Photos: Bob Athey, Wysplit_ride
I headed southwest this weekend after getting a pm from KarmaSurf inviting me down to sample the Utopian pow with him and JiveStick. Two days home from Coloradbro and back on the road again in search of some fresh snow. Utah did not disappoint.
The icing on the cake was having the opportunity to tour with local legend, JiveStick aka Bob “the haggard mountain man” Athey. Needless to say, I shut up and tried to take in as much snow info and systems as I could. There is no better education than getting out and touring with folks who have been skiing longer than you have been alive. I cannot thank these guys enough for letting me tag along and play in their backyard. Hopefully, someday I can return the favor. Thank you DJ and Bob for your kind hospitality.
JiveStick climbing Reynolds:
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/IMG_3108.jpg
G, Wysplit, Karma on a snowy day someplace on Gobblers (photo: JiveStick):
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r.../swithback.jpg
High winds predicted, but not much loading:
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/IMG_3105.jpg
Wysplit loving the Wasatch (photo:JiveStick)
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/reynolds.jpg
DJ exits BigWater:
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/IMG_3112.jpg
Wizard of the Wasatch showing us how it is done:
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/IMG_3133.jpg
Wysplit demonstrates the "hardboot steeze". Who says you can't surf in hardboots? (photo: JiveStick)
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r.../big-water.jpg
The Karma Surf plays it cool:
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/IMG_3124.jpg
JiveStick with the sweet tele-slasher turn:
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/IMG_3135.jpg
More hardboot steeze (photo: JiveStick):
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/wyosplit.jpg
Karma and the sweet looking swallowtail. Man, they look fun!
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/IMG_3123.jpg
Mark from Voile getting in on the Gobbler goodness (photo:JiveStick)
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r..._ride/blur.jpg
DJ getting the groove (photo: JiveStick)
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...arma-surfs.jpg
The Man with the Plan:
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/IMG_3136.jpg
I have found the past couple of weeks interesting concerning snow safety and people's perceptions/comments about bc riding during higher avi danger warnings. JiveStick made me feel better about my past decisions though. Conditions were considerable with an avalanche watch posted (we watched but didn't see any), but we found great safe snow and even nailed a sweet line an avalanche path. Talked to a few people at the brewery in SLC after riding, and they made the comment, "Didn't go skiing because avalanche danger was too high." Then skiing out of Gobblers area I ran into some "bc skiers" and asked what they were going to ski. They told me it was too dangerous and probably nothing worth skiing. Boy did they miss out! You don't know until you go.
