Matthias Weichselbaumer |
Peanut Butter is not a Plastic Explosive
Yeseras, Adrenalina
My fifth day back on skis.
Nothing like an early wakeup and over 1800 meters of climbing to get back up to
speed. Well, at least I get to ski down all that…hopefully.
I woke to the howling of the wind at 4:45. With a long day in the office to look forward to, a delicious, traditional Argentine breakfast was prepared: cheap hot dogs, scrambled eggs, stale toast.
Ready to go, we ran into a slight delay: the ski room was locked. We got lucky here. Despite both doors being locked, the window was left wide open. Only in South America. A quick climb through it to pass gear out, and the technical crux of the day was over. We woke Matthias and were walking out of town before the sun rose.
Things went about as smoothly as they could for the next six hours or so. There was some boot packing over scree, light winds, great views, and of course a little getting lost.
Finally at the top, we took in the view, transitioned, and got to go skiing. Cartón, powder, corn, it was a long ski down that had it all. As fun as the steeps are, I was glad our line was more flat, and provided a nice, long ski out. After hiking all morning, it was great to link together so many turns. We Canadiened after the first pitch and were walking home by four.
I woke to the howling of the wind at 4:45. With a long day in the office to look forward to, a delicious, traditional Argentine breakfast was prepared: cheap hot dogs, scrambled eggs, stale toast.
Scope shot through the clouds. Our line was straight down the gut. |
Ready to go, we ran into a slight delay: the ski room was locked. We got lucky here. Despite both doors being locked, the window was left wide open. Only in South America. A quick climb through it to pass gear out, and the technical crux of the day was over. We woke Matthias and were walking out of town before the sun rose.
Lee and Matthias climb with Cerro Lenas in the background |
Things went about as smoothly as they could for the next six hours or so. There was some boot packing over scree, light winds, great views, and of course a little getting lost.
Got wind? |
Lee hiking far ahead, as usual |
Sastrugi supplied some sketchy skinning |
Finally at the top, we took in the view, transitioned, and got to go skiing. Cartón, powder, corn, it was a long ski down that had it all. As fun as the steeps are, I was glad our line was more flat, and provided a nice, long ski out. After hiking all morning, it was great to link together so many turns. We Canadiened after the first pitch and were walking home by four.
Turns, finally! |
Matthias enters the choke |
Nice and wind buffed |
More nice turns |
Walking home after a solid day |
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
The first few days of
skiing here did not suck. In fact, they were pretty good. I’m not witty enough
to do much aside from let the pictures do the talking.
Headed to Torrecillas |
Lee reaping the benefits of switchbacks |
Mike Uhrin |
Spines and spires: the name of the game here |
Manhattan |
Lido, the last line of a great introduction to Las Lenas |
South America: Primera Impresión
Long gone are the lazy days of swatting horseflies and
drinking beer in an Adirondack chair. The call of snow-covered peaks is loud and clear.
A couple of cracked out travel days through a country where
gestures and broken inglés are the only form of communication, and somehow I found the correct apartment in Las Leñas.
Las Le?as...close enough |
It was a classic hit the ground running approach to going
skiing again. Weather was good and there was a new backyard to explore. Muscles
that hadn’t been used since Alaska grew tired quickly and said “no”, but the
brain, wide awake with a fresh taste of adrenaline, said “more”.
A rare inversion in the valley |
Long days in the cold were melted away with an old wine
barrel hot tub and sauna sessions passing beer amongst people that understood
the universal language of a good day in the mountains. The all too familiar raspy asthmatic cough has returned. With it, the great feeling of being back at it.
Fin
A clear day near the end of the trip was our last chance to make the most of things. A hike in the morning near Seward, then up to Summit Lake for a ski. I decided to keep things simple and leave the camera in the rv.
We had a short 'Teton style' approach through tall grass and bushes to get to the snow, more bushwhacking through tight trees, then a quick skin to a ridge. The turns weren't as manky as we expected, and once the snow ran out, we decided to keep our skis on. Our last turns in Alaska were on grass down to the rv, and as always, they were amazingly fun.
After grilling in Hope, we decided to go for a sunset hike. We reminisced on memorable ski days the whole way out. We worked backwards starting with this day, since it was our last, mentioning powder and corn skiing at Summit Lake and Turnagain Pass, long runs and good turns on Thompson Pass, blower and cool places visited in Hokkaido, skiing Yarigatake, countless good ski days in Hakuba, and the start of the season in the Tetons.
A few days later after two planes, three trains, and a bus, I found myself at a Connecticut train station waiting to get picked up. Deliriously tired, bags strewn across the country with reckless abandon thanks to late and canceled flights, I couldn't help but smile. Going into the trip we had no clue how things with the rv would work out or if it was possible to ski in Alaska without going hungry because you spent all your money on helicopters and snowmobiles. It was a great feeling to know that a budget rv trip in Alaska can be done. Now it's time to start planning the next one.
Boating and mountains near Seward |
We had a short 'Teton style' approach through tall grass and bushes to get to the snow, more bushwhacking through tight trees, then a quick skin to a ridge. The turns weren't as manky as we expected, and once the snow ran out, we decided to keep our skis on. Our last turns in Alaska were on grass down to the rv, and as always, they were amazingly fun.
Things looking bare |
After grilling in Hope, we decided to go for a sunset hike. We reminisced on memorable ski days the whole way out. We worked backwards starting with this day, since it was our last, mentioning powder and corn skiing at Summit Lake and Turnagain Pass, long runs and good turns on Thompson Pass, blower and cool places visited in Hokkaido, skiing Yarigatake, countless good ski days in Hakuba, and the start of the season in the Tetons.
A fitting sunset to end the trip |
A few days later after two planes, three trains, and a bus, I found myself at a Connecticut train station waiting to get picked up. Deliriously tired, bags strewn across the country with reckless abandon thanks to late and canceled flights, I couldn't help but smile. Going into the trip we had no clue how things with the rv would work out or if it was possible to ski in Alaska without going hungry because you spent all your money on helicopters and snowmobiles. It was a great feeling to know that a budget rv trip in Alaska can be done. Now it's time to start planning the next one.
Saying goodbye to Turnagain Pass |
Mid May, Spines and Powder
No corn here |
Nice to see contrails again |
More good turns |
Tracks down the last line. Spines are really fun. |
Early May, Orange Sherbet
As May flowers sprouted, the sun stayed out longer and longer. It had taken all winter to get used to the sun setting early behind the mountains in Hakuba, now the sun was setting at 10 PM. Late day sun meant we could take our time getting to north and west aspects, ski fantastically long corn runs until late, and still have hours of daylight to dry gear, grill, and relax.
It was around this time we ran into a gentleman from Montana we had met at Thompson Pass. David Johnson, a.k.a. Gomez, is the owner and operator of Casa Tours. He celebrated his 40th birthday recently, and is showing no signs of slowing down. It didn't matter if he was slogging up a bootpack or making perfect turns, Gomez always had a smile on his face.
It was also around this time the amazing weather we'd had during April eased up and forced us to make the most of the ski days we got. Skiing hard all day is the easy part in in Alaska.
Will hiking near Summit Lake |
Good turns despite clouds |
It was around this time we ran into a gentleman from Montana we had met at Thompson Pass. David Johnson, a.k.a. Gomez, is the owner and operator of Casa Tours. He celebrated his 40th birthday recently, and is showing no signs of slowing down. It didn't matter if he was slogging up a bootpack or making perfect turns, Gomez always had a smile on his face.
A smiling Señor Gomez on the boot pack |
You wouldn't believe it, but he's from Connecticut |
It was also around this time the amazing weather we'd had during April eased up and forced us to make the most of the ski days we got. Skiing hard all day is the easy part in in Alaska.
Lee hard at work in the fields |
Enjoying the grains of spring |
One of the best harvest days we had on the trip started out inauspiciously. In standard Alaska fashion we were too early to our line at 3 PM, and had to wait around for over an hour for things to soften up. When they did, it was well worth the wait. We went for seconds, then up a new route. Morale fell with false summits but persistence paid off and we topped out at 830 PM. The "orange sherbet" color and texture of the snow, and skiing a long run so late in the day makes it one that won't be forgotten.
Waiting for the main course |
Corn for dinner |
In search of dessert |
Unlike sorbet, sherbet has a creamy texture because it contains dairy |
Lactose intolerance will not be tolerated by Gomez |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)