Slackfest 2010: A(n[OTHER]) Trifecta

By:  Greg
June 1, 2010


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Soon thereafter however, we sadly realized our calculations must have forgotten to “carry the six.” This patch was NOT connected. GULP!
gulp

At this point none of us were willing to say that we had completed our trifecta, and so we decided to push on and hope we could find the rest of what we had seen from the car. In an effort to avoid trampling over alpine terrain, we took a route through some boulders, but soon found ourselves mired in an ungodly bushwhack. Kristin somehow managed a smile. Believe it or not, we were actually standing on snow! If not we would have been getting pretty “deep.”
we were actually standing on snow!

All bad things either kill you or come to end though, and eventually we emerged from the thicket and came upon a glorious meandering line of untouched corn snow. With the sun pouring down over our shoulders at almost the same angle as the chute below, and the green signs of spring fighting their way up the Great Gulf, the final portion of this trifecta was surreal. Christian surfs his way through warm rays and soft corn.
Surreal

We came to the bottom of the final schuss, and although high fives were exchanged, and “oh my Ullr”s were exclaimed, a sombre feeling of closure crept in. None of us would have an opportunity to return for at least two weeks, and by then the glorious schuss of this day would surely have transformed into patches of desperation. Indeed, we were all a bit sad to see a great day and a great season come to an end. Either that, or we were sad to have to walk all the way back to the car, our ticket back to the valley, and “reality” after a day of walking away.

On the way out I inspected some lichens near treeline for Dwyer Haney’s forthcoming book.
inspecting some lichens

Back in the car coffee was good for KC.
coffee is good

…But beer was better (note: thumb purposefully larger in this shot).
beer is better

Thanks for looking! I’ve seen some other really exquisite trip reports from Slackfest endeavors (thinking of ML242‘s in particular). Let us know what you were up to in the comments section below (we’ve got a great picture button that helps you embed your photos hosted elsewhere). Until next time, see you in the mountains!

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Read about the author:   Greg
Enjoy this TR? Read another: TR: RangerJake’s Western Roadshow — Part I

Related Stuff:

  1. TR: Slackfest 2010 — A(nother) Trifecta
  2. TR: A Trifecta
  3. A Trifecta
  4. Slackfest?
  5. October 16, 2010–Stowe Schuss
  6. TR: A Troika – Schussclimbenswim

17 Comments

  1. arewolfe
    wrote on June 1st, 2010 at 10:07 pm  
    • Greg
      wrote on June 1st, 2010 at 10:40 pm  
      2

      coolers are for schussing and beer (schussing)

  2. icelanticskier
    wrote on June 1st, 2010 at 10:17 pm  
    3

    very nice conclusion………or is it? auto slacking eluded me this year, but was up to other things on foot. solo.

    great pics and story, nice to run into you this season up high. short summer cometh. again.

    rog

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
    • Anonymous
      wrote on June 1st, 2010 at 10:22 pm  
      4

      I’m sure ol’ petrics will get out again… i think he just means the “good” schuss is done for for a while…

  3. Dwyer
    wrote on June 1st, 2010 at 10:36 pm  
    5

    I’m liking the lookin of those lichens. I’d like to include that photo in my newest pending publication, “Lichens Above, Below, and Beside Schwackline” if you wouldn’t mind.

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
    • Greg
      wrote on June 1st, 2010 at 10:40 pm  
      6

      I mind… I only want to see it in the publication “Lichens in the line of schwack”

  4. powhounddd
    wrote on June 1st, 2010 at 10:48 pm  
    7

    crazy snow maniacs all a-tramplin’ the tundras. Prolly go up high and poke caribou with a stick too, eh?!

    Darn fine, missed the rockpile entirely this season, m’self. Ah well! Thanks for those fine shots and fun read, as usual.

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  5. Porter Haney
    wrote on June 2nd, 2010 at 11:05 am  
    8

    G. Not only is the Christian lichen-hallway shot amazing, but prose is phenominal too. You’d sooth a baby lichen to sleep with words like that.

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  6. robrox
    wrote on June 2nd, 2010 at 11:12 am  
    9

    Slacking season is still on!

    Memorial Day w/e was a gas, gas, gas!
    BBQ that is. We had a nice three-day slack, holding the First Annual 10th Mountain Memorial Day Slalom on the East Snowfield. Pix will be up @ T4T during the evening of June 2nd.

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  7. ml242
    wrote on June 2nd, 2010 at 7:23 pm  
    10

    black and white on the top of page one is a top ten all time classic FIS.

    since the rocks at stowe were good enough and mt wash still has patches!, I’ll still keep an eye out for a postscript just in case.

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  8. ml242
    wrote on June 2nd, 2010 at 7:34 pm  
    11

    First time caller, long time listener… Does Christian actually bootpack in snowboard boots or does he actually carry ski boots and crampons in his bag to get back up?

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
    • Greg
      wrote on June 2nd, 2010 at 7:36 pm  
      12

      he does all his ascent in snowboard boots. has strap on crampons for the ascent… i’m sure i could get him to make some comments and recommendations about what he’s figured works best after spending a season traipsing around with me

    • christian
      wrote on June 2nd, 2010 at 9:25 pm  
      13

      he bootpacks in snowboard boots. sometimes he carry’s a chairlift in his backpack.

      seriously though, i <3 burton drivers! strap cramps are a pain in the bum, so when the going gets icy, i pull out the piolet and let my isometric panic attack guide me to the pow.

    • Porter Haney
      wrote on June 4th, 2010 at 11:52 am  
      14

      isothermia and piolets, the only keys to seeing up Ullr’s skirt

  9. natron
    wrote on June 5th, 2010 at 11:04 am  
    15

    I use 12 pt.ers with my burton sabbath’s 08 or 09. gets me anywhere..
    08 burton drivers I also own but not as comfy as the sabbath..
    can you guys please start drinking quality beer!!
    love the tr’s strong work!!

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
    • Greg
      wrote on June 8th, 2010 at 6:37 pm  
      16

      natronator… sorry about not replying earlier. just saw this now.

      anyway, that’s good quality advice. we’ll probably be running a few FAQs/tip posts next fall when we get close to the holy time again, and i’ll probably hunt you down for a few tips if you don’t mind.

      anyway, we drink as good a beer as the ads on this site pay for… so you know… the more you pay attention and check… you know… those thingies that have some messages on them that are not messages from us… the better beer shows up.

      although i must say i love MHL

  10. natron
    wrote on June 10th, 2010 at 5:34 pm  
    17

    are they tracking hits or sales??

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
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