It had stormed for three days along the Wasatch Front, blanketing the mountains with fresh snow. The greatest snow on Earth, if you believe the license plates. For the past several days, I had awoken to gray skies, often with snowfall. Normally, this would be a welcome sight on a ski day. But this was to be no ordinary ski day.
I woke up before the alarm. I looked out the window, and saw the beginnings of a perfect, bluebird day. The kind of day you always see in the ski movies and magazines, but rarely get to actually experience for yourself.
I pulled out of phUnk's driveway, and began the drive up to LCC. Past the Olympic Flame at Rice-Eccles Stadium, along Foothill Drive, and onto I-215. I pulled off the freeway, where Altachic was waiting. Still no signs of clouds in the sky.
We drove up the canyon, past Snowbird, before finally reaching our destination.
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic20086.jpg
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic20082.jpg
And waiting there for us was the greatest ski lift known to mankind- the A-Star
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic20234.jpg
We checked in, and ate a big breakfast. I checked out a beacon and a pair of B3's. My manhood was threatened, as AC was skiing on a bigger, burlier set of skis than I was. But as we all know, she's a real badass.
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic20233.jpg
After a short breifing on safety and helicoptors, we waited until it was our turn to fly. Finally, it was our turn to go up. We left the ground, and headed high up into the Wasatch. The pilot dropped us off on top of a ridge, and we were ready to go.
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic20237.jpg
And so began a series of runs through the deepest, freshest powder I had ever experienced. Every turn was amazing. After a lifetime on the ice coast, the feeling of skiing through bottomless snow was life transforming. This must be what a junkie feels the first time they shoot heroin.
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic20081.jpg
We proceeded to ski the rest of the day, legendary Wasatch pow billowing from our skis. Here's Altachic ripping it up in the trees.
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic20236.jpg
After seven perfect runs, our guide Ole
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic20085.jpg
Asked us to come forward. Usually, the guide will ski the pitch first for safety reasons, but this time he gave us a special treat. First tracks invirgin powder. Altachic and I took off together, enjoying one final set of turns through the deep. As we waited for the final heli trip, I felt a little sad. This had been an amazing week, and now it was almost over.
We flew back to LCC, where there was a gourmet spread awaiting us. After gorging ourselves, it was time to go home. It had certainly been a perfect day, the type every skier dreams about. A crew from Warren Miller was up there, shooting footage of Brant Moles and Jeremy Nobis.
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic20079.jpg
Thanks you so much to all of the maggots who made this possible, especially the Rev and Cletus for organizing the whole thing. Thank you phUnk and Mrs. phUnk for letting me stay at your place. Thanks to Inspector Gadget for showing me around the Canyons, powstash and GT40 for the lift tickets, and UTDave and Natty Dread for showing me around Alta.
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic20087.jpg
Results 1 to 25 of 61
Thread: Here it is- the Heli TR
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03-10-2004, 06:49 PM #1
Kicking Cancer's Ass II
- Join Date
- Oct 2003
- Location
- In the moment
- Posts
- 4,024
Here it is- the Heli TR
"There is a hell of a huge difference between skiing as a sport- or even as a lifestyle- and skiing as an industry"
Hunter S. Thompson, 1970 (RIP)
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03-10-2004, 06:52 PM #2
sassy
- Join Date
- May 2002
- Location
- Slut Lake City
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- 7,785
Nice man!
Maggots Rule.
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03-10-2004, 06:54 PM #3
drowning
- Join Date
- Oct 2003
- Location
- the Quagmire
- Posts
- 4,222
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03-10-2004, 06:55 PM #4
Registered User
- Join Date
- Oct 2003
- Location
- Portland, OR, U.S.A.
- Posts
- 2,537
Righteous.
Thanks for getting well.another Handsome Boy graduate
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03-10-2004, 06:58 PM #5
Yes that is duct-tape
- Join Date
- Jun 2003
- Location
- Earth
- Posts
- 2,629
So altachic had a bigger dik eh
Man those pics are making me drool. Looked like a great time
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03-10-2004, 07:03 PM #6
Registered User
- Join Date
- Oct 2003
- Location
- spitting distance from Mavericks
- Posts
- 2,725
WOO HOO!!! NICE!!!!
right on! god knows you two earned some freaking fabulous turns!!
sounds like a great day, to say the least!
“Within this furnace of fear, my passion for life burns fiercely. I have consumed all evil. I have overcome my doubt. I am the fire.”
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03-10-2004, 07:09 PM #7
Weather Geek
- Join Date
- Oct 2003
- Location
- Chicago
- Posts
- 1,846
Wow, glad it all worked out in every sense of the way....
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03-10-2004, 07:23 PM #8
Senor Swandive
- Join Date
- Jan 2004
- Location
- tropicana
- Posts
- 1,176
thats fantastic dude.. glad to hear you and ac had a blast!
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03-10-2004, 07:41 PM #9
Voodoo Child
- Join Date
- May 2002
- Location
- right behind you!
- Posts
- 5,203
awesome
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03-10-2004, 07:43 PM #10
User
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- Oct 2003
- Location
- Ogden
- Posts
- 9,856
That rules!
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03-10-2004, 07:46 PM #11
Lackey
- Join Date
- Oct 2003
- Location
- Hunter Thompson described it as hell.
- Posts
- 2,641
Bump, for one fantastic TR, for two deserving folks.
Skiing, where my mind is even if my body isn't.
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03-10-2004, 07:58 PM #12
Checked out
- Join Date
- Oct 2003
- Location
- CO
- Posts
- 5,017
Sweet report, very sweet!
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03-10-2004, 08:06 PM #13
Sassy
- Join Date
- Oct 2003
- Location
- slc
- Posts
- 3,763
Thanks again to everyone. What an awesome thing we have going on here.
Great pics and write-up plake...can't wait to see more of the pics that were taken.
Maggots do RULE.you sketchy character, you
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03-10-2004, 08:06 PM #14
Elbow deep
- Join Date
- Nov 2003
- Location
- 318 Powder Lane
- Posts
- 3,647
Who needs crack when there are heli trips. Unfortunately crack is cheaper and less addictive.
fighting gravity on a daily basis
WhiteRoom Skis
Handcrafted in Northern Vermont
www.whiteroomcustomskis.com
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03-10-2004, 08:08 PM #15
Ski, bike, hike, shoot
- Join Date
- Dec 2002
- Location
- Northern Utah
- Posts
- 906
Brings a tear to the eye.
It couldn't happen to two nicer people.
First tracks on a virgin slope are easy to remember for along time. Hope both of you can get many more in the future.
I want a 6" travel 20lb MTB. I found the 20lb MTB, but only good for riders under 87 pounds.
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03-10-2004, 08:26 PM #16
Registered User
- Join Date
- Oct 2003
- Location
- Under the bridge, down by the river
- Posts
- 4,882
Awesome guys, just incredible.
Its really amazing to see what a bunch of folks who mainly know eachover by screen names can do for each other. I cant think of many other places where a simple love for the outdoors brings so many people together, and makes so many folks go out of their way to help others. The hospitality, stoke, and love in this place is unbelivable.
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03-10-2004, 08:31 PM #17
In van, down by the river
- Join Date
- Nov 2002
- Location
- Eagle River Alaska
- Posts
- 10,962
Freaking dope!
Its not that I suck at spelling, its that I just don't care
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03-10-2004, 08:43 PM #18
glocal
- Join Date
- May 2002
- Posts
- 33,437
If that ain't what it's all about, I missed the flight briefing.
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03-10-2004, 08:51 PM #19
17 years and counting.
- Join Date
- Dec 2003
- Location
- Washington, D.C.
- Posts
- 2,352
right on! best TR EVER. TROTY!
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03-10-2004, 09:04 PM #20
.
- Join Date
- Sep 2001
- Location
- Tahoe
- Posts
- 3,927
Beautiful
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03-10-2004, 09:14 PM #21
Powderhound Billygoat
- Join Date
- Oct 2001
- Posts
- 7,628
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03-10-2004, 09:19 PM #22
The leading edge of cool
- Join Date
- Dec 2003
- Location
- Wasatch Back
- Posts
- 5,422
Altachic, I wish you could have joined us at The Canyons, maybe another day.
Plakespear, I enjoy your writing and I'm glad I was able to play a small role in your great adventure.
I said it in another thread and I'll say it again.
This picture is worth a 1000 words.
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic20087.jpgA human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
Science-fiction author Robert Heinlein
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03-10-2004, 09:28 PM #23
yelgatgab
- Join Date
- Oct 2002
- Location
- Shadynasty's Jazz Club
- Posts
- 10,328
For some strange reason, the fact that this all came together so perfectly doesn't surprise me.
Maggots are some of the greatest, kindest people in the world. Karma has no choice but to shine brightly on two people as strong willed and kind hearted as Plake and AC. And when you've got people like the Rev and Cletus holding the reigns, it seems like nothing can go wrong.
I'm sad/dissapointed that I wasn't able to contribute monitarily, but hopefully my positive thoughts and strong feelings about the welfare of you two will make up for it. The fact that I'm a part of this amazing community makes me happy, the fact that you were able to experience this amazing day makes me ecstatic, and the fact that you two are doing so well almost puts tears in my eyes.
You guys rock!Remind me. We'll send him a red cap and a Speedo.
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03-10-2004, 10:20 PM #24
Troll
- Join Date
- May 2002
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- SF
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- 3,627
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03-10-2004, 10:42 PM #25
Sassy
- Join Date
- Oct 2003
- Location
- slc
- Posts
- 3,763
ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!
you sketchy character, you
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