I got the Ikon Local Pass for 20/21 seeing as this activity is one of the few that are still permitted in Washington State. This year has been a rough one on all people. Getting out and shredding still provides a nice release from the forced isolation of COVID induced mania.
I made my trek to Crystal Mountain to start my season off proper. It was only the 2nd day the resort was opened to uphill travel after getting dumped on for a week straight. It was a glorious Friday and perfect for shredding. I decided the night before to make the trip after seeing that they had opened the mountain for the first day of the season, so decided to get in some morning shredding but still intent to make it back to town for a full afternoon of meetings. I called a tried and true shredder, my boy Wes, to make the pilgrimage which he accepted with no hesitation.
Once we got to the hill we were blessed with blue skys, no wind, and soft dry powder for days. It was definitely my best first day riding ever. This being my 4th full season of riding, doesn’t say much for first days, but just know it was a beauty… I wish you were there.
2020 has been a year of surprises. A year I’ve dedicated to growth in spirituality. A year dedicated to taking life as it comes and living in the present. A year of discovery making new and more meaningful connections to that which matters most: beings.
In my 36th year of life I’m starting to see more clearly than ever before. The path that I once thought mattered is now an apparition of misplaced ambition and lost opportunities.
Over the past decade I’ve lived life to the so-called fullest. I’ve excelled professionally, travelled to exotic places, ate the best of foods, drank in much of life’s most intoxicating experiences and tasted all her fruits. Amidst all of this, I discovered one of the most sobering truths… to quote Solomon, “all of this is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
I’ve learned that joy is a gift. Often we find destruction and emptiness on the way to it. And that some pleasures are just an elaborate distraction. Peace is what all people long for. An underlying ever-present peace in ones own life through any circumstance. In ANY circumstance. Joy that comes from a basal contentment that cannot be manufactured, bought, stolen, or forced. It must be received because it is given.
COVID has forced the world to stop. What we knew as life has completely changed. That which we’ve taken for granted, social interaction, has been forcefully altered. World governments are advising the populace to physically social distance from others. Encouraging the literal construction of imaginary tangible physical barriers between us. Our social networks are now a worldwide social experiment in connectedness (or the lack thereof).
Half a year into this forced isolation society has now reconfirmed something we’ve known all along yet taken for granted: We are social beings that need physical human interaction. The best web based socially networked communities are just caricatures of the actual human experience. Although virtual based communities have their benefits, my convictions urge me to consider the unnerving thought that if society did away with the “virtual” aspect of them, human existence as we know it would likely be much better off.
The new COVID induced world existence has been impactful in all aspects of my life. I’ve seen my family the least ever in recent memory. I’ve had to pivot with my business. I’ve reduced my traveling from over 100,000 miles per year the last several years to taking just 3 flights since this epochal new-normal began. Despite all of this, I’ve experienced some of life’s fullness through new conduits. In the stillness of worldwide forced isolation, I feel as though I’m being forced to reconsider life in it’s simplicity… like being awoken and prompted to remember a half forgotten dream.
Freedom, real freedom, is sacred. It is something that is available to every single person. It is fleeting and while each one of us must grab hold of it and constantly remind ourselves and others of what it is we so often exchange it for a mere illusion. Connection…real connection: to others, to nature, to The Divine; is completely free yet pricelessandimmeasurable. It is abundantly available to all and experienced in various capacities. The very representations of the infinite within the human experience.
And while I find myself enthralled in rediscovery, these realizations are personified most while pondering in the stillness of my mind frolicking in timeless moments through the vastness of the wilderness.
This summer I’ve had the pleasure of satisfying my wanderlust in a different way than I’m accustomed to; hiking and backpacking in my own backyard. Drinking in the natural beauty that is uniquely the Pacific Northwest (PNW).
I’ve noticed that backpacking in the wilderness is one of the purest representations of a dichotomy. The thought of the journey is both dreadful and exciting. Carrying a 50lb+ pack up a mountain is both supremely empowering and unimaginably exhausting. While ascending, the mind is trapped second guessing every step, the very purpose of the quest, the why behind the physical pain being experienced. However, while standing atop the peaks, the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction is overwhelming and unrivaled. One right step can lead to a serious injury and the need for rescue. One wrong step can lead to an open meadow, overlooking a turquoise lake, trapped within a snowcapped mountain landscape and the most overwhelming experience the senses can behold.
Taking in this natural beauty I find there are often moments where I am completely present, completely aware, completely grounded while simultaneously completely transcendent, completely abstract, completely numinous. Mind, body, and spirit in unison. Content. At Peace. Complete.
I long for these moments and will continue to seek them out in the wilderness…
Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Day 1 – Friday Evening
One such journey is this. I went on my second backpacking trip of the summer: Marmot and Jade Lake. Clocking in 22 miles and over 5,000 feet of elevation gain in total over 4 days/3 nights. It was quite the experience. I did it with an all season active friend experienced in the ways of the woods and mountains.
We did this trip on Labor Day weekend making the long drive to the trailhead even longer after hitting some expected traffic. Generally it’s a bad idea to backpack really popular hikes on extended weekend holidays. However, this hike came highly recommended so we decided to tackle it, completely prepared for the reality that it may be difficult to find an ideal camping site.
The last 12 miles of the drive to the trailhead was a dirt/gravel road. After parking at the trailhead at 7:00pm, we geared up and set out in time to catch a bit of useable light for the first mile. After a quick 3 miles we found a site at the northern tip of Lake Hyas to setup camp. It was nestled between two large felled trees and flat enough for a tent, with just enough room for an external sitting area. A good find in the darkness.
Once settled I tinkered with a new camera learning its inner workings, a Sony a6000. Using a 16-50mm lens at the 16mm end I captured a few shots of the night sky looking south through the tree tops. My ability to accurately focus and get good quality images was mediocre at best, but the capability of the optic platform got me excited compared to my lowly Rebel T3. I knew once I learned this camera I’d be able to get at least semi-decent images with better resolution.
Day 2 – Saturday
We woke up semi-early, ate a quick breakfast and hit trail by 7:30 am. We counted several groups and over a dozen people that passed us from the time we awoke to the time we broke trail. This part of the hike would require the most physical and mental strength and a good pace if we wanted to ensure a decent campsite. The plan was to hike to Marmot Lake, assess our physical state and available sites, then decide if we’d make the direct push to Jade Lake. To Marmot was over 6 miles and 2,200 ft of elevation gain. Jade added another 2 miles and 1,000 feet of gain primarily through a boulder field scramble.
We made our way up at a manageable pace taking plenty of breaks to breathe in the nature as more than half of the hike displays the grandeur of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Frequently hydrating and refueling for the more aggressive parts of the trail were a must. There were multiple streams and mini waterfalls along the way. We crossed an intersection with the legendary PCT and passed through Deceptions Pass giving views of the many waterfalls that are most active during the springtime thaw. There are also several other trails to other lakes and mountains in the area so using an offline app (like Alltrails) or some other GPS tool is recommended for the directionally challenged. The last 2 miles are some of the best views as you ascend into and above the clouds looking into the valley.
Once we arrived at Marmot we split up to scout for a good campsite. We found a secluded convenient site with a great view of the lake and quickly setup camp. After getting tagged twice by bees I realized we were basically on top of a bees nest. A mental note was made and we stayed. We were physically spent so decided to eat lunch and hit the lake to relax.
Lake Marmot
I was looking forward to this trip for all the reasons people like to go into the wilderness. The freedom. The fresh air. The appreciation for nature. The physical and mental exertion. The views. The unimaginable wonder that nature inspires. For me, the most inspirational and captivating aspect of going into the wilderness lies in the ability to look into the sky at night in these remote and hidden places and see the infinite, visual magic.
In the PNW wilderness on a dark and clear night the sky provides a unique opportunity to witness a painting in every moment. This makes for some great opportunities to capture images. Still quite amateur with my photography skills, the images captured of the night sky are what really get’s me inspired to continually pursue photography. I’ve noticed with the mirrorless SONY a6000 I was certainly able to capture insta worthy pictures, but certainly nothing worth framing. My ability to optimize the images still leaves me with much to learn. But my excitement when seeing a couple of the raw images jump out of the screen at me consistently takes my breath away.
Day 3 – Jade Lake
We got an early start and day hiked up to Jade Lake after a quick wash-up, breakfast, and some hydration. I strapped on my sack sans most of the weight. It was a semi tough 2 mile one way that we completed in 1 1/4hrs. Our camp at Marmot was off the northeastern edge of the lake. So we started our hike through a hilly narrow trail that takes you to the southern tip of the lake. After a mile of slightly ascending and descending hills we reached the southern point only to stare up at a boulder and rock field that begins the scramble to the top. After gaining 900 feet primarily scrambling we reached the meadow path to No Name Lake before we were rewarded with the first glimpse of Jade Lake. MAGNIFICENT. A quick descend and you’re on a trail that follows through campsites and around the lake to the southern most point. From here some choose to ascend further to Pea Soup Lake. We setup our blanket here and were content to enjoy a lake day on the shores of Jade.
After a quick swim and stretch, I noticed a decent perch for photography halfway up the 1200ft ascend to Pea Soup lake. I couldn’t help my curiosity and did a solo scramble to the perch. On the way up I met a hiker descending way off path. He informed me of a hidden glacier pond if I ascended a bit further. I was rewarded with what I call Hidden Pond. It’s essentially mountain glacier runoff forming a small body of water that eventually makes it’s way down through the rocks to Jade Lake. While shrouded in complete seclusion and surrounded by snow, glacier water, and granite peaks, I came to the ultimate realization. This would be an epic place to relieve myself of bodily waste. Immediately, I built myself the most majestic stone toilet throne and enjoyed my first real excrement session in days. It was more gratifying than you can imagine.
As far as Jade Lake, the pictures could never do a place like this justice. If you ever make it to Washington during the summer, go see it for yourself, preferably on a weekday for an overnight visit. If you’re about that nature life, this one was worth it. You won’t be disappointed.
Jade Lake from Ascend to Pea Soup Lake
Hidden Pond
Jade Lake (Lookin Northwest)
Day 4 – Heading Home
On Monday, we lazily broke down camp and packed up. After a solid breakfast and bit of bumming around, we hit the trail by 11:30 am and enjoyed a leisurely stroll back down to the car. It was a peaceful descent filled with the smell of fresh blueberries in full bloom for practically all 9 miles. There’s one burner about 2 miles in that is a reminder that this trek is earned both in and out. Even still, it’s much easier to notice all the beauty surrounding the trail when descending as it’s largely missed when ascending in pain. We made a quick stop at Lake Hyas for a late lunch as we didn’t get the chance to really see it on the way in. In total it took us about 4 hours to reach the trailhead.
All in all, this trip enabled us to see 4 different lakes and several ponds at varying elevations. With this amazing trip in the books, I’m looking forward to the next adventure in my backyard, the Pacific Northwest.
My 20th time up for the season was on the least exciting hill but one of the most epic experiences. Camelback Mountain Resort in the Poconos of Pennsylvania is far from the amazing terrain you’ll find at Crystal Mountain in Washington, or Whistler up in BC. However, riding with my brothers still remains the most fun I can possibly have shredding on any hill.
The snow was what you would expect from a lackluster winter in the Northeast. Machine generated large grainy snow that was semi soft due to higher than average winter temps. It was fast though. I hit over 50mph several times as we pushed our abilities to the limit for the pursuit and need for speed.
It was John and Daves first and likely last times up this year. So we made it count racking up 25 runs in an afternoon filled with heroism, ski shaming, laughter, and child like enthusiasm.
The annual family winter trip commenced for the third year. This year we were missing a couple of the homies, but the stoke, good times, and laughs were in heavy supply. Like last year, we again were blessed with a bountiful harvest of fluffy dry white goodness throughout the weekend leading to some all time conditions and some excellent riding.
My brother June, and my nephews Malachi and Amonte, arrived with Joey on Friday morning. After a quick bite and a check in at the bnb we headed to the close and convenient Summit at Snoqualmie to warm up the legs for the rest of the trip. Conditions were a bit icy and fast, but still made for a good half day of evening riding. Most importantly, it allowed Joe to get back on piste for his first day of the season. This was a much needed snowboarding refresher for him.
The rest of the crew including Todd, Eva, Miles and Larry arrived Friday night. Ashley, my local riding partner, joined after a 5:00 am Saturday morning wake up call in an effort to get to Crystal before the parking lots filled up. The early start rewarded us with a full day of some great snow and good morning visibility as we were in line to get on the lift at 8:30 am. In the morning session some of the seasoned riders went immediately to the top of the hill searching for the good snow. There was bountiful dry snow, fresh tracks, and cloud breaks allowing amazing visibility and some great lines. One of Ashley’s friends we met on the hill showed us some new lines off Upper Otto Bahn traverse with some steep and deep untracked powder for days hidden in the trees! This was a top to bottom run that was all time! We finished off the morning sesh around 11:30 am to meet with the rest of the crew and eat lunch before an afternoon session with the kids.
At around 1:00 pm the snow started falling again and steadily improved the riding conditions with about 6-9 inches of fresh dry snow by 4:00 pm. The kids were worn out by this time, and headed to the lodge, however, most of us adults turned into kids lapping Golden Hills for another hour while screaming and yelling before calling it quits (some captured in the vid below). While we reflected on the day in the lodge, June was the last on the hill putting in a full day and even got some 1:1 intermediate coaching from an instructor. After a full day of shredding logging 26 laps, and over 20,000 ft of vert we were all spent. As it turns out, Joe’s legs were spent as well…
After a much needed Sunday rest day, and a family and friends dinner Sunday night, June prodded much of the group to consider Mt Baker for Monday’s session. He received overwhelming support although I tried to convince him otherwise due to the distance and 3 hour drive compared to considerably less for other resorts in the area. After another early 6:00 am wake up call, we hit the road and settled in for an amazing drive to Mt. Baker.
Once we were driving up the mountain, we knew we had made the right decision. Although the drive was long, the last hour of it is just magnificent. Winding up a long country road, leaving behind most of civilization to arrive tucked between Mt Baker and Mt Shuksan. You can see amazing lines up and down the ridges just beckoning for the bold to access and ride them. Baker is easily one of the most well known resorts in North America among real ski/snowboard enthusiasts due to it’s easy access to side and back country right off the top of the lifts. I look forward to exploring this resort and side country access much more in the future.
Baker received the same storm that fell on Crystal days earlier. Visibility was great as the sun kept breaking through the clouds while the snow was dry, a little chalky, and deep. Fresh tracks were found well into the afternoon before we joined the rest of the crew to closeout the day. By this day 3, Joe’s performance had diminished dramatically while everyone else in the group seemed to be getting increasingly comfortable with the snow and with their riding. Although he was gimping around, Joe showed true heart as he gutted it out to ride the majority of the day before becoming immobile.
The Family Shred 2020 video is a 3 part series chronicling the adventures we had for this epic trip. As it turns out, the family that shreds together, stays together.
Spent another Super Bowl Sunday shredding like last year. It was a Blue Bird at the Summit, my local resort. However, the mountain was packed which was not what I expected. Parking was quite tedious and the hill was filled with groms…
I got a late start as I drove directly from church to the hill arriving around 1:00 pm. I parked at Silver Fur due to the abnormal amount of people. Did 2 runs and drove over to East thanks to a tip from a chair lift buddy who spoke of great light, good snow, and no lines. I was not disappointed. East has some of the longer runs and some great glade riding which usually has some stashed powder after a good snow dump. The light was ideal and the mountain was pretty bare on the runs I like to do. This was one of the nicest days so far on the hill. Great light, great riding…
Winter has been pretty short-lived here in the Pacific Northwest. Sporadic winter weather has peppered my local mountains with snow seeming to only appear at my most inopportune times. With that said, I’ve managed to get 11 days up so far this season. As February starts, I’ll do my best to fill the calendar in February with as many night sessions as possible at my local resort, The Summit at Snoqualmie while squeezing in a few more weekends at Crystal Mountain.
The past two weekends we’ve gotten some decent weekend snow leading to two consecutive weekends of riding both at The Summit and at Crystal Mountain. Crystal I rode with my day 1, Ash, while The Summit has been solo missions squeezing in random runs with lift buddies. Although I enjoy lapping the mountain when I’m solo, there’s always an added level of stoke when riding with other people.
Some of my shred fam will be out here mid month to do the annual session so hoping we get some good snow in the hills for them.
Til then, enjoy a pretty good day the last weekend in January at Crystal Mountain.
Finally in the third week of January, the Pacific Northwest got a significant snow event which provided over 6 feet of snow in the mountains. This allowed all of our mountain resorts to open completely providing deep coverage over early season hazards. I got out to my local resort for the first time all season over this past weekend. I did two night sessions both Friday and Saturday night. The snow was dry and soft and great for some hard charging. On the steeper aspects near the trees there was still plenty of powder stashes left for some epic slash turns.
I haven’t really had optimal conditions for filming so have really just been enjoying the mountains without the cam. I did take the GoPro for a spin on Saturday night despite less than optimal filming conditions.
The season has finally arrived. The snow has been elusive so far this season. Though there were pockets in the Rockies, Lake Tahoe, and elsewhere that got some epic early season snow. Unfortunately, the Pacific Northwest has been too warm to keep that white blanket on the hills at the Washington Resorts. Despite all that, I managed to get a few decent days in so far first at Mt. Rose a week before Thanksgiving (more of an appetizer), than with the real season starting last weekend at Heavenly Resort in South Lake Tahoe.
Heavenly is a huge resort with plenty of terrain for all skill levels. As is my custom the night before I shred at a new hill, I scoped out the trail map and cross referenced what I thought would be good zones. I went to sleep pretty satisfied with my general gameplan. Unlike me, I didn’t check the weather as I anticipated a blue bird. I woke up to the most amazing blanket of 8 inches of fluffy dry blower snow on the ground. YESSS!
I suited up at the hotel, checked out and walked to the Gondola. Heavenly’s Gondola takes you about half way up the mountain where the base of the skiable terrain begins. Once you offload at the Gondola, one more lift will get you midway up the skiable terrain with access to either California or Nevada sides of the mountain. There’s plenty to offer on both sides of the border, but I found the most fun on this blue bird powder day to be on the Nevada side, off the beaten path, riding through the trees. The snow was PRIMO. Super dry, and fluffy, all day long.
Just WOW. What shred dreams are made of.
By basically riding all day in the trees, I cut fresh tracks all morning. With a little searching and the help of a few adopted riding partners, we found some secret stashes mid mountain in the afternoon before calling it quits. Although it was technically the 2nd day of the season for me, it was really the first real day of riding and it was delectable.
Unfortunately the video I’m posting won’t show any of that cause I didn’t have my camera. The vid attached is at Northstar on Day 3. A good day, with some fun glade riding, and some on piste cruising.
After 28 Days on the hill at 11 different resorts, I can say it’s been another great year of shredding. I’ll likely get up a couple more times before the seasons over but I can say with surety, this season, I’ve gotten my fill.
I’ve purchased my unrestricted IKON pass for the 2019/20 season to take advantage of some cost savings. I’ve also purchased a restricted EPIC pass to use in conjunction, for a total of $1650. It seems a bit excessive, I’m aware, but in doing a little math, I spent a combined $700 in lift tickets for 2 days at Whistler, 2 days at Vail, and 1 day at Big Sky (which included a 50% discount I received at Vail for the US open, a $200 value). I also spent $650 for my Summit at Snoqualmie Unlimited pass. Add another $350 for a 5 day pass at Crystal Mountain (of which I gave 3 days away to friends/fam). In total I spent about $1700 this past season for 14 days at Snoqualmie, 3 days at Crystal Mountain, 2 Days at Whistler, 2 Days at Vail, and 1 day at Big Sky. I’ve spent $1650 for next year for virtually unlimited access to all those resorts and then some. Quite a lot just to snowboard, but it’s a hobby I enjoy that I will continue to do until I am unable.
It felt good to get back on the snow for the Spring Sesh recorded below. After a 2 week road trip through Europe (NYC>Barcelona>Berlin>Paris), it felt excellent to get back onto my home mountain at The Summit, my local resort. My only regret over that span is that I didn’t make a stop in Chamonix to shred. I had day to spare between Barcelona and Berlin but didn’t think to squeeze in a day. All good though, there’s always next year!
The video below was from a shred sesh that included 18 laps at The Summit riding Central and East peaks over 3 hours in the morning on a beautiful blue bird day. I got some great footage and had a great time. ENJOY
The Burton US Open was one for the books. This was no doubt one of the highlights of my snowboarding experiences to date. Vail is one the largest resorts I’ve ridden. Endless terrain for all different skill levels with enough in the back bowls to keep even the hardest chargers from ever getting bored. It’s also the most expensive at $199 for an adult lift ticket. Thankfully some good will and good vibes got me 1/2 price passes for Friday and Saturday and premiere parking right at the base of Golden Peak where all the festivities were taking place.
The Burton US Open is without a doubt the highlight of the snowboarding season for riders and the community. Most of the best freestyle snowboarders come to Vail every year for this event. If you want to see the most insane and progressive park and pipe riding, this is the place to be. Vibes were high as I got to meet and vibe with many amazing people and got to see the boys and girls SEND.
A few highlights of my experience for the weekend are below. There’s way too much to capture in a brief vid, so you’ll hafta meet me on the hill next year.
Big Bro started a good thing. Bringing the family together on the West Coast for some real shredding started last year when big bro took on snow boarding along with the nephews. It’s the second year of a great tradition that will shape many more memorable times with the fam. Sharing good laughs, good vibes, and good shredding is something all mountain enthusiasts share.
5 days straight of shredding The Summit at Snoqualmie and Crystal Mountain was epic. Before the crews arrival, the Cascades were bombarded with 3-4 feet of snow over the course of a couple days. Sustained low temperatures kept the snow dry and two refreshers of 8+ inches rolled through to add even more blower powder throughout the weekend and early into the week.
This was truly one for the books. II Part series is below.
Two of the best in the Bozeman area. Started using my Bataleon Enemy for steeper and deeper. It was all working great till I snapped my nose charging hard in a powder field. Cost of doing business I guess… RIP
It was great catching up with old friends, and making new ones. Riding with a group of people of similar ability is amazing. We were mobbing in a group of 11 with most them charging hard into, through, and out of tree lines. **Rubs Hands Together**
By far my favorite line was Libery Bowl off the peak at Big Sky. It’s the highest point of the hill at over 11,000 feet enabling you to rip down that steep face with a stiff board and some cajones.
free. like. me. 