Onset of Coastal Winter

This fall feels different.  I feel comfortable in the place that I am, with the people who surround me, and the mountains that I look up to.  I am inspired, and that is making all the difference.  Here are a few photos and trips from around the south coast.

10/22/15

At the end of October, we took an impromptu trip to the Haberl hut, close to home and challenging terrain.After ten hours of approach, across rivers, through dense forest, wet slab, and even some steep glacier travel, we made it to the hut.  An incredible sunset with close friends closed the evening.

Light below Serratus.

Kyle and Madeline cruising towards Dione early on the second morning.

Don’t fall! Kyle negotiating some tricky bergshrunds.

Lunch spot in the sky.  Couldn’t believe the glacier falling off behind me.

Parker put in some strong work on this climb! Some hard, snowy 5.8 crack was something to watch with the mountains boots.  Here he is stacking before the rap to the col.

After descending the gully system and repeating the bergshrunds, we descended the glacier under the moonlight.  Over the next days we climbed other routes in the range and then hiked out to the canoe.

11/19/15

After the transition to winter and the end of fall, skiing started up and I caught up with friends who had already been out.  After a couple weeks, it was deep enough to head to a favorite zone and put tracks into some couloirs.  The crew didn’t mess around and put down two pizzas each to climb into the zone.

And it was good! No one in the zone and lots of snow.

Cristian putting in work! Never seen someone skin like that on Dukes.

Heading into another couloir on the face of Steep Peak.  Feeling the grip of steep powder with Cristian.  Love it! 

Late in the day after a long day.  Last light into the depths of Pemberton, before heading back to the hut.

12/6/15
More storm days.  We keep finding the snow up high.  

After a great fall, I am back in Montana for the holidays and then back to the coast to finish college and get some big days in the mountains!  Big thanks to Voile Manufacturing, Julbo Eyewear, and Hammer Nutrition for the support this season.