Thursday, March 6, 2008
Voicemail from my dad.
(Polish accent) “Hey Bubba, I want you to know that I was so inspired by your upcoming adventure that I went out skiing today for the first time in many years. It was a beautiful sunny day. Good luck with your adventure and we’ll talk when you get back. Love ya.”
Yep, he ripped the hell out of Big Boulder.
A second message from a good friend. “So it really is happening after all these years. I just don’t understand you.”
From my ex. “I bet it’s going to absolutely beautiful up there! I wish I could be joining you guys or at least helping out. Have fun!”
Well, if she wasn’t my ex before, she probably would be now if she came on this one. This was a relationship ender for sure.
2005 took me to Fairy Meadows, Argentina, yurt trips all over the west, Southern Utah Slot trips, Idaho and Jackson biking trips, the best year of my life! But I never felt the excitement on any of those trips until I was actually flying in the chopper to Fairy Meadows, walking around Buenas Aires, sledding into the Centennials, or rappelling into our canyon of death.
This trip, Badwater to Telescope Peak, was different. This trip had emotional ties, longevity, patience, mystery, and elusiveness. The trip came together, dissolved and came back together to dissolve again. The original cast moved away from Utah except for two and one couldn’t come because of timing. He would have enjoyed this one! And the other…
(Kendall Voice) “Yo, I was talking about Telescope. Is it on?”
Telescope, my #1 adventure left me. The thoughts and desire were gone. But I still clung to the proposal we had written back in 2002. Emails went out. Emails went out, some unreturned. Schedules are filled, people are busy. Utah is having an epic year, why go south? Dates couldn’t be set. People couldn’t commit. Elusive again. Maybe I should solo it?
(Kendall) “ Yo, my buddy Jim likes adventuring. He just drove out to the middle of nowhere Nevada to scope a peak. I’m sure he’d be down. Mind if I ask him?”
Little did we know Telescope would become Jim’s obsession. As far as we know, nobody had ever walked from below sea level up 2 miles to the top and ski. Why would anybody? A connection of like-minded people was made, dates were set! And we don’t even know each other. Now, who’s in?
After hearing all the typical responses, “I don’t know if I can make those dates.” “I’m out of shape.” “why do you wanna do that?” I still don’t know the answer to that question
Sometime late January / early February
Sometimes it amazes me how life works itself out. Destiny I don’t know. Maybe just manifestation.
One beautiful Utah powder day outside the Canyons boundaries I run into a guy skiing solo, Dave Peck.
“Mind if I join you guys,” Dave asks.
“Sure, skiing with anyone else?” I ask.
“My friends Jim and Tele Dana will be showing up.”
A few runs later we end up meeting Jim and Dana on the skin track.
“Jim, what do you do?” I ask because I had a hunch Jim might be the guy Kendall invited.
“I manage people at Backcountry.com”
I laugh, “Are you in on the Death Valley Trip?”
“Yeah, that sounds awesome. Are you?” He replied.
In my head I’m thinking “Did he just say it would be awesome?” That sounds a little interesting. I mean, I’ve seen the peak in person. I’ve been up to the mine scoping ascents and camping spots and water. Awesome he said. Sweet.
“Yeah, I’m putting it on. Nice to finally meet you!”
That beautiful ski day turned out to be one of the coolest ski days of the year. Over the head blower and endless pow lines.
March 4, 2008
Park City, UT
With a little coercing, the idea of playing golf in Death Valley our crew was almost set and we were to leave that upcoming Friday! I’m actually getting excited about this happening. Seven years and I cannot believe what it is about to turn into. But one person was still on the fence. Emails and voicemails. Nothing heard. More emails and finally a phone connection.
“Man I’ve been sick with the flu. I don’t know if I’m gonna be in shape for this one but I could use an adventure,” Kendall tells me.
“Have you checked your email?”
“Yeah, For what?”
“Dude, Jim got a plane!”
“A plane?! Dude you serious? Let me talk it over with Cynthia and I’ll get back to you.”
Kendall’s in! Dave’s in! Joe’s in! Jim’s in! Angie’s in! I’m in and I’m really excited!
Friday, March 7, 2008
9:30AM Heber City, Utah
Paging Red Baron. The crew readying for departure.
I’m the one to blame for this one.
Some mountain just outside of Heber that everybody has been skiing this winter.
PULL UP! PULL UP!
When we get sick of you, you get left behind.
Actually, Ang is awesome! She came along for logistical purposes such as waiting for Enterprise to pick her up, in PAHRUMP, NEVADA!
Got Plane? Why not do a fly-by?
Telescope Peak. Oh the options!
11AM Furnace Creek, Death Valley
“All the instruments agree that DV remains the hottest place on Earth, the driest in North America, the lowest in the Western Hemisphere. Of all deathly places the most deadly- and the most beautiful.”
Dos Amigos! The guy on the left owns a really cool company we all should support! The guy on the left, his brother, flew in from Vermont to join us.
Permits? Check. Beta? Check. Return time: 3PM Saturday March 8. Check. Freak out time: 8PM Check.
3:00 PM Badwater Basin, Death Valley
"According to Death Valley legend the water is poisonous, containing traces of arsenic. I scooped up a handful and sampled it in my mouth, since the testing of desert waterholes has always been one of my chores. I found Badwater lukewarm, salty on the tongue, sickening. I spat it out and rinsed my mouth with fresh water from my canteen."
He wasn’t joking!
The Crew happy not having a pack on.
Linear Mode
