TR: Indepence Day 2012

Wow, I can't even spell. Can somebody fix that?


Celebrated the Fourth by taking a long walk into the Madisons to climb and ski a nice summer line. I have been thinking of doing this trip for a while, especially since seeing it look like this from summer bike rides in Julys past...

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1090457.jpg

Clearly there's better times to be back there skiing, but with me in gimpville all winter I need to make up for lost time. Doesn't hurt that most of the local trails have been bone dry for a month already.

So I finally convinced one of my faithful to lug in our stupidly heavy packs for a one nighter to do just this. We would walk in, set up camp, check out the line with the camera that evening, climb and ski in the early morning, walk out in the afternoon. Here's how it went.

We walked by what would be some cool lines midwinter.

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260097.jpg

We set up camp in the perfect spot:

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...P1260101-1.jpg

We took a walk over the ridge to check out the peak:

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...P1260109-1.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260106.jpg

We chilled:

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260112.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260120.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260122.jpg

And then it was up with the first bird chirp and down to business:

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260129.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260133.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260139.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260140.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260144.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...P1260146-1.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260150.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260163.jpg

more soon.

Snow looked like shit but skied really well.

My buddy Zed had his overnight pack with his hiking boots and shit in em so I felt a little bad, but he ripped it.

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260168.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260182.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260190.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260191.jpg

We were lucky to still have enough snow to zoom on over to the lower headwall, so that was nice.

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260195.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260209.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260215.jpg

We put our hiking boots back on and walked back over the ridgeline to camp.

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260219.jpg

But not without a look back at our tags:

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260234.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260239.jpg

The bugs weren't even that bad, probly cause I brought a half a pound of deet.

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260244.jpg

We chilled and took a nap at camp cause it was so nice just to be there and we were tired.

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260249.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260252.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260256.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260258.jpg

We slogged the 8.5 miles out the drainage with our merciless packs. It hurt alot but we lived.

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260261.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260264.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260270.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260271.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260273.jpg

So thats all, now you don't have to go back there cause you've seen what its like. And you sure as hell don't wanna see any of the slog in or out. And you definetly don't wanna see how a branch fell on my buddy and stuck him with a quarter inch wood chip under his thumbnail. Single most unfortunate and painful thing I've ever witnessed in such a remote location. Reality was he needed surgery asap, but he stuck it out and had a good time anyway which was awesome. He got in today at 8:00 am and they cleaned it up and he'll make a full recovery so all is well, but do bow down and give thanks for his suffering. Be careful out there when it's windy, there's lots of wood that can fall on you and do horrible things to you.

Thats A solid Celibration.

So glad you marked that up.

This = Summer Stoke.

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260234.jpg

Hey did you think about dropping the cornice? Or was just NO F'in way when you stood on top of it

Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Now that's some serious summer skiing. Beautiful and inspiring, thanks for documenting and sharing. Really, really nice July line.

beautiful

I'd take that day right now. Nice work.

Those were some amazing pics! Thanks for sharing! Good work. Watch out for them branches.

Quote:

---

Hey did you think about dropping the cornice?

---

Still making up for lost time due to pilot error in the past, so just turns on this one. Those things have a tendency to fall apart randomly this time of year too.

Summer slay done well....

Quote:

---

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...P1260146-1.jpg

---

I don't know, that snow looked pretty damned good to me. Of course this time of year, especially after our Sierra winter, and snow looks good.

Awesome TR

Winning...nice work, man! Beautiful pics.

Great pics, great snow... excellent summer stoke.

Thanks for posting.

Nice! bonus points for monster slog.

Hold it right there! No, GO!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's holdin some good shit.

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m...y/P1260106.jpg


Tried to correct the title spelling for you, tone, but it ain't working for me.

We don't have volcanoes, nor are we near the Pacific, but some of these peaks do manage to scrape up a fair amount of the mid continental leftovers.

Quote:

---

Watch out for them branches.

---

Yeah, my buddy put his hand up to protect his face from a small falling branch and it drove a huge sliver of wood under his thumbnail. Better than getting an eye poked out I guess.

Nice tag & pics.

http://assets0.ordienetworks.com/ima...y_clapping.gif

Way to get the goods!

great TR and glad the knee is doing better!

Thanks dude, like you said it's a process, and it's not over yet. I still have more work to do to get back to skiing regularly.

camp meadow looks perfect for sleeping in the sun far away from all annoying aspects of summer. nice tracks too!

Way to get some, TC.

Nice work Tone! Thanks for sharing. Good to see your getting back out.

solid work!
def a summer TR to talk about

Thanks guys, this is a big step for me in the long process of getting my mojo back. So grateful for good days in the mountains and the good people that go with em. So glad for every chance I have to ski and be in the mountians now. I might not be able to have the seasons pass, ski every day lifestyle anymore but maybe I can continue to pick my battles and do alright, so FKNA! Hope to meet up with more of you, travel around a bit and generally get down so keep in touch.

Good stuff tone!

Very nice! Thanks for the tr.

Excellente! Muchas gracias.