J.T. Robinson

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.

Starting to feel like summer...

2011-06-06T12:57:00.000-07:00

Spring in the Wasatch has been very unusual thus far. A lot of cold storms, and plenty of instances of valley snow on the spring blossoms. However, this week it has been hot. It is starting to resemble the typical again. An unfortunate consequence now is humidity and the presence of an old friend that I knew all to well growing up in Wisconsin, the mosquito. My daily drive to work through prime hatching environment has rendered the front of my car a scene of mosquito genocide. Bug repellent will become a sacred ritual as it once was in my damp Wisconsin childhood.

^The heat is on and the bugs will soon be out on the ramp with me at Salt Lake International. On the bright side, as you can tell in the background of this Canadair CRJ-700, there is still vast amounts of snow up in the high elevations. Snowbird is still rocking and I heard a rumor that Snowbasin may even turn some chairs for skiing on the weekends for a bit. My Dad's coming into town and we plan on making some "Juneuary" turns.

^My wife, Christine, always says my posts need more puppy. Here is some puppy.

^Murphy is down with the heat. She loves fetch in the field with the neighborhood kids. Summer for her comes with perfect timing to ramp up her knee recovery with hiking, swimming, and all around horseplay. The kids don't take it easy on her either so her resilience is progressing through the aggressive play.

^All smiles.

^Cold spring storms have brought us a lot of these scenes this spring. Very surreal when your in the middle of it.

^Metaphor...errrrr...whatever. Snow on a flower. Bad for the flower. Interesting for me. Cool picture either way.

building strength and equity...

2011-06-02T13:44:00.000-07:00

I am a firm believer in cross training. Also, I thrive on variety. Mixing it up in the outdoor recreations so amply provided by the Wasatch range is the perfect solution. I am also a firm believer in working for a living. I happen to view trade work as another form of cross training as well, but that kind of gets into a different thing all together. Most importantly, it is the time of year for me to be building... muscle diversity... and financial equity.

^Murphy took up her position as supervisor on the workshop floor. We were rebuilding the sauna in the basement. Previously, when I undertook a leaky shower issue down there half of the existing sauna was an unfortunate casualty of that war. Putting Humpty Dumpty back together again was the task at hand. I'd never built a sauna before so the learning curve was in effect again, as usual.

^However painful and dumbfounding, I completed the job. The sauna oven heats up, and the box holds all the heat. Not sure what else I can ask for now, but just hope that it holds up for the next thirty years. The test of time always proves the craftsman. The problem is you can't tell that until after some time. No matter how much homework I try to do, at some point I just have to jump in with both feet.

^After stressing all day, there is no better relief then the northern Wasatch front range to provide a quick and easy fix of some mother nature. The outdoor recreation in my backyard is plentiful. I try to partake in as much of it as I can afford. I like the variety and the cross training nature of practicing as many as I can.

^My wife Christine is a die-hard mountain biker these days. In this photo she is soaking it up in a creek bed crossing. All I have to do is mention the urge and she is pushing it home to get out. I love the cardio and power training of mountain biking. The athleticism of it is fantastic as well. Pure test of balance, strength, strategy, motion, and fluidity among a million other skills that are in constant play.

^Bouldering is the perfect change of pace. Christine and I have been pushing ourselves to include climbing into our lives more often. I love the upper body and core strengthening of the sport. We are rather enthusiastic beginners, but we are having a good time getting stronger and mastering our centers of gravity. We are mostly into bouldering so far because of the relative ease of entry. However, the challenges have been no less great. I have watched Christine begin to flourish in a relatively short time as her strength builds rapidly. She is right on the crux of solving a problem that has been haunting her. I can't wait until she nails it because then the proverbial rock will be rolling.

^Of course there is hiking with Murphy as well. I enjoy the extra company as much as the walk. The hike is a good workout, but the contagious jubilation of my five-year old golden retriever is as good for me as anything. Her attitude is something to admire. I can only strive for that kind of enthusiasm and love in my own character. Good dog.

^A sunset such as this can have a power that transcends the physical. The adrenaline and "runner's high" of a good workout is one thing. When you add in the power of mother earth through incorporating the "outdoor" in outdoor recreation something changes. Real value is added to the experience that no treadmill or gym can duplicate. Drenched in adrenaline and cooling down from a vigorous effort to the soundtrack of a brisk spring breeze amidst a glowing sunset with my wife and pup in tow is the ideal reward to the vast array of hard work.

transitions...

2011-05-16T11:59:00.000-07:00

Seasons transition. I do, as well. I have built my life around the seasons. As such, I feel the pull of the need for variety in my efforts in parallel with the natural cycles. The Wasatch snowpack is starting to come down and the rivers are high. Blossoms are poking through. Motivation to put skis on is beginning to take a backseat to biking and other warm weather recreations. My day job transitions from pro skiing to remodeling/property management. My night job at Delta also transitions from de-icing to the ramp. As I like to say, "pushing and parking" airplanes. I like it this way. I seem to thrive on the variety and the congruence to the environmental transitions all around me.

^I can't remember if this day photoed above was my last ski day or not. If not, then it was close to it. I still may squeeze another one in yet, but I will let the flow of everything make that call. However, this was a killer day despite it's place on the calendar. Ben is wrapping up the "get to" with a little bootpack stage at the end of the tour.

^That "get to" yields access to this expanse of goodness. No matter how many times I see this zone it still gets me going each and everytime. Even a little just looking at this photo. Get some.

^The exit from the zone is a full on springtime bushwhack by this time, and the cougars are out getting some action of their own out here. Yep. What was that sound behind us?

^Reaching the road helps with the cougar fears, but now come the hitch-hiking fears. A cougar in that environment usual helps our cause though. We meet some interesting people hitching the Ogden backcountry exits. I for one enjoy the opportunity to meet a stranger. You would be surprised at the generosity of strangers. Even in todays day and age. There are still good people around. You just have to be brave enough to meet them.

^The Delta Airlines job transition is nice too. De-icing is a whole crazy adventure of hurry up and wait, man vs. machine vs. nature, and group dynamics of many people jammed into small spaces for long periods of time. Moving back to the ramp for the summer turns into a welcomed change of pace and pursuit. I thrive on the change. Keeps things fresh.

^Sunsets like this help feeling good about the changes. I have a good system going. It works for me. I am beginning to realize that I am a very different kind of animal from the rest. This requires a very different kind of system and lifestyle management. For a while I wasn't sure that this kind of life was sustainable. Now that I am ten years in I am beginning to figure a few things out. I have come to the realization that it is possible, and it is worth it. To the hustler goes the spoils, but they are out there if your clever enough to find the tiny nuances within which they hide. Also, it helps if your honest with yourself about what it's really all about for you.

^Besides, fetch with Murphy in the green grass and sunshine... come on. That's living. What do you really need? (whoa...careful...don't go too political on an adventure lifestyle website). Cheers to Spring and all that it brings.

last minute epic...

2011-04-18T12:57:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you have to take a step back. Take a good look at what is going on around you, and make a call. Every once in a while a move like that can pay off. This story starts in Bozeman, Montana. I was with the Telemark Skier Magazine crew. The springtime struggle was in full force there, and we were studying the internet reports of the storms in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was late Sunday night and the forecast for the Wasatch was bluebird with significant new snow. We talked it over and over. When the dust settled, Kate Hourihan and I were up the next morning at 4:00am, and gunning for a sunrise flight into SLC International.

^It was an early rise, and a run around to get ourselves and our gear flight ready. The two of us were in go time mode. We pulled it all together just in time to catch the 6:25am Delta Airlines flight. Kate got the last seat on the plane, and we were on our way towards a classic travel epic.

^Our little regional jet touched down in SLC at 7:45am. Baggage claim, a bus, and then my Subaru Outback in our rally up to the Northern Wasatch for a rendezvous with the day's crush crew. Tony Gill came up from Park City, and Ogden locals Ben Geiger, Paul Wright, and Wes Knopfel were patiently waiting for us when we rolled into the parking lot at 8:45am. Haggard and disorganized, Kate and I got to gearing up. The whole crew was settled into the skin path by 9:30am.

^10:30am and this was the aftermath of 6 caffeinated and amped attitudes. We were picking up real windslab concerns in our early observations. However, pits and test sloping tactics were holding strong. Kate and I took firsts in the big chute on looker's left of this photo. I pushed the slope tests hard with good results, and then set up an on-slope shot in a safe zone to shoot Kate's line. After that, I swung down and around to this photo perspective for the rest of the crew's lines. I was running video cameras, and as these shots unfolded I started to realize that it was going to be a special day.

^With morale in the clouds, we ascended to go for more in another north through northeast facing zone. The ascent goes fast when your that juiced on adrenaline and thin air. Kate is following Paul into the great beyond in this photo.

^Next zone 11:45am. More homeruns. The epic continues.

^Paul Wright is soaking up the sun after taking part in this crush session. It was a couple laps later when this photo was snapped off at about 2:30pm. The session had continued to progress into an out right murder scene. Everyone was feeling the power of the flow. The spirit of the group was lingering somewhere around the stratosphere. The progression of the skiing and the smiles was proof.

^This shot of Ben looking at the rest of the ridge is further evidence of our crew's attitude and amplitude. Two laps on this ridge with this crew, and the proof was in the snow. Shear escalation.

^On the way out of the final zone at 2:45pm we continually had to stop and look back at what had ensued throughout the day. Everyone involved was feeding the overall stoke of the group, and the electricity was sparking. This kind of dynamic does not come around every day. I am so thankful that all the planets lined up, and we were fortunate enough to have a day like this one come together.

^Tony Gill and Kate Hourihan were guests in my backyard, and they played nicely in the sandbox with everyone. They kept their eyes, ears, and minds open to veteran local knowledge, and jumped right in. It is not easy to operate in new terrain, but these two youngsters proved themselves worthy once again. The whole group embraced the day's vibes, and harnessed the power to step it up to the opportunities the mountain's were offering us. It was another classic epic. Yet again. By 3:30pm I was driving home with rubber legs and a million dollar grin. Yep.

Almost spring... but not just yet.

2011-04-14T09:04:00.000-07:00

The smell of spring always invigorates the warm weather itch in me. An itch that feels so good to scratch. My wife, Christine, has the itch so bad that she may break out into a rash soon. It is a bit different for her though because mountain biking in spring air symbolizes the end of another "All-In" audit season. For myself, spring is also a huge relief for my body and mind. My body is beaten and tattered like my jacket by this time, and my mind starts to become more fried then my egg sandwich in the morning. Constant consequential decision-making in the backcountry and over doses of adrenaline start to wear out the mind. However, the good news is that one good day of putting down the cameras and two-way radios is all I need to remember why I love this all so much. A jaded perspective... yes, but I know it and I fight it in order to stay in a appreciative state of mind. No matter how much I try to stay out of the box, sometimes, I get sucked in. I have found that all it takes is a day like the one I am about to share with you to get me out of that damn box, and back into a place of humble appreciation and zest for this lifestyle.

^A lot of good days start out just like this, and this day was no exception. Ben Geiger is pictured here on the first few steps of our first skin ascent of the day. We thought that the south face that he is looking at was going to get hot early. We were very wrong, and later that day that slope would prove to be oh so right.

^As a result of our early ideas about the heating we opted to start out a bit more mellow, and on more of a northeast pitch catching some spring half light. Good call. No cameras, no radios, no hassles. Pure environment and moment. The perfect prescription for the jaded lenses.

^ The first lap went so well that we looped around to another Northeasterly slope and tacked on another 500 vertical feet as well. Once again, we reaped the benefits. A good friend and some good lines can put me into the right place. Ben took the "Y Chute" on the looker's right. I mobbeb "Keith Brown" to the looker's left of him. The line goes through the rocks and the super skinny little chute that dumps out just above the trees where I hung it looker's left into the next pitch over. Aaahhhh Yeeesssss!!!

^Our attitudes were ripe with reward, and we decided to keep it rolling for one more lap. We threw on our skins and got after another bowl. We left ourselves with options to ski a zone that would go southeast or northeast depending on how we felt about the heating of the day.

^We approached the southeast face first, and it was just not heating up. We gave it everything we had to try to get the wet dragons to show themselves. They would not come out. Therefore, we got after it. As you can see, it held up. Ben and I had ourselves one hell of a finale. We toyed around with the idea of going for one more, but we decided that our day had been truly blessed with stellar turns in three huge bowls. I was in need of some relief, and mother nature had provided. We left the day at fabulous and skied out.

^ I was feeling so reenergized and grateful that I felt it necessary to share it with Murphy. I took her out for a lap in the cross-country trails and got her a good run in the spring time sun. Bluebird skies and puppy smiles topped off the afternoon that put the heart and soul back in my season. I am back where I am supposed to be, where I belong. Life is good, don't forget it.

Desktop favorite, ridges...

2011-04-01T08:23:00.000-07:00

Blue skies, sunshine, clean snow, and a good friend. It is hard to screw this kind of day up. Wes Knopfel and I were blessed with a set-up like this a while back, and it is still resonating with me. I like to let adventures sit on my desktop for a while so that the richest stories and photos rise to the top. I can't even remember when this day was, but the adventure was a classic, and the imagery was scenic.

^Wes is starting up a skin path to the ridge. We could not have asked for better weather that day. The wind was ever so slight out of the northwest. This approach on a northeast aspect was sheltered, but delightfully sunny.

^The ridge line yielded the long views that serve as the reward for the labor to gain it. This never gets old. I really don't know how else to say it, but I spend half my life in these kinds of environments and I never tire of it. How could you?

^The ridges are very special places that are always a whole mix of emotions. The ridges have a lot of questions that require honest answers. Is this a cornice? A wind load? Will it pullout way back? Or wait till I am deep? Does this go? Do I want to ski this? I could go all day long with the questions. The hard part is the honest answers that you have to give yourself. This is our constant struggle living lives in these situations. Many questions, tough answers, and real consequences.

^A view like these can be a real distraction to the decision making, which is going on at all times up here. However, if your not stopping to smell these scenic roses, then your missing the point. Maybe it is the elevation, but the air tasted so good from that perspective.

^Wes made his decisions, and committed to the validity of them. Anything can happen at the point he is in this shot. Fortunately for him, his calls held up. Another ridge, another risk, another commitment... another reward.

^Stop... nice... very nice.

^My turn. Wes shot this on his I-phone from the bottom. I love letting it all out in big laid back freeheelers on lines like this.

^Clearly I am satisfied with the answers I came up with to the ridge line questions of the day. Touring is questioning all day long from trailhead to trailhead, and you can never get them all right. I know that I make mistakes out there all the time. Some more severe then others, and I have also paid many light and heavy consequences for them. At the end of the day I still decide that it is a life worth pursuing in places and situations that rise to the top, just like this one.

Classic Jeff...

2011-02-21T11:56:00.003-07:00

As Ben Geiger and I walked up to the resort, he mentioned that he wanted to get up to Revelstoke to visit our old friend, Jeff Lee. He had just listened to a voice mail from Jeff explaining his plans to spend some time there soon. Little did we know Jeff was setting us up for a real surprise. Ben and I rounded the corner toward the gondola line when a tall bearded guy approached us grinning ear to ear. We watch him approach and I was slow to realize what Ben shouted, "Jeff!". I couldn't believe my eyes. This was the first I'd seen of him in ten plus years. Jeff was just trying to make sure that Ben was in town when he called. Jeff figured he'd leave it to chance and hang out in the base area for a short period of time. If he saw us, then he'd blow our minds by showing up out of nowhere. A great idea. Classic Jeff. It worked.

^We are trying to set up a group "old school" photo up on top of the tram. Jeff blew us out of the water with the show up move, but then we dragged him right out into the shit.

^Jeff and Ben are looking into the zone we were saddling up to. Ben and I were giving Jeff a hard time while we guided him into lines that he had shown to us ten years ago. Time flies when your in the Alaskan bush.

^Jeff is still a super burly mountain man, and had no problem diving in. This little down climb was a real pain in the ass, but Jeff made it look easy. Slow and steady has always won the race.

^Here, Jeff is not moving slow through this entrance. Our throats where in our chest for this crux move over 40 feet of rocks. Of course, he made it through smoothly like he'd skied it the week before. He's still got it.

^However, a few runs later, I got it. Oh, and I got it good. Wes Knopfel snapped this beauty of me taking some firsts on what I call "Lefty chute". That is what all of this is really all about. That right there.

^Wes is posing for this one in front of our tracks on Needles Face. We certainly scored on that lap. Jeff and Ben skied the north face of this ridge while Wes and I opted for these beauties. Yum, yum.

^At the very end of the day, Jeff, Ben and I kicked over to one of Ben's classic finale lines. The 1400 vertical foot gully is one of Ogden's finest. Also, it is notorious for late afternoon bluebird break outs. As we sat in the fog and waited for one such phenomenon Ben was rallying the group dynamic to energize nature's movements. Low and behold the cloud lifted and gave us a once in a lifetime gift for our reunion. Powerful stuff. In the photo above, Ben is poised and ready for the blue skies you can see just beginning to show itself to us.

^Jeff certainly appreciated the universe's energy support of our ski day, and he was jumping for joy across the foot bridge on our out. We had an epic boot pack and down climb epic out of the bottom of our line, but the stoke was still high. Folks like these, why wouldn't it be.

^The alpenglow show that finished it all off was further evidence that our entire reunion with our dear friend Jeff was being driven by some serious momentum from the universe. The sequence of events seemed very blessed to me. I am grateful for it, that is for sure.

^To top it all off, our local homie, Kyle Raines came through with a scoop up. Some coldies and some laughs, and Kyle drove us back up the canyon to our cars. Kyle is a good friend, and a real shirt of the back kind of guy. Cheers to Kyle, and Jeff's very understanding travel companion, Nancy.

surfer's delight...

2011-01-27T17:29:00.001-07:00

^Vertical Integration (VI) original and co-founder, Zach Houston, is one of the most talented humans I have ever met. I have skied with him for over 10 years, and he still blows my mind on a regular basis. A few years ago, Zach followed an urge to surf the beaches of Southern California. He washed ashore in Cardiff by the Sea near San Diego, and now spends most of his time belly down on a surf board. However, Zach's work with VI always keeps his mind close to the mountains. We still manage to get him out in the snow a couple times a year. Recently, he rolled into Utah just like he'd never left.

^Longtime friend of VI and burly Ogden local, Wes Knopfel, is the backcountry ninja cloaked in black looking back on Zach as we wait for the rest of the crew to exit the zone. It has been sometime since we have all gotten out together. Felt a bit like the old days.

^Mr. Knopfel is spotting Zach as he drops into the abyss. Zach always seems to have impeccable timing and arrived just in time to harvest some ripe powder.

^Of course, Zach wasted no time and ducked right into a deep freeheel turn underneath the downed log that jams this chute. He traded over-head swells for over-head powder, and picked up right were he left off without missing a beat. His talent astounded us, yet again. Ben Geiger looked at me and acknowledged, "Damn, he is still smooth as silk!"

^As local boys, we did our part to give Zach a lot of razing about his rusty legs and low elevation lungs, but as usual Zach showed up and ducked all of our jabs. Only he can come into town without riding for six months and rip and tour as strong as he ever did. Gets me every time.

^On Zach's last day in town we had an epic in Birch Creek Canyon. Wes Knopfel and I had to get out a bit early to make it to our night shift deicing airplanes at SLC International. Pictured above, Wes is starting our skin out of the zone back to Snowbasin while I said my goodbyes to my dear old friend, Zach Houston. Of course, he was still feeling strong and was going for one more big lap with Ben in the goodness. All I can say is, "If you've still got it, then get after it." Cheers, Zach.

wedding and honeymoon...

2011-01-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

Still playing catch up, but getting closer. Now we have arrived at 12/11/10. I will need to remember the date because that is the anniversary of the day I finally married the love of my life, Miss Christine Johnson. The ceremony was beautiful and my bride floated down the isle. We were surrounded by all of the greatest people in our lives, and we couldn't have asked for a better day.

^The wedding party was a cast of characters that have all been huge influences and support in our lives. We were so pumped that everyone made it despite long distances and busy lives. Thank you.

^Let this photo be an indication of how the rest of the night went. Enough said.

^Telluride, Colorado. Christine picked this place for the honeymoon. It is one of her favorite places on earth and I would tend to agree. Telluride is one of a kind. The charming little town is nestled in a little box canyon surrounded by monster peaks. The views and vibes in Telluride are among the best I've experienced. I have been there several times now in a variety of seasons and I still want to keep going back. The people were so welcoming to Christine and I. We met several folks that we saw throughout the week and I am grateful for their kindness and generosity. A special thanks to our new friends Tim and Alex who went out of their way to be nice to us. Also, cheers to the crew over at Pescado, a raw bar. Our sushi dinner was a top-notch great food and great company experience. Thanks, Telluride.

^DJ Tim is pictured here looking for my request for his radio show. We met Tim in the Last Dollar Saloon, and he invited us up to check out the local radio station. Tim played a little Ten Years After, "Over The Hill" for me and Christine. We had a blast checking out all the music and gear.

^Tim is laying it down while Christine is trying to find some tunes to play amidst the never ending collection of music in the KOTO 89.3 studio. It was an evening that Christine and I won't soon forget. We are still blown away at the gesture on Tim's behalf to show some honeymooners a unique experience. Very cool. Thanks again, Tim and KOTO radio.

^Telluride is not only a fantastic town, but a killer ski resort. The terrain here is big by any definition of the word. The off-piste lines are long and consequential. Pyramid peak is the real deal. Christine and I arrived to a thin early season snow pack, but a foot of new snow during our trip blessed us with some great powder skiing in the glades in the shadow of Prospect Bowl.

^Christine is all smiles and relaxing on the deck slopeside. Her belly is full of a pulled pork sandwich that knocked our ski boots off. Honestly, the best I've ever had. We had quite a few moments on our honeymoon that we will remember forever, and most of them involve the all around beauty of the people and the place.

Cheers and thanks to everyone who was a part of these milestone moments for Christine and I.

road trippin...

2011-01-02T13:21:00.001-07:00

Again, as I mentioned in my previous post, I am playing catch up. A couple weeks ago now Christine and I made the road trip from Utah to our hometown in Wisconsin. We were slated to be married the following weekend, and we opted to drive across the Great Plains of America rather then fly. Our golden retriever, Murphy, costs a small fortune to fly. Even if your a company employee. Therefore, we packed up my Subaru Outback and trekked it over I-80 eastbound.

^Somewhere in Wyoming we passed a wind farm that was pumping out the electricity. Nice to at least see some signs of the greening of America. Lord knows we have a ridiculously long way to go, but small wins like this one do tend to make my day. Time to make a change (...as I drive passed in my combustible engine vehicle. Irony? I do what I can.)

^I drove through the night. Christine and Murphy were navigating and taking turns napping. This photo shows the two of them in a classic cuddle moment. Murphy would periodically awaken from a nap and come up to see how everything was going up in the cockpit of the Subaru. She'd also take the opportunity give her momma a little kiss on the cheek. She is such a lover.

^Of course, after a good twenty hours in the car, and after my own sixteen straight hours at the wheel both Murphy and I were over it. Notice here that the exhaustion you can see in my face is shared by my four legged little girl. I was beat, but it seemed that Murphy was right there with me.

^It took us twenty-three and a half hours to drive fifteen-hundred miles, but the warm wood stove fire and ice cold Miller Lite felt like the kindest welcome I'd received in years. Murphy and I took a collective long deep breath, and I had some long slow swills of my native land's nectar. Before I knew it we were both sound asleep with an empty beer can delicately balancing in my lap. I woke up, had another cold one, and gave thanks for our arrival back in the dairyland that Christine and I will always call home. No matter where we live. Cheers to it.

Alpenglow...

2010-12-19T13:36:00.000-07:00

I have been up and down. East and west. I will get to all of it, but as a result of it all I have to play some catch up. So, with that said, this particular day I want to share happened some two weeks ago by now. As always, I am on the search for unique experiences, but every once in a while they find me.

^My trusty tour partner, Ben Geiger and I were out for another typical excursion in Ogden, Utah. However, near the end of a long day of skin laps and political arguments we were graced with an alpenglow finale. Alpenglow is the glow of a sunset in the high alpine terrain. If you've never seen it, then it is something that should go on your bucket list.

^Some alpenglow events are better then others. Like the northern lights, though, when you see a good one it takes your breath away. This one snuck up on us due to the aspect we were on. We were on the Wasatch back with a predominant eastern orientation so the sunset was out of our view.

^Until the alpenglow show began, we had no idea what would be in store for us. It came in fast, and just as we were de-skinning for our descent. Ben looked up and gave me a holler, "Dude! Alpenglow!" I looked up from my gear up business, and was astounded with a, "Damn! When did that happen?" Both of us dropped what we were doing and were captivated by the energy of the event. Something about that glow creates an atmosphere of humbled awe.

^From inside a pair of goggles with a red lens the show gets even more interesting. We got our gear in order quickly so that we could ski powder amidst the pink glow. It is like another world in a space that you've occupied a million times. Very surreal.

^The ski down provided more surprises with views of surrounding terrain showing symptoms of the phenomenon. The energy of these moments was positively charged, and Ben and I were soaking it up and transferring it into our turns like a prism with light. It was gone as fast as it came, but the timing and circumstance was so well placed for Ben and I that we felt like it was a gift just for us on our last run of a classic day.

all over the show...

2010-11-27T11:33:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have kind of been all over the show. The first holiday of the season has come and gone, and the early season skiing has been better then it has in years. The storms have been lining up in succession, which has also been keeping me very busy and very late at the airport. Having moved into deicing season I take on a whole new role at the airport. Also, a nice surprise fell into my lap in the form of court side tickets with Christine to a Utah Jazz game. Although I did not choose the corporate life for myself, you will never hear me deny that it does come with many benefits, and I am fortunate that Christine was able to share this one with me. I also found some time to make good on a bit of catch up to try to get all of our ski gear in step with the speed of the early season snowpack. Busy as a bee, but no complaints, not a one.

^The early season snowpack has been doing really well. Ben Geiger and I made it down to Snowbird to take advantage of it before the last wave came in. It had been a few days since snow at the time, but the Bird was holding up well and some fresh openings played into our favor. I spoke on the phone with VI's Alaska based photographer, Jon Gurry, just prior to our ski day. Jon confessed jealousy over my day of "...an early season Geiger session at Snowbird, beeboppin it all over. Hell yeah!" Ben loves to do the hop around early season at the Bird, and I must confess that I like it as well. Tight little mini chutes and bump runs are the name of the game, and Ben plays it as well as anyone. A game of follow the leader through Ben's lineup of techy combos is perfect early season training.

^Ben is always quicker to the gun then I am, and here he can't resist his urge to take a little huck out of Silver Fox despite my attempts to cool off his famously contagious stoke. In the end, he knows the line and landing well. He even dragged me into some action. Of course, I played the line with the caution of a recently broken man, but I still let Ben push me enough to get the blood moving and build some confidence. It is not just muscle that I need to build right now.

^Naturally, after a day of pushing my limits with my old buddy Ben, I was sore as all get out. I figured it would be a good day to catch up with the snowpack and get some of the household ski gear in working order. I had something like five pairs of skis to mount between Christine and I and a couple to get ready for sale. A portion of the pro skier income is selling the gear that we have acquired from the season before as the new stuff comes in. I had a lot to do, but a nice day and a new outdoor workshop to get it all done in.

^I was wrapping up the last of my ski mounts when I got a text from Christine that made my day. The partner seats at the Energy Solutions Arena made their way down the ladder to Christine, and she needed a reply "ASAP" as to my status of being able to attend on a short notice. A quick tapping of "I'm in!" and she was scooping me up and we were on our way. I just barely picked the last of the burned P-tex off my fingers when I was shaking hands with Deliotte & Touche partner, Mark Faas, thanking him and his lovely wife Tamara for inviting us. Dinner and drinks in the clubhouse and court side seats was a real treat for me. I am a huge basketball fan, and as some may well know I ate, slept and breathed basketball for a long time in my younger days. I may not have been the best company during the game as I was silently glued to the action on the court. I was all in, listening to the player speak, trying to hear in on all the little communication nuances, and trying to pick up off the ball player movements that you don't get to see unless you are this close to the live action. Big cheers to Mark and Tamara for this one. Also, a big thanks to Christine for all the hard work to deserve the gesture.

^Feeling rested and grateful, I went into the Delta work week ready for the weather on the horizon. The weather has been volatile in the Wasatch. The storms have kept coming in with good succession, and the latest was quite a show. "Life Threatening Conditions!" touted the weather man on television in the break room of the deice shack. Of course, I put in my two cents that they were"...over hyping the storm in order to sell hotel rooms in Park City". The sunset pictured above from that night was no indication of what was to come at sunset the following evening.

^Just before dusk the storm made it's way across the lake from the northwest. As a result, the mayhem began to ensue for me and three dozen of my coworkers on the deice team at Salt Lake City International Airport. The front end of the storm hit like a sledge hammer with heavy wind and white out snowfall. At one point, the control tower threw in the towel. The whole airport shutdown for a couple hours. Flights were cancelled all over the show. Snug in the operator's seat inside my enclosed spray bucket I was sheltered, yet my driver and I sat in radio silence in awe of the power of the storm. As well as at the sight of the diligence of the snowplow crews struggling to scratch a path into the blinding whiteness. Eventually the storm let up some just as I predicted(I am patting myself on the back as you read this, pat...pat...pat...). Tower made the call to get the runways back open, and my driver and I were snapped back out of our trance and into the shit. With flight schedules now in the crapper, pretty much anything goes and we just have to clean them up as they come. And come they did, all night long and into the early morning hours. The money is good so you won't hear me do too much complaining, but it was one hell of a night.

^However, one hell of a night deicing is always followed by one hell of a day skiing. Thanksgiving Day, Christine and I got after it up at Snowbasin. The big storm hit them pretty hard and finally got the terrain set up. The snowpack is still thin, but it is just thick enough to be getting off trail and finding some sheltered powder. Obviously, I am pretty good at finding the goods at my stomping grounds and we got fresh floater turns for two straight days. Pictured above Christine is putting in the little bit of work needed to get to the leftover stashes. Early season legs are still a factor, but we sure had a lot of fun getting them worked out in some smooth duty.

^Down there is Christine getting in deep in a little stash my crew nicknamed "Juan" a long time ago. Usually a small double huck or straight line move entrance, "Juan" is a beautiful little stash that stays hidden in plain sight most of the time. The gnarly entrance was far too boned out so Christine and I were slipping in through a rocky little side slip traverse and getting it from a quarter in. It was well worth the pick through. We were throwing high fives like kids after this pitch. With blogging being and overall organized retrospective endeavor I think I will take the opportunity to throw a metaphorical high five for this particular space in time.

Shaping up...

2010-11-14T17:25:00.000-07:00

Things are shaping up in the Wasatch, as well as in my body. Intermittent storms have been sliding across the Great Salt Lake into the East and West running Cottonwood Canyons in near perfect succession. As a result, the snow pack is shaping up better then we have seen in a few years. With any luck, this will carry through and really set the season up well. The tiny little back straps running down either side of my spine in my lower back are starting to take shape as well. I have been pushing those little slabs of bacon to the brink to try to fatten them up again with a steady diet of raw protein and early season skin path slogs. My longtime tour partner, Ben Geiger, had an itch to get up to Cardiac Ridge in "Was Angeles" just north of Little Cottonwood Canyon's famous Mt. Superior. However, he wanted to do the approach from what I think is called Mill D. Regardless, what is important is that it is one hell of a good long slog for me in my current condition and timing within the season. In reality, it is probably good for me. A bit much, but good.

^(L to R) Two longtime friends of mine Rob Harris and Paul Wright, and then the spearhead of the day, Ben. We took our sweet ass time on the tour up. It is more about jaw jacking, telling lies, and catching up on what has gone down since we saw each other last winter. Plenty of breaks and carb loading to try to manage our early season legs.

^Follow the yellow brick road to never never land or the other side of the rainbow or something like that.

^This particular long mellow tour rolls right past an old mining structure that is a really cool surprise when you come out into this clearing. The tour is littered with evidence of the once booming mining industry that thrived in these mountains.

^I pulled up to this cool little stream and decided that it was as good a spot as any for some lunch with a creek trickle soundtrack. I love that sound.

^At the bottom of Cardiac Ridge Ben gave me a nice little look back so I could snap a pic of him on our last approach before the ski. Of course, the end is always the steepest, but digging deep for the last push is all part of the sacrifice.

^Lake affect snow was lingering in the air even as the bluebird skies broke out for us. Ben is pictured in the lower right hand corner of the frame about half way up the last pitch of the tour. You can see some tracks right next to the kick turn. Damn that looks good. We were all kicking it into high gear and pushing each other to finish strong.

^Giving the last of his legs to the final pitch of the skin Rob managed to lay down some smooth powder turns for the big payoff. The smile on his face indicates that he was glad he went inside himself and found the inner strength to push his early season legs to the brink.

^Framing the right side of the picture is telemark legend and mentor to my own backcountry skiing career, Paul Wright. Paul was a big reason I made the switch to telemark so many years ago. He just made it look so damn good. Also, over the years he has taught me and my crew at Snowbasin gobs of local knowledge and avalanche mitigation skills. I always enjoy touring with people I respect and feel like I can learn from. Paul has a lot of years in the mountains and I for one will eat up any of that wisdom he wants to share. In this picture Paul is shooting the breeze with another ski party at the base of our ski while a stranger milks the last few turns of his own descent. Paul has been working like a dog these days selling the shit out of some mountain luxury home components so he was granted first in for our party. Early in the day I had convinced myself that I was only going to make parallel alpine style turns on the descent. However, when Paul dropped in first and laid down some silky high speed freeheel wonders, I could not resist. My first telemark turns of the year felt just like home, and I even laid way back on a few and dipped an uphill hand down into the goodness. We were all pleasantly surprised with the depth of the snowpack and the quality of the skiing for such an early date on the calendar. As usual, I played the healthy skeptic to Ben's famously over the top enthusiasm at the onset of the tour that morning. However, I was quick to eat my words and give him a big huge high five for this one. One hell of a day for early November.

don't call it a comeback...

2010-10-29T09:58:00.000-07:00

Never before have I been so nervous for a low angle glade loaded with new snow. I stood quietly for a moment above the mellow line I had chosen to be my first turns of the season. It was my first mental challenge coming back from my most severe injury. My mother will testify to the fact that I have been crashing and burning my whole life. The local clinic probably thought my parents were beating me up because of the frequency of our visits. I've broken over a baker's dozen bones, countless muscle and tendon injuries, knock outs and concussions to boot. Needless to say, I have always bounced back, and I intend to do more of the same this winter. Everything felt significant from my morning pack up, to the drive, to the skin ascent, and then just before the drop in.

^My own little tailgate party. There were a good amount of folks getting out and getting after it. Alta looked like it had been open all morning with Collins chair running. It was good to see.

^This was a nice "winter is here" moment. We have a little more precipitation coming Saturday that will hopefully be snow up high. Last I heard it could be warm. Temperatures are forecasted to pick up next week as well, but it is hard to believe that we will loose this snowpack.

^On the skin up it was looking better and better. It was a game of balancing snow depth, aspect, and a the rockiness of the underlying terrain. I chose a little northy in Grizzly Gulch with an additional factor in mind, my health and strength. I took my "half that" strategy for rehabing. In this strategy I ask myself what I feel like I can do today, and then I do half that. So far it is serving me well.

^Looks good, huh?

^Then I did it. It was a great walk, and a good test of my strength of body and mind. Once I got my head right and I got in, all things faded away. I was back in the moment. This top section was a bit rocky, and I took it real slow. Where the turns disappear the slope rolls over more north into an open clearing that delivered me to the float. Those few deep weightless powder turns in that clearing were transcendent. I was so happy to be back in the saddle, that I turned into the mad man laughing at the trees. I did one more lap, and then called it a day. I think I will go ahead and call it a "good" day.

dramatic seasonal shift, welcome...

2010-10-25T11:35:00.000-07:00

It certainly seems that winter has arrived in dramatic fashion in the Wasatch. The change happened fast. At least as far as any snow rider is concerned, winter is here. I have been itching for it for a while. Now I find myself trying to suppress my urges. The salty older dog in me is trying to hold down the urges to get out in it. He knows that this needs time to settle out and fill in the cracks. Besides it was still fall just a couple days ago.

^It was just a few days ago that Murphy and I were up scouting new terrain for the season that we were looking forward to. It was warm enough for Murphy to want to be playing in the creek. She was getting after it that day. Maybe she knew something I didn't.

^Even up at like 9,500 feet the weather was still pretty warm. I was scouting a zone up in this bowl that will receive killer morning light. There are cabins down in the basin of this bowl. Would love to gain this from the doorstep of one of those cabins on a cold clear morning for first light turns.

^I was fortunate enough to have good luck in timing. As I arrived to work on Saturday I was able to snap this pick of Old Man Winter arriving in Utah. This was the front of the first storm to arrive in this series of waves of precipitation smashing into the Wasatch. I felt blessed to be witness to his arrival. I found myself sitting outside in the weather in full rain gear on my airplane gate.

^This morning the clouds lifted for a little while and the foothills showed us what they've been up to. The snow line here is probably around 5,000 feet or so. It got pretty cold last night so the line dropped down quite a bit. This is a pretty dramatic one. The resorts could see 20-40 inches by Wednesday morning. I have yet to get up in it to check out the composition of this stuff. Hopefully it is some good basal snow for the setup of a spectacular winter. It certainly feels that way from where I am. However, my emotional bias should be accounted for. Feels so good it hurts.

more scouting terrain...

2010-10-11T11:23:00.000-07:00

I have been scouting this area for two years in the off season, and I have been telling my oldest tour partner, Ben Geiger, about this area for just as long. I still have not gotten up to explore it in the winter, but this is the year. Ben and I are flirting with going without a season pass this winter, and simply earning our turns all year. If we did that this area would prove more and more valuable. This zone has skiable terrain for any type of day. Even the gnarly high danger days could be mitigated out in this zone. I probably will get a weekday pass, but it is good to scout with no pass in mind. I am pumped to finally put all this scouting to work and make this zone our private ski resort. Pretty much.

^Here is Ben pointing out a route that we both agreed would be a good place to start in exploring this area. It is a lot of walking, but the long shots are money. There is an endless supply of fantastic skiing out here. We were like kids in a candy store going from bowl to bowl and ridge to ridge.

^The views from the top of the most prominent peak are spectacular. I can only imagine the shots and photos we will be able to get from this zone. The sunsets over the great Salt Lake from this zone will be so good looking that I have no doubts that we can get some work done up here.

^Our friend here decided to come see what we were up to. I think she was a bit irritated that we were scoping her zone. Murphy was giving her the what for from the back of the truck as well. Get'er Murph.

^A sneak peek at one of the zones in our new playground. This is a East and Northeast facing bowl on the East face of the range that we have been looking at. There are five or six bowls just like this one that litter the eastern slope of this range. We could ski this range for decades and never get to it all.

^Now this is the South Southeast face that rounds out the other side of the bowl pictured above. These lines would blow up pink in the sunrise and make for some killer photos and film. I could make a whole career up here and never get the same shots twice. That is what I am talking about.

^Ben and Murphy are taking in the finer aspects of life from a perch like this. I could never get paid a dime and still be a happy man doing my work in places like this. I guess that is why they don't pay us very much money to lead this lifestyle. I get bonus checks in the form of this. Oh well, I'll take it.

^Murphy likes it too.

^More views of the lake and the sunset potential up here. I know the photographers I work with would be salivating over this zone. I know there are very few skiers up here, and even less photographers and filmers if any have done much shooting up here. That is what is so nice about the area. Snowmobilers get out here a good amount, but they are not getting into the same terrain that we are, and we have the benefit of the access that the machines can provide. Sounds like win/win to me.

working planes...

2010-09-24T09:11:00.000-07:00

Been putting in plenty of time at the airport these days with my night job at Delta Airlines. Still getting back into the swing of things. I will be heading back out to the De-ice crew again soon. This year I am gonna make it through the whole season though. It is nice to align the seasons a little by moving out to De-ice. I am a weather watching maniac come about October or so anyways. De-ice work is pretty well aligned with all of that as well. Trying to find beauty in everything still, and here are some of the views from my airport life.

^Sunset on the B-gates offers a pretty nice view of the city, and the Wasatch Range. A little Skywest Brazalia propellor plane cruises past as we wait for our jet to arrive.

^On the other side you get a whole different look. The sun sets on a CRJ regional jet. The views are much better from here then from inside the bin.

^As night sets in the whole scene changes a bit. With the way that a jet reflects light the whole place lights up differently. Keeps things interesting. I spend a lot of hours out there so keeping it interesting is a challenge all on its own. With the move to De-ice I will be going back into a more freshman type of role with plenty of learning situations. It is good for me. More hours, but more money as well. Also, it still interferes little with skiing every day. Love it. I will be busy again, as usual, but that is good for me also.

Just One Sunrise

2010-09-22T22:09:00.000-07:00

Vertical Integration just put this short edit up on their website of my good friends Zach Houston and Justin Allen getting some nice surfing. The music is good, the surfing is good, and the scenery is great. Gotta love the beach. As much as I live for the snow. I do love the beach. I am not a great surfer, but I certainly enjoy it. The lifestyle is similar to my own, and surfers and I seem to see eye to eye on a lot of things. Anyway, great vid and entertaining. Winter is not here just yet, so enjoy the last days of summer.

Here is a list of some full length surf movies that you can buy to feed the need some more. Just click on them and take one home. I have seen a couple of these and I can tell you that they are sweet.
Step into Liquid
The Encyclopedia of Surfing
Riding Giants
Billabong Odyssey
Kook

bouldering for a change...

2010-09-20T09:58:00.009-07:00

Christine, Murphy, and I took an opportunity to get up to a boulder field in Ogden just above 29th Street on the eastern bench. Hidden Rock is one of my favorite boulders, and we found it unoccupied. As usual, I had to work the night shift at Delta Airlines, so we did a morning session on a Sunday morning. It was a great time. How can you not have fun with two girls like these.

^Murphy is doing the spotting for Christine while I snap off a photo. Good work Murphy.

^Christine is just barely stepping over the top of the problem that she just nailed. Christine is learning the ins and outs of climbing right now. I am not a huge climber myself, but I know a little, and bouldering is awesome cross training for us. Wait till you see her in a wedding dress with a ripped back, and a pair of smoking guns for arms. Maybe I am crazy, but thats hot. Sorry.

^Murphy is still a bit unsure as to what she is supposed to do when someone tops out. It is pretty funny to watch her try to figure it out.

^Fortunately for Murphy, Hidden Rock has a section on the back side that she can climb too. It is tough work for her, but she makes it. Here she is enjoying the sense of accomplishment with Christine.

^I think that Murphy is scouting a tougher problem for next time. She is pretty stout, but maybe not that much so. She will probably try though. An all around good day with my two best girls. I love mixing some bouldering into the training regimen, because it is a different kind of workout. Climbing works a whole separate skill set from mountain biking and trail running. Fantastic core work, which is right up my alley. Stronger...Better...Everyday.

To start, all you need is some shoes, a pad and a rock, and your in business. If you never have, then now is the perfect time to start. Indoors even. Click on these goods pictured below, and get on your way.

SCARPA Men's Feroce Shoe
SCARPA Women's Thunder Lady Shoe

Metolius Sketch Crash Pad

Drop Zone Bouldering Crash Pad

Scarpa Men's Force Shoe

SCARPA Women's Rockette Lady Shoe

a must read...

2010-09-16T10:07:00.010-07:00

If you have never read this book then I suggest that you click it here, and buy it right now. I finished it a while back, and have since given it to Christine and my father. Now, I will be having my dad send it along to another friend of mine. It is a real eye opener, and can help you start to read between the news. I am a big fan of the author John Perkins, and I have started reading a bunch of his books. He has a unique perspective. He also writes about shamans and the power of meditation. Very powerful stuff.

My John Perkins reading list:

business and economics

-Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

-Hoodwinked: An Economic Hit Man Reveals Why the World Financial Markets Imploded--and What We Need to Do to Remake Them

-The Secret History of the American Empire: The Truth About Economic Hit Men, Jackals, and How to Change the World

meditation and shamans

-The Stress-Free Habit: Powerful Techniques for Health and Longevity from the Andes, Yucatan, and the Far East

-The World Is As You Dream It: Teachings from the Amazon and Andes

-Psychonavigation: Techniques for Travel Beyond Time

-Shapeshifting: Techniques for Global and Personal Transformation

-Spirit of the Shuar: Wisdom from the Last Unconquered People of the Amazon

off-season motivation...

2010-09-14T08:51:00.001-07:00

In the off-season I need to stay motivated in order to keep working out and eating better. All of that stuff that can get left behind in the everyday of working and living in the regular world. The winter has kind of become the irregular world, but in order to kill it in that world I have to keep my shit together in the regular world. All the while still taking care of regular responsibilities. I have a lot of balls in the air to balance this lifestyle. Motivation is key to keeping them all in the air. A key motivator for the irregular world, which is what we all like to hear about anyways, is terrain scouting. It is a good hike for a workout, and it is essential in getting the lay of the land that you'll be skiing in a few months.

^A good breakfast helps too.

^This is a real nice view of a little piece of Ogden canyon that my tour partner Ben, and I enjoyed with our dogs on the way up. We decided to hook up on Friday evening, and scout an area that we ski every so often in the Ogden backcountry called Coldwater Canyon.

^On a different scout that Christine and I did on our bikes a few weeks back, I snapped off this photo of the area from a more Northerly perspective. You can see the slide paths in the trees. There are some monster slide paths in there that scare the shit out of the most experienced backcountry travelers I know. Including myself. All the paths are big and long, and all convolute in a river bottom.

^This is another angle of the zone. It is a tricky little canyon with some sub-ridges and things that can trip up travels. That is why it is essential to do as much homework as you can before you start getting into areas like these. I try to do everything I can to prepare, and I still mess up all the time. It is a big scary world out here that carries high risk/reward function factors. Like most Ogden backcountry, it is not traveled very heavily. This means fresh tracks, but more importantly it means very little skier compaction. The Ogden backcountry is relatively dangerous and slippery because it does not see the kind of traffic or control work that the Cottonwoods do. There are no helicopter guide services or UDOT control in this zone. It is solely up to the travelers to mitigate their own safety. Hard to do in the grey world of backcountry travel and avalanche mitigation.

^After another great scout trip, Murphy is motivated. She is sporting her ski bum pride while thriving off the adrenaline buzz from hiking a lot of vertical, and talking skiing for a few hours. Murphy will never get to ski that zone, but she is an essential summer scout partner. Murphy only meadow skips in the low lands and trees where the avalanche dragons tend to avoid. However, the scout trips help keep both of us in good shape for taking care of our business when the snow does fly. Soon.

more here and nows...

2010-09-08T11:11:00.000-07:00

Finding a home for all my tools after finishing the bathroom. Required a little construction and some clever storage ideas. We actually got it all in there though. Accessible still too, which was the whole idea. It really feels good to have that all organized and settled in. Now to finish up the sauna and trim. Then we are all caught up for a little bit. Next may be the countertops or the bathroom upstairs. No rush though. That is the nice thing about living in the project. No hurries, no worries.

^The closet/workshop at about the half way point. I am not a good carpenter by any means, but I try hard and this was a first for hanging a door. Let's just say I learned a lot for the next time I hang a door. Thankfully this is just an outdoor closet so there is a little margin for acceptable error. It is gonna save our lives though with all my tools in one accessible place.

^Starting to get settled in at this point. A little peek at the key to the whole system. Getting everything out of buckets and tools bags and onto the wall. Layered storage on peg board going the distance. The workshop area will spill out onto the back patio. All the saws and power tools can easily be pulled out and set up on saw horses on the patio. Unroll, work, roll up and lock up every day. Perfect.

^Larry is his name. Larry works for ARUP on the hill near the University of Utah. Larry is always trying to get coworkers and friends to hike the "Living Room" trail with him on lunch break. Christine audits ARUP and Larry issued the challenge to her and a coworker, Matt Klein. Christine invited me to join them one evening after their work was done. Matt, Larry, and another coworker, Ethan, met Christine, Murphy and I in the parking lot at ARUP. Immediately Larry starting giving us the back story on this whole tradition. The word on the street is that Larry makes a mean carrot cake. The word on the street is also that Larry is in mean shape. Larry has seen his sixtieth birthday, but he can run this route in something like 33 minutes, and then still have time to eat his lunch on his lunch hour. Larry has issued a challenge to fellow employees and friends to beat his best time and he will bake you a carrot cake. On this particular 100 degree Utah evening we were not going for any records. We casually made our way up to the overlook chatting and taking breaks all the way up. However, Larry called out that he thought that you really had to jog down. We all jumped on board and got out of our rock built chairs and started downhill. Larry took off quick and I decided I wanted to get a photo of him for the site. I got out my camera phone and took off after him. He felt me coming up hot and though he'd have some fun with this youngster and picked up the pace. Next thing I knew Larry and I were in a full out sprint down the path weaving through sharp turns and leaps. I found myself hooting and hollering through a few sketchy spots and I could hear Larry laughing at my thrills from just up ahead. I managed to snap off this one good photo of Larry running into the Salt Lake City sunset. I had a blast chasing Larry down the trail and I will have to admit that I was a bit soar for the next few days. I think that Larry's best time is quite a lofty goal that maybe I should work into my comeback training this fall. From what I hear the carrot cake might be worth the effort.

summer scouting...

2010-09-04T08:51:00.001-07:00

I always like to scout areas that I am trying to ski the upcoming season. Every summer I try to use hiking and biking journeys to scout terrain for skiing as well. Now that I am getting back into game shape I have doubled up on the scouting to catch up as well. Murphy and I have been doing a lot of line hunting and route finding excursions in Baer Creek Canyon and Farmington Canyon. There is a lot of great skiing up there. The access is difficult, but the rewards are plentiful. Mostly snowmobile traffic, which can go either way in my opinion. I am all for it, because of access and rescue. There are very few skiers up in these zones though. Very few.

^A little while ago, Christine, Murphy and I did a route finding and orientation scout into Malan's Basin in Ogden. I have skied the upper sections of this area many times and I was looking for a route for Ogden City skinning access. I have done some ski work for the landowner in the past and the terrain is really diverse. The lower section is all North/Northwest pine tree glades. There are two nice rocky bowls descending from the ridge that also range mostly North/Northwest. There really is a lot of skiing in the zone that is just one canyon off of the Ogden range. The backcountry skiing off the Ogden range is vast, I mean vast. The terrain is deceptive and dangerous, which is a good quality for locals to keep their gems hidden and feared. However, when one spends the proper time to become more familiar with the range the world begins to open up vast as the Great Salt Lake view.

^ This is just a little peak at a new section I found in one of the Ogden ranges little gems. I can't tell you everything. Some locals would have me killed for what I've said already. However, I am sure they would agree in offering up this disclaimer on the areas in the range. This backcountry terrain has claimed many lives and egos in the past, and probably will in the future. The area is becoming more popular, and with traffic comes crash and burns. I have had plenty of my own in this range, plenty. More then I ever bargained for, which has motivated me to pursue focused avalanche training and guidance. As well as, rescue training, route finding, and the myriad of other skills one acquires in ten years of pushing the boundaries.

^The sunset on our way back down from Malan's Peak was a plentiful reward for our hard work in our ascent. Christine and Murphy are soaking up the magic vibes. We had a long way to go to get out, but the scene was so good that we couldn't resist taking some time to watch this big finish.

^It was a steep hike and Murphy was getting pretty gassed. Usually we would just stop and take a break, but with the dark setting in we had to hurry out. From time to time on scouting endeavors we often require some off trail travel. Murphy and I can get into hairy situations that require some minor climbing and gnarly scrambling. So, as a result, we have developed a handy little piggy back trick that we use in those situations. In this case we employed the skill to give her a break while Christine and I pushed on to get out before it got too late. It was pretty hilarious running down a trail with the dog on my back. She was getting so chill back there that she was barely even hanging on anymore. Also, I was getting more then enough strength training running down hill with an extra 60 lbs. on my back. That is when I decided she must be rested enough to finish the rest on her own.

The scout was valuable, but the evening was more so. The three of us had a good time, and got some great views. A lot of laughs, mostly while Murphy was piggy backing down. The terrain was gorgeous and the north facing ascent was nice, cool, and comfortable. An all around good hike that tuckered us all out plenty.....

continuous process of improvement...

2010-09-01T12:03:00.000-07:00

I have been working on this shower for long time. It has been my nemesis in the past. However, I have finally finished it up. Just a little cleaning and sealing and it is ready to rock and roll. I went so far over the top on this shower this time around. If it doesn't hold water, then there is not a product on earth that can stop this thing. I built the shower as if it was a hot tub on its side. All the materials are that of a tub that is built to be full of water 24/7. It was a bit spendy, but leaks are even more expensive.

^Here it is. It is down in the basement next to a sauna. So, dampness and heat are all around this thing which can be a recipe for disaster when it comes to home maintenance. If this thing ever leaks again I am just gonna blow up the whole room and turn it into a closet.

^A top and bottom view to try to get a look at the whole thing from top to bottom.

^This is a close-up of the valve wall and the top corner. You can get a good look at the broken tile mosaic work I did to save some money on material and add an artistic touch. I am pumped at how well it turned out. As well as how much money we saved over store-bought border tiles. I also like the idea of using some of the waste product for another value adding use. I am excited for my first long hot shower in this bad boy. Now I just have to rebuild the sauna and we will be back in action. First things first, though, I have to cut a whole and hang a double door for a closet out on the patio for tool storage. Now that I have moved the workshop out of the basement I have to find a new home for it all.

stormy morning...

2010-08-30T06:52:00.005-07:00

I woke up with Christine this morning and a cold Utah rainstorm was pounding with rare force for a desert downpour. Of course, I immediately feel the itch of the storm sensors. It appears that fall is settling in around here. Naturally (eerrr unaturally), a storm like this morning makes me think of days like this...

north woods therapy...

2010-08-28T10:48:00.008-07:00

Every summer my family gets together with the Schaetz clan for a little R&R in the northern woods at North Twin Lodge in Phelps, Wisconsin. It is perfect therapy for the soul. Family, the best kind of friends, and cool crisp northern air. I can never say enough about the Shaetz's, and I am always thankful for all the good times and laughs we share.

^The atmosphere is always festive, including some icicle mood lighting.

^The evening bonfire is a north woods tradition that I absolutely love. I love smores too! Guilty.

^Jon, Sally, Dave and Bobby Shaetz all gathered around the fire. The stories and nostalgia are always so thick around these fires.

^The fierce baggo games are about as strenuous as our days get up here. It is all about the chill on this trip. That is exactly what the doctor ordered for this skier's beat up body. Some good natured shit talking and sunshine can go a long way towards a lighter heart.

^Evelyn is the first grandchild of the two clans so naturally she is the subject of a lot of photos. Daddy and Evy here taking a break between go-kart races.

^The slick track is always a scene of debauchery. Here my big brother, Tyler, is lining our Dad for a big spin out. "Gotcha Old Man!"

^Mike and Evy getting strapped in for a rip ride around the track. Soon enough Evy will be driving her own kart, and probably putting me into the wall. Just like her Daddy does.

^The boys are watching the madness in this photo. I think at this point my brothers fiance, Nicole, is sizing up a 12 year old boy. The poor kid made the mistake of getting into a slick track race with a bunch of Robinson and Shaetz women. I am not sure he knew what he was getting into. "Good luck Kid. Your gonna need it." We sure enjoyed watching the carnage.

^Lynn and Evy wanted no part of the slick track mayhem. Smart move, that is just good parenting. Your supposed to protect your kids from that kind of harmful situation. I even worry about my own well being, and I think I am tough.

^Nicole is stuck in a Tyler and Stacey sandwich. This was the first time Nicole made it up north with all of us and we felt like we had to initiate her. I am still pumped that I spun her out on the speed track on the last lap. Set'em up and knock'em down.

^A nice sunset finish put a euphoric ending on the evening. Even the cutthroat driving was overshadowed by the overall atmosphere of jubilance and appreciation for family and friends like these folks. Much love and a big "whisky" cheers.

just work...

2010-08-18T09:47:00.003-07:00

Not a whole bunch of exciting endeavors in the past few, but a good amount of work. After all that time on my back I am in need of some catching up. A dangling South America project, a wedding, remodels, cars and all that add up fast in four months time. I'm trying to find balance in trying to go double time to catch up, and making sure that I rebuild this body again with a slow quality. Doing what I can.

^Sneak peak at the top back corner of the shower being redone in the basement. I got a little creative with leftover broken tiles to save a little money, and to add an artistic touch. I think it turned out well. It is pictured here without any grout yet. Just finished laying it all, and grouting is next.

^Out on the Delta Airlines ramp at night is back to it's same old-same old status again. I have to say that, for me though, that is kind of a nice comfort to return to after a certain amount of uncertainty. A wild sunset like this one over the ramp was a real mood lifter though for an average evening on the ramp. Planes come in, planes go out.

^It is very cool how a natural event can elevate the attitude of people. Even while at work the rare light show was enough to turn a regular work day into something I am putting on the website. A photo like this can give you a little different perspective on how cool a regular old Canadair Jet can appear. Obviously, I am still on my journey to find art in everything, and keep my edge on that spice of life balancing act that I always ramble on and on about. Can be a tough task.

thinking snow...

2010-08-14T09:58:00.005-07:00

Had a classic ski dream last night. I think the chill of the night air through the bedroom window might have triggered the subconscious a little bit. Of course it was one of those ones where you can't quite get your shit together, but there was a little skiing and snow so I awoke with snow fall on my mind. Still a few months till glimpses of winter, but the itch is there. I may be getting down to Argentina with Sweetgrass for a few days at the end of the month to scratch the itch. Not gonna be 100% for the trip, but I think I can still get some work done. All the thoughts of snow and skiing has me looking at old edits and photos. Check these ones.

^Just a good old fashioned scene from the Wasatch. Moments like these are what it is all about.

^With people like this as well. My long-time backcountry partner Ben Geiger is pictured there down in the belly of Birch Creek Canyon as we start our ascent back up. Basin has some killer backcountry all around it, and this is just one little nibble of it.

^Another great friend and long-time tour partner of mine pictured here, Candy Froerer. Candy is what I have come to call a "Freeheel Phoenix". She is a red hot ripping skier and is making her first movie appearance this fall in the new Freeheellife movie, "Hippies, Punx, and Misfits". I've been helping Candy gather sponsors and projects for the last couple years since she decided to go for it, and I am pleased to see it coming together for her. The word on the street is that she just recently had a lifestyle shot appear in the Ski Journal. I think it was a Re Wikstrom shot of the girls trip in British Columbia this winter. The ball is rolling now. Look out.

^A sunrise like this is why I choose this life. Mornings like this one are what this whole lifestyle is really all about. Lord knows it is not the big money that draws me. Moments like these justify my lifestyle every time. When your at 11,000 plus feet at the end of a long hard skin trail with a sunrise scene like this the euphoria swirls around thick enough to brush away from your face like cobwebs. This is a charmed life that I have had the benefit of living and not a day goes by that I am not thankful for every day of it.

trails and trials...

2010-07-30T10:37:00.009-07:00

The last bit of my time has included a variety of trails and trials. I have been riding my Specialized mountain bike on the trails a lot with Christine to try to get my body back into shape. My soul is in a building process amidst the trials of dealing with the loss of a great man and influence in my life. My heart hurts for his wife and sons. My last post was an introspective on the moments just after I talked to my big brother and he told me about Dave Jackson's passing. I was at work at the airport and sitting alone at my empty gate on B13, which overlooks downtown SLC and the Wasatch Range. Airplanes and workers buzzed around me, but I was not hearing or really seeing any of it. More like seeing through it all and only feeling the wind and the movements of the clouds. It was a surreal space in time. I am trying to use the emotion to motivate and inspire my life to do everything that I do, better. I am training with more vigor and intensity in honor of his drive, working harder at all of my working endeavors in honor of his work ethic, and deepening my appreciation for love and life in honor of his family, their love, and hurt.

^In my work endeavors I have been concentrating on just getting my work and financial life back in order. This includes getting back to the variety of freelance work that I do in order to maintain my lifestyle. My home office is an integral part of juggling my jack of all trades lifestyle that has evolved as a result of the path I have chosen. My lifestyle includes a certain amount of entrepreneurship in order to make the boat stay afloat. I always tell youngsters that being a great skier is only the skill that allows you to acquire the skills that will make you some money. Like the advertising, marketing, freelance writing, video shooting and editing, promoting, and variety of other creative skills that produce the dollars. I am spending more time in this office learning more and more skills to continue to grow the earning capabilities of my brands. As you can tell, my partner takes a lot of naps under the desk, but she is good company. So I will keep her around. This office is headquarters for my ski brand, research in trying to build my fledgling real estate empire, and managing all the funds that come and go as a result of having myself extended in three seperate working directions after including my part-time night job with Delta. It is a juggling act. My days are a consistent juggle between remodeling work, office work, a physical training program, and Delta work. I like the variety though, and I am getting better and better at it.

^My training regimen has been including a lot of mountain biking with Christine. Here she is coming up a nice climb on a ride we took with some friends down in Park City. The trail system there is very well taken care of and laid out, and as a result there are a good amount of people too. I had to book it out of this ride to make it to work at Delta on time, but it made for a nice fast downhill.

^On a ride we did near Layton, UT that starts in the Fernwood neighborhood we had a hell of a sunset climb on our hands. The climb was strenuous, but the views were delicious. Motivation is abound when you are climbing next to a beautiful mountain sunset. The temperature drop was a blessing as well.

^However, a climb is a climb and this one was real gasser that ended up in sucking air and sucking water. Christine is taking a moment to suck down some H2O before I press her on to get after the downhill before it gets dark.

^The downhill got pretty dark near the end, but the view held out for one more ill-timed shot of Christine rocking the fun part after the hard work part. I like the work reward concept of mountain biking, much like backcountry skiing. A real earn your stoke mentality is good for the body and mind.

In the perpetual move forward, that we are all victim too day-in-day-out, it is the matter in which we undertake that forward momentum that matters most. I always hope that I am making the proper movements and decisions. Now though, more then anything else, I am taking this introspective space in my life to make sure that I am making moves that are good, just, heartfelt, and inspired. Finding the right life balance is hard to due, but the committed attempt at proper balance is a worthy one that usually results in more time standing tall then falling on the ground.

trying to live inspired...

2010-07-28T10:52:00.004-07:00

I am trying to gather and hold on to all of my reflections of his life lived "all out" that are swirling around me in the warm summer breeze. His legacy of hard work, toughness, dedication, and family is floating on this wind and it settles heavily on me like the dust of the baseball diamonds of a youth I shared with his sons. My humbled heart sits low in my chest as my soul searches the skies for one last glimmer of guidance from his kindred spirit that "left it ALL out there" while he was on this field and now soars without regret amongst eagles and ancestors into the setting sun. May I be able to live a life more inspired because of his.