Best ending to the month of May ever!

**Stoysluttie1** · 05-31-2004, 11:49 AM

After two phenominal days of skiing, my legs burned, my body tired, but my soul was riding high. Last night I decided to embark on a solo adventure to Naomi Peak, the highest in Northern Utah at 9980'. (Norhtern Utah not including the Wahsatch) I wanted to summit via a different route than what most people do and come from the south ridge, which would require some scrambling, minor rock climbing, and by far, a more glorious view.

I began my approach at 5.30, wanting to catch sunrise from the ridge. The stars hung above me like crytals in the sky. The birds were awakening and calling to one another that I was around. The creek roared in teh distance.

On the way up, I moved like a turtle. I could feel the past two days of skiing and prior 3 days of biking in my legs. Feel the burn ladies, feel the burn. Just before sunrise I snapped this pick.

http://biglines.com/photos/blpic24494.jpg

Just below the ridge I enjoyed the beginning of a ruby red and mandarin sunrise. At one point, a sun devil decided to show up as the sun moved through a cloud lying on the horizon.
http://biglines.com/photos/blpic24495.jpg

Just after the second pic, my camera died. So bummed because there were ample amounts of photo ops of grapefruit colored faces, golden snow, and emerald trees. THere was also a major fracture that occurred some time ago, Part Cornice/ part glide slide. This mutha was about 15 feet tall at the crown!

I pushed on, enjoying the view of a beautiful green valley some 5000' below with the mighty Wellsvilles rising to the west draped in the Technicolor dreamcoat. Ahead of me lies my destination, Naomi Peak.

I arrived at the point where we had skied yesterday and couldn't pass up the opportunity to ski it once again. A little more wind buff but as soon as I hit the trees, one foot of love for 400' vert.

Reaching the bottom I decide to head on and up Cornice Ridge. Not the brightest of ideas and efinitely would not do it again, but the skin was direct, exposed, and what I thought, would definitely be stable. As I climbed, I could only keep an eye above me to see if anything was to fracture. I hit the 'zone.' Wind deposits. Shit. Didn't look that bad from below. I pressed on hard even though my energy was low. I have been sick for the past week and could feel the drowsiness as i slogged one foot in front of the other. Finally, ridgetop again. Safety.

The winds were moderately blowing from all around. Snow blasted my already sun and wind burned face. All I could imagine was how good the turns were going to be just below me.

Without hesitation, I ripped my skins off, slurped some agua, and began skiing. I couldn't wait no more. My legs were hurting, but I continued to drop a knee first into a little wind buff, then into 8" of light and fluffy love for about 600' vert. Reaching the bottom I immediately throw the peak out of mind and begin my ascent back to the top for seconds. And then thirds.

At this point the snow was creamy at the higher elevation but beginning to stick near the bottom. As I looked, no stared, back up at my tracks I realized that then and there, life couldn't have been any better, nor will it ever be any better. The birds were singing to one another, the winds whistled through the trees, the snow sparkled, my heart raced.

This entire morning I never saw a soul, never spoke a word, never thought about my troubles, nor any of the troubles in this world. i reflected back on a sensational ski season, one of the best and most memorable of all. For it is the solitude, the quietness, the serenity, the peace and love that I have found in the Backcountry. The Cache backcountry.

Eating lunch I could only admire my turns. I wanted them to be captured so bad, but the camera was done for. But was it? I took it out, flipped the batteries around, and with the final push of the button, I captured this shot. The turns are hard to see but look closely, listen carefully, and you will hear what I heard and you will see what I saw.

http://biglines.com/photos/blpic24496.jpg

I skied back reflecting on my morning, glancing over my shoulder to see my work. The snow dripped from the trees and rocks. SNowballs chased each other down the slopes. The sun blazed the mountains.

I remembered reality, but lost it once again.

This pic below will give you a little view of where I was this morning. The white face underneath the W in view is where I skied. Cheers to all!

http://www.edmoweb.com/bside4.jpg

Oh yeah, i never made the summit...why when the skiing was oh so good!

**bdog** · 05-31-2004, 11:58 AM

Rockin' TR! That is what it is about. Good for you!

**splat** · 05-31-2004, 12:17 PM

Stoy=pressurized energy in a can of whoopass.

**powstash** · 05-31-2004, 11:34 PM

You are da man! Great TR.

**ak_powder_monkey** · 05-31-2004, 11:38 PM

Sweet May Pow is there anything better?

**backpack** · 06-01-2004, 12:35 AM

Naomi peak is cool... been up there several times during the summer.

a view from naomi
http://www.back-pack.org/images/naomi/1.jpg

the peak from just inside the wilderness area
http://www.back-pack.org/images/naomi/2.jpg

A little bit of snow hanging on... at the end of August!
http://www.back-pack.org/images/naomi/3.jpg

High Creek Lake
http://www.back-pack.org/images/naomi/4.jpg

Night at High Creek
http://www.back-pack.org/images/naomi/5.jpg

One of the countless occupants of the lake... kinda hard to catch but it was fun trying

http://www.back-pack.org/images/naomi/6.jpg

Sorry for the semi-on-topic post... looks different in summer, don't it?

[edit to remove huge topo map]