excuse after excuse for a day or so, Dylan woke up with the excuse for the job. Dylan emailed his teacher on Tuesday: saying that he had a business meeting in San Fran for his families company. Bought it hook line and sinker, worked like a charm. Got a good crew together called our friends Tyler and Haile and hit the road early. 

 I've had some crazy days at LT ask Andrew Warren or Seth Cox def multiple 30 inch days but an opening day with that kind of pow is straight up a dream come true. I found myself saying stuff like "this is all time"(thanks travis rice) Finally got that day, fresh tracks all day but the first run of the day for me took the cake as best line i've ever smashed. So chair 4 wasn't open but Me, Dylan, and Hayle tracked into a run no one had hit. Big thanks to Dylan Bell for leading the train through the flat stuff. Dropped this shoot i'd remembered from years past and seriously got the best face shot iv'e ever had, at least 2 maybe 3 second white out. So I make one set of turns down the gully and then cut over the ridge and spot this 15 foot rock drop... Drop it, stick the landing and coast on out to the toe rope. It's not even turning yet but thats no big thing, unboot the bindings and damn near ran to the top. Met up with my buddy Dylan, we lost Haley in the pow but from there it was on. Rode some amazing tree runs and ski runs, the pow was everywhere. We found Haley later that day her first run didn't go as well as ours but the turns we got that afternoon made up for that. Tyler was crushing it all over. We all had a blast, Dylan still can't feel his parts of his big toe but it's only the calloused part. The take home from pow thursday is get to pow thursday it can be unreal, the day of your dreams. The cold didn't matter the atmosphere at Lt was joyous. My favorite rider of the day was a older powderhound with a huge purple pow coat that went down to about his knees, his beard was the real deal, evidence of his day, faceshot after faceshot. I hope i'm riding that hard when i'm 60 or 70. Random side note funny sticker of the day,  posted on a set of skis "no cares you ride Bridger" laughed my ass off. On that slightly offensive note to my friends in Bozo cheers and go rip some pow. Thanks for reading if you you don't like it don't read it , but know this is all for fun with the intent to document the pow season. The pasts runs together becoming a little fuzzy with no written record. Thats why i'm excited to keep putting my  thoughts, memories, and epics into a more permanent place. This blog is not designed as a place to brag but to fondly write and share the good times, the fun days with good friends and of course my favorite past time rippin pow. A look inside this powderhounds mind. Follow along as I chase the pow this season.