Homeward Bound via the High Sierra
We last saw Tim and Colter on the beaches of California, undaunted despite their apparent inability to surf. Rejuvenated by SoCal's balmy climate and salty breezes, the team began their long trek eastward. With the Sierra's still snow-covered peaks standing between them and their destination, it was only natural that Tim and Colter should investigate.
Tim clambers his way up a route in the Sierra. Eric Parker photo.
"New Jack City wasn't quite the climbing experience that we were looking for," said Walter Wood, one of the team's cinematographers, "So we were stoked to find much better conditions in the Sierra." The area proved perfect for Tim and Colter, with convenient access to both climbing and skiing.
Tim might be a big guy, but even he is dwarfed by these massive walls. Eric Parker photo.
Avid skiers, Tim and Colter would do just about anything to score late-season turns. Upon arriving in the Sierra, they spotted a steep and tight couloir which looked like it might just go. "The first day that we headed up there didn't go well," recalled Wood. "We took a few days to climb and ski other less sketchy objectives, and then decided to give it another try." There were certainly some moments of uncertainty, but the duo completed what they believe to be the first descent of the as-yet-unnamed couloir.
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Tim and Colter had the time of their lives, but are ready for a little relaxation. Eric Parker photo.
"We were pretty beat after the Sierra," said Wood. "That said, we weren't ready to throw in the towel and make a beeline for home." They had heard rumors of dry lake-beds lying along their route through Idaho, and were resolved to find one. When they finally found one, it wasn't quite as dry as they had imagined—more of a mud-flat. Undeterred, the team ripped countless donuts in the Ranger, and even tried mud-skiing before finishing their drive back to the Tetons.
Both the athletes and the Ranger made it back to TGR headquarters in good spirits, if a little muddy. Tim and Colter's road trip might be over, but you can look forward to seeing more of their antics and adventures in the coming weeks, as well as more from Teams 2 and 3.
