Living Earl

Dawn Patrols are now in full swing

2012-02-15T21:40:00.000-08:00

If you can't tell by the above photo, it snowed. It snowed a lot. The snowpack is healing and eventually we might be able to venture out on some steeper slopes. For now though, low angle trees are where it is safe and there is plenty of fun to be had!

Dawn Patrol

2012-02-09T19:58:00.000-08:00

The lurid call of the alarm clock at 5 am, the dark drive to the hill, the frigid fingers, the runny nose, and the rhythmic plodding upward is all part of the beauty of the dawn patrol. We are finally tired of waiting for deep snow and epic lines, we are just going to get out and ride the low angle slopes and enjoy the winter. Even if old man winter isn’t going to help us out.

Ben and Blake were fun to be out with this morning.

Parker joined me last Saturday for a little investigatory jaunt.

Provo Ice

2012-02-05T15:13:00.000-08:00

Friday night Dan Thrasher and I went up Provo Canyon to go ice climbing. There is nothing like swinging and ice tool. I can't seem to get enough of climbing lately. Learning the gear, the methods, the safety, and the new areas it can take you is simply awesome.

Weekender: Black and Tan

2012-02-02T22:16:00.000-08:00

After we had our crack climbing fix taken care of we headed over to Black and Tan. This area has some amazing limestone features. The formations are very unique and unlike any other limestone area I have climbed.

Curtis started to work on the pictured 5.12c bellow and was able to pull through some massively hard moves. I am pretty sure we all left this trip with unfinished business. It gave me a lot more drive to get in shape for the summer.

Weekender: Atomic Indian

2012-02-01T22:05:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I was supposed to be up in the Pacific North West snowboarding... but the trip ended up falling apart last second. I was pretty bummed but luckily Tanner was still wanting to make something happen so we went on a climbing trip to St. George.

Tanner picked me up in his Dad's natural gas car and then Austin, Nicole, and Curtis all piled in and we were on our way. I ended up falling asleep for most of the ride, but I did catch the tail end of an interesting conversation that I will leave in the CNG Civic.

We woke up and headed up Snow Canyon to climb Atomic Indian. This was my first crack climb and I think I can see myself getting addicted.

Taping up. The gloves are an art form that we all are in the process of perfecting.

Curtis crushing it.

Curtis is awesome.

I will be back to lead this one. I am not quite there yet.

Tanner and Curtis decided to go all in on this crack and not use the wall bumping it up a few letter grades.

I am 27

2012-01-31T22:00:00.000-08:00

I am 27. My family gave me a great birthday. My parents came to town and we played laser tag and went to dinner with my Uncle Roger. Neena put together a huge Party and her parents place. It was a good time and I was glad to see everyone. Thanks everyone!

I have a great wife.

I ended up with some really great gifts as well. I am now up to 6 cams! Thanks Neena, Andrew, Steve, & Janita

I am ready to fly fish! Thanks Mom and Dad!

January Mountain Biking

2012-01-31T21:34:00.000-08:00

So, basically this winter has been terrible. The idea of getting out in the backcountry is absurd. For the first time in years I am just wanting winter to be over. Mostly so we can hurry up and get to next season. To make due we have been filling in the gaps with summertime fun.

A while back I got out mountain biking with Neena's Dad, Steve, for a few hours. After which I met up with Justin Olsen for another ride. Justin and I kept joking that we were getting the best pow turns of the season on our bikes. It was a good day.

2011

2012-01-08T23:54:00.000-08:00

I couldn't be happier with how 2011 went for me. I was able to accomplish a lot throughout the year thanks to the support of friends and family. I wanted to recap 2011 with a list of some of my favorite moments and pictures. The year for me really was made worth it by the relationships I developed through all of the excursions listed below:

Got Married and went to Hawaii on my honeymoon
Finished (pretty much) my Bachelors Degree
Went ice climbing for the first time
Went aid climbing for the first time
Went fly fishing for my first time
Did my first trad climbing lead
Went into the "Heart of Darkness" (A blog post of that line is what got me started into splitboarding)
Climbed Everest Ridge and snowboarded down the west face of Timpanogos
Rediscovered mountain biking
Raced my 6th LOTOJA
Trips to Maple
Climbed Black and Tan
Worked Outdoor Retailer and Interbike
My bachelor party (Mtn. Biking, Shooting guns, BBQ)

Stood on the summits of:
Mount Rainier
Grand Teton
Mount Superior
Monte Cristo
Provo Peak
Pfeifferhorn
Cascade (mostly)
The American Fork Twins

While there are a lot of things not pictured or listed, this was an amazing year where great people made my life even better than I could have imagined.

Lake Powell with my family.

left: Camping in Maple with Parker and Kristopher; Right: Touring with Ben and Parker, this is when I snapped my board and fell in the river.

A short tour with Jeremy.

This was an amazing trip up Everest Ridge. This is where Neena's sister, Meera, and I really became friends.

Touring with Jeff and Todd. I love my brothers.

Knuckle Dragger Couloir. This was a blissful suprise.

Left: Tanner on Everest Ridge; Right: Parker headed toward Pfiefferhorn

Mount Rainier

The Summit of Rainier

Touring with friends. Making the best of cruddy conditions. Couldn't have asked for a better group of friends to be in the high country with.

Tanner is one of my favorite guys to be around. He is a solid friend.

Touring with the southern Wasatch crew

All smiles after my first trad lead.

The feet on the right belong to Greg Osborne, he is a great guy to have around.

Mtn. Biking.... I have missed you.

Eric Montandon is one of my best friends. I can always count on him to be there for anything. Even early morning climbing when it is 30 degrees.

Ice Climbing. Neena climbing.

Grand Teton

Lotoja

My first pow turn of the 2011/12 season

This is a picture I was excited about, J. Eichorst took it of me out in the backcountry one day. I used to draw a similar picture when I was little of Peter Line doing the same trick.

I got married to the babe of the century. The great part about a lot of the adventures above is that she was there for most of them. I love her and the fact that she will join me for these types of things makes my life so much better.

Winter Springs

2012-01-08T22:44:00.000-08:00

Winter has been an illusive thing this year. The idea of waist deep turns is something I try to push out of my mind as I stare up at the sparsely covered hills. A few days back I snuck out with a friend who was in town for a quick little climb. The only problem was I forgot how fast it gets dark in the winter...

PERDIDO

2012-01-04T16:43:00.000-08:00

Where have I been lately? Not very many places... unless you count the climbing gym, hospital, new apartment, new job, visiting family over the holidays, getting fat, getting skinny, Milosport, making splitboards in the shed, the Mall (for the first time in almost 5 years...), St. George, and I don't know where else.

In all reality the weather hasn't been too friendly for doing anything outside until recently. I threw together a few photos from a recent outing we took on Timp. Hard to believe that almost exactly one year ago we were taking waist deep turns down Primrose at 3 a.m. This time we were struggling up in a couple feet of terrible snow.

The snow was consistently crappy all the way up past 10,000 feet. It was a fun group to be out with and I am glad we went. At least the day provided some good photos.

This is surface hoar. The winter version of dew that forms during long periods of cold dry weather.

Greg borrowed a board from parker...

Ice

The McMillan

Emerald Lake

The Shed

2011-11-18T23:28:00.000-08:00

A few years ago Neena's grandfather passed away. Gradually I have been able to observe the strong remnants of a family foundation that he left behind. He left a large hole when he passed. It has been interesting coming into the family after he is gone and still be able to see his personality lingering around. Nobody can talk about him without smiling and almost crying.

A couple months ago as I was helping Dane fix his car, we went back into the "shed" to grab some tools. Once inside Dane flicked on the light and I realized it was a full blown wood shop. Over the years things had been shuffled around when random things were needed but for the most part it has sat undisturbed. I asked Neena about it and I eventually found out that I could get things up and running again.

I got to work cleaning and organizing. So much of the arranging and cleaning felt like I was on hallowed Andersen ground. Scratch paper with measurements scribbled into them, pencils, tools, golf balls, hats, and projects have all sat undisturbed since he put them down. Hand prints frozen in youth on the cement by the door, notes from visitors scribbled on scrap pieces of wood, and a large unfinished bookcase all have their warm stories to tell. This was where he came to tinker, to teach, and to give.

I am excited to have this space to work and learn. I have always wanted access to a wood shop and I can't wait to get started.

Meera's Birthday

2011-11-18T09:03:00.000-08:00

Meera's birthday landed on my day off this week. Temperatures warmed and rather than try to get out in the crappy snow I decided to get a group together to climb. Eric and Whitney had their day open and Meera happened to be free at noon, right when it would be warm enough to climb.

Most of us hadn't been on the wall for a while so we went to AF Canyon's default easy spot, which also happens to face nicely into the sun most of the time. We climbed for a few hours enjoying what would probably be one of our last days of the season climbing up this canyon. From our warm summery perch in the sun it seemed as if we could look across the way into winter.

Eventually the shade crept up bellow our feet and as it pulled over our heads the temperature instantly dropped. We packed up and headed home.

Too early and too cold

2011-11-18T08:50:00.000-08:00

The days of early morning climbing have come and gone. Half way into this mornings "warm up"climb my hands were screaming. Every bit of warmth was being sucked out of my fingers as I clung to the frigid rock. The temperature was bellow freezing and with every move I became more and more unhappy with the brilliant idea we had to get up early to climb. I thought maybe I was being a pansy so I let Eric go up after. He had a similar experience. It wasn't long before we were back at the car going for a drive up to Silver Lake.

We went for a hike waiting in vain for it to heat up.

Black Magic Cave

Honeymoonin

2011-11-11T23:59:00.000-08:00

The wedding was a blur... as we drove away from our family and friends it was an interesting feeling. Just us. The hustle and bustle was over and now we were on the other side of the fence. What now? People keep telling me that "real life" starts... most say "real life" with some sort of negative connotation referring to jobs and being tied down. That was something I have always been afraid of. I prefer to look at "real life" as my life with Neena. We will have adventures, we will learn new things together, and we will figure out sooner or later how to live the way we want, on our terms. That is what we are shooting for. Here is the first adventure we took as a married couple.

We spent the first two nights in Deer Valley at the Chateaux at Silver Lake. The lobby was under construction so they upgraded us to a huge suite. During the wedding I had come down with a head cold and we pretty much just vegged the whole time we where up there.

We left Sunday morning for Maui. This was another unusual feeling, this was the first long trip where it would just be Neena and I alone. It was fun just being able to be together and to go and do whatever we wanted... and that is what we did. We ended up eating a lot... well I did. Neena is the type to eat like four bites then she has me eat the rest. Since the honeymoon I try to get smaller portions for myself because I know I will be eating hers as well.

We did every touristy thing your could do. We went to a Luau, did the road to Hana, lava tubes, etc... everything that I normally wouldn't do on a trip, but I readily admit that they were all worth doing and I am glad Neena gets me out of my shell. The trip was courtesy of my Parents and I don't think I could ever thank them enough. It was great.

We ordered room service the first day. It was Neena's first time ever doing that and we had a great view.

The three bears.

Lava Tubes

Eating dinner at Bubba Gump. IT WAS GOOD!

This old bridge on the road to Hana was pretty awesome.

Cliff jumping was one of my favorite things on the trip. We had the place to ourselves for a while and it was fun just goofing around. There was a higher spot where you felt as if you were jumping off the road. It was a beautiful little spot.

This was a great beach. It was right by the hotel.

Luau

This was the infinity pool by at the hotel. Pretty amazing view.

I'm Married

2011-11-02T10:17:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of my wife, Mrs. Neena Andersen Earl. We were married on October 14, 2011 in Provo, UT. I wish I could take some credit for how perfect the day was but it was all her. Granted she had help, but her vision of the day turned out wonderfully.

Thank you to everyone who helped or showed up. I always had the idea that I wanted a really small wedding but now I can't imagine not sharing that day with everyone that was there. It was an amazing day and I couldn't be happier.

Winter woke up early...

2011-10-09T22:31:00.000-07:00

This is what October 7, 2011 looked like for me. Was it a day of deep bottomless turns in epic conditions? Nope. But it was fun. It was fun to be hiking in the cold air. Fun to be out sharing the day with a friend. Fun to be back on my snowboard. Fun to be in the mountains.

While there wasn't much snow, there was just enough to make Mike and I smile till our faces hurt. In between the few rocks I found with my board there were some good deep turns. I am ready for winter, but wouldn't mind a few more days out on my mountain bike.

Like I said, deep enough.

Neena's first time climbing trad

2011-10-03T09:47:00.000-07:00

Austin and I were thinking about heading up "Outside Corner", a 5.7 trad route up Big Cottonwood Canyon, but when we rolled up there were a couple guys on it. We headed up to to "Steort's Ridge" and started our way up. Austin went up the first pitch, I took the second, and Austin took the third. Neena followed and cleaned. I think we will make this happen more often in the future.

Dirty Dashin'

2011-10-03T09:25:00.000-07:00

One of Neena's friends runs the Dirty Dash and as a wedding present he let a group of us run the event. It was a blast. We got there late and weren't really dashing most of the time. It was fun just hanging out and getting muddy. The worst part about the day was showering after... It was so cold my muscles seized up. Walking back to the car wasn't a joy but the stop at MamaChoo's made up for it.

Southfork Deer Creek + Four Moose

2011-09-27T12:01:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago I took a bunch of friends up on this trail and destroyed my bike... since then I haven't been out mountain biking more than a couple times. This was a great opportunity to get out on one of my favorite trails. We ran into four different Moose while we were out riding and ended up waiting for about 20 minutes for the big fella pictured above to move.

It was a great early morning ride. I can't wait for the next few weeks, the colors are going to be amazing.

Moose #4

Lotoja 2011

2011-09-19T22:38:00.000-07:00

September for me always signifies the slow goodbye to summers warmth. Leaves begin to change, the air picks up a little morning bite, the anticipation of winter grows with every day, but most of all September means Lotoja. At the end of every racing season I send off summer with this 206 mile road race from Logan, Utah to Jackson, Wyoming.

Leading up to this years race there were a lot of things that kept me off the bike. The record amount of snow, climbing trips, family vacations, and the fact that I got engaged all have taken their little pieces out of my normally free training time. I spent less than half the amount of time on my bike that logged last year.

The morning began as usual, our pace was slow and I was leery of taking turns at the front. The hours ticked by and I felt better than expected. I had a good mix of food and there were a few guys I knew in my group that helped pass the time. It wasn't until we hit the King of the Mountain that I began my slow decline into suffering. The day was hot and the asphalt seemed to hurl the suns heat back into my face as I went up the last steep pitch. The group I was with got away on the climb.... I had to grit my way back to them on the flats after the descent. That is how the rest of the day went, what I lacked in fitness I made up for with endurance. I guess the 26 hour day I pulled on Rainier did transfer over a little... or it was the three 5-hour energy shots that I had... can't be sure.

Eventually we neared the finish. I didn't feel like I deserved to win so I kind of just set myself up to fail on the final sprint. I knew my position was garbage but I was so beyond caring by that point that I just wanted to get off my bike. My neck was aching, the bottoms of my feet were on fire, I was exhausted... of the 13 of us in our group I came in 13th. I sat up at the end and coasted in. This was probably the most I have ever wanted to quit this race. My time was a mental test... sheer will was the only thing that kept me with that group and I have never had a harder time in any bike race. It wasn't so much that I was tired, I was just miserable. Looking back on it now almost a week later I can say I had a great time... that is the amazing thing about misery, when you look back at it you can totally mistake it for fun.

Final Time: 09:37:52.713

I thought I was going to spontaneously combust right about here...

Support... I am so lucky to have people in my life that will support me in making myself miserable.

Feed Zone Fury

The climb from Alpine, WY always goes fast

Finish.... Can you see the misery?

Neena's First Single Track

2011-09-06T22:01:00.000-07:00

Early Saturday morning Neena and I were invited mountain biking. It was a great group to be with for her first time out. They are all such laid back, fun, and caring people that even when she got a little uncomfortable with some spots she didn't feel pressured at all. I hope to have more days like this with these guys.

We met up at the Big Springs trail head in South Fork Canyon at 7:00 a.m. It was a short loop with some fun sections. Cooper and Dane were both riding rigid single speed so on the uphills they muscled their way ahead. Pricilla hung with Neena and I bounced between the two groups.

Mountain biking for me is all about the experience of being in the mountains. This time of year there is a small bite to the early morning air that makes it feel refreshing to be out. Fall is on its way.

Grand Teton-Upper Exum

2011-08-23T22:27:00.000-07:00

Grand Teton stands 13,770 feet above sea level. It doesn't even rank in the top 50 tallest peaks in the U.S. but this unique peak attracts thousands of climbers every year. The thing this peak has to offer is its unique silhouette. It is a steep tower with plenty of exposure. I was invited on this trip just last week and made the necessary arrangements. Before I knew it, another peak that I had dreamed of climbing was being made possible.

We spent the night in Rexburg, ID at one of Kristopher's school buddies houses. We awoke early the next morning to make the drive to the trail head. As soon as we were on the trail my feet began to give me some issues. The approach was long.... really long. Even though it was six miles we were pretty done hiking by the time we got there. Next time I will do this one light and fast.

In the parking lot we ran into SLC SHERPA and his brother were just getting back from a "run". They ran up to the saddle then went to the summit via Owen Spalding Route. They made it to the summit and back in just over four hours. What would take us two days they did in a few hours. I might need to start running.

We settled in for the night planning to wake up at 5 a.m., when in reality we should have been up and on the trail by 4. a.m. As soon as we were above the saddle the terrain ramped up. I have never been around that much exposure, at some points it seemed like thousands of feet on each side of you. The climbing was good and we all had a great time. It was a never ending climb and every time we thought we were close we realized we still had a long way to go.

For some reason I became really gripped on the friction pitch. We were simulclimbing and I mentally wasn't up for it for some reason. As soon as we were through it I was fine, and I don't think there would be a problem if I were to go back. After what seemed an endless ascent we made the summit along with some other parties. It was a good feeling, but we only stayed up there for a couple minutes before starting back down.

The descent off of the summit went fast until we hit the lower slopes... the rest of the way down was a miserable haul. My shoes were again giving me problems and slowed my pace. We eventually made it back to the car and spent the rest of the night driving back home. Grand Teton was an amazing climb, but we were all pretty miserable at the end of it. Lighter and faster will be the theme of my next voyage.

Sunset on the drive up.

From Rexburg, ID to Jackson, WY

An amazing feature

Looking up at Middle Teton

A wild fire was burning in the background as we settled in for the night.

Good morning

Sunrise

Teton's shadow in the distance

Wallstreet.

It was a tiring day... Here we were on wallstreet

The Golden Staircase. Parker takes the lead.

Summit Photo: Kristopher, me, Austing, Parker

Kristopher on his way down.

Lake Powell 2011

2011-08-23T16:21:00.000-07:00

The family Lake Powell trip always brings with it the promise of down time. This year was a little bit more busy with more people during the first part of the week. We had a fairly large group of people down and at times it seemed like there was nowhere to sit down. We all had a blast. Two groups went home early leaving a few of us there.

The water was great every morning and we went out for some early skiing. It was the best skiing I have had in a long time. Going out on the boat early has its perks; the air is nice and cool, the water is glass, normally only three of four people are willing to get up and go, and you can go for as long as you want.

The trip was great. We ran into some hiccups at the end when our boat gave out and then returning to the marina the houseboat's starboard engine gave out. It was fun just being with family and friends. One of my favorite things was to just sit and talk with my dad. There is no other vacation like Lake Powell.

The group.

My future wife.

The Fall River, Idaho

2011-08-17T08:51:00.000-07:00

I was invited to spend the weekend with the Andersen's in one of their favorite locations, "The Point" on the Fall River in Idaho. We all piled in the van and made the drive up stopping at the traditional spots, Smith and Edwards and Maddox Restaurant. It was fun being a part of these family traditions. While at Smith and Edwards Neena's Dad, Steve, bought me some fly's to use up on the river. This would be my first time fly fishing and I was really grateful to have someone show me the ropes.

We spent the next few days in and out of the river. I spent as much time as I could fishing, once I caught my first fish I was pretty hooked. We went in to Driggs, ID for an afternoon and had a great lunch one of the days. One of the more amazing parts of the trip was to sit out under the stars, I got a little camera happy and spent a long time trying for long exposures. It was a fun trip that I wouldn't mind doing more often... I need some fly fishing gear now though.

Learning to fish.

My first fish on a fly.

She is great.

Idaho night.

Hanging out making smores

A few final shots of Rainier National Park

2011-08-17T08:31:00.000-07:00