J.T. Robinson

Midwest backcountry… that's right…

2012-02-23T09:05:00.000-07:00

I grew up in the heart of the midwest in southeastern Wisconsin. Just a five minute drive from Wilmot Mountain. Wilmot Mountain retains a deep emotional connection to my hometown for me. It was there that my father taught my brother and I the art of skiing. It was there that I was introduced to the craft that would become my career. As a young man I had no idea the places that my skis would take me. I did not even know that it was an option for a lifestyle. Now, flash forward to Moena, Italy many years later, and I am a skilled pro. I had learned to ski big mountain backcountry in Utah while attending college, and was skiing and filming in some of the most remote and dangerous places on earth. In a small italian restaurant on the streets of Moena I was talking with photographer, Joey Wallis. Joey was born and raised in Iowa, and shared the deep respect and love for the midwest that I did. As we gushed about our perspective hometowns we stumbled upon a conversation about skiing backcountry in the midwest. That night Joey and I decided to try to shoot midwest backcountry to show the world that it was not only possible, but fun. Since then Joey and I have embarked on a variety of projects to do just that. Last winter I was back at home in Wisconsin for a Telemark Skier Magazine movie premiere party at Wilmot Mountain. The area had received more snow then it had in years, and I took advantage of the chance to test some of my theories. I knew there were skiable slopes in the backwoods around my childhood home, and I was determined to test them out. The editor of the magazine at the time, Josh Madsen, was in town with me for the premiere party, and I talked him and my big brother into joining me for an exploration mission. What I found was not what I expected, but exactly what I had hoped for.

^My big brother, Tyler, and I played in these hills throughout our childhood together, but never really looked at them like this before. As Tyler skinned towards me on this trail I was flashing back to visions of him riding his bike on that very same trail in our childhood summers. Back then skiing in these hills was not even on our radar. It was almost like we were rediscovering this area we knew all our lives. This photo was a really cool moment for me. I had never been able to share the backcountry skiing experience that had become so dear to me with anyone from home before. To see my big brother skinning towards me in the natural winter setting was a big deal to me.

^TSM editor, Josh Madsen, must have thought I was a bit crazy for dragging him out into this micro terrain, but I didn't really expect him to understand. However, he appeased my begging and joined in the exploration for backcountry turns in the Dairyland. In this photo he found one. I knew they were there. I just need to find them.

^This is a photo of me finding some more. I was even able to link up a good string of turns on this slope. I don't wish to paint the picture of plentiful backcountry powder turns all over the region, but I do want to show that they do in fact exist. Even in southeastern Wisconsin.

^There is much more to backcountry skiing then big powder turns on giant western mountain slopes. A big part of the backcountry experience for me is in getting out into the natural world and taking in all the beauty of it with people I care about. A smile like this on my big brother's snow covered face is worth all the tea in China to me. We may not have made 200 turns through a giant glade, but we did have a memorable day seeking out powder turns the backwoods of Wisconsin.

^The slopes we skied that day were not the heart pounding thrill rides that I take on everyday in my pro pursuits out west. As I said, I didn't find exactly what I was looking for on that exploratory tour that day. I had hoped to find more turns then we found. I had hoped to find cleaner coverage then we found. I had hoped to find more skiable options than we did. However, once I stopped thinking about what I didn't find I realized that I did indeed find something that day. I found that I had a gorgeous winter day touring in the woods with my big brother and an old friend. All the while enjoying the woodland nature and some ski runs. To me, that is the definition of a good day of backcountry skiing. Thus, proving that backcountry skiing in the midwest does exist, and it is fun.

I know there is bigger and deeper stuff going on in the midwest then this particular day. I just got back from the U.P. of Michigan, which actually is pretty plentiful most years. Also, Joey did well in the Mississippi river basin around Dubuque and just north last yearl. If your out there finding it, then I'd love to hear about it. I know your doing it, and Joey and I are going to find you one way or another.

get ready for more...

2012-02-20T07:52:00.000-07:00

Traveling is becoming the mainstay of my life again. This time of the year is always so busy for me that I can barely think a week ahead. I go from project to project and town to town without regard for even what day of the week it is. I just returned from the U.P. of Michigan, and I am moving right into training with the crew I will be traveling to Norway with in just a few days. I am judging a big mountain competition in Grand Targhee this weekend, and then immediately departing for Oslo, Norway. I am trying to fit in some quality time with my wife, as well as get familiar with the group that I will be touring completely foreign terrain with. Europe is a bit heavier place to ski backcountry because there are no rules over there. It is very loose, and people are free to make their own decisions. Which includes making their own mistakes, and suffering their own consequences. I agree with the philosophy whole heartedly. We could use a little more of that mentality here in the U.S. if you ask me, but that is a whole different conversation. The main point here is that I need to get out and get familiar with the crew that I will be touring all of this new and unique terrain with. That can get heavy.

^My wife and I went out for Valentine's day to a live tapeing of "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me". It is an NPR news quiz show that we enjoy listening to together on Saturday mornings. Abravenal Hall in Salt Lake City is a really beautiful venue downtown. The lobby adorns this large glasswork centerpiece that draws you right into the building.

^The auditorium is quite magnificent also. We were in the front row for the show, and it was a neat scene to look back at the room once it was filled to capacity with "Wait Wait" fans.

^The show did not disappoint. The host, Peter Sagal, is addressing the crowd in this photo at the beginning of the program. It was a really unique experience to see, and I'd suggest it to anyone. The evening was entertaining, but the smiles and laughs I got to share with my lovely wife will carry me through more travels and time away from home. She loves me, and I am lucky to have her.

^Our golden retriever, Murphy, loves me too. I am also lucky to have her. I was fortunate enough to find some time to get out and tour the lower elevations with her. Again, I am traveling a lot right now and I don't get to go out with her as much this time of year either. She is taking a break in the shadow of "Toll Booth Willy" which is this old stump that marks the entrance to a couple of our favorite short ski lowland ski lines.

^Murphy follows my skin path with ardent determination. She blew out a knee a year ago and is still a bit slow through the deeper snow. However, her young heart still beats with the vigor of a healthy brand new puppy. Whatever hold up her bad knee is, she makes up for it in persistence. She hasn't really gotten off trail since her surgery. I was a little nervous for her, but she trooped right through.

^She sits proudly in the foreground of Snowbasin's Hell's Canyon. She deserves to be proud of herself. Coming back from a knee injury is no easy task, even for a golden retriever. I know a lot of people that have handled knee surgeries with much less determination and strength then my little dog. Inspiring.

^The Norway group, Kjell Ellefson, Tony Gill, and Kate Hourihan. As I mentioned, I am traveling to Norway in a few days with Telemark Skier Magazine and this is going to be our crew over there. We took the opportunity to get out and tour together a little to get comfortable with each other in avalanche terrain. I have toured with some of these folks a few times before, but European backcountry can be more tricky then our own. Anytime your touring in strange places things can get interesting very easily. I am glad that we were able take some time to get familiar with one another before we jump right into foreign terrain together.

^Wasangeles is a fitting nickname for this area sometimes. This photo one of those times. Backcountry traffic jam. We won't see a whole lot of this in Norway. We were taking it easy because the avalanche danger in Utah is nuclear right now. That means rolling into the most popular and relatively safe terrain. In SLC that means Wasangeles in full force on a Saturday morning. It was still super beneficial just to get out and move around in avalanche terrain together. A little gel time before the bigger and less familiar terrain.

^Wolverine Cirque is starting to fill in some. Still thin and sketchy, but there is a good chance we may be doing some filming in there when we get back. I thought it would be a good idea to get a good look into it now. That way when we come back after Norway we will have a heads up to how it was looking and coming together. We always seem to do some work in there every year. Hopefully the snowpack will cooperate.

^Tony Gill was happy to be out from behind the editor's desk for some blue sky views. The snow was pretty good despite our unambitious line choices. It was really just about getting out together and getting a feel for each other's tour travel practices. Soon enough it will be for real in some brand new mountains. The trip is exciting, and the group seems poised to take best advantage of the opportunity. Trips like this don't come along often for many folks, and I am pumped to be making the journey with such a good group of individuals. Here we go.

cold and warmth at Midwest Telefest...

2012-02-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

The frigid shore of Lake Superior is a foreboding and bone chilling sight. Photoman, Joey Wallis, and I shivered in our warm rental car as we drove along the daunting coastline out of Marquette on Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Our destination, the Keewenaw Peninsula, which juts off of the U.P. northshore out into the middle of Lake Superior. The Keewenaw is home to the Midwest Telefest. Downwind Sports hosts the thirty-plus year old annual event. Telemark skiers emerge from all over the Midwest to make their way to the frigid shoreline each winter. They come in search of the camaraderie of the telemark turn deep in the woods of the north country. Telemark skiers have a sense of community all their own, and this event is a shinning example of it amidst the dark blue waters of Lake Superior in winter. The temperatures may be bitter cold, but the atmosphere around this event is as warm and inviting as homemade apple pie on the window sill in summer. I came to this event a few years back, and I was elated to receive the assignment to go back again.

^I snapped this cellphone shot of Joey braving the wind chill to capture the winter landscape views of the Lake Superior shoreline.

photo: Wallis
^This is what he captured. Mysteriously beautiful.

^The crisp cold nature of the big lake was only countered by the warmth of friends sharing beers and stories in a quant cabin nestled in the shadow of Mount Bohemia. Just as the last time I was here, the good terrain is only eclipsed by even greater people. Joey and I were pleased to be greeted that first night by many of the same friendly faces we met two years ago.

^Joey sharing one such story over an icy cold beer the first night…

photo: Wallis
^…followed by me jumping over an icy cold creek the next morning...

photo: Wallis
^…and an icefall rock at Mount Bohemia.

^Ullr, the snow god, graced our weekend with some snowy abundance. Big thanks to Bob for bringing me this good luck charm and some snow. Like I said, great people.

photo: Wallis
^Some new snow means fresh turns in the trees…

photo: Wallis
^… smiling faces…

photo: Wallis
^…and plush root ball powder.

photo: Wallis

^Descending through the tight forrest of Mount Bohemia's "Outer Limits"…

photo: Wallis

^…to a party bus pick up. Complete with a party crowd of rowdy telemark rippers.

photo: Wallis

^Tony from Duluth, Minnesota showed us the way through the maze of endless glades of prime timber country ripe with a fresh dusting of cold lake effect snow.

photo: Wallis

^Meanwhile, Zoey showed us how the ladies of Duluth get after the powder.

photo: Wallis

^Then I showed the whole festival crowd how the Telemark Skier Magazine crew got after it last season with a movie party on Friday night. Tastey hot dogs on a stick, and good movie on the screen. Sounds like a quality combination to me.

photo: Wallis

^Midwest Telefest is chalked full of excitement with demos, clinics, races and more. Local, Bob, comes into the finish exhilarated and exhausted from his laborious efforts in the blustery uphill downhill race.

^All the activity and excitement of the day gave way to a big celebration on Saturday night. These two little festival goers had front row dance floor spots for the live music from "Frank and Da Beans". Two tiny dancers gave way to many more, and the party raged on into the late hours. Spirits were as high as a Lake Superior lighthouse, and our collective light shined brightly through the night.

photo: Wallis

^Our collective light burned so hot and bright in fact that the clouds melted off, and the sun came out on Sunday morning. Thus, delivering a bluebird powder day finale to another fantastic Midwest Telefest.

photo: Wallis
^So I jumped right in…

photo: Wallis

^…and gobbled up as much of that cold Midwest powder as I could. Yum, yum, yum.

photo: Wallis

^Of course the whole experience was made possible by the crew from Downwind Sports. These are some hardworking fellas that do it all for the love of telemark skiing. This festival has been running so long because of the dedication of folks like these. I am super thankful to Ross Herr, the event's new coordinator, for inviting me. The Downwind family lost a dear member of their family when "Downwind Dan" Wissman passed away recently. I am touched at their fortitude in the midst of loss to make sure that the festival that Dan loved so much went on in his memory.

photo: Wallis

^Some of the boys from my own family, including my telemark turning father, made the journey north from Wilmot for the festival. I am super grateful for the opportunity to hang out and ski with them. I don't get to see them much during my busy winter, and it was Midwest Telefest that made that happen for me. I can thank the guys from Downwind for a really great telemark skiing weekend, but I might not be able to ever thank them enough for the truly warm welcome they gave me, the new friendships I made, and the rare opportunity to enjoy some great quality ski time with my family. Cheers.

chutes and brothers...

2012-02-07T18:58:00.001-07:00

I had one hell of a December with deaths and illness rampant in my life. January turned into a winterless Wasatch, and concentrating on making deals and greasing the wheels. All that hard work is starting to pay off now, and the snow in the Wasatch has cooperated with us a little bit more as well.

^The Snowbasin death cloud was in full effect bright and early the other morning. Even though the storms haven't made their way over the basin enough lately you can still count on the morning death cloud. When certain conditions persist she lingers silently tearing through the rocky peaks.

^However, once the cloud burns off we get bluebird surprises like this. Ben Geiger and I were pleasantly surprised with this little discovery. Right in the middle of the resort we can still find freshness amidst the masses. Hiding in plain sight always works.

^Ben and I hiked up through the breaking cloud to the peaks to get into some rocky chutes in order to get the blood pumping a little. Conditions still do not warrant ripping big and fast lines, but billy goating in some steep chutes does the trick. Slow and technical is plenty of fun until the powder comes back around. Fingers crossed.

^The views from the peaks alone are worth the walk,...

^...but the gnarly down is still what it's all about.

^Ben is deep in the belly of this beast, and into no-turn-around territory. Billy goating in chutes is not what we would prefer, but what can you do. Ski the best that mother nature has to offer, and cool hairball chutes are what is going on right now. I will take them. Hiking and skiing these technical lines is a challenge that is perfect for me right now. I still have to get into shape for the heavy part of the season.

^This is how we roll in the northern Wasatch. Lonely.

^After a few days billy goating with Ben, the good old boys rolled into town. It was some what of a reunion of sorts. A bunch of my old college buddies all came in, and we skied up Snowbasin like the old days. There was a good showing of the old ski bros from my days at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. We all grew up a lot in these mountains, and cut our big mountain teeth together. It was a real treat to get to rip it up with all of them again. Rob, Greg, Porter, Zach, Ben and myself were all getting after it like we were 20 years old again. The conditions were not the best, but the skiing was still pretty hot. All of these guys are still top-notch skiers, and we fell right into our old ripping routines amongst all the same lines we used to challenge each other into all those years ago.

^Greg is dropping in front of the bro-bra gallery. High fives and smiles were being passed around like cold beers in the parking lot. These guys are a big part of why I was able to have the opportunity to do what I am doing now. Some of these guys were co-founders of Vertical Integration with me. All of them were pivotal in helping me learn to ski the mountains, and progress to a level that gave me the skills to pursue a pro skiing career. I am deeply grateful to each of them for being the kind of lifelong friends that builds a person up. I would never be able to pursue the life I am leading without guys like these riding with me along the way like family. I learned my trade alongside these guys, and I can never thank them enough for that. Life and death situations and risky calls have a way of making friends into bros. We went through the ups and downs of the backcountry together learning the ways of these great mountains, as well as life. I am stoked that each of them could set aside some time in their now busy adult lives to get together and allow me to wear out the 80's cliche, "the boys are back in town."

^Rob edited up this shorty of his GoPro footage further wearing out the 80's cliche, "the boys are back in town". Bam, that is right.

hard work does pay...

2012-02-02T18:07:00.000-07:00

Yes. I am aware of my tardiness in posting new adventures. In my defense, I have been getting after the less flattering business operations of my ski career. The winterless Wasatch has afforded me the time to focus on these efforts, which is the real substance behind the glory show. These operations are what makes my whole world turn. It is not as glamorous as tales of gnarly ski lines and avalanche terrain, but it makes all that possible.

^The Telemark Skier Magazine crew making the walk toward the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City for the Outdoor Retailer (OR) show. This is the first show in the trade show season. We got after it with reckless abandon. Big risk. Big reward. We are all in.

^Josh Madsen is interviewing Jason Layh of Rottefella about their newest binding release, the NTN Freedom. This binding is a big deal and takes the evolution of the NTN system further into the future. We are excited about the new binding and look forward to putting it through the ringer this winter.

^The Colorado Convention Center in Denver is host to the Snowsports Industry Association(SIA) tradeshow. More of the same action takes place here, and I am thankful for a very successful trade show season for myself and the Telemark Skier Magazine crew. We crushed it, and the momentum we are carrying out of these shows is exciting motivation for the prime time of winter.

^Making big deals in the big city.

^Trade show steeze, bro bra. Fashionista. Aspen anyone?

^Even with all of the exciting deals the TSM crew was making, the trade shows have a way of taking it out of you. I hike and ski thousands of vertical feet each day, but two weeks on the trade show floor tires me out just as much as any athletic pursuit. By the end of the shows I wanted to lay down right in the middle of the isle with these two dogs and take a nap. Never knew I could get so tired without ski boots on.

^Leaving Denver in a shuttle bus early in the morning was a welcome retreat. While the deals were exciting, the prospect of getting back to SLC to start going to work for the companies that made the deals with us is eating away at me. I am ready to get after it, and the weather in SLC has finally began to cooperate with my ambitions.

^While I was kicking ass and taking names at the trade shows, my puppy Murphy was patiently enjoying the snowfall on the back porch and awaiting my return. She has been craving the snow just as much as me. In my absence SLC finally received the snow we both have been waiting for. That made my ambitious return all that much more attainable.

^It has arrived,…

^…and Murphy is stoked.

^So is my long time ski buddy, Ben Geiger.

^With good reason.

^The high country lines are starting to fill in well. Here we go. Once the avalanche conditions start to settle out we will be ready to start getting gnarly again. Finally.

^Beautiful Snowbasin provides. As she always does.

^She provides much, including ample fresh turns. Those are mine on the looker's right. Good looking rhythm, huh. It felt so right.

^Basin also provides the stoke. The arrival of the snow has finally filled in the lines enough that we can start getting up into the high country. Avy structure is scary, but Geiger and I were comfortable getting down with some inbounds chutes at Snowbasin. Geiger is ripping into the Hidden Chute with much appreciation. The deals are getting done and the winter in SLC has finally decided to cooperate. Let's go!

sorrow and joy in the ups and downs...

2012-01-03T11:32:00.000-07:00

I have finally settled back into the winterless Wasatch Range again. The tailspin I spoke of last post has subsided momentarily, and I slept for two straight days. The roller coaster of life has been moving with fervor. I am blessed to be on the ride, but what a long strange trip it's been. I am still all about the love, as any reader of these posts knows by now. However, my appreciation of it's dual nature has been heavily reinforced as of late. The sorrow and joy of the love in the human existence is powerful and equal. More love equates to more joy, but also an equal and opposite amount of sorrow. It brings us the greatest joys, and the deepest sorrows.

I traveled incessantly to and from my Wisconsin home this month. I celebrated another winter with a ski movie party at Wilmot Mt. on the 16th. I returned to SLC only to turn around the following weekend to mourn my grandmother's passing. Then I returned to SLC again only to return once more to mourn the passing of a dear family friend, and see my cousin married off.

^The Schaetz family and my own have grown very close over one week a year vacations together for the last 27 years. Sally Schaetz, the nurturing mother of the clan, passed away from the cancer she has so bravely fought for the last few years. Her life and fight was an inspiration to anyone who was blessed by her acquaintance. She was young, but her life was full.

^Dave and Sally Schaetz...

^...and then three young boys, Jon, Bobby, and Mike. Now these boys are men, and they are proving to be shining examples of their mother's legacy.

^Sally and her husband, Dave, built their lives and family together. My heart breaks for Dave, and yet it was the comfort of his home and family that warmed my heart with a cold beer after the wake on Thursday evening. I was touched that our families could still smile and laugh together a little in the shadow of their loss.

^This is a photo of the first vacation that we spent together all those years ago. What a fabulous tradition that started that week. I am thankful for epics like that, and the ones we will share together long into the future.

^Sally's newest grandchild Sofia is the manifestation of the beauty in the Schaetz family. My own mother can not get enough of her adorable little personality. I look forward to seeing her grow up with the children my wife and I plan to have one week each year in the warm summer glow of tradition in the north woods of Wisconsin. Just as her father, her uncles, and my brother and I did.

^Thankfully, the sorrow of love in the end of a young and gifted life is equally and oppositely manifested in the joy of two young people beginning a new life of their own. The breadth of the emotion of witnessing my cousin getting married was vast amongst my family. We recently mourned the loss of our patriarch grandmother and raw emotional state of us all was evident. The wedding and celebration of the joy of Allissa and Keith's young love was so much more deeply appreciated by all of us. It was a beautiful and special wedding. I am thankful I can leave my home for a while on that joyous note. Lord knows that I am very deeply appreciative for it now as much as ever.

real gifts of real life...

2011-12-24T14:24:00.000-07:00

I have been amidst a tailspin of the real gifts of real life in all of it's madness, sadness, and glory. The Wasatch is still dry, I fought off a nasty illness, and my family and I mourned the loss of a patriarch. Rita Formero was my grandmother, and the mother to my own. I hurried back home to Wisconsin for the services just days after I had returned from there for the annual ski movie premiere party I throw at Wilmot Mountain. Thankfully, I was able to sit and visit with grandma and grandpa while I was back for the party. For that I will be forever grateful. On that following Monday morning Christine and I received the tearful phone call from my mother. I took a long hot shower, and then wrote down what was coming over me like the morning's steamy bath water.

"My 30 years of memories and her influence now melts down into gold. However, it is not for a savings account. It is the kind of gold that diminishes in value if hoarded. It is the kind of gold that exponentially grows for eternity when shared. It is the kind of gold that brings true purpose. It thrives in the transaction of a caring embrace. It is 30 years with Grandma, and I will spend the rest of my life happily doing my part to share that kind of gold with everyone. I am rich with it."

I thought about trying to write more about her and everything she was to the line of people that filed out the front doors of the funeral home. Instead, I will take my own advice, and just share some gold.

More then anything, I found my heart breaking for my grandpa, Don Formero. By this time he has spent more of his life with her then he did without. However, I take comfort in knowing that the pain that he and the rest of us feel is the love. The love we have for her, and the love she has for us. It only hurts so much because there is so much of it. When thats had some time to settle in and realize it can then start to change back. Back into that comfortably pleasant and warm feeling of all the very same love that gathers inside of Grandma's house each winter, on Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas.

homeward bound...

2011-12-06T11:48:00.001-07:00

I am going home. I am always excited to do so. I miss my family, old friends, and the down to earth folks that call my little corner of the mid-west home. This trip is a special one for me because I get to share a little bit of my crazy pro skiing lifestyle with my people at home in Wilmot, Wisconsin. December 16th is a Friday night just around the corner. The Telemark Skier Magazine van will be pulling into town, and throwing a movie premiere party at 8pm in the Iron Kettle Bar at Wilmot Mountain. As a member of the TSM Crew, I have poured a lot of myself into this movie and the magazine. Celebrating the culmination of all the hard work with my hometown is a blessing that does not fall short on me. I am super pumped to be able to celebrate another winter with all of my people in Wilmot.

^My roots run deep through the earth under this sign. This place flows in my blood like the swift muddy waters of the Fox River. Every time I drive past this sign the nostalgia overcomes me like the spring floods over the banks of the Fox. Home is where the heart is, and there will always be a piece of mine pouring from the snow guns into the sky over the slopes of Wilmot Mountain.

^The guns are blowing now with some cold temperatures settling into the Midwest. The boys in the maintenance garage at Wilmot Mountain are bustling and hustling to get some coverage on the ground. Snow making is an art here, and these guys are a pretty rough and tumble group of Picasso's. I hope the weather comes in their favor. I'd love to be able to make some turns with my old man when I get there.

^The lights of Wilmot at dusk is a beautiful thing. Winter is settling in, and the holidays are approaching fast. Friday night, December 16th, is just around the corner, and I am wrapping up the finishing touches to get ready for the premiere party. Everything is coming together, and I am getting super amped for the trip. So here is to cold temperatures, blowing snow, a warm bar, a good ski movie, and a cold beer with some good folks in a great place for one hell of a good party. Cheers.

Wasatch stalling...

2011-11-30T10:27:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago now, old man winter arrived in the Wasatch Range. Some time before turkey and gravy we had a nice set of storms that lined up pretty well. The avalanche terrain was sketchy with an old October snow still lingering near the ground. That layer wreaked havoc on the Wasatch including the death of the legendary ski pro, Jamie Pierre. Since the shock of Pierre's passing the storms have retreated. The Wasatch winter is stalling out. Fortunately for me, the warm sunny days have afforded me the opportunity to pursue other efforts.

^Like walking the dog at sunset without freezing.

^Enjoying the last efforts of the fall colors.

^Pretty cool chill spot. Winter is taking it's time. We might as well chill and wait.

^Why not sneak in some late season biking. No sense in fighting mother nature. We just took what she gave us, and went riding instead of skiing.

^We visited Christine's mother on the Alpaca ranch that she works and lives on. This one was not shy. She came right up and posed for this photo. The pleasant weather allowed for a nice stroll around the farm grounds. The River Run Ranch is nestled in a really cool spot along the Weber River in the rural high country of Wanship, Utah.

My crazy life means I have to be flexible. The off-season includes a variety of pursuits from day to day. One day I will be working on a rental property. The next day I will be selling ad space for Telemark Skier Magazine. The day after that I could be working on a remodel project. Then there is a night shift at the airport nearly every evening. All the while training for the ski season that is late in arriving. My day job should be skiing by now, but the storm scarcity in the Wasatch has afforded me some unexpected time. Thus, I jumped on the opportunity to finish a remodel project that I've been neglecting. Needless to say, that was a popular use of my time with my wife. My brother-in-law, AJ, came out a while back and really moved this bathroom project along. He is a stud workhorse, and I could barely keep up with him. He sure was a big help. Check out this timeline of things coming together.

^Early demo stages. The toilet and sink used to be there.

^I was really excited to take a sledge hammer to the old cast iron tub. I hated that old thing, and I took satisfaction in smashing the hell out of it.

^New plumbing and tub in. Durock and waterproofing rolling.

^Durock on the floor, and ready for tile.

^Tiles on the floor, and more going up around the new tub.

^The work shop, and the supervisor. She doesn't do much work, but she is cheap, and she keeps the job site in good spirits.

^After the unexpected extra time I finally have it close enough to finished to move back in. Looking good to me. Just some sealer and a shower curtain, and I am back in business.

^Vanity and toilet are in, operational, and leak free. That is good in my book. There are still some finishing touches yet to wrap up, but I am happy to be much further along at least. The brownie points with my wife are nice too. Happy wife, happy life. She is a trooper for being able to handle my unorthodox lifestyle. Maybe that's part of my charm, maybe not. All I know is that she still keeps me around so I won't question her. Soon enough the winter will finally set in, and I won't be able to get to this kind of work much through the crazy pro skiing schedule. She is the one that has to suffer through project stages. I am glad I was able to get a chance to get this one into a livable stage before the madness does begin. I think I need a long hot shower now.

Party...at Wilmot Mt....12/16...8pm...Stoked!

2011-11-15T10:29:00.000-07:00

"Wilmot, Wisconsin? Are their mountains there?" This is a standard chairlift reply I get for my answer to the equally standard chairlift question, "Where are you from?". I always have to explain that the part of Wisconsin that cultivated me is a landscape of rolling hills blanketed with thick forrest land. Farming has cleared the flatter expanses, and the Dairyland is still a fitting nickname. The terrain and the local culture resemble the region's laid back nature. However, "Old Man Winter" is as mean and unforgiving as anywhere on the habitable earth. Thus, winter recreation of all kinds is alive, well, and appreciated in these parts.

^Wilmot Mountain is my hometown ski resort built upon an ancient glacial moriane. It is nestled perfectly between Milwaukee and Chicago in it's namesake small town of Wilmot, Wisconsin. The severe cold temperatures gave way to revolutionizing the man-made snow making process here. My family history in Wilmot goes back just as many icy generations. To this day, the chairlifts retain upholstery my grandfather stretched onto them many bitter winter seasons ago. The hardworking folks of Wilmot Mountain are my people. Both literally and figuratively. The old Wilmot Highschool gymnasium soaked up a lot of my blood and sweat. This all adds to the experience each year when I bring my latest ski movie projects back home for a ski movie tour party at Wilmot Mountain every winter. I have been looking forward to my return again this winter. Friday night, December 16th is the date this year. I am so jacked to see all of my people start rolling in when the doors open at 8:00pm. Telemark Skier Magazine is bringing the new movie, "Loyatly" to town, and it is sure to bring some rock and roll to the party. Wilmot can handle the rest.

^They always fill the Iron Kettle Bar at Wilmot Mountain. I've been bringing a movie party home for years now, and I am always still touched deeply at the sight of all the local love that comes out to celebrate with me. I like to think that we all come together to throw a pretty damn good party too.

^The snow machines are usually blowing snow outside as the Iron Kettle packs full of jubilant folks of all ages that are ready to celebrate another winter. The kids line up for stickers as others line up for a beer. All of them a blessing that never falls short on me. It makes me nostalgic each and every time. The movie always stokes the fire, but the Wilmot folks add the fuel that makes the party burn warm and bright all night long. December 16th is only weeks away, and I am chomping at the bit to ring in another winter with all of my favorite kind of people in the place that built me...Wilmot, Wisconsin.

^I am coming home. On Friday December 16th to be exact. I can't wait to see the bright lights of Wilmot on the horizon. There really is no place like home.

mind-blowing in Moab...

2011-11-02T12:18:00.000-07:00

^Oh. Welcome to Moab, Utah.

^Some hours before the picture of Moab's warm welcome was this breakfast in Farmington, Utah. In Farmington, there is a chill in the air, and moisture on the wind. The threat of winter is very near. I am as giddy as a school girl. Every skier knows the eager anticipation of a good lineup of storms in late fall. Standard practice is to scratch that itch with ski movies, facebook, and training. Some skiers pack up the ski gear and chase the early openers. My wife, Christine, and I made the call to travel south. With mountain bikes.

^That brings us back to here again. To me, on the edge of a cliff so large that my observation to Christine's inquiry was, "This cliff is so big that it makes my naughty parts tingle!" The dessert spine jutted out in the vast canyon pictured as our welcoming to Moab at the top. This view of an interesting section of Arches National Park was a total mind blow for both of us. The welcoming was grand. I was not thinking about skiing. Not at all.

^We're stoked! Quick, a hold out self-portrait immediately followed by a high five. That's right.

^However, we came to ride. So we snapped some photos, shared some reflections, and then clicked back in and got after it. Christine is digging deep to crest the steep slickrock hill. Dig!

^The top awards a worthy prize to the efforts of the ascent. Usually does. So metaphoric.

^Thank you...

^...and, thank you.

^Then back at it. We rode hard on this trip. I was trying to leave winter thoughts up north in the Wasatch. Chrisitne was trying to extend her chances to get in the bike saddle. Perfect alignment to just flat out ride long and hard.

^Uphill...

^... and downhill...

^... and across hill...

^... and uphill again...

^...and uphill again...

^...and even between hills. This place is a very unique and special landscape. We had to have a pep talk about stopping for photos. We both agreed that we wanted to keep ripping it hard, but acknowledged our mutual desire to stop and take a photo every five minutes.

^Okay, one more shot. Classic lens reflection shot. You have to get that one don't you?

^Cameras away, and we can get back to business. Moab boasts that they have the best mountain biking on the planet. So far I cannot facilitate a valid argument to the contrary. I haven't biked the whole planet, but I will say that Moab is near the top of my list. Even though the La Sals were capped with snow, I was still not thinking about skiing. I was much more focused on keeping myself out of trouble on the courageous surface. Slickrock makes me feel like Superman. Climb steeper, turn sharper, and do it all faster. Easy to get ahead of myself on the red rock.

^Lunch break. Pretty nice spot.

^Granola bars go really well with warm tap water and a side of this kind of scenery. The senses all blend together under the influence of such energy. Christine and I both agreed that we were lingering in a mind set of sentiment and severe gratitude. We are blessed to be able to have such adventures in such awe inspiring places. So much so that I could barely handle the enhanced deliciousness of my typically standard granola. Yummmm.

^Seriously, how can you not get spiritual after looking up from the camera lens at something like that. My girl and my life flashing before me in a blur through a landscape of unmatched red rock beauty. Come on.

^More riding...

^...more photos...

^...and more riding...

^...and more photos. Abyss Canyon. Fitting. The last time I took some time to stare down this canyon was with a good friend of mine, Tony Helmstetter. As I mentioned previously, I was feeling the love emanating from the sun soaked red rocks. I had to take a moment to shoot a picture message over to my buddy. Just to let him know that I was thinking about him in this powerful place that he showed me all those years ago.

^Ironically, while I was composing the message to Tony my big brother, Tyler, called me. I laughed as I answered the call and proclaimed to my big brother, "Funny you'd call me right now!" Christine was keen to the moment. She snapped this photo while I explained my state of mind to my big brother. He is obviously a pivotal factor in my journey to that particular "How'd I get here?' moment. That is what it is all about for me. Those moments are all around, and in all kinds of shapes and forms. The keen eye will see them, and more of them when coupled with the conscious effort to seek them out. Christine saw this one, and nailed the photo. I will call it, "Brother!".

^Another crazy adventure in another inspiringly beautiful place. Moab slickrock mountain biking is unmatched. Add in riding it all with your newlywed wife, and the experience slowly turns into gold. Hence the golden hued 80's album cover style shadow photo. A little touch of some of our cornball humor coming through. I must say, we are a pretty damn good duo though.

It is the game, not the call...

2011-10-18T10:49:00.000-07:00

Christine, my wife, pulled a slick move and flew in two of my oldest friends for a couple of days. I recently celebrated a birthday and she nailed her present to me. I can't thank her enough for the best kind of gift. Timeless experiences with your best buddies.

^They flew in on Wednesday night and we partied pretty hard at the Telemark Skier Magazine movie premiere at Brewvies in SLC. The next morning we opted for a slow going day out on "Brown Sugar" with another old friend of mine, Ben Geiger. From left to right is Ben, Ryan Schmaling, and Bryan Tournas. Ryan, Bryan, and I go all the way back to early elementary school in Wisconsin. They live in Phoenix, AZ these days, but our roots still run deep into the rich midwestern farm soil.

^Glassy water is a good hangover cure.

^Blue skies and sunshine are the prescription.

^I had to jump into the frigid water to show the boys how it is done. Wake surfing in the Wasatch. They weren't expecting to be surfing in the mountains, but then again I wasn't expecting them either.

^Bryan is figuring it out.

^Ryan and Ben keep an eye on his efforts.

^Surfing. No big deal. He is an athlete.

^Ryan picks it up like a natural. Of course.

^But then Ben makes it look really easy. We polished off the evening with the lakeview off of Ben's back porch in Willard, Utah. Some whisky drinks, and some knee high entertainment from Ben's youngsters kept our spirits as light as floating leaves on the cool wind. The stars emerged over Willard Bay and served us the perfect night cap to a once in a lifetime type of day with the best kind of friends.

^Sore calves from the all day surf session the day before, I threw the boys right into a 7-mile round trip hike. Adams Canyon is a classic waterfall hike, and a good one for athletic out-of-towners.

^Chill spot. Murphy is pumped, and the sun is shining down on our lifted spirits. The planets all kind of lined up for us for a couple days. It was really a perfect weekend.

^Ryan is stoked.

^One reason why.

^Another reason why. Ryan is chilling under the sun soaked cliffs and taking in the 60-foot waterfall. This is a special place, and I was pretty blessed to be able to share it with two people who have influenced my life in such a profound way. Pretty cool moment. I am glad I snapped these shots of it.

^Pour it out for our homies. It was a flood of reflection in the mist of the falls with these guys. We have come a long way since bike rides and kissing girls in the small town Wisco world of our youth. We have endured life, love and tragic death together. We have emerged out of the darkest pallbearer roles of our past to each strive for lives of inspired existence. We have each taken the lessons of the hard knocks of loss to heart, and pursued lives of second chance.

^In the mist.

^The album cover. The woman that made it all possible in between the boys on the shores of Antelope Island out in the middle of "Big Salty". Of course, Murphy is with too.

^Christine and I are creeping up on our first anniversary. Although, I have known her most of my life she is still surprising me. The boys love her too. That actually speaks volumes. To me at least.

^Bryan and I humbled by the light show finale. This is one of my all time favorite sunset spots. I am blessed to have been able to share a stellar one with some of my favorite people, and my dog. The boys love Murphy too. Big surprise. Everyone loves Murphy.

^I snapped this one of Ryan and Bryan as the sun settled on our day and weekend together.

^While driving across the causeway exiting the island, the moon and stars were rising over the Wasatch Range in front of me. The sun was finishing the light show over the Great Salt Lake in my rearview mirror. Ryan, Bryan and I have a lot of experiences in the rearview mirror. We truly grew up together. I met Ryan at age 5 and Bryan at age 8. We are three in a group of five from our hometown that has done it all together. We are all very blessed to have each other as true lifelong friends in this chaotic world. Each and every one of us has taken the lessons of our shared past, grabbed the torch we were given, and ran like hell with it. Each and everyone of us is keenly aware of the fragile and fleeting nature of the human experience. We have all chosen to pursue our short time here with reckless abandon. The 5 of us all played sports together growing up. In light of our hometown Brewers recent run for the NLCS, I will give you an old baseball analogy that explains.

"I will not be walking across home plate with a clean uniform. I will be rounding third base in full stride. Uniform tatered, torn, and stained from a life of diving plays. My pace will be driven by the motivation of errors and triumphs. The play will be at the plate. With no hesitation I will leap head first toward the imposing catcher. The play will be so close that the crowd will hold their breath. The silence and the perfectly executed head first hook slide will result in an uproar of emotion when the umpire animates and proclaims his call above the lingering anticipation... "

Back East...

2011-10-10T13:02:00.000-07:00

A mission to see the east coast was finally realized. Christine and I have never been up the North East Coast of the U.S. and it has been on our list for some time. Our dear friends Bobby Schaetz and his new wife Jenna got married in Minneapolis. That presented us with a perfect opportunity to put a whole "back east" trip together.

^Bobby and Jenna's first dance. Cheers to the happy couple and both of their families for a fabulous weekend, ceremony, and party. We had such a good time. We usually do when we get together with the Schaetz clan, and I am excited for Jenna's official induction. Cheers!

^Then Christine and I were off to Boston for a couple days. Christine comes from a long line of firemen so when we saw these boys hanging out in front of the firehouse we jumped at the chance for a photo opportunity that her family would appreciate.

^We stopped into Cheers for lunch, and got caught up in some conversation and drinking with CJ the Boston local, and some fun women from California. Our bartender, Andy, was a blast. We sat with these folks for lunch, and ended up hanging out for four hours just rapping and laughing. It was a real treat for to have some good conversation and laughs with some real down to earth folks in the cradle of the country.

^Andy pouring up some "Jellyfish" shots. Cheers, at Cheers!

^The history in Boston is so rich that it is literally around every corner. Christine and I walked the Freedom Trail from start to finish, despite a four hour detour at Cheers. It was really inspiring to see these places. The balcony of the Old State House were the Declaration of Independence was read to the citizens of Boston was really cool to me. It had construction and high rises all around it, and yet it still stood there with a truly magical presence.

^These quant old streets were very charming, and I was eating it up.

^Bunker Hill.

^U.S.S. Constitution, and the Boston skyline. Very cool place, and very good times.

^Next, we rented a car and drove up the coast to Bar Harbor, Maine. Here we found more great people, and more beautiful country. One afternoon the rain came in. So, Christine and I cozied up to a small Irish pub in Bar Harbor called Leary's Landing. Rob, the bartender, hooked us up with some wings and hospitality. The jubilant atmosphere and music put us right into our place. We shared some drinks and conversation with the Woodworth's, an adorable Irish couple from Florida, who entertained us with some classic stories and all around goofiness. Real people in real beautiful places. It doesn't get much better then that. Big cheers to Rob, the Woodworth's, and the Irish bar patrons that we had way too much fun with.

^Bar Harbor, Maine is home to Acadia National Park. I always try to mix in some nature into our trips. We like to get a well rounded experience. Needless to say, Acadia provided. This park was far beyond my expectations. The fall colors were in bloom and the scenes were breathtaking.

^Bridges, waterfalls, colors, and my silly wife in one of her classic picture poses. Classic Acadia. Classic Christine.

^Waterfalls and foliage. Beautiful.

^One hundred plus year old bridges that have stood the test of time and nature. I stood under it, inspired.

^Timer photo. Going on the mantle.

^Fall in full. Amazing place to experience fall. Truly breathtaking.

^Busy beaver.

^Captivating colors. Tranquil place.

^Big ocean views from Champlain Peak. The hikes were very unique in the rocky oceanfront environment. One of a kind sort of place.

^The coastline is riddled with little rocky islands, peninsulas, and bays. One of the most beautiful places that I have seen. I have seen a lot of them now, and it never gets old to come across another. We were blown away at the sights of it all. Honestly, we took over 300 pictures on this trip. It just seemed that at every turn we were being blown back by more then just the salty winds of the Maine coast.

^Blown away.

^Yet again.

^Lunch break. Looked like a good spot for one to me.

^And to the right of my lunch rock. My lovely wife, and more ridiculously views. Soak it all up.

^A large cruise ship leaving Bar Harbor. Acadia's "Sand Beach" in the foreground. Spectacular.

^Christine, the photographer, getting down to business. We were like kids in a candy store as we traversed the ridge across three peaks. Natural surprises around every bend in the trail.

^These rocky peaks were like no other environment I have ever experienced. Up, over, under, around, and all over on the rocky trails was a real treat. Very unique.

^Christine's photo of me through one the cairns that marked our way. The trail was so rocky in some places that these small stacks of rocks were the markers to navigate the way along the ridge.

^As I let Christine run up ahead so I could snap this photo, I had a real "how'd I get here" moment. I get these a lot, and mostly because I seek them out, but this one was precious none the less. We were nearing the end of what was an inspiring and blessed trip. The view of my beautiful wife in the foreground of one of the most inspiring views and environments that I've seen in a while was the perfect cocktail to stimulate my soul. I am very grateful for all the people, places, sights, sounds, smells, and spirits that all came together to give Christine and I a trip of a lifetime. Once again. From the Schaetz's, to CJ from Boston, to Irish Rob and the Woodworth's, to the history of Boston's Freedom Trail, and the beauty of Bar Harbor and Acadia, we were truly blessed.

my dog and me...

2011-09-28T12:28:00.000-07:00

Hiking with my best buddy, my golden retriever, Murphy, is one of my favorite past times. Helps bring me back down to earth to take a stroll in the hills with her. She has a demeanor and attitude that is something to admire. Her zest and appreciation is fun to watch and desirable to emulate. Take a little stroll with us across the creek, up to the falls, and to the high country sunset.

^Murphy approaches this rushing creek with some caution. It is flowing pretty heavy, and she has taken a ride down a slippery creek chute before. She has respected the dangers of creeks ever since then. She is still all in, but just moves through it a bit more cautiously now.

^Of course, if there is a bridge option, then she will opt for the higher road. She is no dummy. She will take the path of least resistance.

^"I'm coming! Wait up!"

^Barely hanging on in high water.

^Murphy always takes time to smell the flowers. Good life advice. We ascend the path to higher ground and the promise of waterfalls and scenic views.

^She is always on the lookout too.

^The first waterfall in the series, and Murphy is pumped.

^Second waterfall, and she is still pumped.

^These waterfalls are in a secluded little side canyon on one of our favorite hikes across the street from our home. It is an overgrown and steep ascent to this series, but it is a really cool little place to be. Christine and I have even found some promising bouldering problems to try to climb. We have yet to drag the pad up there, but it is fun to scout. One of these days we will go for it.

^The little side canyon also offers a really cool lookout. There is a perfect natural bench up here with a little fire pit put in to enjoy. Not the best place for fires so it is always one best to error on the side of caution so you don't burn the whole show down. That would suck. The views are plenty.

^Chilling...aaahhhhhh.

^The rat race looks so much more peaceful from up here. Comings and goings and running around, but not right now. Right now, just me, Murphy, and a cool breeze.

^Another sun down on another experience with my buddy, Murphy, and a chance to be thankful for all the blessings of my life. Getting up above the rat race has a magical ability to melt away the stresses of the world. I am super jacked for the encroaching winter and ski season, but for now I will continue to find some solace in the very same hills as they are right now with my pup. Colors are starting to change and that is exciting and beautiful unto itself. Be happy in the moment, each and every one of them.

high and low...

2011-09-19T06:42:00.000-07:00

High and low is way more then the elevations at which my wife, Christine, and I were recreating recently. It can translate across purposes to include the highs of newborn babies, and the lows of the news of a dear friend losing their companion. My heart goes out to each of them in their experiences on the opposite ends of the highs and lows of the human existence. I choose to take inspiration from them, and appreciate everything around me that much more because of their examples in both life and death. Beautiful experiences with my wife and dog are that much more rewarding in the afterglow of the inspiration they have given me. The views are that much richer, and the fog of sentimental reflection is as thick as the Northern Wasatch scrub oak.

^Christine is climbing higher through the rocky scrub oak lined switchbacks.

^The wild flowers of the north slope at about 8,500 feet take on just that much more splendor through the lenses of inspiration. Our hearts were broken by the news of my friend and ski athlete coworker, Kate Hourihan, losing her boyfriend Jake Rigby in a terrible hiking accident. We were both kind of floating aimlessly through our morning routine to get ready for this ride. At one point Christine was staring off into space when I asked her what was up. She simply replied, "Just feeling very sentimental after hearing about Jake's fall." She never met Jake or Kate, but I think she was deeply identifying with Kate and her losing her career outdoorsman companion. These lifestyles amongst the worlds wildest places are a little more dangerous than most, but those of us living them know how rewarding and enriching they are. I know Jake lived an inspired and appreciative existence in his time here, and that inspires me to live with that much more zest, love, and exploration.

^Riding through this setting is a gift. Our spirits were lifted by the view and thin air filling our exasperated gasps for crisp mountain air. Inspired, appreciative, and sweating. I will take it all.

^This ride provided a dual experience of overlooking the mountain valley of Pineview Resevior and the small towns around it, with the opposing view of bustling Ogden City. The macro view of the city's coming and going always gives me a sense of rising above the madness of everyday life and as bluegrass man Sam Bush sings, "Take a little time for sunshine. Take a whole lot of time for love. Take time praise and thank heaven up above. Take your life, as it may come cause boy it will be gone soon. Take a little time for howling at the moon!"

^Big old Ben Lomond peak. Pretty high up there.

^Later we descended in elevation to the salty depths of the Great Salt Lake. Antelope Island is a favorite sunset experience of mine and Christine and I boogied down there to enjoy one. We were a bit late to get to my favorite spot, but this one did not disappoint.

^Locked up and landing. Pretty cool moment.

^Murphy got quite the surprise when she dipped her tongue into the thick water for a drink. The salty taste didn't stop her from diving right in though. I have heard the term salty dog before, but this was a very literal version. Needless to say, a bath was in order when we got her home.

^The waterfowl are abundant out there with the large food source the salty lake provides. Murphy took advantage of the abundance to chase the feathered friends on the buggy beach. You can see the bug swarms and waterfowl retreating the tongue flapping, tail wagging newcomer. Murphy was so fired up to be amongst all the wild activity.

^The sun eventually did set on Murphy's fun, and the orange landscape gave way to the deep purple of the transition of the setting sun to the rising moon.

^The cycles of the universe and life continue each day without interruption. I can only be thankful to be leading a blessed existence, and take deep inspiration from the examples of those around me. My wife and I were given the gift of some really deeply enhanced appreciation of some great experiences because of the sentiment gleaned from Kate, her family, and Jake's family in their tragic moments of loss and grief. It reminded us of our blessing for each other, and our shared experiences. Many of our friends and family are also getting pregnant and having new babies recently as well. They add to the appreciation of our blessings we derived from the lows of passing life, with inspirational faith in the existence of the highs of life as well by watching them experience it in the birth of new and beautiful lives. I am thankful for all of it, and all of them.

Killer Anaerobics...

2011-09-14T11:12:00.001-07:00

The time has come to further prepare for the madness to come. Every winter my world turns into a marathon of action and adventure. Getting in shape to sustain the season is a monumental task. This is the program that makes boys into men, and whips my off season legs into the right shape to tackle a professional ski season. So here it is:

J.T. Robinson Freeheel Efficiency Anaerobic Workout

This workout is very intense, but very efficient. Warm up and stretch well before routine. Conduct workout on a padded surface such as carpet or grass, and not on concrete or hard floors to preserve knees. Massage knees and knee ligaments each night to preserve knee wear and tear. I also like to add in V-sit crunches and supermans for some core strength training. I try to get up the motivation to do this program four days a week.

So here is how I go about this routine. Start with some jumping jacks to warm up a little. Then, stretch well. Next, I do some V-sit bicycle crunches and Supermans. After this I run about a quarter to half mile to a location that I like to perform the routine. I do each part of the routine rather quickly with little rest between each maneuver to make the whole workout a cardio routine as well as anaerobic. Then I jog 3/4 of the way back home finishing with a walk to cool down.

Allow me to explain each maneuver in detail:

V-sit Crunches- Lay flat on back, elevate legs six inches off ground. Hands joined behind head. Then perform crunch by bringing right leg up and doing a crunch sit up to bring left elbow to meet right knee. Alternate right elbow to left knee then left elbow to right knee so legs are doing a bicycle motion and upper body is doing a twisting crunch to make elbows touch knees. Feet should never touch the ground throughout.

Supermans- Lay flat on stomach. Arms straight out above head like Superman flying. Elevate arms and legs up about six inches off ground so just your belly is touching the floor and hold this position until muscle failure. I do a couple of these and count off each time to gauge progress.

^Butt Kicks- A hamstring maneuver kicking legs back till your heel hits your butt.

^Burn Outs- Short little jump on tip-toes as fast a possible and barely leaving the ground. Keeping knees locked straight.

^Burst Ups- Short burst jump on tip-toes without bending knees, but this time going as high as you can without bending knees and speed is not a factor.

^Calf Raises- One leg calf raises on ball of foot with heel hanging out over an edge of some kind. For week one it is 10 on each calf.

^Full Ups- A two leg full jump with legs shoulder width apart, hands out front. Jump as high as possible and bring knees up to chest at the apex of the jump and compressing down to a squatting position on the landing. Take these slow to really emphasize position and jump as high as possible on each jump.

^Step Ups- A one leg jump with one foot up on a bench or stair and the other on the ground. Jump with the leg on the bench then alternate in the air so the other foot lands on the bench. Each jump is 1 so for week one it would be like each leg does 25 jumps for a total of 50.

^Tele Downs- In a tele stance jumping up and then alternating in the air like a tele turn and compressing all the way down into a deep tele stance till back leg knee touches the ground. I like to do this on a slight downward incline to mimic teleing as much as possible.

^Side Steps- Down in athletic stance hands out front leap to the side. I do this like a one leg jump to one side and what would be tele back leg follows behind slightly and crosses behind front leg that is taking the pressure of the landing then pushing off that front leg to jump to the other side and then the back leg would become the front leg to land and the foot you just pushed off with would follow behind and become the back leg that crosses behind the front leg.

shop stops in slc...

2011-09-06T10:33:00.000-07:00

The other morning I had some business to attend to in downtown Salt Lake City. Any time I head into the city I try to get everything that I need to do down there crammed into one day. I made the best of the trip. In my travels I managed to mix in some enjoyable stops that are worth mentioning.

^I brought some gear down to 2nd Tracks Sports. Ben Johnson is the shop owner, and an old friend of mine. Of course, just like all my friends, I am too busy to see him very much. Whenever I do it is always good for a couple laughs. As well as some killer deals on outdoor gear.

^The shop expanded in a big way last year, and it is still wall to wall gear at deep discounts. The 2nd Tracks Sports website says it best in describing what they are all about, "2nd Tracks Sports is the only outdoor gear consignment shop in Salt Lake City. We specialize in slightly used outdoor gear and new gear being sold below wholesale."

^Wall to wall deals.

^Good folks too, of all kinds. Ben and his dogs are helping me get my gear dialed in. The pups are mostly chilling, but that is how they roll. This shop is a must visit in Salt Lake City. If your a resident needing to buy or sell some gear, then this is your place. I can testify to some brand new "in the plastic" gear that I have there selling at deep discounts. I mean deep. If you wait until a pow day this winter, then you could miss them. When the Wasatch delivers 8 inches or more of powder, the shop does not open until 1:00pm that day. That is how I like my shop to be. So get down there this fall, and make it easy on yourself. Get some.

^Another good time stop in my day's travels was the grand re-opening of the Causwell shop. Very cool looking set-up down there. It is a true showroom. The boys down there do great work. I met up with Weston D and Shaun Raskin outside the front of the store.

^Weston was quickly perving the new Surface sticks. He is excited for the winter. I am with him all the way. You can tell that the riders are all starting to feel the pull of winter.

^Owner, Mike Schneider, is helping this guy, Matt, with some Surface skis. Kind of a funny story. I grabbed some lunch at Einstein's Bagels before going to the shop, and I met Matt sitting outside eating my lunch. I told him about the shop, and that I was heading down there. I was talking to Mike in the shop when Matt walked in the front door. I laughed when I spotted him, and I introduced them to each other. Mike showed him some gear, and Matt ended up getting a smoking deal on some Live Free fat skis for this winter. Very nice ski. I think he will be stoked on the purchase.

Good shops, and good friends, old and new. Gotta love the interactions, and the stoke that exists in shops like these. The air is crispy and the mornings are chilling off. The attitude and stoke are ripe in the wind. You can feel it when you walk into these shops, and into any dank ski shop across the country for that matter. These kinds of places are magic to people like me every fall. The energy inside is electric, and I for one am loving the vibes in the build up to winter. Very exciting.

mountain surf style...

2011-08-29T12:34:00.001-07:00

I always go on and on about balance, and the wake surf session I had about a week ago now was just such a remedy. I hooked up with some ski homies from the Norhern Wasatch on a Thursday evening. Willard Bay is just north of Ogden, and just far enough away for a lonely evening surf. Passing fruit trees and farm markets all the way to the boat launch is evidence of the local flavor. I am a country boy, and that is a little closer to it for me. I settled right in. Ben Geiger is the captain of the vessel, and a long time ski buddy of mine. Wes Knopfel, another ski bud, and Rob Harris, likewise, all rallied to the cause. Wes is a brand new daddy, and we needed to relieve him of some of the sleepless stresses with a little recreation with the boys. A surf session behind the legendary vessel, "Brown Sugar" was the prescription.

^Rob gets right into it, accelerating down the wave and reaching for the float as Daddy Wes admires the form. Wake surfing is the perfect speed and form for this bunch on an evening like this. After my last post I will also add that it is terrific dynamic balance and strength training as well.

^Captain Ben rips on that board. He also refuses to wear a life vest. As I am always the cautious sceptic, I gave him a rash of shit for it. He still relented. I get it. I am just a bitch that way at times. However, in avalanche terrain he usually listens to me. Wild man.

^Wes is a regular footed rider on the other side of the wave. That takes some adjustments, and then he is off and ripping. Kind of like his current life changes. It is exciting to watch Wes and his lovely lady, Tomo, make the adjustments, and learn to raise brand new little Seby. I have already given him a nickname, sorry. I am not a parent, and I can't imagine the pressure of coming home with a brand new life. There is no owner's manual to accompany Seby. Wes and Tomo are good people, and I am betting they will do it very well.

^Captain Ben is bringing the wheel back around to scoop up Big Daddy. Ben and Rob are both father's, and it was entertaining to watch the good natured ribbing that they laid on the new daddy, Wes. Good times, and a lot of laughs.

^This is a picture of pressures melting, and life balance being reached. Settle.

^This is a picture of me...taking a picture of...

^...Rob doing this. Nice picture. Better ride.

^Daunting new fatherhood, work, deadlines, ski training, or whatever other stressors were milling around this bunch before the first wave quickly melted away with the float. Catching a wave at sunset with great friends is the kind of experience that cools the nerve endings and centers the soul. I can't speak for the group or the brand new dad, but for me, the camaraderie, the surf, and the sunset provided relief to any stressor. As I am swimming back to the boat in this picture I was laughing out loud at the surf sensation and the unreal nature of the sunset and the moment. I was feeling good. As per usual, I was rolling with the flow, and had to play the role of the wild friend who keeps the new daddy out too late. I am sure Tomo will have to give me a hard time for it next time I see her. However, she can take some comfort in knowing it wasn't the first time I had been that guy, and probably won't be the last. My old friend Bobby Schaetz and his new fiance have a story kind of like that. They don't have kids, but I did keep Bobby out way too late on a week night. That is how I roll. What can I say. Imagine if you were married to me. That is why my wife, Christine, is a saint. They all know that I am harmless, and mostly innocent. Even when I over serve myself. Cheers!

drink it up, stretch it out...

2011-08-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

Fall is just around the corner. Soon enough the cool crisp morning air will give way to colder storms, and colorful cascading leaves. I am already beginning to feel the transitioning of the seasons. That sense creates an itch inside me that signals the start of the training regimen to prepare myself for another arduous winter. I am always somewhat active, but I have to turn it on in a bigger and focused way leading into fall. As would be expected, I have a very unique training system that I have honed throughout my tenured skiing career. It starts from a long rest and healing process that begins that day I step off the slopes for the season. Usually, I hit the wall at the end of the season sometime around middle to end of April. I rest and heal for a good three months. Again, I stay somewhat active throughout, but I keep it super light. I take the opportunity to put more focus the other endeavors of my life, and the office work of a skier during those months. Then, when the itch comes on, I start to loosen it up a bit more again.

^First things first, hydrate. At least half a gallon a day, but slowly and throughout the day. Not all at once. This photo of some high fructose corn syrup settling at the bottom of some water helps turn me off of the sodas that are loaded with the stuff. It's a dehydrator, and I try to cut them out or at least way back during hydration. Helps to eliminate it all together, but real life happens sometimes. "Another rum and coke please?"

^Secondly, is a rigorous and persistent stretching routine. This is key. I will stretch my whole body everyday for a good three to four weeks before I ever mix in any super heavy dynamic training. I also mix it in wherever and whenever I can. Pictured above, I am grabbing the toe in a hamstring stretch in the grass while Murphy fetches her ball. She needs to run, and I need to stretch. Perfect combination. A chiropractor that worked with my high school sports teams once told me that, "doubling flexibility will quadruple strength." Since those words, I have made it a staple of my training. Makes sense right? Lean muscle is much stronger then bulk muscle, and less prone to injury as well. That's a big deal to me.

^Thirdly, after a good two weeks of stretching, I start to incorporate more light cardio type workouts. A brisk hike with Murphy and Christine is a good way to loosen up the rusty joints. I will take a short hike to this mountain creek. Taking it real slow and easy on the way up. Murphy also gets to cool off from the heat in the still icy cold creek.

^Then I mix in a little agility on the way down with some rock hopping. Just like the game you played when you were a kid, and the rocks kept you out of the imaginary lava's imminent death. I hop from rock to rock on the trail were possible. Also, it is a good tool to focus on read and react skills. All the while looking ahead to make a point of linking up long lines. I try to quickly leap from...

^...one rock...

^...to another rock. All the way down at a good pace. I try to keep it moving even when I can't find a line up of rocks to scramble through. Always looking two steps ahead. Staying nimble and balanced through the movements and line choices. Fun game, and great training tool in a variety of ways.

^Good training partners can be a big help with inspiration and motivation. I have some good ones. I am thankful for them.

^Inspiration comes in many forms. Pictured above is my wife, Christine, with her mountain bike team and their gold medals from the Corporate Games. Good work Deloitte & Touche. Counting beans, and kicking ass. They ride hard, and work harder. I am inspired by their shear will power to work the way they do, and still find the gumption to put in the time and effort it takes to be able to rule it on their bikes as well. Dedicated bunch.

This is the time of year when dedication like that, applied right now, will pay off big when the flurries start flying again in late October. I will be stretching hard, hydrating, and getting the light cardio rolling for the next couple weeks before I move into the next phase of my training in the crisp morning air of early September. The next phase builds on this work by taking the light cardio to the next level. I incorporate a gradual calendar system of faster paces and anaerobics that I developed throughout the years. I will share the detailed program when I get there next month. It is a good one. Stay tuned to see it, and maybe you'll want to try to take it on. If you dare. I don't play around. It is tough stuff, but I believe in you. So get ready now, because all those white room experiences you long for are right around the corner. Better be getting prepared.

getting deep in the northwoods...

2011-08-09T13:36:00.001-07:00

If you've ever read any of my posts before you know full well that I wear my emotions on my sleeve. I get super deep here all the time. Mostly because that is how I want to live. Obviously these posts would reflect that journey to live inspired. I recently returned from an annual family trip to Northern Wisconsin. The Schaetz clan and my own have made this northern migration for over 25 years. The memories are priceless, and the moments are as rich as ever. Sally, mother of the Schaetz tribe, has been in the flight of her life with cancer. She is an inspiration and a guide. Watching her see life through the eyes of someone who is relishing in each and every moment with the appreciation that only a cancer fighter can understand. I can't understand, but I can gain inspiration and wisdom from her life's example. Her husband, Dave, is one tough "hombre" too. Not only has he been right by Sally's side throughout, but the morning after Christine and I got there he had to rush off to surgery for a detached retina. I would have been a wreck with the threat of blindness lingering, but he was as jubilant as ever as he explained to our disappointed faces that he had to rush home to go under the knife. Glad I got a little time to hang out with him, but I sure was missing his story telling around the campfires the rest of the week. Good news though is that they were able to put him all back together again. We could enjoy ourselves a little more once we knew he was seeing straight again.

^Calm waters and blue skies lifted our spirits from the docks of North Twin Lodge near Eagle River, Wisconsin. This place and these lakes have a special place in my soul.

^My brother's wife, Nicole, myself, and my dad watch with nervous energy as Sally awaits her eldest son, Mike, to give the boat the throttle to pull her out of the water. Sally set a goal to take a ski run on this trip. Last year she resisted, but this year she was going for it. Her cancer has severely weakened one of her arms, and she basically had to pull herself out with one arm tied behind her back. Try that one on for size.

^Sally has the will of a tiger, and there was no doubt amongst us that she would pull it off. Watching her was an inspiration and a blessing that I will carry with me for a long, long time.

^My mother has not skied in a dog's age, but Sally's stellar show convinced her that it was time to give it another go around.

^There she goes! Overcoming her apprehensions, once again.

^All the excitement and my big brother, Tyler, needed to take a break. Some of the best napping I ever do is on the old sofas in the crisp northern air of these cabins.

^My pops, Nicole, and Lynn Schaetz appear to be trying to talk Lynn's young daughter, Evelyn, into something. Evelyn was so fun to watch as she made leaps and bounds in her quest to swim. She made it all the way to the raft, and even did some assisted cannon balls. Three cheers for her!

^Nicole, and my wife, Christine, dropped the pontoon bikes into the lake for a stroll. Not a care in the world out there. Except maybe whether or not they'll have the legs to get back to shore. In an environment like that, who cares?

^My old man taking advantage of the crystal clear calm waters to glide around the shoreline for a bit.

^Our faithful watcher. Eagles and Osprey streak the sky in these parts keeping a watchful eye to all the action. Very cool.

^Evelyn got out of the water every now and then to rip some laps on the three wheeler. I can respect the need for some ripping. Hammer down, Evy.

^My mom and dad chilling on the deck after a beautiful day. Two families of friends around an outdoor dinner table on the deck is the real deal kind of stuff. So thankful for times like these.

^Of course, bocci ball calls for less dinner conversation and more smack talking. I think that is everyone's favorite part. Ribbing your neighbor, and gunning for their ball. Good times.

^Evelyn, telling Grandma Sally how it is. She has blossomed into quite an entertaining young personality, and Grandma is eating it up every last drop of it. Doesn't get much cuter then that.

^My old man drawn to one of his old past times. Fire poking.

^Soon to be newlyweds, Bobby Schaetz, and his fiance, Jenna. I don't know about you all, but to me she appears to be happy with her decision to keep him around in this photo. Christine and I are already super pumped to see all these folks again at their wedding in Minnesota just over a month from now. Congrats, Bob and Jenna.

^Evy and her Momma enjoying the campfire classics.

^This annual trip always leaves me in a good place when it's over. This year, as I reflect, I am grounded yet again. I take deep inspiration, wisdom, and appreciation from Sally. I take a lot of things away from all of it, and everyone there. Each and every one of the Schaetz clan inspires me in many different ways. My family and I are blessed to have life-long friends like them. My brother said it to me very well when he uttered the observation of, "families full of friends, and friends that are like family."

photos and a song...

2011-08-02T09:39:00.000-07:00

So here is a new idea for me. I have always said that my site is all about the photos and videos. I am trying to become a better writer here as well. I value storytelling in my life, and am striving to continue improving. As a result, I am always shooting pictures to help tell the stories of my crazy life. It seems I have racked a few up that I don't have killer stories for, but just beautiful visual memories. Also, I have embedded a John Butler Trio song here, "Ocean" to enrich the experience. So here is the deal. Play the song video and then scroll through the photos and captions. (you may have to watch the song video once just because it is amazing)

^This guy is unreal. His band is as well. Just got a new "Live at the Red Rocks" album that is killer.

^Sunsets are easy inspiration. No matter where you are.

^New natural gas pipeline going in over Bountiful. Double prop helicopters where delivering material.

^The pipeline track through the hills.

^Restricted from proceeding during construction, we watched the show of human aspiration.

^Green and blue. We get a lot of blue in Utah, but the green is a real treat.

^Murphy in the tall grass. She loves it.

^More human geo-engineering.

^Metaphor?

^Expansive sunsets from gate B6.

^That is one big machine.

^"I got a golden ticket."

^More sunset inspiration.

^Another metaphor? If so, then I am busting out.

^Cloud show.

^ Free admission.

^Appreciative patron.

^Duality. Why not?

^Barbed beauty.

^Mo' greens.

^This break was unsanctioned, but well received.

^On a wing and a prayer.

^ Routine can be mundane. Unless you look closely to find the splendor within it.

work, work, work... but wait?

2011-07-18T11:01:00.000-07:00

Work, work, work. All day, every day. However, I've got to do what I've got to do. I know that. But wait. I also need to keep my head right in order to make the best moves possible. Remember, I always go on and on about that one. The pressure of jumping into the abyss of risk with both feet is immense. Joining a new team, and being the rookie again is a challenge I know all too well. However, it never gets any easier or less daunting at the start line. Again, I believe that balance is key, like I mentioned last post. I am super pumped on the momentum of things. Therefore, I must have the balance to make the poised moves necessary to pounce on the opportunities.

^Just when you think your on the wrong end of something so much more powerful then you. That is when it is more important than ever to seize the day and overcome the pressures in order to then rise above. Therein lies greatness.

^Sometimes a lot of work can begin to close in and take over. As I explained last post, finding the moments within the madness is still an ongoing struggle. A struggle to get body and mind right to make the most of the opportunities that are at the heart of the pressures. Transform pressure to inspiration, and then inspiration to motivation. Deep in the Detroit airport tunnel of woes traveling from gate to gate lies a metaphor. Is that light at the end of that tunnel? I think it is.

^Another one. Is Murphy leading me out of this cage of pressure toward inspiration? She is trustworthy, and usually spot on. So I follow.

^All metaphors aside, I can count on my wife to read my energy. She insisted an early morning mountain bike ride before my night shift at the airport was my path through the ying and yang issue within me.

^Moments before I snapped this photo, as I watched Christine ascend a tough hill in front of me was when the "I am back" moment descended onto me. It fell on me with the dust from her back tire. I was back to where I needed to be. I was feeling the balance. Also, just in time because Christine was already soldiering up the hill, and disappearing fast.

^It wasn't a long ride. Just a perfect ride. The tunnel in Detroit and Murphy were both telling me it was possible, but Christine delivered me. The balance was there. I merely needed to actively seek it again.

^If you cannot arrive at inspiration from this perspective, then you'd better check your pulse because you may be dead.

^After the ride, I was off to the night shift at the airport. With balance and inspiration on my side the labor took on a new light. Seemed to me that motivation was setting in. Again, just in time for Monday morning. The first real weekday to run with the torch that the folks over at Height of Land have handed me.

^This is kind of what inspiration looks like. Finding it even while on the clock. No all good or all bad. Good within the bad, bad within the good, and open minded acceptance of existence within the wax and wane of it all.

^The universe was giving me what I needed. Friday was the landing from the 30,000 foot whirlwind. Saturday gave me the chance to get my shit back together. Sunday brought me to the doorstep of inspiration. All coming with perfect timing for me to make the move to motivation for Monday morning. A new week at the base of a whole mountain of task in front of me. Time to start the climb. Step by step. One foot in front of the other with balance, quality, and poise in precisely the proper direction.

moments within the madness...

2011-07-03T12:08:00.001-07:00

This is the time of year that I go balls to the walls in my off-slope endeavors. Often times, I grow a beard, go to a dark place, and get to work. I can get wrapped up in all of it, and loose my cool. I value that cool and calm nature as an asset to my life and businesses. Therefore, it is important for me to make sure to retain a quality balance. I recently explained to friend and photoman, Jon Gurr y, "You know how I have a lot of entrepreneurial pokers in the fire. Well, they are all burning red hot right now and need to be hammered out to take advantage of the developmental opportunity. All at the same time. I am going like crazy right now!" His reply, "Beauty, good craziness then." He was right, but it meant that I couldn't give up. I had to keep pushing. Going like crazy is a blessing these days. I simply had to take moments within the madness to seek out balance.

^My night job at the airport can get hard to swallow sometimes. It seems that too much "screw your neighbor" and "sneak away from duty" around me can get me down. I try to rise above these kinds of concerns. It is harder then I remember sometimes. That is why they call it a job. Right? I have also been in the middle of tough negotiations with a local bank to make some deals in my real estate endeavors. All the while diving head first into off-slope work with Telemark Skier Magazine. The momentum and excitement over there is so contagious. I am completely consumed. Hours melt in my home office going to task on all the big projects we have going. Super exciting. However exciting, mundane, or frustrating all this work in all these directions can get, I love the variety. I simply need to make sure that when I get caged up by all the labor that I need to make time to relieve the pressure.

^Luckily for me, I live in the lonely northern Wasatch. I can cross the street and ascend high above all the worldly concerns of my daily pursuits. I can't stay up here for long, but all I need are a few of these kinds of moments within the madness to tap the pressure valve. I try to harness the inspiration to fuel the motivation to push harder then ever.

^I have to take advantage of all of the red hot situations. However, to fully utilize my efforts I must have my mind right in order to make the best strikes on the irons as possible. I believe in making a real effort to find the balance that will inspire quality movements in all of my endeavors. This double waterfall that only runs in spring is bigger then I've ever seen it. It's naturally cyclical process adds value to the sight of it. Like me, it is pushing harder then ever right now. I am inspired. I will harness it.

^Of course, the support of a pair like Christine and our pup, Murphy, behind me makes each of the pursuits that much more rich and worth while. They make me want to do it all, and they make doing it all a little bit easier. Seems like good influence to me. Balance is the name of the game. Seeking it is a righteous task. Feeling it, even if only for a moment, is inspiration to continue the endless pursuit. Onward.

recalling a day with Weston D...

2011-06-28T12:14:00.000-07:00

It was a bright blue sky day, and the timing was ripe for some exploration. I was looking for a good access route to a favorite backcountry area that I usually access from a nearby resort. Of course, I speak in generalities in order to save my own skin in the local's only crowd. It is prevalent and pervasive in these areas. Funny to me, but to each his own. I brought along my new Telemark Skier Magazine (TSM) teammate and trusted tour partner, Weston Deustchlander.

^Weston smiles for the camera while we were taking in the break out view. One of the many things that I love about these zones. I brought Weston along under the disclaimer that the real objective of the day was finding a good uphill skin path route to an area that is much more easily attainable from the nearby resort. An uphill exploration objective is more work then anything else, so the disclaimer was in order.

^Also, there was another motive to my madness. With the formation of the TSM athlete crew, I needed to sell him on the value of the zones that have made my career. For many years now, the Vertical Integration group has been among the only crews to really get work done in these zones. It is my backyard so I really needed to get the TSM team on board. We didn't even really need to ski much of it. I just needed Weston to see it and the selling would be done by itself.

^If you look closely, then you might see Weston's track along the shadow line of the pine trees. This line is the very tip of the iceberg in relation to the available terrain in these areas. Again, due to local ostracism I won't show you too much. Just a little taste. The uphill exploring was pretty tough, but we made it to a place where I could show Weston a larger piece of the terrain than in this picture above. From a ridge overlook we could see a couple bowls and a grip of rocky glades. The untapped nature of what Weston was looking at was enough to make my point. The terrain is killer, the shots are golden, and there is no one to be seen for miles. I didn't have to do much talking to make the point.

^In this photo above, Weston is learning a new skill set that the northern Wasatch locals have perfected, bush whacking. In these parts the approaches and exits are long and scrubby. Due to a slightly lower elevation, most of our tours end with bush whacks and rally track skiing down skinny summer trails. It is an arduous task. However, I chalk it up to a small price paid for the lonely nature of the range. All in all, we found a good route. Although long, we did find it to go cleanly and rather easily. Weston also came away with a bit more scope of the value that lay waiting for us in all that untapped potential.

two kids from Wilmot...

2011-06-20T13:41:00.000-07:00

Over three decades ago a couple of kids got married in Wilmot, Wisconsin. They went to work, started a family, and made a home. That home built me. On the eve of the time of year when we buy Hallmark appreciations for our parents I am grateful for the opportunity to have shared some quality experiences with mine. No cards or internet ordered flower bouquets delivered as closely as possible to a day on the calendar can compare. Times like these are the real deal.

^Just as they have for over thirty years my folks are looking out for each other while they cross over troubled waters together. Thankfully, this particular situation was probably much less severe then the rapids they've endured together in decades of marriage and children. However, my mother may disagree.

^I think that she is calling me an expletive beginning with the letter "F" in this particular photo of her making a big step-up move with arbored assistance. She may have had severe reluctance in a lot of the situations I put her in, but she always made it. I knew she could even though she insisted that she could not.

^Of course, my pup, Murphy, is not afraid of anything. She is pictured above wondering why we are still at the bottom of the rocky scramble. Murphy was a good guide, and she was very in tune with my mother's fears and apprehensions. It was really something to observe. At one point I was scouting my mother across a sketchy traversing maneuver around the face of a small cliff. I was in a fixed position, and as my mom moved passed me and descended toward the last steps of the move I could not guide her through the slick muddy finish on the bank of the rushing creek. To our astonishment just as I let her go and said, "I can't move any further to spot you so your on your own for these last few steps." Murphy waded into the creek positioning herself in a spotters position between my mom and the creek. My golden retriever literally guided my mom through the last steps to safety. Neither my mother nor I could believe what had just happened. Don't tell me that dogs are not sentient.

^These kinds of situations are somewhat foreign to your average dairylander. These two are not the spry young Wilmot river rats they once were, but don't dare tell them that they can't do something. This hike is not for the light hearted, but I knew it was within their abilities. Even though my mother didn't necessarily believe me.

^Mother, nervously doubting my direction. Nonetheless, completing the maneuver unscathed, yet again.

^Sometimes the best way to lead is from behind. Murphy lets my Dad march ahead to scout the path.

^The finale was a big waterfall. Bigger than I've ever seen it. Runoff is going strong this year in the Wasatch. The high water made the journey that much more arduous, but added value to the experience. That spells "hell AND high water" for my fifty something mother who is afraid of heights. However, persistence and spousal cooperation can achieve great things. I've seen it. This day. On this hike. As well as throughout the childhood they gave me.

^ Of course, we had to make some ski turns in "June-uary". Like I said before, the Wasatch runoff is still going strong, and even barely at all at Snowbird. Christine insisted on taking my Dad skiing while the folks were in town. No objections from me... duh.

^Like this full moon cresting low in the summer sky, the cycles of life are all around us. In the moon, in the spring runoff, and in my family's shared generational appreciation of all of it. I strive for a naturally righteous and inspired existence. A worthy pursuit impressed in part upon me by those Wilmot kids who took a chance on each other all those decades ago. Thanks, Mom and Dad.