Life Is Good Tour

Easter Weekend

Great skiing continues in the north Cascades. We did an amazing tour yesterday, making a big loop and hitting three different slopes. Though sun has baked much of the snow, up high, esp north facing, there is still lovely powder to be had.

Note the couloir in the distance behind us, called Maple Leaf Couloir, which was the destination for Easter Sunday when a big storm forced to ski a foot of new snow in the trees.

The first run was down a narrow, steep chute. Just getting in was tricky, scooting down a 10 foot drop.

Notice our lineup at the top left, all of us excited to get our turns.

The chute on the left is the one we came down.

We even spotted a wall we'll come back and climb. Apparently, there are three lines up it, one's an 11 that has intrigued Rich.

Another Big Ascent in the Cascades

This will be added to the list of favorite places. Our name: Peek-a-Bowl. The best part is the minimal amount of snowmobile time.

More Cascades

Maybe snowmobiles aren't that bad.

Note the faint tracks two pictures up all the way from 'The Slot' to the road.

More Whistler

Whistler Day 2 Touring-Lift Assisted

Whistler 2008- Touring Day 1

More winter Pictures- with Maggie

January 13th, above Lost River, in this photo it's lost under the clouds in the valley.

Mara enjoying the sun. It was HOT up here, but somehow the snow remained light and powdery.

Winter 07_08 in the North Cascades

We had an awsome ski day on Cougar Mtn in early January. The windy top of a mtn is the perfect place for pets, right?
This was Mara's first run with new skis, bindings, boots, skins, pack and poles. Looks like it went well. Though, this was before she had the boots heat molded and after this point she was looking for sharp objects to try and saw off her feet.

Christmas Day. After a quick backcountry tour, soaking in the hottub with beer and munchies hit the spot for Rich.
Maggie, loving the snow.
This is how we often get into the mountains up here in the Cascades, since there's not much road access like in the Wasatch (sp?) mtns. Usually we trailer the snowmobiles to the end of the road where it's closed in winter, and the unload the machines and ride or get towed up another 3-8 miles, then skin up. We had a big group this day, Adam (waving) came over from Seattle.
Cheers!





I was actually still skiing here, the snow was just so deep it looks like I'm not skiing. Talk about face shots!