Look at that view! Date: 02/23/2004 Look at that view!
This was nuts. You had to take a lift up to the top of a ridge, take your skis off, then hike around the ridge until you found a place you liked. Date: 02/23/2004 This was nuts. You had to take a lift up to the top of a ridge, take your skis off, then hike around the ridge until you found a place you liked.
I think the sign speaks for itself. Date: 02/23/2004 I think the sign speaks for itself.
That's my ski track, I just came down through there! Date: 02/27/2004 That's my ski track, I just came down through there!
Turning the other way, that's where I'm about to go! (The ski track below is from me earlier in the day) Date: 02/27/2004 Turning the other way, that's where I'm about to go! (The ski track below is from me earlier in the day)
Another look around the middle of the tee-filled double black diamond slope. Date: 02/27/2004 Another look around the middle of the tee-filled double black diamond slope.
Look how deep that powder is! It didn't matter if you fell, it was nice and soft. Trees on the other hand... Date: 02/27/2004 Look how deep that powder is! It didn't matter if you fell, it was nice and soft. Trees on the other hand...
That's the bowl that I just skied down the middle of. I love this place! Date: 02/27/2004 That's the bowl that I just skied down the middle of. I love this place!
A blizzard was going with pretty fast and hard winds one day --- some lifts were even closed. This is a picture of the one I used to get to this spot! Date: 02/27/2004 A blizzard was going with pretty fast and hard winds one day --- some lifts were even closed. This is a picture of the one I used to get to this spot!
Fall off 3-5 foot drop, instantly land between trees and start avoiding them. Date: 02/22/2004 Fall off 3-5 foot drop, instantly land between trees and start avoiding them.
That was some great powder. Date: 02/22/2004 That was some great powder.
Go to the top of the 9990 lift. (to 9990ft above sea level) Take skis off, hike half an hour up hill. Leave ski park, go down the slop beyond. Date: 02/22/2004 Go to the top of the 9990 lift. (to 9990ft above sea level) Take skis off, hike half an hour up hill. Leave ski park, go down the slop beyond.
A giant unmaintained bowl. (No wonder it killed people a year later!) Date: 02/22/2004 A giant unmaintained bowl. (No wonder it killed people a year later!)
You may recognize this sign. They showed it a lot the following year when 5 people died here in an avalanche. Ooops. Date: 02/22/2004 You may recognize this sign. They showed it a lot the following year when 5 people died here in an avalanche. Ooops.
Dropping off this ridge is the first time I felt real fear before skiing. Date: 02/22/2004 Dropping off this ridge is the first time I felt real fear before skiing.
We fell a couple times, but the powder was so deep, it was like down pillows. Date: 02/22/2004 We fell a couple times, but the powder was so deep, it was like down pillows.
At the bottom of the bowl (and still outside the resort) you had to make your way through this forest, before eventually popping out onto a groomed slope far below. Date: 02/22/2004 At the bottom of the bowl (and still outside the resort) you had to make your way through this forest, before eventually popping out onto a groomed slope far below.
You know it's steep when the road needs that many switchbacks. Date: 02/22/2004 You know it's steep when the road needs that many switchbacks.
img_0660 Date: 02/22/2004 img_0660
The lines at the lifts were nonexistent. Date: 02/22/2004 The lines at the lifts were nonexistent.
Some of the places felt less like resorts and more like ski lifts into the wilderness. Date: 02/27/2004 Some of the places felt less like resorts and more like ski lifts into the wilderness.
img_0663 Date: 02/27/2004 img_0663
Our favorite slop started with a 3-5 foot straight drop-off. Date: 02/27/2004 Our favorite slop started with a 3-5 foot straight drop-off.
You see that slope WAY down below? Date: 02/27/2004 You see that slope WAY down below?
This entire picture (including the trees) is one big slope. How tough it was is left up to the skier. Date: 02/27/2004 This entire picture (including the trees) is one big slope. How tough it was is left up to the skier.
img_0667 Date: 02/27/2004 img_0667
img_0669 Date: 02/27/2004 img_0669
This was one cold blizzardy day. All morning they'd been setting off dynamite on the steep slopes to prevent avalanches. Date: 02/27/2004 This was one cold blizzardy day. All morning they'd been setting off dynamite on the steep slopes to prevent avalanches.
Here we are, back in the trees. Date: 02/27/2004 Here we are, back in the trees.
Preparing to go over a drop-off. Date: 02/27/2004 Preparing to go over a drop-off.
A look back at where we've been. Date: 02/27/2004 A look back at where we've been.
Bob taking a picture of powder deep enough to engulf his boots. Date: 02/27/2004 Bob taking a picture of powder deep enough to engulf his boots.
We just came down through that! Date: 02/27/2004 We just came down through that!
Now that's my kind of trail. (Thank goodness for ski blades!) Date: 02/27/2004 Now that's my kind of trail. (Thank goodness for ski blades!)
It's just cool to look back and know that you came this way. Date: 02/27/2004 It's just cool to look back and know that you came this way.
Near the bottom the trees got farther apart. Date: 02/27/2004 Near the bottom the trees got farther apart.
A look out over the ridge. This is all skiable snow and inside the resort. Date: 02/27/2004 A look out over the ridge. This is all skiable snow and inside the resort.
There's nothing like looking down and seeing nothing but trees. Date: 02/27/2004 There's nothing like looking down and seeing nothing but trees.
Bob and I prepare to jump off and enter the forest. Date: 02/27/2004 Bob and I prepare to jump off and enter the forest.
Bob took the slope on the left, I went through that mass of trees on the right. Date: 02/27/2004 Bob took the slope on the left, I went through that mass of trees on the right.
One last look up a typical slope... Date: 02/27/2004 One last look up a typical slope...
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