Hello,
It has been an unusually warm spring here in Colorado. It was nice to come back to some sunshine and warm weather after the never ending snowstorm that was Japan. With temperatures hitting low 60’s it was much easier to get out the fishing rod and enjoy a beautiful afternoon on the river than go skiing. The rainbow trout are just beginning to spawn on the upper Fryingpan and one of my favorite things to do is stalk up on these hawgs and do my best at tricking them into eating my fly. Despite the warm weather though, the highcountry snow stayed fairly cold and stable on many aspects and the backcountry was amazing. We were able to get on some bigger lines off of aspen Highlands ski area in buttery-hero-pow conditions. It was pretty much like surfing down the mountain. So with epic backcountry options along with rest days spent casting for rainbow trout on the Fryingpan and nights spent working my restaurant job, springtime has been busy but very enjoyable.
Last weekend (march 19-21) was the 13th annual Crested Butte telemark extremes. After competing in the freeskiing tour last season I wanted to focus more on film and photo this season but I decided to head to CB the night before the comp figuring that it would be good to feel that comp adrenaline once again. It is always a good time in Crested Butte because they know how to throw a great party. I had decided to take this comp easy and after the first day consisting of two runs, I found myself tied in eleventh place with two other contestants. The point spread between eleventh and 1st was about six points and with the possibility of only one more run in the comp due to deteriorating snow conditions it would be pretty hard to make that up.
The next day ended up being colder than the first which kept the snow from turning to mush as quickly as the day before. Because of this we were able to fit in two runs. My first run went alright and despite a few minor bobbles I had worked my way up to 6th position and into the superfinal run. I changed up my second run a little for the superfinal and stomped it clean through Slot Rocks. This run earned me the highest score of the comp and a 2nd place finish. I was stoked to have moved up so far in the standings, and with a nice check I now have enough funding to cover my trip to Alaska.
After Crested Butte, I spent a few days in Moab exploring the desert before heading back up to Aspen just as winter hit again. It is always nice to get those end of season powder days before the warm weather returns again.
I am now enjoying my time at home and resting before I head to Haines Alaska on the 6th of April. I will be meeting up with Noah Howell of Powderwhore Productions and Photographer Jay Beyer, along with telemark athletes; Nick DeVore, Andy Rosenberg, and Andy Jacobsen. We will be chartering a small airplane up to a glacier where we will set up a base camp and ski to our heart’s content for twelve days. I am extremely excited to check out a new zone in AK and can’t wait to see what happens. It could be epic bluebird powder or we could just get to know eachother very well while we sit in a tent for twelve days while it snows or drops volcanic ash on our tent. Either way it will be quite the experience! Until then, here are some pictures from my spring adventures in my backyard.
The Maroon Bells
Jesse and Joey with Pyramid and the Bells in back
Tony P, Myself, Dayla, and Pat Sewell on top of Tnar bowl, CO. backcountry
Dayla shredding Tnar
Jesse Amory making some well earned buttery turns.
Highlands backcountry
Pat Sewell on top of the world
My Dad still rippin! Highlands Bowl
Bighorn Sheep up the Fryingpan
Monster bow with spawning colors coming in
Underwater View with the Pentax W60
