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TR: A to the K
Although I have been in semi-retirement from TGR, I have been persistently nagged over the last couple weeks for pictures from a trip to AK in February. So, this TR is for all my naggers.
KB made his annual trip from the land of the rising sun, and was not about to have a repeat of last year, where he somehow got skunked by snow in Jackson. Since it has decided not to snow south of the 42 parallel this year, I met up with him in Seattle, with our new new plan being a tour up to Whistler, across to Revvy, Roger's Pass, Kicking Horse, Banff, Whitewater, and Red Mountain, throwing him on a plane in Spokane. Initially, our new new plan seemed to be very intelligent, as we hit the tail of the storm flow through the Cascades. Unfortunately, it then chose to go bluebird for the next 3 weeks. Which made for beautiful views:
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And great skintrack scenery:
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Along with bluebird pow:
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But once we reached Canuckistan, we started getting concerned. While beautiful:
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We were starting to feel lucky to get 3 centimeters on the snow report:
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We did our best to overcome 1 cm snow reports:
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But, seriously Whistler. 1 cm? Can't you spell Trace?
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These powder levels were wholly unacceptable.
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So, fuck it, Dude. Let's go bowling.
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This turned out be a good decision.
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There was storm skiing. Lots of storm skiing.
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And then we woke up to sun.
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When this is the snow report, you can be fairly certain that something good is about to happen.
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This is something good happening (KB needs a red helmet):
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By 4 pm, the mountain was totally tracked out. It really started to suck:
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So we decided to stretch our legs...
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There was powder to be had
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And sprayed
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Before heading back to the hut.
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Where we found the powder goods.
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Both while meadow skipping,
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And when not so meadow skipping.
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For all of you sick of the gray pictures with flat light, we heard a weather window might be coming, so it was time to pile into the truck and start driving...
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We were not going to Fairbanks.
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We arrived late at night. When I woke up in the morning, this was the view. I believe my exact words on encountering this view were: "What in the name of fuck is happening?"
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The Brother even made it up for the special occasion. He did not forgot his poles, he just claimed he did not need poles while skinning. Until he borrowed my pole.
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The views were ridiculous.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7184/6...ea1964dd_z.jpg
Just ridiculous.
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And then it was time to ski.
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I am still confused how The Brother monoskis sideways.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7180/6...25d834a7_z.jpg
But he seemed to enjoy his new splitboard.
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There were faceshots.
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Lots of faceshots.
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In fact, they all were faceshots.
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Was it really this deep?
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Yes.
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Our only instructions to The Brother were to stay out of the chasm. Somewhat shockingly, The Brother did not ride or fall into the chasm.
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KB with the clouds rolling in below.
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The next day was -10, to so we decided to skin in the sun.
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More ridiculous views:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7036/6...545322e3_z.jpg
Traversing wind-hammered sastrugi death crust, reliving boyhood memories of Colorado...
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7041/6...9413b549_z.jpg
The Brother all hyped up like a spider monkey on Diet Mountain Dew:
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But with the sunset came reports of a Blizzard Warning in Effect for Turnagain Pass, time to head out and chase that storm. Au revoir, but not goodbye Valdez,
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There are no pictures from the next day with Wendigo, aka The Tasmanian Devil, at Alyeska destroying 28" of blower pow because it took everything in our being to just keep up with him, much less stop for pictures. Wendigo should not be allowed on chairlifts. After a day of recovery, we headed out for more pow and the occasional ray of sunshine.
If Wendigo were breaking trail, we fucking could have reached the moon.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7053/6...e3be1652_z.jpg
Powder.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7067/6...af29be56_b.jpg
Tracks.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7067/6...ec15e0aa_b.jpg
Alaska is good.
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KB's helmet.
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There is a lesson to be learned here. And that lesson is: If you can go to Alaska, you should always go directly to Alaska.
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As a final note, we will miss you Steve.
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Reserved for a kick to your nut sack.
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What would Jack Tackle say?
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Ahhhh, love seeing the AK tr's. :) I swear it's the most beautiful place on earth (well in the USA for sure).
Thanks for sharing the stoke.
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Sick, just sick. Thinking about a trip up in about 4 weeks...not sure the wifey is so cool with this but looking at this TR might just be the straw that breaks the deal. Damn!
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Leaving for BC in the morning and I hope to score like this trip.
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STOKED! TR of the year?
Well done, sir. Well done
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Nice fuckin' TR. Done proper!
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YES! Thank you! Now I wanna go to Valdez even more, good thing I'm driving there in two days! :fmicon:
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Cheers to that TR. Well done
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"You make a hell of a caucausian" seems like an appropriate quote here.
Way to get after it.
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un semi-retire. that was awesome. send a link to the AK chamber of commerce
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Looks like a great trip - very jealous. Thanks for posting!
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Yes, yes indeed. My decision to go to AK has been made.
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outstanding TR. After a fishing trip there with a local last year i'm pretty sure i'll be calling on him to ski sometime soon.
great photos too!
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Wow. Wow. What am I doing with my life? Thank you for shaming me and inspiring me all the same. wow.
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