DrnknZag

So I finally got my splitboard setup put together and have been itching to get out and test it. I got the perfect opportunity yesterday before heading up to my parent's place for Thanksgiving.

Stevens Pass opened earlier this week, but only opened the Brooks and Daisy chairs (the two lowest lifts). Knowing the rest of the inbounds terrain as well as I do, I figured I'd do an inbounds split mission would be the perfect way to get my first turns of the season.

Thankfully, Stevens groomed a trail from the top of Daisy over to the bottom of Tye Mill, then up to the top of Hogsback. This definitely made it easy skinning, especially for my first time. It did get a little interesting between Tye and Hogs. I decided to head up a steeper section that happened to be too steep and I got myself into a little trouble. I tried to turn around and 'ski' back down and hit a different trail up, and really got myself twisted up (I've never skied before). Made for a pretty good show for the guy working on the Tye lift below me. It was a mess. Eventually I made it back down to the lower trail that got me up to the top of Hogsback.

After 15 minutes of resting my legs I headed back down for my first turns of the season. With the low coverage and being by myself, I stuck to a mellow open run back down to the lodge and off to Thanksgiving dinner.

Overall, it was a really fun quick trip up with the splitty. I'm definitely hooked, I actually really enjoyed the skin up just being out there in the snow and enjoying the scenery. Can't wait for the next mission.

Now to the pics........


Yup, winter on Hwy 2.


American Alps.


Heading up.


Feels kinda weird at first.


Heading up the trail, looking back towards Tye Mill.


Cowboy Ridge in all her glory.


Cowboy Ridge & 7th Heaven.


Top of Hogsback looking back towards Tye Mill.


Lovin' it.

StreetDoc

nice! Great pictures, jealous of your snow!

ShredLife

and a happy Mo'vember to you sir! that base graphic is so fucking perfect for splitboarding... except that the best thing about it that there's no one else there .... and them G3 skins are titties.

steeper stuff: gotta use switchbacks or just boot pack it going straight up the gut.

good shit. what camera you using?

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get the hell off my lawn.

DrnknZag

Thanks man!

Thanks! Skins are Sparks, but really the only difference is the metal Spark tailclip.

Yup, switchbacks. I tried to do that on the steep section I was heading up, but kept slipping off my edge (DIY split w/o inside edge). I used switchbacks on the other trail I headed up and it worked great.

The camera I use during winter is Olympus Stylus Tough 6020. Used a little editing magic to make the pics pop though.

ShredLife

yea i;m pretty sure the sparks are just rebranded G3s... pretty sure i read that on SB.com

on them switchbacks (with your factory sidecut on the inside of your feet) you gotta get used to weighting your downhill foot and that edge... but its all good... the best stuff is just too steep for skinning

those oly p&s are so great for PNW weather! i've tied mine on the end of my flyrod in place of a hook and high-sticked it thru a steelhead run (underwater, bouncing off rocks) and it survived it fine

if olympus made a Tough with an APS-C sized or a 1" sensor to compete with the sony rx100 they would have a serious game-changer....

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get the hell off my lawn.

DrnknZag

Yeah, my Olympus has been a trooper. It does take some decent pics on the mountain, but anything low light is AWFUL. I always throw a bit of editing for color/contrast/whatever on all my pics I take with it and they usually end up pretty good. My crew has a tradition of taking pictures with the Olympus inside a pint of beer whenever we go up to Whistler. Gotta make sure you clean it up a bit afterwards though.

We had lots of rain up here today too. I was planning on making the trip up to Baker tomorrow, but it's not looking too right now. Might wait and do some resort riding at Stevens on Sunday. The snow was really good yesterday though. A solid 18" of unconsolidated fluffy pow up top. Not anymore after this rain today though.

I've been chatting with Kill's buddy Ale_Capone over on the splitboard forum, I'm hoping to get some tours in with him in the Hwy 2 zone around Stevens this year and get to know the area better. You should come up sometime and take a tour with us.

I definitely want to make my way down to Paradise and White at some point as well for sure.

wrathfuldeity

Drnkn, looked nice. I'm itching to give skinning a try. I've rode inbounds with Ale quite a few years ago and he coached me on my first and only big jump back when they had the bigger jump line over by chair 8.

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DrnknZag

^^Thanks! I'll be heading north your way this winter for some Baker touring at some point. I'd love to tag along with you and your kids and get the feel of the Baker BC.

I know a few of you guys are over on the splitboard forum, I'm 'jgusa' over there.

DrnknZag

Haha yeah, every forum has their own feel/attitude. I'm on TGR too, but don't hardly post there either. They're definitely different there haha.

volcom21d

Headed up to Stevens tomorrow with the wife. Never been there before and a bit of a drive, but we're both itching for some turns since White hasn't opened up yet. Anyone else gonna be there tomorrow?