TR: Last season f%&&ing rocked: Colorado + AK 2011 - 2012 in Review

[Mike_Records]

I'm sure as hell itching for ski season, so I figured its about time to post up my best stoke from last winter in Colorado and Alaska. Click the links to check out the full TR from each adventure.

Even with minimal snow, last season was so so so FUN, here's to another memory filled season with friends new and old!

The touring season got off to a bit of a late start, but by the beginning of November Saint Mary's had a creamy coat of new snow:


A week later our early season zones were filling in:


Yep, that was fun!


Around the middle of November I moved down to Crested Butte for the winter. Things were a bit firm:


But, on November 19th, two inches in town meant snorkeling up high:




Not to say that the snow was building up around town:


Even the Front Range had some fun skiing:


December brought some small pillows and more pow:




Colorado dried out for a while, but exploring new zones meant life was good:


By January, even the northern mountains were beginning to look like winter:


In early January we went to Wolf Creek Pass, it hadn't snowed in three weeks and it was awesome:








Looking back on the early season:


Wolf Creek Pass was so good that we went back...which got off to a bit of a rough start after Nick's sled died:


9 miles from the trailhead...


Our luck quickly improved:


Nick and I practiced our tandem pow slaying:


Then it started snowing, and the avy danger shot up, so we built little jumps:


and medium sized ones:




And, big ones:


Did more exploring:






Started the long road of learning how to sled:




Blurred came to visit:








Not to say there wasn't skiing to be had:

[Mike_Records]

In March the snowpack started to stabilize, more touring was had:


It also felt quite a bit like spring:


So...Josh skied Red Lady in about 3 turns:


Adam was nice enough to show us around:


More warm temps...and curious sledding conditions...


...brought a full on corn cycle:




...and smiles all around:


In April, Nick and I were lucky enough to go to Alaska. We left summer behind in CO:


Rented an RV in Anchorage and headed to Valdez:


Where we were treated to a day of epic flat light:


Followed by bluebird:


And more bluebird:


Sadly, we had to return the RV. Happily, Hatcher Pass was awesome:


Hatcher stayed good for days:




We weren't the only ones enjoying the weather:


Eventually, we headed back to CO, where it was still summer:


Met up with the usual suspects:








And skied some spring lines:












Unfortunately, my external hard drive was stolen at the beginning of the summer, and my main hard drive died shortly after. So, no season edit this season, but boy am I thankful for all the amazing memories that remain!

What a year! I feel so thankful to be part of such an amazing community of skiers, photographers, and amazing friends. A special thanks to Frank & Brittany, Brennan, Nick, Adam, Matt, Josh and Rachel: you are the best friends anyone could ever ask for! I love you all!

[gointhedistance]

Nice job - well done.

[TripleT]

Holy awesome winter! Great TR

[Skirotica]

It was a good year if you got lucky and hit the right dates/locations. Well done.

[MJbumper1121]

Awesome!! Cheers to the upcoming season!

[lynchdogger]

Stoke delivered! Well done sir!

[undertow2]

Nicely done and thank you sir! After this TR it only once again makes me realize what a sell out I am and how badly my life sucks! Congrats!

[Blurred]

Thank you Mr. Records for the awesome hospitality in Crested Butte last Winter!!!

I think you really made the most out of your Winter. I think you should do it again.....oh yeah, nice pics.

[Mike_Records]

It was a good year if you got lucky and hit the right dates/locations. Well done.

Yeah, definitely not great out there everyday and everywhere. That being said, every day that I sit in my office I'm reminded that any day in the mountains is a good day. More than anything that is the mentality and enthusiasm I was trying to portray.

Thank you Mr. Records for the awesome hospitality in Crested Butte last Winter!!!

I think you really made the most out of your Winter. I think you should do it again.....oh yeah, nice pics.

Thanks Brett, I'm so glad that you came down to visit last winter. The few days that we got out into the BC together are days that I will always remember fondly. Still trying to figure out what this winter holds in store, hopefully it will be something epic.


Thanks for the kind words everyone!

[CG]

Thanks Mike, now I want to put my bike away

[goldenboy]

Hope you try another season here some day, even though you had fun it's usually so much better! Maybe this year.

[bostonjohn]

that made my day

[bitchtits]

Seeing this makes me hate school and miss the white abyss

[claymond]

Awesome. I'm wondering did you ski that narrow couloir in the background of this pic? I can't tell if that's what your scoping out or not

[SterlingSpikeDancer]

Thanks for the stoke. Seriously, that was taking lemons and making a lemon martini, well played.

[Mike_Records]

Hope you try another season here some day, even though you had fun it's usually so much better! Maybe this year.

I'll be back Frank! Maybe this year, who knows, still trying to execute on the dream of moving to AK.

Awesome. I'm wondering did you ski that narrow couloir in the background of this pic? I can't tell if that's what your scoping out or not

That's the Northeast Couloir on Grizzly, skied it a different day this spring, its a fun line!

[skibum193]

Very well played sir. Glad we got to ski (and bike) a bit this year. Hopeful more soon!

[FiveLarge]

Super terrific stoke, Mike!

[claymond]

That's the Northeast Couloir on Grizzly, skied it a different day this spring, its a fun line![/QUOTE]

It looks fun! Good read/pictures

[Z]

good stuff mike!

[Mike_Records]

Very well played sir. Glad we got to ski (and bike) a bit this year. Hopeful more soon!

good stuff mike!

I'm looking forward to many more adventures together this winter gentlemen!