High Pressure

By:  Sam
January 3, 2011


It looks like Greg has been doing a good job of making the best of a less-than-stellar situation. So I have to say that Allen and I have felt somewhat obligated to show that we to have been working to take advantage of the opportunities provided to us too.

This past week has been characterized by a shocking weather pattern. Rather than the usual forecasts: either 31 and snowing, or 33 and raining, we have been treated to a week of cold clear skies and stable snow. It has been so not-overcast (sunny?) recently, that I even had to look for my sunglasses and dark goggle lenses. Perhaps the only downside, the rampaging holiday hoards around the resort, turned into a motivation to explore, which, in turn, led to the discovery of some awesome new terrain.

It all started last Wednesday when I headed up to Baker alone hoping to meet up with another solo-traveler.

“How long have you lived here? Where do you ski? What do you know about these mountains?” – On my way out of the parking lot, I’d caught up to someone who was clearly a local. After a thorough interrogation it was determined that I wold be allowed to tag along for the day on lines that I already knew well. Instead, I suggested that we push further out in search of untracked snow. It was a fruitful mission; several thousand feet and countless turns later, I’d put a lot of new terrain on my map and made a friend in the process.

Forest drops in.

Continuing to enjoy the uncrowded backcountry.

By the end of it, we definitely felt spoiled.

Heading back to the car in fading light.

Continue Reading: 1 2 3 4 5 Next »

Read about the author:   Sam
Enjoy this TR? Read another: TR: West By Ullr Virginia

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9 Comments

  1. scottydubsnw
    wrote on January 4th, 2011 at 1:04 am  
    1

    that last photo of peak thru trees you say to be larabee, close, this is winchester mtn, larabee is to looker left( if standing in baker’s lot. Larabee is a taller, shear rock with snowy slope facing the e-se. I look at these mtns many days thru winter with imagination that i will summit and snowboard descent them all!!!!!

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    • jake
      wrote on January 6th, 2011 at 11:08 am  
      2

      That pic was correctly labeled as Larrabee. Winchester does not have that much of an exposed face.

  2. Ben
    wrote on January 4th, 2011 at 9:42 am  
    3

    nice pictures, looks like fun!!!

    I hate near-certain inconvenience!

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  3. Greg
    wrote on January 4th, 2011 at 11:39 am  
    4

    great TR Sam! Pretty friggin clear why you moved :D

    That woods shot definitely got me giddy… loved it

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  4. savantskis
    wrote on January 4th, 2011 at 11:57 am  
    5

    Was wondering what you guys have been up to out there. Thanks for the update and some pics. The Jan thaw didn’t hit out there I take it

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  5. Porter Haney
    wrote on January 4th, 2011 at 4:43 pm  
    6

    I’d like to know about Allen’s aggressive hitch hiking.

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  6. christian
    wrote on January 4th, 2011 at 5:24 pm  
    7

    EXTREME CLOSEUP!!!…AHHHHHHHHHH. party on!

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  7. Sam
    wrote on January 4th, 2011 at 9:53 pm  
    8

    so a guy on TAY says that those were cougar tracks. Cougar, lynx, or bobcat: it’s pretty cool to know that they’re out there.

    As for allen’s hitch hiking, we were deciding which would be the best way to approach getting a ride: either having him show a little skin, or going all crazy style and running into the road naked with a rock in hand threatening cars (actually witnessed this in India). I’m not going to tell you which tactic he actually used though….

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  8. Samthemandaddy
    wrote on January 7th, 2011 at 2:34 pm  
    9

    The tracks are obviously cougar based on my google image research. The toes are always more splayed. In addition I saw one in SC (yes south carolina) and it had big feet. Keep working on your spelling Sam.

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