TR: Finding the Whiteroom

After a depressing 2011/2012 season that did provide a good amount of personal progress finding ways to make the most out of nothing, most of us in Colorado were still feeling the pain as the 2012/2013 year started off slowly. With a completely dry November, frustration was unbearably setting in leaving us to wonder when the snow gods would finally give in and acknowledge our sacrifice that may very well stem from being spoiled with an absolutely bonker of a season we had two years ago.

Early last week, all that pain, all that anguish, all that doubt subsided as winter unleashed a fury claiming an official start to the season not with a bang, but with a powder explosion ... a powder explosion that I haven't felt in a long while ... a powder explosion where nearly a week later, that excitement still exists.

On December 15th, I joined Dave along with Mark and Gary on a trip to a backcountry zone just outside of Steamboat Springs. Along the 3-hour drive from Evergreen, we saw areas on Highway 9 that don't normally receive snow and areas where snowbanks along the side of the road were far higher than anticipated. This only fueled our schoolgirl giddiness leaving us to ponder until arriving at the trailhead, "Is it really gonna be THAT good today?"

The short answer is yes. The long answer is yes, and I'll let the photos below tell the tale better than I, for sometimes, words really aren't necessary, and a rare trip like this is no exception. With that said, winter has officially begun so grab your pow sticks and burn that stoke candle away.


(all photos by ^^^ with a few included from his return trip back earlier this week with Pow4Brains)




http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...986262_o-L.jpg

http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...256791_o-L.jpg

http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...65139_o-XL.jpg

http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...85803_o-XL.jpg

http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...226840_o-L.jpg

http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...158578_o-L.jpg

http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...810988_o-L.jpg

http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...649894_o-L.jpg

http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...517981_o-L.jpg

http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...672252_o-L.jpg

http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...189575_o-L.jpg

http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...812841_o-L.jpg

http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...387415_o-L.jpg

http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...45664_o-XL.jpg

http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...007845_o-L.jpg

http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...687807_o-L.jpg

http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...155798_o-L.jpg

http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...820538_o-L.jpg

http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...698394_o-L.jpg

http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...793159_n-L.jpg

http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...atPowder-O.jpg

SOLID work. Thank for for the "pick-me-up".

Even though you've lost a ton of weight in the last couple years, it looks like you still have your trademark "cannonball" style when you ram through the powder. Nice shots.

POW DURR

nice work

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by smmokan

Even though you've lost a ton of weight in the last couple years, it looks like you still have your trademark "cannonball" style when you ram through the powder. Nice shots.

---

The kids call it "gorilla steeze", Steve...

Had to make sure to get enough powder in my face ... never know when the next dry spell hits.

Snorkles anyone?

Nice stoke! Looks like some of that Champagne Powder®

Sent from the Kansas prairie....

Looks fun

MutherFKNA!

The last one needs to be a magazine cover...paging POWDER to the white courtesy phone. POWDER to the white courtesy phone, thank you.

ka-POW!!!!

http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...atPowder-O.jpg

Looks like fun, nice pics!

http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...155798_o-L.jpg

Talk about "unpacked" powder! That consistency does not show in many photos at all.

Score!

678

Sick! Buff Pass?

shhhhh. they dont like to share the 2 bc spots that exist in screamboat. and by they i mean locals there in general, not the op. though he was kinda vague about where they were. hmmmmm.......

j/k, nice pics man and thanx for sharing

Hell yes! Great shots.

Thank god. Powder has returned to Colorado. Thanks for the stoke!

Nice stoke

Pfft

low angle

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..


SICKNESS!!

I don't like skiing when I can't see where I'm going. Rather wait a day or two until it packs down.

Or a few days until our local grass hill has some cover.

Not jealous, nope not me.

Glad to see CO get some

That's some high quality H20

droooool

resurrection of the TR!!!!

enjoyed every shot.

Winter is back baby!

BOOM!!!!

great sum up of last season - self improvement!!! and great tr on the peerless bliss this season has offered!!!!!!!!!!!!

Killer shots... Ready for prime time.

Unreal...thank you

Nice TR!

yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

K it's the weekend you should be skiing and shooting again....:D

thank you and i think ill have some more

soon

-gary

sick! that last pic is the dopest