I decided to get a little experimental with the GoPro. As you can see, I’ve yet to work out of a few kinks. We’ll get there. In the mean time, enjoy!
Soundtrack:
Category Archives: Backcountry Skiing
Big Jay Slay
And now for a quick trip to midwinter. Late March brought fairly epic conditions to the North country so I took the opportunity to show Kelly that the powder in VT is every bit as good as that in Utah. Unconvinced? See for yourself…
A quick warm-up lap in The Orchard.
Kelly descends into the saddle on the way to Big Jay.
Surveying the wintry landscape…
Gearing up!
Gettin’ after it!
Some deep slashing…
Hard not to smile!
Raging the pow!
Face shots – just like they have in Utah…
Angulation, baby.
Point ’em and pray!
Comin’ in hot!
Alright, idunno if it was quite as good as Utah, but we didn’t complain either. Till next year, Big Jay…
Consolation Prize
I met up with Sweeney, Rob, and Kelly after their eventful day in the bowl, with plans to ski the next day. Understandably, only Rob was considering a second tour.
We got an early start and headed to the West side to met up with Dalton & friends. Three of us ended up skinning and hiking into some terrain the was new to me. We thought we could skin all the way, but that wasn’t quite true.
Some spring features opening up.
The second crossing, with some views.
The summit from a new angle…
When Dalton and I got to our destination we transitioned for a quick traverse. I clicked in, weighted my downhill ski, and it immediately went careening down the hill. Dalton took off after it, when I couldn’t catch it. Moments later I peered over a roll-over and saw it laying dejectedly among some rocks, damaged but alright. The culprit was a loose heel piece. Somehow the screws on my swap plate loosened themselves, adding (yet another) pre-release the the weekend.
I thought it was game over until I eventually found some kind French Canadians with tools (that I usually carry) and met back up with Dalton and Nick to wrap up afternoon with some great spring corn.
Original run #1, that became run #2
We skinned out and around, over and down into a sweet long gully of pristine corn. The following shots are credit to Dalton, posted on the Worth skis FB page.
Making up for the morning…
The prize, as shot from the runout by Dalton
The last run, and the beer afterwards, saved the day, especially considering no one, and no gear was seriously injured.
Dynafiddle
The mountain demands respect, and once in a while it decides to give you a gentle reminder.
Rippin’ some high angle GS turns in The Chute. Life is great…
Any place but here…
It was a long ride down…
What went wrong? Hard to say. Did I have a close enough look at my bindings to see if there was any snow in the toe piece before I started down? Maybe not. Should I have been charging as if I were on Dukes in the resort? Probably not. It’s a big mountain with real consequences and I think I got off easy…this time. I think a solid goal for next season is going to be the avoidance of any ‘next times’.