With the persistent snow and cold temps, ’strippers have been regularly patrolling the Mt. Rose b/c on the early shift. We convened this morning for a CC bowl session and the conditions are as good as they’ve ever been - it looks like the time is right for a peak-to-valley-floor run this weekend. It was difficult, but I managed to “pinch it off” partway down and get a few snapshots - clockwise from top left: Brad L., Captain Redbeard, Clair, and B.L. enjoying the view.
Archive for January, 2008
31
Jan
D.P. 1/30/08
Day 8, Jan. 11th, Aspen. Hmm…where were we? Oh yeah. Another day hard at work on Ajax Mountain. Ozone machines up and running, need time to stabilize and report to me whether they’re actually working correctly. Gosh, what to do? My accomplice Dave Richie shows me his secret powder stash, Walsh’s. There is a sign at the top with two diamond-shaped thingies on it, and a banner that says “Experts Only”. I’m an expert, ain’t I, Dave? Down we go. The powder is not too secret today, although plenty remains. I survive, in reasonably passable form. Thirty minutes later, back at the top, I am all ready for a second adventure. I ski a comletely different route, pass through fog banks, and by some odd circumstance, arrive again at a sign that says, “Walsh’s”. Bam bam bam I am in mid-season form now, a hundred feet to go and whooops…into the cloud deck. Like Schultz in “Hogan’s Heroes”, I see nothing. Nothing! Ah well, I’m almost at the bottom. Tuck…whoosh…BANG. I am momentarily airborne, then re-contact planet Earth via my right shoulder. Aggg. Fortunately everything still seems to be attached and functional. I finish the run, gather my gear and head out. By cocktail hour my arm barely moves and it’s just not looking good. Hut tour in two weeks! Vitamin I is consumed in volume.
Day 8.5, Jan 24th, Aspen. Today is proof that there is such a thing as a bad day skiing. I have not been on skis since my adventure in the clouds two weeks ago, and all is not yet completely well with the musculo-skeletal elements of my anatomy. Late the hour becomes, and long are the shadows, before the needs of science are served in my summit equipment shelter, and the lifts and slopes are quiet and empty. Not to worry! I begin the descent, picking my way through the gloaming, and suddenly I am on the ground, my left ski whipping past my ear and into the trees. WTF??! An examination of my left boot shows the binding is still attached to it, and thus NOT to the ski. Uh oh. Ski is recovered a hundred yards away in the trees, and a frantic search of the snow where I fell reveals three of the binding’s four mounting screws. With headlamp and screwdriver, the binding is re-united with the ski, albeit temporarily, and I finish the day in a foul mood. The hut tour is to start the following morning, and I search somewhat frantically for a shop that can re-mount the binding that evening. Fortunately, the Roaring Fork Valley does not lack for ski shops, or for techs who will gladly perform overnight service if a small additional potable payment is offered. Crisis averted.
Days 9-12 will be described shortly, or whenever I get around to it, or maybe in July. The hut tour is now memory and it was more fun than a grown man ought to be allowed. Here’s a preview. Cheers, SB
29
Jan
Credit Card Please…
And the lord said, “let there be sick,” and there was sick and behold it was very sick…
Captain Redbeard and I dropped Credit Card Bowl at about oh-dark-thirty this morning. Wind was howling on the road, but disappeared altogether about 20 meters down. Pow was sick, sunrise was sick and for the most part the good Captain and I were quite well. Yes, quite well indeed…
The Cap’n demponstrated the dangers of falling in a tree well. Fortunately I was there to ease the sting by laughing at him. We agreed on a new saying: he who laughs last, bails early. Funny how that worked out…
Don’t worry. I bought him a bagel for laughing at him. We’re cool.
-M
Smella just forwarded this on to me:
NGO Workshop Feburary 20-21, 2008
John Ascuaga’s Nugget, Sparks Nevada“Research suggests that the Great Basin is one of the most environmentally frail and at-risk regions in the nation.
To address this concern, a major two-day workshop for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) on the
natural resources and environment in the Great Basin will be held in Reno and tentatively is scheduled for
Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 20-21, 2008 at John Ascuaga’s Nugget. Attendees will be helping to identify issues
that ultimately will lead to preserving and sustaining this natural ecosystem —
making it perform better for its native population and visitors.
Through the energy and commitment of NGOs, this goal can become a reality.”Below is the website link to the Great Basin Environmental Program NGO Workshop to be held February 20-21, 2007 in Sparks. Please distribute widely.
https://naes.agnt.unr.edu/ngo_workshop/
Matt (of Silk Igloo fame) forwarded me this. what can i say, these dudes we doing it all in neon one piece suits
Behold The Stately Pleasure Bike is REBORN!!! And just in time to “train” for 24 hours in the old pueblo…
32 x 21 on a pre-stretched Half-Link Chain!!!
-M
ok, more like this…
i’m partial to that orange colored Unimog snow plow, but, it’s sold.
10
Jan
Because it’s there…
I believe I read that he has no recollection of telling a reporter that he climbed Everest, “because it’s there,” but there it was, and there it still is. Never-the-less Sir. Ed is gone:
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Sir Edmund Hillary, the unassuming beekeeper who conquered Mount Everest to win renown as one of the 20th century’s greatest adventurers, has died, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark announced Friday. He was 88.
The gangling New Zealander devoted much of his life to aiding the mountain people of Nepal and took his fame in stride, preferring to be called “Ed” and considering himself just an ordinary beekeeper.
“Sir Ed described himself as an average New Zealander with modest abilities. In reality, he was a colossus. He was an heroic figure who not only ’knocked off’ Everest but lived a life of determination, humility, and generosity,” Clark said in a statement.“The legendary mountaineer, adventurer, and philanthropist is the best-known New Zealander ever to have lived,” she said.
Hillary’s life was marked by grand achievements, high adventure, discovery, excitement — and by his personal humility. Humble to the point that he only admitted being the first man atop Everest long after the death of climbing companion Norgay.
-M
08
Jan
more stickers
I might not be able to get that Interstate Font…
07
Jan
TBS @ SSWC08
Well Team Bacon Strip will be Reppin’ The Single Speed World Champs 2008! Had my ipod Touch all cued up and hit send @ 12:01 while watching the fireworks in Downtown Reno from our dining room. Gris, Bustigator, Icandy, Nat and Myself all got in so far. Next, to find some camping! Anyone else get their app in in time?
Beers @ are in order to celebrate! GBB or Downtown @ Ceol or Imperial?
-M
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