The Snow Troopers

One of Washington’s many Big Mountain lift serve playgrounds is getting a lot better for next season, or maybe I should say a lot warmer for the ride up the slopes next season.

Gondola & Summer Update – June 29, 2010 from Ski Crystal on Vimeo.

Fourth of July and super thankful for our freedom and my AWESOME son Trevor N. Tietjen aka TNT II who was born on this day 23 years ago. I always try to hit the stompin’ grounds on this holiday (if the Snow Gods allow), so up the hill Sting, Trooper and myself went. Getting up there finding the mountain socked in and Mr. Drizzle out in full force, so we bagged it and headed East for some sun. Chose to take a walk in the Teanaway heading towards Esmeralda basin. About 30 minutes into the walk spotted a nice small snow field and bombed back to the car and grabbed the boards for a couple laps. Still a good amount of snow to play on in this zone for a bit longer, but plan for a full day because it is a reach.

As I sit here on Snoqualmie Pass in the “Home Base” this July 3rd, 2010 and wait for Mr. Drizzle to take off so I can go ski the stompin’ grounds, Silver Peak, for yet another 4th of July weekend. I was reflecting on the GREAT May trip to Utah this year. In doing so, I couldn’t help but think of one of my favorite zones we didn’t have time to ski, Sundance Ski area(located between Provo and Heber City) which sits in the shadows of the MIGHTY Mt. Timpanogos. Lucky for us our friend Chase did and captured some vid of a May day in the super gnar chute. If you ever get to Utah for lift serve action be sure to put Sundance on the hit list smaller and lower than the others but has a chill vibe, great views and most of all short lift lines.

June 29, 2010 wanted a good workout more than a ski (but did want some turns). We headed for Snoqualmie Mountain. At this time of the year we walked on dirt until just below the Cave Ridge zone. Grabbed Melisa’s gear she had stashed from Sundays’ summit and continued up the super steep Summer trail. About 3/4 up towards summit w/ got on the snow then skinned towards the false summit for the best ski.

Join US Olympic Alpine Ski Team members icluding 2010 Bronze Medal winner Andrew Weibrecht, Hailey Duke, Kevin Francis, Keely Kelleher, WA’s own Scott Macartney, Alice McKennis, Laurenne Ross, Erik Schlopy, Leanne Smith, & Jake Zamansky for their annual race clinic and dinner auction. The dinner & auction start at 5pm on Sat. July 17th at the Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland. Ski clinics will be held from 7am-1pm at Palmer Glacier on Mt. Hood on Sat. July 17 & 18. All events are open to adults and kids. Sign up here

A non snow trip report but these guys are “Snow Troopers” too… This one is a fast ride on pavement down a nice smooth Cascade road that was filmed on July 31st, 2009.

Soaking up the sun in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and cooling off w/ a little June lift serve at Mammoth Mountain. Just a chill short vid of some of the sights from last weekend.

Below is an edit Scott Harder did on last Friday’s trip to the gym before work. Here is what Scott had to say in regards to the day:

Scott & T.N.T hit Silver Peak on the wee hours of a Friday morning. After leaving the trailhead @ 5:15, we arrived at the summit @ 6:45, made our descent and harvested some great corn & potatoes with only a short walk out to the car. Scott arrived at work in Bellevue @ 8:45. Win.

Check out some pics of the morning on our facebook page or a direct link to the album click HERE.

Not much to say other than another great start to the day… Dawn patrol w/ Scott Harder

Check out some more pics on our facebook page or a direct link to the album click HERE.

Also, be sure to check out Scott’s Video !

June 13th, 2010 brought me back up to Windy Pass, WA just 4 miles from the home base. Instead of the norm on Silver Peak today I would traverse around the East side on the PCT to go for The Tinkham Chute. Traveling from Windy Pass you would hit good swaths of snow on the steep slopes of Silver above Twin Lakes, wanting your ice axe for added comfort. I was able to skin the last 1/4 mile to Silver Ponds, where I put the skis back on the pack and started the boot up. At the bottom of the chute I scaled the slope at 49 degrees, however 5 steps or so above that spot the snow was much closer to my face. The snow was sun cupped but soft and perfect for boot packing not to mention great for some nice steep June turns on a partly cloudy day. Once on top of the chute made a quick change over and had Trooper go down first nice and easy. Dropped in and got to say it was quite the good rush even for all the beatin’ brush.