We didn't leave Fairbanks for Hawaii or some other tropical locale this winter. Thus, Molly and I decided that we ought to head back to the lower 48 for a second round of backcountry skiing at the Bench Hut in Idaho's Sawtooth Range, in what is evidently becoming an annual tradition planned by friends and … Continue reading Drydaho and return to Ewok village.

Over the last month, I've had the opportunity to take part in two races put on by Endurance North.The first was the Chena River to Ridge, a 45 mile loop linking the Compeau and Stiles Creek trails, starting at mile 32 on the Chena Hot Springs Road.  The 25 mile Compeau trail is graded very … Continue reading Spring ski races

On Friday, Jenna and I decided to take advantage of the calm winds, sunshine, and 20 degree temperatures to break for the Delta Range.  Our intent was to ski the south aspect from the ridge splitting the Castner Glacier to the north and the Fels Glacier to the south.A frozen Lower Miller Creek.We left Fairbanks … Continue reading Ode to Sunshine

I haven't done much in the way of posting on this blog since moving to Alaska.  Fall was busy and I managed to blow a knee running the Pinnell Mountain Trail (one of the interior's best) in September, putting a damper on many of my autumn plans.  By the time my knee had satisfactorily recovered … Continue reading A first shot at Alaska mountaineering in Panorama Mountain’s south couloir.

Garnet canyon scenery.At the beginning of July, I took a final trip home to the Tetons before moving to Alaska.  I did some skiing in the Tetons, hung out in the motor-home with my folks and their dogs, and did a long run through the Gros Ventre Wilderness with my brother.    Middle Teton Glacier, … Continue reading Back on the homefront.

The last two months have been very busy.  I've run the Rogue, finished a grip of papers and projects at work, traveled to Idaho, to Washington D.C., to the Bitterroots, and then moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, from which I am currently typing.  This is too much for a single entry, so I'm going to split … Continue reading Skiing in summer!

Sometimes, I find, a visit to a good, old fashioned blank spot on the map is in order.  Public and private beta is indispensable, but structured route information (like guidebooks and blogs) often turns into a checklist and can stifle creativity when it comes to selecting a route.  Alternatively, new areas are a shot in … Continue reading Scapegoats.

The Garden Wall and its central couloir above Picture Lake on the way to Mountaineer Peak.Lo, and in the fifth month,Ullr looked down upon his sycophants,and saw that they wept.Glide avalanche remnants accumulate below the Garden Wall.O, sunburnt children, why do you despair?, he asked.Point 8893, Glacier Peaks, and McDonald Peak from Mountaineer Peak.With gnashing … Continue reading Harvest Time.

The last few weeks have been somewhat awkward for the mountains of western Montana; the snowpack and the weather just hasn't been able to make up it's mind about whether it's spring or winter.  Significant snow accumulations and cool temperatures above 6000' have been alternating with short lived bouts of unseasonably warm sunny days, producing … Continue reading Spingtime for Jumbo and Sentinel, wintertime for Chaffin and (snow)pants.

Sometimes, you might imagine that you don't have enough time to go skiing.  'I have to go to work because I already used up all my vacation time going to Moab,' you might say, and this may in fact be true.  But couldn't you find the time for a little half day of skiing?  Yes, … Continue reading Half Daze of Glory.