We got around three feet of snow in the Northwest last weekend and decided to enjoy it care free…  12 miles of logging road put us at the trailhead in 6 inches of fresh, but we still had to boot pack a mile up a Forest Service trail before the relief of skinning.

Gram doesn't like boot packing, but he likes pow!

About an hour and a half of climbing put us deep in powplayland.

powplayland

playing

Powplayland+skiing=Happy campers

Happy campers

another happy camper skinning up

Low coverage on the narrow trail down provided an exciting exit, but we made it to the car at dusk tired, wet, hungry, and still happy

Cheers!

The world famous PowderWhores, lead by Noah and Jonah Howell, pride themselves on climbing peaks and skiing down.  Well, while on tour with them in Colorado I found myself shocked that I was riding the lifts at Copper with PowderWhore.  I fear for the future of the film crew as the laziness I observed today may turn into a filthy habit of riding lifts.  Who knows, maybe they will be come mogul skiers and make a sweet freestyle film.  I hope not though.  Their new movie FLAKES is great and it would be a shame to have them end their backcountry skiing careers.

As part of their ‘60 Days’ contest, Skiing Magazine is giving away killer prizes everyday.  Today is the FLyLow King Hoody.  So, go to Skiing Mag to play!

ESPN’s Freeskiing blog has a great post written by Tim Mutrie about the current avalanche hazards in Colorado. He cites the high number of close calls and slides reported by the Colorado Avalanche and Information Center (see below for details) that have already taken place in Colorado’s often sketchy backcountry. Mutrie spoke with CAIC avalanche forecaster Spencer Logan about the current conditions. Check out his post to see what he said. Here are a couple of the most recent reports. Be careful out there.

October 25, 2009. Loveland Pass

Another incident occurred on Sunday the 25th. A skier triggered a soft slab on a hard ice crust or possible summer snow field on an east aspect near 12,000 feet on Loveland Pass. The crown broke about 40 feet above the skier. The crown was about 20 feet below a corniced ridge, about 40 feet wide and 20 inches deep on a slope estimated between 35 and 40 degrees. There was very little debris, not enough to be buried by the slide after the skier rode and tumbled about 150 vertical feet.

October 25, 2009. Apache Peak, Indian Peaks

While ascending two skiers triggered and were caught in a large avalanche on Apache Peak on October 25. They had skied the line the previous day. Disappointed they had not skied from the summit, they planned to ascend farther and ski a longer run on the 25th. They ascended into the narrow, 40 to 45 degree couloir. They became nervous when they found an 18 inch deep hardslab with a icy crust. In between was a thin layer of facets. They triggered the avalanche at that point. The avalanche caught both and carried them about 1000 vertical feet. One skier was completely buried, the second buried with just a hand free (partially buried critical). The second skier was able to clear the snow from his face and dig himself out. Battered and exhausted, he began a beacon search once free. He quickly located his partner and cleared the snow from his face. Both sustained minor injuries and returned to the trailhead on their own.

October 31, 2009. Bartlett Mountain, Fremont Pass

A party of three ascended the lower angle west aspect and north ridge of Bartlett Mountain. They dropped into a steep northeast to east facing couloir. The first skier was 2 to 3 turns down when the slope avalanched. The crown was 1 to 2 feet deep and only 15 feet wide at the top, but widened out to 75 feet part way down the couloir. There was an icy layer on the bed of the avalanche. Towards the bottom, the slide entrained deeper snow and left many exposed rocks. The skier was buried to his neck and injured. The other two were able to excavate their friend and call out on a cell phone. Flight For Life evacuated the injured skier.

A few weeks ago there were photos published online of people skiing on Berthoud Pass.  Several days later I went over the pass and there was no more snow.  With that being said, when it started dumping on Colorado’s Front Range the other day I began to prepare to go skiing at a moment’s notice.  Well, October 29th started with most schools being closed and most everyone in Denver/Boulder deciding it was just too snowy to leave the house.  This just made going skiing even easier as we left town.  After gathering the gear at Silver Plume’s finest shop, Plume Tunes, we were at the pass.  Early season slip ups lead to Greg forgetting his skins.  So, we boot packed.  It felt great to boot pack.  The snow was great and the wind had laid a solid amount of it down.  I barely even scratched my skis.

OK, fine, it’s not a Nobel Peace Prize. But still, we’re as humbly proud as President Obama was a few weeks ago. The newest Telemark Skier magazine is out on stands now, and it’s filled with Flylow. Here are gear awards for big mountain apparel, all mountain apparel, and women’s equipment—which feature Flylow’s Higgins Jacket, the work Gloves, and the women’s Bella Donna pants.

We have heard arguments over whether or not a Toyota truck or a Subaru are the supreme ski machines.  However, the truth is that our friend Jake Sackson has us all beat.  He just bought a 4 wheel drive Ford van,diesel; that is pretty much where I stop and let Jake explain.

As he wrote on the Soul Gypsy Blog

“My dream vehicle has been a 4wd diesel van, ever since I’ve had a dream vehicle. The rig that can take me anywhere and provide shelter, and if upgraded to run on Waste Vegetable oil –  do this without fuel costs. This vehicle has far exceeded my expectations and has many awesome features that a non-ambulance van would not have: RV plugs, AC outlets, an awesome heating system, the ability to circulate fresh air into the vehicle, a handy flashlight type light attached to the electric system, great exterior lights for loading in the dark, fog lights and yes it has sirens and a loudspeaker.”

Our good friend and long time athlete Erin Young is already hitting the slopes as much as possible. Here is what she had to say yesterday and some great shots of the new women’s line:

“This morning while walking out to my car I experienced that all too familiar, not so pleasant, booger freezing first breath. My car’s thermometer read 5 degrees. Winter’s here in Colorado, but that doesn’t mean that the days still aren’t full of beautiful, blue sky days. Loveland and Arapahoe Basin are open and the snow is far better than other years of man-made white ribbons. It’s cold, the snow is falling, and the slopes are waiting.”

-Erin

We had heard rumors that the gear testers at Outside Magazine we enjoying the lastest creations from FlyLow.  However, we could never have hoped to have three new items listed amongst the ranks of the outdoor industry’s finest gear.  Go to the store grab a copy of Outside’s Winter Buyer’s Guide and look for our Higgins and Dolce Vita Jackets and the new Trash Pack.  “As with most stuff FlyLow makes, the Higgins can take a beating,” writes John Bradley in the Backcountry Soft Shells review. Amen to that. The Buyer’s Guide also has loads of good reviews on skis, boots, and everything else you need this winter. Check our press page in a few days for full reviews.

I grew in a family where blues guitar was the most important thing next to skiing powder.  My older brothers played and made me play the bass just to accompany them.  Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimmy Vaughn, Ry Cooder and many more were among the many incredible guitarists I came to love.  As it turns out our ski coach was a blues man… well, a blues fan that plays a mean Stratocaster.  The point: Freddie King is the king of Texas blues guitar in our minds.  His playing is great for a powder day.  Enjoy.