Posts filed under 'Snow Sports'
OK, OK, you want me back. Can you stop with the “where have you been?” emails already. Please continue sending gifts and candy. However, to the hairy gentleman from the Northwest Territories, please stop sending me racy photos of yourself.
Yesterday while suffering from an early morning Bird Flu attack (I am running out of powder-day-ditch-work excuses) I pondered returning to the blogosphere. Once you’ve been out of the game for a while it’s hard to plan a return. What ever could I write about?
At that very moment I watched a guy ride through the direct blast of a snowgun. Keep in mind this is on a legit Powder Day. I guess he was going for a little extra in the steep and deep department, and being uneducated, thought this was the way to get it. Anyone who has ever been NEAR a snowgun knows they are bad news. Your face stings, your goggles ice over, and the snow below them is an undulating unstable icy mess
I truly almost felt bad, bud I had to laugh aloud watching what followed. His “Whoooooops” of powder joy turned into “AAOOOOOUUUUUs” of pain. The flying ice crystals stinging his face and covering his goggles. He careened out of control through the blast of two more snowguns, skis unable to grip the man-made mess, before flying off trail into a complete Yard Sale in the woods.
I promised, then and there, to not let this happen to any of my faithful O-Deezy readers. (both of them) So I will be committed to bringing you updated Do’s and Don’ts for ’08.
Until then, just don’t ski in jeans.
January 9th, 2008
After a difficult summit, run, hike, mtb ride, or day on the slopes there’s nothing like a big fat-filled, cheese-covered meal to satisfy your calorie deficit. Many of you probably have your favorite spot to eat after a tough day. I’ve compiled a list of some of the best trailhead grub spots (with the help of some of our members). Atmosphere, food quality, food quantity, and proximity to the trailhead all went into the hat to help us decide on these. These are all in the US and Canada. We may do an international list down the road.
Below are #s 10-6…. #s 5-1 to come tomorrow.
10. Pig Diner - Pig, Ky
Why? Any place with named “Pig” in a town named “Pig” has to at least get a nod. Not to mention the amazing greasy breakfast selection and the killer Beef Manhattan. Wash it all down with a glass of sweet tea that your spoon could stand up in it’s so thick and you’re ready to re-enter society. This place is about 5 minutes outside of the south entrance to Mammoth Cave National Park.
9. Adair’s Wilderness Lodge - Waterford, NB (Canada)
Why? Fundyguy25 says - “Great spot to eat with homemade desserts, soups, and all the standards. Friendly knowledgable staff that know the area and some even do some guiding. There is on-site tenting as well as a couple of cottages. They offer a shuttle service to and from many trail heads and often serve as headquarters when S&R teams are needed. The building sits next to a pond and is on a dirt road (may be chipsealed soon though), and is a log building.”
8. Nate’s Grille - Skagway, AK
Why? JoshuatheNomad says “The guy who own’s the place is uber-groovy. The place has a coffee shop/mom & pop greasy spoon atmosphere with constant great tunes, amazing deep fried deserts: oreos, snickers, reeses cups, twinkies…
And Nate makes by far the best fries in Skagway, maybe in the world! accompany that with his black and bleu HUGE burger and a PBR from around the corner at Moe’s Frontier Bar and you’ve got an Alaskan delight. I’ve never met a nicer, more genuine restaurant owner anywhere. And there was movies, by theme, every Friday and Saturday night this summer.”
7. The Blue Spruce - Frisco, CO
Why? Grensap says “I like the blue spruce its got a old time feel. Close to all the ski slopes, trails, the blue river, and lake dillon. It great for a nice sit down dinner, but the bar has great prices and there Colorado wings are awesome. I know the price look high but its some of the best food around. Also I guess I really like it because it is right infront of my house.”
6. Pies & Pints - Fayettville, WV
Why? JoshuatheNomad says “The name answers the why. Pizza and Beer. Parking isn’t great but the food and beer selection counters that issue. Also, on a nice spring or fall day, they have a porch and other outside seating [i think], not the greatest view but I personally love to sit outSiDe and down some beer and pizza after a long day of calorie burning fun. And you can basically make your own work of art with the plethora of toppings they have to offer.”
January 9th, 2008
The Gear Junkie has posted 10 tips for riding safe in the Winter months. One key point he makes is to “ride straight”. The few times I’ve ventured out in the snow and ice to ride I found this out. Sharp turns can be a disaster. All his tips are great things to keep in mind. Now if I could just get the gumption to start riding in the Winter!
“Bike tires hum on snow, and they buzz on ice. But they rarely slip when you’re going straight. Gears click and shift the same in almost any weather. Just remember the lube. And the cold wind? With the right clothing it’s not an issue, according to regular wintertime riders. This article offers 10 tips to get you riding fast and safe on the winter road…”
See the full article here.
January 7th, 2008
Imja Tse (Island Peak) - (20, 305 ft - 6,189 m)
Any major gear companies want to sponsor a Himalayan peak? This would be a good way to do it on the cheap. Imja Tse, or Island Peak as it is known to many is located just next to Everest. It sits in the shadow of the tallest mountain of the world. Even though it is a whopping 20, 305 feet it looks small next to it’s big brother. It is taller than 4 of the 7 summits.
From Wikipedia…
“Imja Tse, better known as Island Peak, is a mountain in the Himalaya of eastern Nepal. The peak was named Island Peak in 1951 by Eric Shipton’s party since it appears as an island in a sea of ice when viewed from Dingboche. The peak was later renamed in 1983 to Imja Tse but Island Peak remains the popular choice. The peak is actually an extension of the ridge coming down off the south end of Lhotse Shar.
Imja Tse was first climbed in 1953 by a British team as a training exercise in preparation for Mount Everest. Tenzing Norgay was one of the members of this first ascent team.”
So, who wants to sponsor me in the 2008 Imja Tse climb?… North Face? No… Patagonia… No? Somebody? Anybody? 
SummitClimb.com has a good deal on a trek/climb up this peak if you’re interested.
December 27th, 2007
I had planned on wiriting an entry on friday, a thought provoking piece discussing the finer points of… nevermind. Unfortunatley, I can down with a nasty illness requiring me to be quarantined for office safety. It’s unfortunate how many people in the valley came down with the same sickness on a day that a foot of fresh fell. Weird.
This weekend it continued to snow and snow. Nearly the entire mountain opened, giving Vail the most skiable tearrain in North America. I heard Crested Butte got an insane amount of snow, and breifly considered a road trip. It’s just too hard to leave your own back yard when the snow is this good. I know I promised pictures of “what not to wear” Mountain Edition, but when the snows that good you can’t be chasing down gapers for photo ops… I do regret missing the opportunity to get a picture of the guy wearing the Dolphns Starter jacket and floppy moose antler hat… Oh well, the one that got away.
I did get one of the newest Panty-Tree blossoms.
Whether you throw panties to thank the snow gods, beg the snow gods, or show off the previous night’s trophy. An offering to the tree always gets applause from your chairmates.
I’m sitting at my desk today, but glancing at the weather, it looks like I may relapse in the middle of the week. Your thoughts and kind words are appreciated during these tough times.
December 10th, 2007
Just saw this over at besthike.com’s blog…
“Former SNL funnyman Chris Elliot has just published a new book called “Into Hot Air: Mounting Mount Everest,” a send-up of Outside Editor at Large Jon Krakauer’s famous work of nearly the same name. The book imagines it wasn’t Hillary and Tenzing Norgay who first bagged Everest’s summit, but Elliot’s adventurous and stone-crazy Great Uncle Percy Brackett Elliott…”
Well there goes my idea… the “Naked Gun” of the climbing world. Guess I’ll have to go to plan B… “Up Shite Creek” a paddling story for people with incontinence issues.
December 6th, 2007
Well not quite that cool. But if you can’t hang with Hasselhoff, who’s your #2? That’s right me, and speaking of #2, Mikey One Sock.
Our snow situation has been pretty unimpressive as of late. Good news and Bad. The Bad; since our pre-season flirt with the white stuff all we have had is cold nights. So no new real snow, But they are up there making it on The Ribbon, so we should be set for an ok opening next weekend. Breck opens this weekend!
Good news; the north-facing MTB trails are dang near perfect!
Thug Baby, Thug. Winter Chamois, lights, 29’s… Daylight savings can’t ruin this party.
“Awesome the Grouch” Look at the way he’s all over those brakes… come on, let it roll.
Be on the look out for a link Mike’s custom-modified Outdoorzy T-shirt. When Mike gets “censored”, Mike gets sensitive, then Mike gets funny. I happen to know he’s workin on something special “kiss and make up” for a return-to-the-blog” tomorrow.
Oh and I think he said it best about Lance’s new girlfirend.
The Premire, One-Night-Only, shredding extravaganza, Kick Awesome showing of “Art for Art’s Sake” is set for Nov 20, 10:00, Altitude Club. Show up to get one of the 150 Limited-Edition copies.
And keep checking to see if these guys have there stuff together, ’cause this is well worth buying.
November 8th, 2007
Ok so it’s the other blog that was modeled after a show , but I bring you Vail’s Top Model contestants anyway.
The Premire of “Keep Talkin” Kicked A! This movie is the exact reason regional videos are the cutting edge of the sport. Sure you can buy one of Mack Dog’s 3 epics and be stoked off big jumps, ridiculous spins, and all the weird tech that was in last years Bro Films. The small production guys are the ones who can take a chance by putting the obscure, odd, and inventive moves into the mix. Buy it Here! (if site isn’t ready give em a couple days,,, They’re workin on it)
Boulder Cross Weekend! Cliff-notes version.
Grease Stain Tattoo? Awesome!
Cruiser Cross, the sport of the future.
Great weekend of racing. It was amazing to watch the best American MTB, Road, and Track racers mix it up. A few Intl stars showed up too, as well 1000 fans. Basically Ryan Trebone put on a clinic, check out the Behind The Music.
November 5th, 2007
Keystone Opened! !! Copper Tomorrow! Words of wisdom, in all our haste to go get on snow please be careful of the many dangers you face during early season conditions. Plus I don’t think enough of you looked here, but this thing is pretty awesome too. Well since were on the subject,,, pretty amazing. Fasten your CatTracks people.
If your in the Vail area tonight I recommend checking out the premire of snowboard movie, “Keep Talkin” at the Club… 8pm
While the kid in my head thinks I’ll be totally fine to go ride this weekend. The Part of me that doesn’t eat the frosting side knows the Ribbon of Death aint worth re-injuty. No use in jamming my swolen cankle into a boot for some crowded turns…. I have to keep telling myself that.
SO, the agenda looks like slow rollin rehab rides on the new whip. “Yeah, I got them 29’s on my scraper, and they shine cause I stack paper.”
I wonder if Rap and bikes will have some new crossover thanks to this guy buying a big chunk of Cannondale.
November 2nd, 2007
How to ruin a weekend… Yeah So last weekend I wrote that “ohh what am I going to do for fun this weekend, I live in wonderland..lalala” blog and I think some guy in a Iowa cubicle used his voodoo doll to wack my Shred/Race CX/Get Radical plans.
Did get a World Series ticket, that was pretty cool. “Come on Rockies, I just learned a couple players names, you can’t be out already!” Crutching around amongst 20,000 drunk baseball fans is an adventure sport of it’s own.
SOOooooo as far as the snow report goes, It’s raining in the Valley. Yeah Rain, cool. Lots o rain. Probably getting some flakes up top through the night. So bad news for playing outside, good news for snow report and Vail’s opening
Guess I’ll spend weekend ringin a cowbell in Boulder and admiring the beautiful Purples and Greens my ankle is turning.
October 31st, 2007
Next Posts
Previous Posts
