tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193724522024-03-12T20:36:35.657-05:00Captain SwallowtailI used to post stuff here.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.comBlogger293125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-66361612146769793212017-07-21T00:25:00.002-05:002017-07-21T00:41:15.539-05:00Penguin RidgeFinally got out to do Penguin Ridge. This thing has mega classic status, all my friends have been like "you still havent done it?!" whenever it comes up.
The weather and stars finally aligned for Julie and I to take a day mid week off to go hike all day. Thanks to Dave for picking up Finn and Holly for taking care of Lucy for the day, she would have been thirsty on this one and Finn would have been hard pressed cooking himself dinner...
We went Penguin to California Creek, took us 12 hrs with amble breaks with the heat and a moderate but steady pace.
Photos..
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somewhere around Chinstrap</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Descending off Gentoo</td></tr>
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<br />Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-6760222370283096622017-05-08T17:54:00.000-05:002017-07-20T23:50:07.330-05:00Finch and Upper Eagle Glacier4/17-4/22 2017. Stellar week of high pressure, Billy and I headed in for a week of peak bagging focused ski-mountaineering. I had been wanting to do a trip like this for years inspired after JT and Toby did a similar 2 day binge.<br />
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Alpine Air dropped us off in the afternoon on the lower Finch Glacier outside the CSP border at around 3,000'. We moved up to mid-glacier on the first day, dumped our stuff and headed out to climb the east ridge of Finch Peak.<br />
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The ridge is quite corniced, however there are a few spots you could sneak onto the face if you really wanted a ski descent. We were happy just climbing it and getting a feel for conditions.<br />
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Whitecrown, off the Sparrow Glacier. Bad Ass!<br />
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I found this cornice moat on the way up. All of a sudden I was 6' lower than where I was standing. We often on this trip played the game of "Choss, Moat, Cornice"<br />
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Finch peak is the one just off center in the back. The next day we humped our loads up the pass separating the Finch and Eagle Glaciers. Bunting peak is right there and made for a sub 1 hr up and down.<br />
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While on the summit we spied a sneaky pass to get over to the top of the Whiteout Glacier - and from there over to Whiteout peak. After some discussion we decided to go for it. Brought our camp gear back down about 1,000', dumped it and started up the pass and Whiteout.<br />
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There were about 1 week old ski tracks on Whiteout, and feeling lazy we decided to climb right up the west face rather than the lower angle north route. It was rad.<br />
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Day 3 - We went to the pass to the Eagle Glacier and decided what to do next. Roost Peak was on the docket for the day. Whenever you get a clear view up the Eagle River Valley it's the big glaciated peak in the back that you see. It's north ridge is it's main feature and was calling us. There are easier ways to get up there but aesthetics had us... It's an amazing climb, up through some big cravasse fields, to a steep pitch, then a narrow ridge walk to the summit.<br />
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Felt super awesome to be at the head of Eagle River valley! The N. Facing descent was superb. Steep headwall with mandatory bergschrund hop.<br />
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We met up with Rob Whitney and a friend of his. We talked ourselfs into going to Rosies for the night while or original plan was to head up glacier for a better access to GoldenCrown. It's easy to forget how high off the glacier Rosies is, but at the end of the day with a big pack you'll feel it.<br />
Rosies was fairly full so I camped outside for the peace and quiet of the morning.<br />
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Billy modeling the latest mountain fashion and embracing the "Noonattack"<br />
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We eventually motivated and slogged across the glaicer to the S. ridge of Goldencrown. The access looked better than the N. Ridge, but our spirits were a bit dampened when we saw our climbing route - long and somewhat rotten looking. We got on the ride, cashed skis and went hiking...<br />
The upper ridge was seriously exposed and insecure. We roped for much of it and used pickets and choss slings when we could. Progress was pretty slow, but safe, and the weather and location were outrageous.<br />
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Re-traced our route, and bombed back down to Rosies, covering the 2 hr approach in about 15 minutes.<br />
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Had Rosies to ourselves the last night of the trip. Weather kinda closed in and the Raven headwall did not soften up leaving us with a gripping side slip to get out. Skiing out crow pass sucked but we were back at the car before we knew it. Amazing trip, easy logistics!<br />
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<br />Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-72295831965106138912016-04-30T17:14:00.003-05:002017-07-18T18:43:29.222-05:00Winter Classic GearDoing the Classic really brought out the inner gear geek in me. Owning a gear company only makes obsessing about having the right stuff just that much worse, and it's compounded that I have the means to build and modify just about anything made out of fabric.<br />
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Luc has <a href="https://thingstolucat.com/fast-and-light-winter-travel/">some</a> <a href="https://thingstolucat.com/backcountry-ski-tour-repair-kit/">excellent</a> <a href="https://thingstolucat.com/ski-touring-equipment-guide/">posts </a>I learned a lot from him - so much of this is going to be redundant.<br />
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Skis:<br />
Glittertind 210's - We skate skied (up!) a decent amount of glare ice&overflow. full edges mandatory!<br />
Dynafit toe pieces<br />
Swix CT3 poles - Affixed a BD powder basket above the nordic basket, also added a second lower grip and strap at classic ski height. Padded grip using bike bar tape - These worked super awesome! The CT3's are right at that performance level of strong and light.<br />
Scarpa F3's - Modified, tongues, locking mechanism & front buckle removed. I built seam sealed liner "over-socks" so my liners and feet were waterproof. These were the bomb and worked great.<br />
Skins - Tip to heal skinny skins. - Used them a ton.<br />
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I was really happy with this setup, my only changes would be to add heal risers on the skis. With all the climbing on the N. Route my Calves got super tight by the third day - this eventually lead to a hobble-in finish as my achilles tendons were inflamed and not happy. Focusing more on flexibility prior to the trip would have been a good thing too.<br />
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The other thing is that the classic ski motion tends to cram toes into the front of the boot. Molding liners with double toe cups is a good idea. I had to cut the toe portion of my insoles out on day 4 to make more room.<br />
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Camp:<br />
Western mountaineering Puma -25 bag<br />
Xtherm max pad<br />
BD Beta light shared between us two.<br />
Whisperlite international, one 22 oz bottle and a platypus with more fuel<br />
1.5L big aluminum pot<br />
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Solid, no changes here. Lots of people use personal canister stoves in the classic. But I liked the white gas share with a big pot system. No messing around warming canisters up.<br />
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Clothing:<br />
(warm temps influenced this a good deal..)<br />
Icebreaker thin wool tights<br />
Patagonia guide pants<br />
Patagonia micro puff pants<br />
Smartwool merino T<br />
Revelate Powerline hoodie (original prototype)<br />
NW Alpine Alpha hoodie<br />
Montt Bell Alpine lite down parka<br />
Rab Wind pro gloves<br />
Pearl Izumi lobster gloves - (worthless on multi-day)<br />
Old REI primaloft puff mitts<br />
Merino buff<br />
Normal Buff cut in half for ears and face protection<br />
thin wool hat<br />
Baseball cap<br />
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All good - was perfect for the temps. If it were colder I would have wanted beefier travel layers for my legs and better face protection, might also swap for a heavier down parka. My glove system needed some tweaking too. The lobster mits were on their way out and useless once they got wet - but I brought them anyway. I was usually between using the rab gloves and the mitts and a little too warm or a little too cold.<br />
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Pack:<br />
I have friends in high places and got my hands on Cilo Gear Dyneema 60L worksack. This pack is a piece of art and way burlier than the HMG packs everyone has been using. Maybe overkill but it's an awesome and versatile pack. I use the pull out foam bivy sheet constantly.<br />
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Camera:<br />
Sony a6000 with kit lens and 3 batteries, carried in an Osprey front accessory bag thingy. This worked well but needed some modifications for the straps to all play nice.<br />
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Perhaps the coolest gear I had was a mesh vest I made ,dubbed (by Dusty) the Alpine Snacker. It was just a mesh vest with 2 big front pockets that fit below sternum strap but above waist belt. It was the bomb. I would load up a day of food each morning, camera batteries etc in there and also store a .5 L Hydrapak soft flask. Loved this system. I might use a 750ml flask next time as I could easily polish off the .5 in one stop and have to re-fill from overlow or my 40L Nalgene wide mouth soft bottle thing.<br />
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Sat phone from Thomas and a repair kit that I'm not going to spell out everything.<br />
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My pack weight was around 35 lbs at the start with 6 days of food (no water)<br />
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<br />Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-69601203696476725972016-04-11T00:00:00.002-05:002017-07-18T18:43:50.002-05:002016 Winter Wilderness Ski Classic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A blog resurrection? say it aint so! I guess I've been wanting to do a little more with my photos than just than them on Facebook lately.<br />
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The first few years I lived in Alaska I got to work on the North Slope a bunch. Mainly doing Spring hydrology studies, but a few times for winter construction inspection for 2 month saints. During this trips the highlight was often the flight during approach to Deadhorse, flying over the massive snowy expanse of the Brooks Range. I would gaze and daydream about traveling through this great white of mountains devoid of human sign.<br />
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One summer I brought my bike and had the chance to do a fast paced bike tour from Deadhorse down the Dalton. Pent up from weeks of work I hammered myself into the hills and ended up massively underestimating just how hilly the Dalton was! I experienced the bonk of my life after almost 500 miles sitting on the side of the road on a sunny day, out of food and my heart rate racing about 50 miles from Fairbanks. But this post is not about that trip, what I'm getting to is that somehow it took me another 12 years (!) before getting back up to the Brooks for a winter trip.<br />
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I wanted to do the winter classic for years, always half committing and being all talk but not carrying through with it. Finally this year I went to AMH, bought some Glittertinds and started "gearing" my way mentally into entry. Sometimes you really do just start to spend money to convince yourself you're doing something. Along the way somehow I talked Erica into being my partner. It did not take much, just constantly mentioning the classic seemed to be enough.<br />
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It was probably the worst snow year in Anchorage to train for such a trip. Having a kid and running a business has kept my big BC days pretty low, so I compensated with a decent amount of early morning garage-core workouts, hillside ice-skis(?) and bike rides. Anyway...<br />
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Getting to the start of this is an adventure in it's own right. 6 hrs north from Fairbanks above the arctic at Wiseman, you're still 2 hrs from the start further north at Galbraith Lake. Up there!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natalie, Erica and Brad before leaving Wiseman.</td></tr>
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So the morning of the start, amid last minute packing, Erica and I finally actually sit down and talk about the route. (!) We both are not into the 25 mile each way out and back that the Perigine pass route takes. My aim was to do a sweet fast paced ski trip, not really race others and leap frog. Turns out she was on the same page. We look at the graceful arc that the Northern Route takes across all new country to us and settle on it. We knew at least one other group of Scott and John were heading at least part of the way along the north.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erica on the first day</td></tr>
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We take off and before long are breaking trail on our own across the Itkillik River, although pretty deep there was still a supportable base. We were pretty sure we were ahead of Scott and John but were thinking they might have switched to the normal route after not seeing them follow our trail across the Itillik which took forever.<br />
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A few hours in we started wallowing, the supportable base was gone and our trail breaking slowed into a sugary base. At times you'd be mid-calf deep stuck in a sugar snow hole. Moral sunk. We crested a hard earned hill and had an honest sit down. Anaktuvuk pass was 50 miles away at least and this pace was a ton of work. I was wavering between going back and talking ourselves to keep going, 50/50, mainly I did not want to scratch due to a whim on choosing the northern route. Erica had similar thoughts, in the end we opted to contine, we did after all bring 6 days of food. Our reasoning was even if we take 4 days to get to Anaktuvuk pass we would have a highway of trail to follow and enough reserves to finish. Diving in, we keep going.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The next morning we eventually dropped into a ravine and to our surprise found a set of ski tracks! We were both shocked and stoked to go find these guys and share the trail breaking. Turns out they got up way earlier than us as we spent at least the next hour skinning up their trail into the big rolling foothills.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading up Scott and John's tracks<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We were all pretty psyched to be traveling tighter it was a big mental break for everyone. We were not out there alone, we could share breaking trail and had some mental company. The weather was un-beatable too!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">As evening wore on I noticed Erica was simply flying when breaking trail, she was an absolute machine and I could barely keep up with her. I finally caught up and realized she had been rocking out to cheesy pop music and offered it up. Well that shit works and I took off stomping until it was time to fall over. Truth be known, I had "all about that Bass" and (to my astonishment) Mariah Carey's 95' "Fantasy" stuck in my head the ENTIRE race, even before I got my chance at the nano. It kept me laughing to myself that's for sure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Day 3 - once again Scott and John beat us moving in the morning by well over an hour. As we crested a small divide the landscape changed to more wind hammered snow, less trail breaking. Sastrugi etc. We were rounding the corner to the Anaktuvuk river finally.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Some fun skating and slogging lead us to the river proper in the middle of a huge open valley. The minute we turned south we hit a headwind that did not relent until we reached the village like 9 hrs later. It was never that bad, just constant. The main thing I learned is that I would have been under-geared if temps were below zero in that kind of wind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Erica and I were spent upon reaching the village, muscles were starting to fail, feet to rot. We exploded in the school home ec room where Luc and Holly served as the checkpoint. It was a total shock to be inside a warm comfortable building after the day we had and the crazy ice we skied across.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Scott was feeling like shit from a cold induced lung bronchitis ailment and hung back at the school while Erica John and I found the nearest spot out of the wind to make camp. Our new team of 3 was short lived when to our awesome amazement Scott came skiing up the hill feeling better in the morning to join up with John. Rally! Woo hoo!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The rest of the trip went by in a blur and was pretty un-eventfull, just solid travel in a constantly beautiful place. We toured up to Ermine pass and down the fantastic trail through the Valley of the Precipices broken in by the leaders and were on the Kuskokuim, camping between the mountains that make up Gates of the Arctic by night fall. From there out we sadly did not see any other groups again. The skiing was awesome and diverse, glare ice - overflow, skating, classic, animal tracks everywhere, super fun!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We brewed up at 7:00 and made dinner at the turn off to Delay pass getting off the river. The conversation went something like, "well, should we start racing? we have not done that yet?" with that we pushed through the night finishing at 4:30 am. My increasingly tight calves reached the tipping point and I was locked up and hobbling on the many climbs, forcing me to double pole a lot of stuff and even walk. It was not the strong and graceful finish I had hoped for... The rumors of a long final downhill were a bit exaggerated. At Wiseman so many people had finished the day before that I just bivied in the yard and could barely walk to breakfast 3 hrs later with super tight and rather inflamed Achilles tendons. Worth it, a week out and they are almost better...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Immediately I was thinking about next year. I can't wait. So fun.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Thanks to Erica, Scott, John, Luc, Dave Kramer, Bernie and the Hicker family, David, Kate and Sarah for the ride home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://katesapricity.com/2016-winter-classic/">Katie's Post</a></span><br />
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Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-59076211804756223992013-01-13T19:30:00.001-05:002013-02-04T01:12:42.283-05:00The ChariotI'm breaking my rule and doing a gear review!<br />
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A multi-sport kid carrier is the quintessential must-have for active young families. Julie and I got one before Finn was born as a joint baby shower gift. They are expensive with all the add-ons but they become a way of life and open up a multitude of early life adventures that would be difficult otherwise. I use this thing almost everyday of the year, it's been through the wringer.<br />
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The one we have is the Cougar 1, it's the 2010 model, some of the things I'm critical about might have changed with the current version. It's worth having a look if there have been improvements before judgements are passed on the new ones. We use ours in Bike / ski / run configurations (in order of use as well) I'll go through each one.<br />
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<b>Bike:</b><br />
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This is where the Chariot shines. The suspension works and your kid is well protected, the bike attachment is solid. Try as I might I have not been able to break the rubber ball joint that attaches to the bike hitch, it's an amazing piece of simple engineering and material selection. The safety backups need serious re-thinking however as the clips and webbing run dangerously close to disk brake rotors. I skip using the backup all together due to the poor design and high frequency at which I attach and detach the hitch. The bike mounted socket works best with flat drop outs on steel frames. You'll have issues with "inset" dropouts and have to run the wheel slightly to the back with Surly horizontal dropouts. If you have an alloy frame you need to make sure the QR is very tight to prevent motion of the socket piece and eventual grinding of your (softer) aluminum frame.<br />
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The cover does a decent job, but could be improved upon for use in heavy rain. The clear window material starts to yellow after about a year due to UV. At 2 years (stored 50% of the time outside) it's pretty yellow and could use replacement.<br />
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Bike use with an infant - I got my hands on a used "infant sling" that basically clips to interior D rings and cradles the little people above the main seat. Its seriously overpriced if you need to buy it new. It works well, but it raises the center of gravity of the load making the trailer more tipsy. I flipped the trailer once while biking with Finn in the sling and it's a show stopper. After that I had a full dromedary bag as ballast in the bottom of the carrier. Makes things heavier but its more stable when dealing with curb ramps and tight turns.<br />
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Another great aspect of the bike mode is that the skis for ski mode can be used with snow bikes for a smooth sailing winter bike trailer. <br />
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My only other comment is that the plastic hub covers fell off within a few weeks of use never to be seen again...<br />
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<b>SKI</b>:<br />
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The ski mode is awesome, however prime use of it is fairly short lived. It's best use is with infants to 18mo olds, and skate skiing. It's a sleep machine, so is a good way to get exercise during nap time. If you are strong you will be able to skate ski anything you normally could pulling around your infant. I got 6 pack abs and gigantic shoulders after skiing with Finn his first winter. Classic skiing is not good, slow and not my idea of fun. I'd rather bike with the ski's mounted instead. If you just want to cruise around on classic waxless scaled skis then it does the job just fine however. So the first winter when your kid is little is awesome, it gets quite a bit harder on the climbs the second season. This is Finn's third winter and I have not even tried it. Skate skiing is all about technique and towing 50 lbs just does not sound like fun.<br />
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The ski package has a few minor issues. The stock hip belt needed a different combo of webbing and buckle to stay tight. I had to cut out the webbing and sew on regular backpack web that would not slip. Major overlook on their part.<br />
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Secondly - the poles, they work, but the plastic inserts get loose and slip out, this leaves a lot of slop in the system and I've had to stop countless times to shove them back in. Super glue or epoxy them in place from the get go! Also, pad the chariot poles with pluming insulation or some other foam, your $150 carbon skate poles will thank you...<br />
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The waxless skis work as expected, ours need a major stone grind / belt sand at this point but are still fine for pulling with the bike. <br />
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Lastly, some better quick release for the poles to the Chariot would be nice. it can be a pain fumbling with pins in tight places in the cold. But they are simple so that's not a bad thing.<br />
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<b>Run: </b><br />
The Cougar Chariot in run mode is really a "walker", and works fantastic walking on dirt paths and wide trails. True running strollers are much lighter, have front wheel tracking adjustments (and larger wheels) and handle with minimal input from your hand. The Chariot's suspension makes it handle like a tank if you're trying to run with it. It also lacks a height adjustable push bar but they are available as expensive aftermarket items. It get's the job done, but is kinda a last resort<br />
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A few more detractors... the parking brake is awkwardly located under the flip up pocket. Julie did not even know it had a brake for 2 years since it's so well hidden. The parking brake foot actuator also tears through the pocket fabric exposing the inner plastic sheet in time. To avoid hitting your feet on the pocket when running it needs to be locked in the up position, unfortunately the quick releases don't lock well at all and it slips down easily.<br />
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Bottom line - the run mode is really makes it an all terrain stroller, if you plan on running more than biking or skiing with it then get something else, or look at the higher end CX models.<br />
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Sum it up - If you are expecting a kid and lead an adventurous life, you can't go wrong getting one. They become intertwined with your lifestyle and I cant imagine the last 2+ years without one.<br />
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<br />Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-68243231923787193002012-06-23T23:26:00.001-05:002017-07-20T23:53:26.846-05:00I finally brought my cameraI've gotten really into mountain running the last few years. Linking up trails, ridges, tundra, goat paths anything goes. Run when you can, and basically tear it up. Somehow my body is tolerating it. Usually I don't bring a camera since I generally go to the usual suspects of front range peaks.<br />
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Friday was different. Perfect weather. I played hookey and got Dave (fellow member of team Icepop) to sign up for linking a ridge together neither of us had done before. I brought my camera to try to give a taste for it. So here is almost 8 hrs of continuous movement with 2 summits compressed into 2 minutes. The route delivered!<br />
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and if you are reading this in Anchorage - forget about the lower Williawaw lake trail that goes under the ball field for the rest of the summer. trust me.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-72413696137553387672012-05-07T15:47:00.000-05:002017-07-18T18:45:08.688-05:0010 Years and bailing on BellicoseIn May 2002 I found myself driving my truck with all my belongings up to Alaska. I landed feet on the ground and had no idea really what the hell I was doing or why I just drove 3500 miles. Only that I was here now and I'd better start trying to figure it out.<br />
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Ten years later I've figured a few things out, but that's just a tip of it. I'm not much for all this introspective writing stuff so lets just say it's been a great 10 years living here. Thank you Alaska.<br />
on with it.<br />
Bellicose. The Drool inducer. A haul from any trail access, big and bad. We've all had the itch for "someday" and can't remember the times in April's past where talk of a Peter's Creek mission has come up. JT as usual instigated pushing further so in light of a fickle forecast Tony, Becky, Toby, JT and I of us started skiing up Ram Valley Friday night for a glorified bivy camp over Bombardment pass, followed by a big day on Saturday.<br />
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The weather kept deteriorating. Our group of 5 turned into 3, we got high on the Schrod glacier in knee deep snow. Avalanche's resonating off the upper faces. White out. Reached a prominent notch where the "safe" options ran dry and the only way was to head right and onto the much larger loaded face which we could not even see, just not happening. away we went. down up down uppppp, down.<br />
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Stumbled down the Ram Valley road over 10,000 vert for the day later. she's a doozie. Making this a 2 night trip is a good idea.<br />
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Thanks for the great weekend guys.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-10842135129548508412012-04-15T10:37:00.003-05:002017-07-20T23:53:49.100-05:00CrustCrust ski season is here, it may be gone tomorrow, but it was in this past week.<br />
Things have been busy, home remodeling and very busy with work, taxes, Finn's been sick, Julie blew her ACL. Not much time to get away. Been looking closer to home than the usual drive down to the Portage / 20 mile area which is the epicenter for crust skiing in south central.<br />
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Anyway, been finding good crust skiing just in Anchorage all week, but have been gazing at the front range thinking there would be good crust in the Long Lake and Williwaw valley's. Needed to find out for sure yesterday knowing it could be just a big boondoggle and end up being just a hike with my skis.<br />
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Up the North side of near point. No trail yet. waist deep trench body holing in breakable crust / sugar up to the Alders, then just breakable crust knee deep+ post holing until I wrapped around to the more eastern aspect, almost bailed demoralized. It was short lived and it started to feel like near point again.<br />
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is there crust down there?<br />
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North side - powder over windhammer. Put boots & skis on and found the crusty goods in the valley floor just as expected!<br />
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on Long lake, back near Koktoya. Lucy was thrilled as she has not been back here since we did <a href="http://www.epiceric.blogspot.com/2010/08/glolden-orb-has-returned.html">the Elliot loop</a>, and <a href="http://www.epiceric.blogspot.com/2009/09/gtp-turns-1.html">this other run</a>.<br />
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punchy, turnaround, need to be back so Julie can swim with the bum knee.<br />
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Nano skins on for the climb back to the Near point ridge.<br />
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awesome find, glad I looked hard.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-79195595536808133972012-04-07T23:31:00.003-05:002017-07-20T23:54:03.423-05:00White Mountains 100When Ed and Ann first created the White Mountains 100 race 3 years ago I was immediately drawn to it. As opposed to the (in my mind) boring slog of the Susitna 100 course, the WM 100 is in the rolling mountains north of Fairbanks in a far flung wilderness area that I doubt I would visit if it were not for an event like this. Good excuse to sign up for a 100.<br />
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The question lingered.. Bike or Ski? I knew I did not want to have repeats of knee inflammation and the doubts of failure that come with "knowing" an old injury will flare up. So I put the idea of biking out the door all together and started training in December for the longest skate ski of my nordic existence. It took some getting used to. I know what it feels like to bike for 12+ hours, but I'm usually pretty well thrashed after 2 or 3hrs nordic skiing, so knew I needed a way more solid base for the skate specific muscles. Then came all the other stuff that not comes with it, basically figuring out backcountry enduro skate skiing. I did a bunch of (cold) 4+ hr skis in December leading to the 50 mile sufferfest Frosty Bottom in January. Did not get many other long skis other than the usual daily exercise under my belt until a few weeks before the race where I did some 5 hr jaunts with a pack to beat my self up. Raced the 50k classic in the Oosik to get super sore the weekend before the Whites (not the best idea but great fun) and my training was complete.<br />
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Along the way I confirmed that traveling light was key and that I really needed to stay on top of the calories for these long skis. Unlike biking where if my blood sugar dives I can still plug along spaced out but moving... skate skiing does not offer that luxury (for me at least), things get ugly really quick when you don't take care of yourself due to the coordination involved. <br />
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Anyway, off we go. 6 hr drive north to Fairbanks, jolly group of skiers Abby, Chris Wood and Drew Harrington. Pre-race meeting, crashed at Jeff Oatley's place. Awake at 5:00 brewing coffee and eating manfest with Brain Hartman and Tim B who ended up going on to win it. Temps around 7 degrees on the rolling drive north to the start. Off we go.<br />
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The setup, .5L nalgene on the shoulder strap (carried 1L more in pack) and 2 modified mtn feedbags on the waist belt, all worked fantastic.<br />
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The fast skiers, Rob on the right was gunning it with the lead bikers till mile 60-70 until the trail got bomber for riding.<br />
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Surprisingly enough I had zero jitters at the start, I was really relaxed. When someone yelled "GO" I looked over and saw Drew in a last minute panic with a binding problem, so I helped him for a minute while mostly everyone save the walkers cleared out, then started almost dead last in a nice and relaxed pace trying trying to get around people on the initial climb. The sunlight increased dramatically showing through diffuse snow laden clouds. It would snow on and off through the whole race, moments of bluebird, moments of blizzard.<br />
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At some point I caught up to Chris Wood, which was fun since we used to work together and we were both equally psyched about the race. Chris is a strong dude and has been skiing way longer than me, so I was happy to pace and swap leads with him for this whole first leg. Right away though the trail was FUN, really fun, lots of climbing and really fast micro-air-catching downhills which on nordic gear is pretty exciting. <br />
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Climbing and more climbing. Tips catching, bikers everywhere, such was the story all the way to CP1 which ended with a mile long climb just barely wide enough to hack away skating up. The bikers were all walking so I passed quite a few. CP1 was a few wall tents and some trail side snacks. Chris pulled in right behind me. I pounded some warm water, fritos and cookies and took off. I'm not one for checkpoints really and I did not want to cool down much from the big up hill. The trail from there followed a broad ridge line that continued to climb and descend through an old burn. This was my least favorite part of the race. The trail was the worst, soft and narrow on the climbs with bits of veg that liked catching ski tips causing face plants. I started leap frogging with a crew of bikers including Michael Braun, which was great, some of the other guys were a bit too serious for my tastes never saying much of anything. Misery loves company so might as well laugh about it, ok fine I'll just laugh to myself.<br />
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photo by M. Braun. notice the impeccable technique.<br />
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The burn did provide a sense of getting deeper and deeper out there, which I love. Big views off into big wilderness. A place you could just disappear into were it not for a ribbon of trail snaking around a 100 mile loop...<br />
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Finally the big descent down to Beaver creek. It was basically a 2 step descent, the first being a long straight shot screamer laden with craters and trenches left by bikers, then a flat, then a really steep drop down to the creek itself with a 90 deg right at the bottom. Ho LE SHIT, this descent was nuts. I started going really fast on the first part sketching out and floating over bike craters before I said BRAKES! and sat down for a half controlled half crash butt slide. ok that worked, nothing broken.. Thinking I was good I put my mitts back into the ski straps (bad idea) and skied the flats and started bombing drop #2, snow plow, oh fuck, too fast, I'm gonna eat it, edge edge turn runn it out yyyeaaaaahhh made it to the creek unscathed and all fired up and proceeded to stomp out the rolling 6 miles to Cache mtn cabin under blue skies. Doing it, feeling good 40 miles in.<br />
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I pulled into Cache mtn and found Bill Pearson and his sister Kate getting ready to head out. I was psyched to see them since it meant I was actually keeping a decent pace going. They good skiers and have both done the race in the past. But for now it was time to chow. Cache mtn was to be a fuel up spot for me. Gloves over the stove, sit down, lean against the wall and shovel in baked potato covered with moose chili & cheese, chased down with coke, cookies and pringles. Does not get any better for checkpoint fuel. Chris pulled in pretty soon after me and started the same routine. His back was bugging him so he stayed a while and unfortunately this was the last I'd see him for the race. Right after Cris was Russ Devries who was skiing on Classic gear. I could not freaking believe it and was really impressed he was going so fast. Russ ended up finishing about an hour after me. Maybe I need to come back and Classic ski it next time and see what I'm missing...<br />
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Hard to leave CP2 with the sun shining and abundant food but there's a pass to climb out there. The trail basically is flat then starts to gradually climb and climb and climb to Cache mountain Divide, the high point on the course. It was hot. mid-20's with sun. I was roasting in the effort and finally threw in the towl and took off the thin tights I had under my pants. This was a bit of a trail side chore that took a few minutes and I second guessed myself several times knowing that I was heading up high into snow and wind. oh well. I was hot. At the start of the climb the trail was infuriatingly narrow. I walked a few of the short steep ones and started to get down... then.... the bulb went off and I dug out the secret weapons. nano-skins armed I started stomping away, climbs be dammed I was moving. Not much glide but I was basically running and putting out far less energy than trying to marathon skate or walk it. Head down, stomp, stomp. If I keep it up and don't stop it's going to work. Higher. Passing bikers, more bikers, ski boot foot prints.. 2 sets of ski boots prints! - Bill and Kate. I'm gonna get them damn it. stomp stomp. post hole tracks, another biker. stomp stomp. fewer trees...getting colder, snowing more.. why did I take off my tights?... these gloves suck.. wait.. is that Bill?? with a defeated look he yells,"DO YOU HAVE A SKIN?" "I have TWO!" I catch Bill really close to the pass, I feel bad for him, but not enough to linger, he's going to out ski me anyway so I might as well get some ground. Almost white out conditions at the pass but basically a party going on of snowmachiners. This was the one dichotomy of this event - it's in a remote wilderness area, but you're never more than 12 miles from a cabin and there is a small army of safety and support staff out there. But this was fun as I feeling great having made such good time up the climb. Skin's ripped, hoodini armed, puff mitts on - Down.<br />
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Photo by Josh Spice<br />
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Totally flat light, can't see shit. just 4" wide tire trenches and craters from crashing bikers, passed 2 guys hip-deep wallowing off the trail. a bit of skating and I hit the famed Ice lakes meeting up with Michael Braun and Bill again. The ice lakes are a section of massive overflow ice sloping downhill with usually anywhere from toe to knee deep water on the surface. We had reports of moderate overflow still so I stopped to put garbage bags over my boots/overboots and cliped in, better than nothing. Gingerly double poling onto the ice I almost right away eat it and both my feet go shin deep in ice water. crap. keep moving.<br />
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Getting through the lakes went pretty quick and was not too bad. Bill and I skiied out together swooping and gliding down tight trail with some great views of the limestone craigs through the blowing snow. Really a sweet section of the course to travel in any mode. A few short up's and I started roasting and had to drop the wind jacket and swap to my wet thinner lobster gloves. A bit more overflow right before Windy Gap Cabin for the third checkpoint.<br />
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Bill near the cool craig's.<br />
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On the menu was meatballs and soupy rice, even though I was feeling strong overall, the was starting to catching up to me. My lower back was pretty thrashed and my right elbow tendonitis was cooking a medium burn, this was making me compensate more poling with my left side which and I was slowly getting pretty jacked up from the modified technique. The bummer about Windy Gap was Kate was there feeling like crap and ended up scratching. I was pretty stoked about everything and it was probably not the energy she wanted to hear. So I cleared out of there fairly quick assuming that Bill was going to catch me at some point.<br />
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This next leg was wild, from here on out I felt more or less by myself till the finish. The trail was fun, rolling, generally downhill for a bit across ice and swooping through big evergreen forests, a little erie and wild for sure. Michael on his bike started leap frogging until he disappeared ahead of me on a gradual climb.<br />
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After about 10 miles the trail hung a left and had a steep climb that I walked up to gain a side valley that the course traversed to get to the Borealis cabin. Light was fading and with the light out went my distractions. I was either totally zoned out completely forgetting miles, or totally focused on some ache, pain or slowly failing muscle group. Of all the checkpoints so far this one I was REALLY ready to get to. Everything was starting to hurt and I did not want to stop to get my light out, temps were dropping and my legs were just barely comfortable without any under layers. But soon enough pulled into the Borealis cabin and wallked up the hill complete with battery run christmas lights. nice touch.<br />
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"We love Skiers!" was the reception I got. awesome. I had the place to myself with 2 happy volunteers who immediately offered me everything in their stock, including ramen and homemade bread. yum. I took the opportunity to strip down and dry out my super fleece over the stove and hoped my crappy gloves would dry just a touch. Sufficiently fed and layered up I cleared out when the place started filling up with bikers.<br />
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Alright 20 miles with tons more climbing, headlamp on here we go. Almost right off the trail climbs forever. I bailed pretty quick and re-activated my secret weapons. Slow but low energy output, passed the 2 pushing bikers with ease even though they flew by me on the flats shortly after. Off camber ice, more overflow, rolling terrain. Headlamps dancing in space ahead of me, flashing red lights taunting me. Were they 2 miles ahead or 200 feet? I could not tell. Reached the 90 mile trail shelter feeling pretty thrashed but stopped in to say hi to Robin and Dean. Robin snapped me out of my funk by putting boiling water in my bottle which I proceeded to chug and we all know how that goes. tasted nothing for about a day. whatever, I have the wall to climb so let's get it over with.<br />
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When the hell am I going to get to this thing? The famed Wickersham wall climbs about 1,000' to gain the ridge were were to get back to the start. But just getting to it felt like forever. I had the thought that 80 or even 90 mile ski races might be better idea than 100's. At some point the skies cleared and the temps started to drop. I could not really tell though if I it was an actual temp drop of if my body was just not putting out any extra heat, either way it was getting chilly, gone were the pangs of heat and sweat when battling up short climbs. There was one bad overflow section right at the base of the wall, I went ankle deep in water and immediately had to hike up the bank on the other side. Instant binding ice down. I spent about 15 or more minutes here trying to get clipped back into my bindings and had to resort to digging out the little can of lock de-icer I bought just for the occasion. To the wall - skins back on and stomped away. Kept a steady pace and got to the top without much trouble, switching to striding was a nice change as my skate muscles were toast.<br />
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I stole this photo from Josh Spice's blog. This is the view from the top of the wall, except imagine it in total darkness with a 50' headlamp beam. I need to come back here and go faster to see it the daylight.<br />
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Backtracking for 6 miles the way we came out from the start to finish. I was wasted and could barely skate at this point. The colder temps, fresh snow and wax job with 95 miles in it made it all feel really, really slow. Working hard for the glide. More climbing, walking the steep ones. Snowmachine moguls, are you kidding me? am I bonking so close to the finish? can't be... did we really descend so f-ing much in the beginning of the race? endless climbing. one mile to finish sign and a fun fast rolling downhill to end it. <br />
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Somehow it was almost 3:00am when I finished, but in the darkness I had lost all sense of time. It was so good to be done, so much had happened. The White's had delivered. Walking away from it the race was everything that was expected and more. Beautiful, hard and above all, really fun with the best organization you could imagine. Thank you Ed and Ann for the hard work and to all the many volunteers that make this event so awesome. <br />
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The aftermath.. Abby finished about an hour after me totally rocking it being the first woman skier, we tried driving back to Fairbanks and had a nap car bivy en-route. Slept about 5 hrs in Fairbanks then drove 6 back to Anchorage. Happily I felt pretty much recovered with no injuries within a few days but have generally been lazy since. Breakup is upon us and I'm looking foreword to biking again after such a ski focused winter.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-76455329377667521272012-01-30T00:36:00.004-05:002017-07-20T23:54:22.116-05:00Grandaddy ++Finally got out snowboarding again in the ridiculous snow year we are having.<br />
This tree tells the story pretty well:<br />
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Turns out Blogger updated their photo system, so click the images below for a better view, it's worth it :)<br />
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So Jeff, Najeeby and I headed back to Grandaddy. Apt name for it, long haul up the valley between Corn Biscuit and Lips.<br />
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These next photos are climbing the skyline in the photo above.<br />
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not bad not bad, if you're into winter and mountains that is. Yeah!<br />
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Tommy moe run on the W face of Grandaddy. BIG! Did Tommy ski it? I have no idea, but it's a proud line so I'm guessing he did. Jeff coming into where we could spot from... conditions were perfect, pretty slow snow made the angle feel a bit easier than it really is.<br />
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Back up and over. Not too cold this day, probably never got above zero but the sun actually felt warm at times, actually only right here I think.<br />
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yes the swallowtail was happy.<br />
Nice chute to get back to the valley we came up. After this Jeff and I skinned over and booted up the thing in the background for a run on the Mistress, oh the Mistress.<br />
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climbing one of her thighs.. light fading.<br />
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Jeff ready to go down on the Mistress at sunset.<br />
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sick day, 3 new runs for me, 2 of which have long been of lore and intimidation. Good (and stable!) conditions make it happen. Will have no problem sewing little bags all day tomorrow.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-40059580306213219142012-01-02T01:50:00.004-05:002017-07-20T23:54:51.789-05:00Happy 2012So it's been what, 5 months since I've updated this thing? Guess I'm not too into blogging lately. Maybe in 2012 I'll make more of an effort. doubt it!<br />
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Jeff, Najeeby Andy and I started the New Year off right. Temps never got above zero and the wind was brisk on the ridges but conditions could not be any better. Skied Todd's run on Tincan in perfect top to bottom powder. Then climbed up the left side back to the top and did one of the south face lines between Proper and the hippie bowl, superb conditions that felt like those sweet pow lines you seen in ski films shot in Japan, skinny trees, steep, tons of snow, you get the idea. Up again for the wicked gnar line (thanks Andy) to the road. Wore the big gloves all day and the puffy pants emerged from the pack quite a bit.<br />
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Mostly skinning photos, the temps & wind were not conducive for exposing flesh for photography sake on the descents. <br />
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Had some of the deepest, almost underwater blue tones today - yelling at you "it's faaacking cold here", especially later over the 20 mile valley.<br />
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Happy New Year!Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-29581427799557912532011-07-06T01:30:00.003-05:002017-07-20T23:55:51.021-05:00gear geekeryI've had a bunch of questions about gear for the beach trip so here goes. A key point in this however is not so much <i>what</i>, is <i>how</i>. What's loaded where is constantly in flux.<br />
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BIKE:<br />
Old style pugsley, 80 mm chopper rims, larry's, thick surly tubes, singlespeed 22-20/22 with bashring, XT freewheel, surly front hub, no brakes, salsa 17 degree straight bars, square taper cranks, phil bb.<br />
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The trend with fat bike design is for more and more standover but I think it's over rated, it's not an issue for me and I'd rather have the frame bag space for big trips. If all I rode was winter singletrack then I'd have a different opinion.<br />
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Brakes are only useful when pushing and you want to keep the bike from slipping back, but they die no matter what within a few days, even if they don't die the sound of grinding grit will make you sick of them.<br />
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seat bag:<br />
I used a stock Viscacha on this last trip and liked it better than the rack & drybag combo used on Yak-Cordova. Inside the bag I had 12 days of dinners and breakfasts in a fitted drybag, Iridium Satellite phone in hard case, the megamid and once some dinners were eaten, a spare surly tube. Totally full! I think this is the max length of trip for this setup. One trick I learned was that for stream crossings I could loosen the post and swing the seat 180 degrees keeping all the load, frame bag and seat bag (all the dense food weight) centered on the boat. Another advantage is less paddling interference than a rack for long paddles when the bike is stripped down, less to catch on bushwacking, and it's lighter. Man i sound like I'm sponsored by them of something.<br />
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Frame bag:<br />
The bag I used was a big, simple, single zip, tapered front bag with 2 vertical dividers. I made heat sealed dry bags for the 2 vertical compartments which held my daytime snacks for 12 days. The front section held 2 x 20oz water bottles and pedals when they were off the bike. The skinny drybags worked very well since they were super easy to unload into my pack for schwacking and pushing. I took the bag completely off once and shoved it into my pack's beavertail when we played roulette with the La Parouse glacier and I wanted to be able to run with the totally stripped bike on my shoulder... and that I did!<br />
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Gas tank:<br />
multi tool, chain lube, bug net, random crap. The new design kept more water out for sure.<br />
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Front: <br />
Packraft and sometimes paddles loaded in a Sling. Worked good, last minute decision, I would have brought one of the small pockets next time to go with it. What was nice is that the straps could be used for other things.<br />
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Pack: old home made, 22 oz, 45-50ish L (?) with beavertail, no lid, frameless. Key to be able to unload bike to varying degrees and be able to carry everything. When biking it was pretty light with zero water or food weight, carrying only sleep stuff (go lite syn. quilt, prolite XS pad, sleep socks), clothing, ti cookpot, and random stuff drybag (camera batteries, repair kit, ibu) and PFD. I empty it every night and use it as the sleeping pad for my legs.<br />
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PDF - Opinions differ but I like using a real PDF, simple kokatat. Sure it's heavier and bulkier than alternatives but... Its safe in the water, part of my sleeping pad setup and can be used as an insulation layer under rain jacket giving a warm buffer between your body and wet pack, that's the clincher personally. On Yakutat north we wore them probably 40% of the time, all day for added warmth. We had superb weather so did not use it really at all for that on this trip. <br />
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Clothing:<br />
Thin wool T, Ibex hooded indie, home made wind pro hooded fleece (similar to an R1 hoodie) older REI gossamer hooded puff, go lite storm rain jacket with modified wrist cuffs. Bottom: Patagonia R.5 tights, homemade fleece tights, homemade goretex rain pants with neoprene ankle cuffs and a extension that came up mid-torso. Patagonia release runners with sewn on mini gators (nice and durable uppers but the soles could be better... you are so close Patagonia!) wool socks, NRS hydroskin thin neoprene socks, simple kenai neoprene gloves (luxury). <br />
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Since the weather was so darn dry and warm on this trip I did not get to compare how the Ibex wool layer compared to just using fleece against skin. When it's really wet I like just a T, then fleece. Nothing long sleeve synthetic or wicking since it just stays wet and cold, wicking from wrist up. <br />
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Shelter:<br />
MC and I shared a BD megalight mid, the other was a go-lite mid, using the paddle shaft as pole. Splat paddles works fine but the adjustable length of the Sawyer paddles sure is nice. no stakes, I use small parachutes made of ripstop and ribbon at the 4 corners for sand and rocks.<br />
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Raft:<br />
Old stlye llama circa 2003, with old deck. 2 thick bungee's tied off on the front, mini biners on the other ends. works for me, tons of ways to go about it. The pro-lite XS fits like a glove behind and under the seat for back comfort and warmth.<br />
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Bike to Packraft changes:<br />
The prep (or lack of) taken for paddling goes in varying degrees. Basically for quick river crossings and the water is mellow I just put the bike across the front and jump in the boat, Pack either still on my back, or on top of the bike. This way I can quickly jump out of the boat and get everything out of the water since the bike is not attached, It's fast and efficient and great for when there is quicksand, no eddys etc. This disaster style method (thank you <a href="http://www.thecleanestline.com/2008/02/somethin-bout-n.html">Kelly Cordes</a>) gets dodgy as Dylan and I once learned when there is any sort of wind / wave action which might move the bike on the deck, but for most stream crossings it's totally fine. <br />
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For long paddles, it's pedals off, seat post off, handle bar off and everything packed tight and compact. Doing this I can get full paddle stroke and go for hours. <br />
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Bike to schwack:<br />
Minimally it's pedals off and handlebars unloaded. That's fine for most pushing. If Carrying is involved then food gets unloaded into the backpack using the drybags. For mega-schwacks the seapost gets dropped and the seat bag comes off.<br />
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What else? Lumix LX3 camera in a mini shoulder strap drybag case. Bear spray on pack strap bungee. Cookset was 4 oz of 99% alchool and a Ti pot. The alcohol used as fire starter and aquaseal repair prep. With the dry weather we cooked exclusively on fires had a minimum of 2 a day with abundant hot meals. If it had been raining lots, then fire starting would have been more interesting and I would have eaten more cheese and cookie dough for breakfast.<br />
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All this stuff has been learned through trial and error. After this trip the only change I'd make would have been bringing the dark lenses not yellow for my sunglasses and maybe a visor. That's it.<br />
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all my secrets. go nuts.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-22602920718322856672011-07-05T12:09:00.000-05:002017-07-20T23:56:08.528-05:00Mike's VideoDon't even think of watching this without pressing the full screen button!<br />
<br />
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/25943565?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="800" height="450" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/25943565">Bikerafting Alaska's Lost Coast: Yakutat to Glacier Bay.</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user191910">lacemine29</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-17728676774362572502011-07-01T02:00:00.002-05:002017-07-20T23:56:32.831-05:00Yakutat to Gustavus Coast Trip part 111 days in the wilderness.. how do you sum it up and put it into words? I always have a problem with it and every effort falls short. This will be no exception since my brain is mush and has been in a stream of conscious mode since I've been back.<br />
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We had nothing short of a fantastic trip. The weather cooperated, the route was excellent with good riding and a host of challenges, our group was solid and could crack dirty jokes 27 hrs a day. But leaving it at that would not make for much of a story. Details! photos! right?! ok fine. twist my arm.<br />
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I've been thinking about this and the best way I can describe how this trip came about is "Circular Inspiration". Roman did bad ass trips in the 90's that blew the doors off the notion of wilderness mountain biking as we know it. Following in the footsteps, Dylan and I were amped on the concept and started packrafting with our bikes a few years ago. Eventually We spent 19 days riding, pushing and paddling our Pugsleys on the northern section of the Lost Coast from Yakutat to Cordova, a route brought to light by Erin and Hig who walked it. At some point a now older and wiser Roman saw the new bikes and the potential... bought one this spring and proposed doing the Southern part - Yakutat south. um yes, Game on! Friends from Colorado, Steve Fassbinder and Mike Curiak, both well versed in the world beyond 2.25" joined in. It was quite the crew, well rounded (literally for some) and experienced.<br />
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Expedition Coastal fat tire biking is a unique animal. It's gear intensive with Bikes and packrafts, yet simple and primal. When things click it makes for a very efficient method of travel without the mundane of simply walking. Yet there's more too it than that. You'll have try it for your self, but for me it has something to do with <i>real</i> adventure riding. The giddy feeling of riding where nobody has biked (or even thought of it!) in a remote environment with the self reliance and determination that comes with it. There I tried.<br />
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(The photos in this post are a mix of mine and some of DOom's)<br />
Off to Yakutat, landing there and prepping our bikes brought on total deja-vu of 3 years earlier. Same bikes, same flight, same bacon cheeseburger from the lodge.<br />
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Heading out to the beach:<br />
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Roman with fatties..<br />
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a funny thing happens when everyone is spinning nearly the same gear combo...<br />
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We enjoyed near perfect beach for the first 2 days. Crossed Situk Lagoon, The Dangerous River and finally the Alsek as we worked our way closer to the Fairweather range.<br />
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We spent the whole trip traversing below all these peaks.<br />
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Immense mountains smack in front of us, crashing surf off to the right. Is this really happening or am I dreaming? if so don't pinch me..<br />
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At the end of the third day we hit Boulders. Boulders on the beach mean big glaciers are close by. Following bear trails we went up into the woods and schwacked to the lagoon formed by the Grand Plateau Glacier. (note clawage)<br />
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We reached the lagoon as the evening's chill was upon us, combined with icebergs and glacier melt made for a brisk paddle in search of a camp spot.<br />
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We found one, a tiny stretch of beach between the alders and rocks.<br />
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Tall tales by the campfire accompanied sporadic glacier calving off in the distance and we hoped that the lake level would not rise from the mini tsunamis and swamp our camp.<br />
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Putting in the next day, everyone giddy for good reason!<br />
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Our exit from the lake was a bit of a crap shoot. Our maps (last updated decades ago) showed a braided stream leaving on the far end of the lake. Our plan was to follow that back down to the beach. We did, but the stream was not really there anymore. The landscape had changed dramatically and we climbed up away from the lake in full on schwackfest swamp mode.<br />
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We found the stream, but it was just slime covered boulders, balls deep at times.<br />
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Off the stream and into the quality. Mike gets acquainted with Devils Club and all that <i>summer </i>Alaska trip have to offer.<br />
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A few hours later we broke out onto the coast. The massive boulders were gone and we were greeted to smooth and ridable beach. This would be the theme for days to come. Bash and bushwack in the morning, cruise in the evening. <br />
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Cape Fairweather - Subdivision sized boulders loomed ahead. I figured a solid 4 hrs to get around it all. It took us about 6 or so reminiscent of the <a href="http://vimeo.com/2316864">Sitaki Bluffs along the Malispina Glacier</a>. It was here that Roman educated us on the aptly suitable verb "Stumblefucking" nothing describes it better. Roman obviously derived the term from decades of perfecting the art. You bash along with your bike in mind numbing tedium. Thought process slows, as does time. Your body tires from the minute yet strenuous movements needed to carry, push and bash though the cobbles and boulders. The only thought that need to be held on to is that yes, the bike will be useful again at some point so keep bashing, you're having fun you idoit. <br />
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Bear trails, not the best maintained in these parts. good times!<br />
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they grow em big out here.<br />
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As evening progressed we left the boulders behind and were quickly greeted to the goods. re-pack, pedals on. I was in no hurry this night however. After a solid day of stumblefucking the big trees, big beach and big ocean brought a sense of calm. an erie calm in a way, something that made me think that this moment right here and then, is what I came for.<br />
<iframe width="800" height="487" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fJVWtJZjR_w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-74864495169214417812011-06-13T21:34:00.002-05:002017-07-20T23:56:49.568-05:00heading back to the beachOnce again I find myself with a bike box, looking at a pile of food and gear and a print out of my boarding pass to Yakutat. It's Roman's fault, he got a fat bike and proposed doing the southern route version <a href="http://lostcoastbike.blogspot.com/">of the trip Dylan and I did 3 summers ago.</a> I had long thought of going back to Yakutat and pointing the tires south, one email is all it took so now that's what we are doing. The interesting thing is that there are 5 of us. Me, Dylan, <a href="http://packrafting.blogspot.com/">Roman</a> and from Colorado <a href="http://www.lacemine29.blogspot.com/">Mike</a> and <a href="http://therepublicofdoom.blogspot.com/">Doom</a>. It's a fat tire wilderness bike packrafting gagglefest!!<br />
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should be awesome beach for at least half of it, then marginal, then tons of boating as we leave the outer coast and cross Glacier Bay.<br />
Hope the weather cooperates.<br />
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I thought about doing a cool gear post of all the crap I've put together the last few days (frame bag drybag system, seam taped goretex paddling pants, modified rain jacket, new gaiters. It's been refreshing to actually be working on my own gear after not making anything for myself in like a year and a half.<br />
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But screw it, I'm not all that into geekery at the moment. been more into this.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.revelatedesigns.com/layouts/revelate/files/swallowtail%20blog/julie&finn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" width="500" src="http://www.revelatedesigns.com/layouts/revelate/files/swallowtail%20blog/julie&finn.jpg" /></a></div>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-88993043235524663692011-06-02T13:06:00.000-05:002017-07-20T23:57:12.820-05:00Front range rigdes with FinnIt's not summer until you're up on Front range mountain ridgelines in a tee shirt.<br />
To properly get in the summer groove I took Finn up Near Point, and up the North side of Wolverine and back over near point. Peak bagging with a baby is kinda like adventure racing. You don't want to stop since it will wake up the sleeping kid, If he starts fussing you go faster and see if the motion will soothe him back to sleep, you can't carry much food or water, and you're slightly more uncomfortable with the extra 16 lbs and bottle warming up wedged under your waist belt. If anyone thinks they will get out of shape once they have a kid they are quite wrong! With towing the ski trailer all winter and now hiking and bike trailer, I think it makes you stronger.<br />
anyway..<br />
Up Near point, over the top, back the ridge to our first stop. Finn likes tundra and crinkly things.<br />
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Lucy mid nose dive into the snow:<br />
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Top of Wolverine, he started fussing big time once we hit the ridge but I just went faster and he fell back asleep. Success.<br />
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Finn was awake the whole way back, so we stopped a bunch.<br />
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He was not too thrilled about the moderately overgrown steep trail down N. pt. but he got over it.<br />
Awesome day.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-35138565665042435782011-05-26T01:07:00.000-05:002017-07-20T23:58:03.539-05:00Springing into SummerWow, has it been 2 months since I updated this thing?<br />
I suppose that speaks of how f-in busy life has been lately. Time for blogging takes lowest rung with a 6 month old tearing up the Jumper-roo and everyone and their mother-in-law getting hooked on bikepacking. No complaints, just very little free time.<br />
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Some review...<br />
Helped Dusty (resident bar tacker in training) with his senior project making a bad ass pack with integrated chest harness. He did everything I just chipped in half ass advice from time to time.<br />
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Finnster and I did some peak bagging in April, here is his first summit of Near Point<br />
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And up on the Knoya Ridge...<br />
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We all finally went up Near Point again...<br />
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Then the little guy started day care and Julie and I instantly got sick for the last 6 weeks. Not much to speak of there, lots of snot and the coming of summer.<br />
Got a lot of work done though:<br />
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Went Hiking up out of Hope last weekend...<br />
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So that's the jist of it. Lots of little things rather than one big thing. Little adventures on a daily basis with Finn and learning how to be a parent.<br />
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I do however have a one way plane ticket to Yakutat in June and a new frame bag for my Pugsley. Coincidence? here we go again!Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-69782029378574022542011-03-14T20:32:00.007-05:002017-07-20T23:58:32.032-05:00CarpathianHell yeah.<br />
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Billy Yvonne, Wayne, Carrie and Tim went in the night before and spent a frigid night up on the upper Portage Glacier. We wanted to meet them for Coffee but they were already high on the ridge. Billy's photos of us coming up:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.revelatedesigns.com/layouts/revelate/files/swallowtail%20blog/Carpathian!/IMG_3222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="1024" width="768" src="http://www.revelatedesigns.com/layouts/revelate/files/swallowtail%20blog/Carpathian!/IMG_3222.jpg" /></a></div>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-2051009586972463342010-12-27T14:24:00.002-05:002017-07-20T23:59:02.182-05:00It's never too lateDecember 24th, latest day of backcountry ever.. but I've had good reasons. Really good ones.<br />
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Billy and I drove down to Turnagin an ended up stomping up the Freeway that is the Tincan skin track. I have not been on tincan in like 5 years in favor of all the other goods at the pass so it was fun to see the views again. 15 below in the valley so it was nice to get high and warm.<br />
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Down to business. Tincan proper. Droolfest line but are always sketched out by the ave hazard. Things are quite stable so off we went.<br />
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Played tag with a mountain goat on the ridge! (photos by Billy)<br />
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On top or Proper. I checked messages to make sure diaper changes were going smoothly...<br />
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Me off the summit. Hummm. reconsidering dropping into the face.<br />
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Super fun terrain.<br />
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Billy at the bottom. Basically you go right off the top then bounce around on the small ridges at the bottom.<br />
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All the way back up to the ridge to ski Todd's run in the evening glow. It was manky but who cares.<br />
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That Thanksgiving rain crust is still out there!<br />
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anyway, better late than never. i needed a good mountain day, thanks Billy.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-45309735654752758812010-12-06T03:49:00.000-05:002017-07-20T23:59:22.811-05:00Snow biking with mom.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.revelatedesigns.com/layouts/revelate/files/Finn%20Blog/P1000966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.revelatedesigns.com/layouts/revelate/files/Finn%20Blog/P1000966.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.revelatedesigns.com/layouts/revelate/files/Finn%20Blog/P1000968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.revelatedesigns.com/layouts/revelate/files/Finn%20Blog/P1000968.jpg" /></a></div>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-38515315092214254802010-11-07T22:36:00.000-05:002017-07-20T23:59:35.805-05:00Introducing FinnMr. Finn Fields Parsons came into the world last Friday.<br />
Many, <i>many</i>, adventures to come...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.revelatedesigns.com/layouts/revelate/files/Finn%20Blog/P1000653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" width="600" src="http://www.revelatedesigns.com/layouts/revelate/files/Finn%20Blog/P1000653.jpg"/img></a></div>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-36859461268671830932010-10-22T12:58:00.004-05:002017-07-20T23:59:53.856-05:00Ode to Near PointNear point.. Just a bump in the front range, so easy to be overlooked by it's much higher siblings with sweeping alpine ridgelines. Near Point holds such high importance to us east Anchorage folk. Often just a gateway to longer adventures, sometimes a destination on it's own. Seeing it out my window beaconing every day...<br />
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When you just need to gain perspective, it's easy, drive 10 minutes, hike 25... or run up from Basher.<br />
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Or sometimes it looks like this...<br />
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Back to that gateway thing. Sometimes Near point is the stepping stone for extended front rage romps.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.revelatedesigns.com/layouts/revelate/files/swallowtail%20blog/near%20point/P1000517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.revelatedesigns.com/layouts/revelate/files/swallowtail%20blog/near%20point/P1000517.jpg" width="800" /></a></div>Off it's back side you can launch up Wolverine, Tikishla, Temptation, Crow Pass or the Canadian border...<br />
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So thank you Near Point (Near Bump) for the 20 or 30 mountain therapy sessions this year. I've lost count...Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-84712839618579819802010-09-14T11:47:00.002-05:002017-07-21T00:00:14.254-05:00Ram to EklutnaThe stars aligned for both the rain to stop and home buying & moving to be out of the way. Headed out to traverse the upper Peter's creek drainage with Billy and Yvonne following the huge ridge lines and bag a few peaks. Spent a night in the little drainage below Bee's Heaven. Met up with Abby and Steve on Sunday which was awesome.<br />
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It was the best hike of the summer, and one of the best hikes I've done in the Chugash.<br />
anyway...<br />
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Descending towards Peeking Mountain after climbing in the clouds for a few hours.<br />
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Dropping down to Peters Creek.. home of the big ones.<br />
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Billy near the sick line we skied this spring:<br />
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My camera battery died but it came back to life on sunday... traversing to Thunderbird after climbing Bee's Heaven:<br />
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Following goat trails towards Eklutna Lake:<br />
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another never ending stretch of alpine ridge? yes please...<br />
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just an awesome weekend.<br />
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Billy's video: ( I think its the first time Billy chose louder music than I would have..)<br />
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<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jrT3pessqUE?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jrT3pessqUE?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-8742197942643221342010-09-09T12:14:00.000-05:002010-09-09T12:14:20.963-05:00Sick...So the move went well, working on the new shop space now. or.. having handy friends work on it while I sew like mad.<br />
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Cameron Lawson sent me this sweet vid just now of buzzing the Lost Coast route. I don't know about you but this just gets the juices flowing and makes me want to buy a super cub.<br />
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<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/14831232?portrait=0" width="600" height="450" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/14831232">Flying the Lost Coast of Alaska</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1046377">cameron lawson</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19372452.post-81303548440659805692010-08-29T01:50:00.005-05:002010-08-30T00:15:39.501-05:00Other peoples tripsBeen doing the vicarious experience thing quite a bit lately. Two trips recently are hitting pangs of nostalgia since I've been through the places before by bike.<br />
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First off is Dylan's big adventure. In pure Dylan style he started from Seattle in January on a single speed and has been cranking south purely by bike ever since. He recently passed from Ecuador into Peru via the Eastern mountain route that is barely passable by vehicle. Dylan never posts photos so here are some of mine: <br />
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He also followed the same route I did in 06' up from Jaen to Chachapoyas-Cajamarca. Along this route you pass through an area of high archeological significance where Civilizations made hillside fortresses many years ago. Think Machu piccu unearthed.<br />
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After that of course is the 9,000' descent and 9,000' climb in and out of the rio Marion Canyon which simply redefines the scale at which I judged "big" climbs on a bicycle. (and that's after riding in Ladakh!)<br />
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Follow Dylan along <a href="http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=RrzKj&doc_id=6841&v=9l">here:</a> (day 231 and counting...)<br />
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Next of course is Brett deWoody's and Cameron Lawson's modified repeat (sans Hubbard Gap) on our 2008 trip on the Lost Coast in the Gulf of Alaska. This trip was a big leap foreword it felt like. Expedition summer time fat tire biking with packrafts. We both walked away from this one feeling like we accomplished something pretty amazing. The door to all terrain biking madness was kicked open big time.<br />
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Brett and Cam's successful endeavor takes just a weeeeeeeee bit of the specialness out of it on a personal level, but I guess just like climbing big mountains, someone is always going to come up after you. The planet is too small these days to think otherwise. Congrats to Brett and Cam on a successful trip! looking foreword to hearing about it...<br />
Their trip blog <a href="http://www.bikingthelostcoast.com/">here:</a>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04565341440837608907noreply@blogger.com2