Friday, February 29, 2008
Weather Extremes
In the short time Wendy and I have been out here, we've seen a lot of interesting weather. We've ridden in full white-out conditions in dense powder storms and now we've also ridden under the bluest of bluebird skies. The clouds took most of today off and temps soared to the low 40s at the base of Grand Targhee. We took the opportunity to take the camera (the good camera, not the lame camera) out on the slopes with us. I've also uploaded what will probably be the last video of the trip. It's a little long, but it's worth it.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Wendy Blue
Well, the helmet cam finally gave up the ghost. The stoopit thing's been giving me problems the whole trip and yesterday it corrupted 19 of 23 video/pic files. BUT, since I already new it kind of sucked, I brought Phil's cam out with us and got a lot of terrific footage.
I'll start you off with photos -- three of the files the helmet cam didn't screw up.
This first video is the final hurrah for the helmet cam. Keep an eye out for the enormous powder wave Phil kicked into Jessica's face. That's called Wyoming marriage counseling.
Wendy continues to progress at an incredible rate! Yesterday, she tackled her first blue (intermediate) runs. Here in Wydaho, blues are steeeeeeeep, too. That's all in this next video.
Stay tuned! More to come in a couple days. The plan is to rent cross-country skis Friday, which should produce some good footage and pics.
J.
I'll start you off with photos -- three of the files the helmet cam didn't screw up.
This first video is the final hurrah for the helmet cam. Keep an eye out for the enormous powder wave Phil kicked into Jessica's face. That's called Wyoming marriage counseling.
Wendy continues to progress at an incredible rate! Yesterday, she tackled her first blue (intermediate) runs. Here in Wydaho, blues are steeeeeeeep, too. That's all in this next video.
Stay tuned! More to come in a couple days. The plan is to rent cross-country skis Friday, which should produce some good footage and pics.
J.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Moose Hunt
Before this trip, the most days Wendy and I have ever rode snowboards in a row is a whopping ONE. We've now made it through three in a row right off the bat -- at altitude no less -- so we're resting today. Phil and Jess are at work and we took their mutts out to Teton Canyon for a walk in the snow. I'd be lying if I said we weren't also hoping to see some moose. And, I'm happy to report that Operation Moose Hunt was a rip-roaring success! Here are some pics from today, but first, two from the other day, which I forgot to post. Sorry the moose aren't clearer, but the visibility was terrible and moose are like the hippos of the north -- very dangerous. A hundred meters was close enough. (I'm also working on a couple more videos. More about those tomorrow or the next day.) Click the photos to see them bigger.
RATS! Blogger appears to have a photo limit. Check the next post for more!
RATS! Blogger appears to have a photo limit. Check the next post for more!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Powder day!
Ass over tea kettle…
I’m not sure where I first heard that saying, but it seems to apply as I flip down the most ridiculously steep chute I’ve ever ridden. I see whiteness… and more whiteness. Was that a tree that whipped past? I finally skid to a halt in deep powder. A quick check shows no damage, no pain anyplace where there isn’t usually pain. “Are you okay!?” rains down in a chorus from high above. So I do what any idiot in my place would: I look back up the hill at Phil and Jess and shout, “WHOOOOOO!”
It’s the worst fall I’ve ever taken on a snowboard. But then, it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever tried to ride, so I guess the universe still works like it’s supposed to.
Phil, Jess and I have been on a journey that’s as epic as it’s possible to be in an hour and a quarter. We rode a lift to the high point of Grand Targhee, rode a short traverse to a saddle, then dismounted and started hiking. The saying goes, “Earn your turns,” and that was only the second time I’ve done so. The first was about three hours earlier.
The slog took us to the top of Mary’s Nipple, a slightly shorter peak than the main, where we again strapped in and rode to another saddle, below Peaked Mountain, and the real work began. The longest and steepest section of the boot pack, our trail (I use the term loosely) led to the Peaked summit. I haven’t been that high since I was in South America, and I was 22 then. Ugh. I heard myself wheezing ever so slightly and, by the time I got to the top, I could measure my heart rate without palpating anywhere.
But the turns we earned were worth every step! We summitted alone in a white out, and rode over a half mile in untracked pristine, marshmallowy fluffiness. When we finally stopped at the top of the nearest lift, we were giggling like children and still nowhere near the base of the mountain.
A short traverse later and we came to the top of Das Boot, an 80-degree cliff-lined face punctuated by chutes where it’s possible to not fly off a cliff. I sat atop it and looked straight down. My boots and board dangled in the air below. The three of us hopped off the edge and began to traverse looking for a sane way past the cliff band.
I passed Phil and Jess as I rounded a large pine and there she was: my chute.
I’ve never done this before, but hey, snow is fluffy, so why not. In the split second after I saw the chute open up beneath me, I thought, “I guess I can either do this or not. If I turn now, I’m committed. One turn. That’s all it will take. Should I do this?” It was already too late. “Oh well,” I thought. “What’s the worst that can happen?”
Oh. Right.
I’m experiencing technical difficulties with my helmet cam – enough that I’m convinced the problems are NOT user error. It stops shooting whenever it feels like it. Still pictures are low quality and, unless the light level is full sun, it can’t discern dark shades. Aiming the camera is an orgy of trial and error, and I never know if I got the shot until I upload them at the end of the day. And even when I do manage to get a well-composed shot, it’s so shaky, you can barely tell what you’re looking at.
Nevertheless, I put together a video and some pics. Also, I have a plan to get better shots tomorrow. Yay!
The hiking in the video is from early in the day during our first foray to Mary’s Nipple, and so is the footage of Phil riding off into the void. The highlight is Wendy, linking her first ever snowboard turns! Enjoy!
J
I’m not sure where I first heard that saying, but it seems to apply as I flip down the most ridiculously steep chute I’ve ever ridden. I see whiteness… and more whiteness. Was that a tree that whipped past? I finally skid to a halt in deep powder. A quick check shows no damage, no pain anyplace where there isn’t usually pain. “Are you okay!?” rains down in a chorus from high above. So I do what any idiot in my place would: I look back up the hill at Phil and Jess and shout, “WHOOOOOO!”
It’s the worst fall I’ve ever taken on a snowboard. But then, it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever tried to ride, so I guess the universe still works like it’s supposed to.
Phil, Jess and I have been on a journey that’s as epic as it’s possible to be in an hour and a quarter. We rode a lift to the high point of Grand Targhee, rode a short traverse to a saddle, then dismounted and started hiking. The saying goes, “Earn your turns,” and that was only the second time I’ve done so. The first was about three hours earlier.
The slog took us to the top of Mary’s Nipple, a slightly shorter peak than the main, where we again strapped in and rode to another saddle, below Peaked Mountain, and the real work began. The longest and steepest section of the boot pack, our trail (I use the term loosely) led to the Peaked summit. I haven’t been that high since I was in South America, and I was 22 then. Ugh. I heard myself wheezing ever so slightly and, by the time I got to the top, I could measure my heart rate without palpating anywhere.
But the turns we earned were worth every step! We summitted alone in a white out, and rode over a half mile in untracked pristine, marshmallowy fluffiness. When we finally stopped at the top of the nearest lift, we were giggling like children and still nowhere near the base of the mountain.
A short traverse later and we came to the top of Das Boot, an 80-degree cliff-lined face punctuated by chutes where it’s possible to not fly off a cliff. I sat atop it and looked straight down. My boots and board dangled in the air below. The three of us hopped off the edge and began to traverse looking for a sane way past the cliff band.
I passed Phil and Jess as I rounded a large pine and there she was: my chute.
I’ve never done this before, but hey, snow is fluffy, so why not. In the split second after I saw the chute open up beneath me, I thought, “I guess I can either do this or not. If I turn now, I’m committed. One turn. That’s all it will take. Should I do this?” It was already too late. “Oh well,” I thought. “What’s the worst that can happen?”
Oh. Right.
I’m experiencing technical difficulties with my helmet cam – enough that I’m convinced the problems are NOT user error. It stops shooting whenever it feels like it. Still pictures are low quality and, unless the light level is full sun, it can’t discern dark shades. Aiming the camera is an orgy of trial and error, and I never know if I got the shot until I upload them at the end of the day. And even when I do manage to get a well-composed shot, it’s so shaky, you can barely tell what you’re looking at.
Nevertheless, I put together a video and some pics. Also, I have a plan to get better shots tomorrow. Yay!
The hiking in the video is from early in the day during our first foray to Mary’s Nipple, and so is the footage of Phil riding off into the void. The highlight is Wendy, linking her first ever snowboard turns! Enjoy!
J
Friday, February 22, 2008
First Day on the Slopes
Okay so I know Jay has already mentioned our encounter with Ashish but I was so impressed by our meeting. It was more than a conversation; it was an opportunity to have the beauty of your consciousness reflected in the beauty of another. I was witness to an inspiring light turned on within my husband and for me it was a deep confirmation and appreciation for the road that I am on. Ashish set the tone to our awesome adventures. Thanks so much for this gift.
During our shuttle scuttle from Salt Lake to Victor, Idaho we so a field full of over what looked like 300 or more elk. They were grazing in the field amongst cattle. Cool!
Today was our first day on the slopes of Targhee. I stayed in the green area but was blown away by the quality of snow and number of slopes I could choose from. Jay and Phil tore through more advance slopes and we were all dog-ass tired by mid-afternoon. We left the slopes while still ahead and hope to get some shots or video tomorrow. So stay tuned. - W
During our shuttle scuttle from Salt Lake to Victor, Idaho we so a field full of over what looked like 300 or more elk. They were grazing in the field amongst cattle. Cool!
Today was our first day on the slopes of Targhee. I stayed in the green area but was blown away by the quality of snow and number of slopes I could choose from. Jay and Phil tore through more advance slopes and we were all dog-ass tired by mid-afternoon. We left the slopes while still ahead and hope to get some shots or video tomorrow. So stay tuned. - W
Thursday, February 21, 2008
We're here!
We’re here! And already there are things to report.
Yesterday’s enduro-flying (1.5 hrs to Philly, 5.5 hrs to Phoenix and 2 hrs to SLC) had a merciful bright spot, when Wendy and I sat down next to a man named Ashish. A businessman from San Fran, Ashish started up a conversation with us, which began at Barack Obama and ended at spirituality and godhood in people. Along the way, we stopped by his job, our jobs, full-on politics, religion, religion in government, my book, his book, the nature of consciousness, artificial intelligence and machine souls. Though we had only just met, I think Wendy and I both left the plane feeling like we had known him for years. Wendy even thinks meeting him was no accident. Ashish, I should note, also mentioned as much. (Ashish, I like your shirt, but prefer mine!) Anywho, a 2-hour flight went by in, like 20 minutes. Where was he from Philly to Phoenix!?
We crashed last night at Juliana Hane’s apartment. Charlotte folks will probably remember her from Inner Peaks. A dancer by trade, Juliana has been branching out into aerial performances, and I rigged her practice space for aerial fabric last night, in return for floor space to sleep.
We woke this morning to… EARTHQUAKE! Ha! That was a first. It was just a small tremor, but I new pretty much right away something was up. Apparently, it’s hard to mistake an earthquake for anything else. Fun times! Salt Lake City seemed not to have noticed, and Wendy barely noticed, but I could think of little else for several hours.
The bus ride up to Idaho was great. Lots of good scenery and great people. An older couple acted as tour guides, pointing out all sorts of stuff, and we met another new friend, an Alaskan named Jones.
Here are some pics from the drive! Look how deep the snow is in the third pic. The last is Victor, ID, where our friends, Phil and Jess, live. Nice little town -- it's even smaler than Fayetteville. We have two traffic lights; they have none.
--J
Yesterday’s enduro-flying (1.5 hrs to Philly, 5.5 hrs to Phoenix and 2 hrs to SLC) had a merciful bright spot, when Wendy and I sat down next to a man named Ashish. A businessman from San Fran, Ashish started up a conversation with us, which began at Barack Obama and ended at spirituality and godhood in people. Along the way, we stopped by his job, our jobs, full-on politics, religion, religion in government, my book, his book, the nature of consciousness, artificial intelligence and machine souls. Though we had only just met, I think Wendy and I both left the plane feeling like we had known him for years. Wendy even thinks meeting him was no accident. Ashish, I should note, also mentioned as much. (Ashish, I like your shirt, but prefer mine!) Anywho, a 2-hour flight went by in, like 20 minutes. Where was he from Philly to Phoenix!?
We crashed last night at Juliana Hane’s apartment. Charlotte folks will probably remember her from Inner Peaks. A dancer by trade, Juliana has been branching out into aerial performances, and I rigged her practice space for aerial fabric last night, in return for floor space to sleep.
We woke this morning to… EARTHQUAKE! Ha! That was a first. It was just a small tremor, but I new pretty much right away something was up. Apparently, it’s hard to mistake an earthquake for anything else. Fun times! Salt Lake City seemed not to have noticed, and Wendy barely noticed, but I could think of little else for several hours.
The bus ride up to Idaho was great. Lots of good scenery and great people. An older couple acted as tour guides, pointing out all sorts of stuff, and we met another new friend, an Alaskan named Jones.
Here are some pics from the drive! Look how deep the snow is in the third pic. The last is Victor, ID, where our friends, Phil and Jess, live. Nice little town -- it's even smaler than Fayetteville. We have two traffic lights; they have none.
--J
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