weak in the tweak: 03.05.09 to 03.06.09

Last Thursday night I went up to Snoqualmie for the last day of the season for the Burton CHILL program. This is my third season volunteering with Chill and I love it. These kids are so stoked/excited/etc. to go snowboarding and their excitement rubs off on you. Last season was tough because the few days I volunteered (before my guts decided to act up for 6 weeks) I was working with a real young dude didn't know too much English. Kid wasn't interested in turning, just mobbing down the magic carpet run with only one foot strapped in. This year I shredded with some 5th graders that liked the A-Team and a girl from Uganda.

Anyways, during the day on Thursday a sort of surprise storm pooped all over Snoqualmie Pass. Something like 11 inches fell in a few hours. The kids liked the softer snow but when you're still a beginner and the pow is deep it can get a little frustrating. After the volunteering was done I met up with Nels and Zach over at Alpental for some faster-paced night shredding. The snow was awesome, light and fluffy, total opposite of the typical NW pooh. We took a few runs, split a pitcher, and the night was over by about 10:30. This is when I was faced with a tough decision, lemme break it down: 1)There was at least 18"of new in the Alpental BC and the gates didn't open all day 2) I had the day off of work 3) It was supposed to be bluebird 4) I would spend about 2.5 to 3 hours driving if I went home and drove back up at the butt crack of dawn 5) Zach had a sleeping bag I could borrow.

So..........I spent the night in my truck. Only problem was all my avy gear was at home. Quick phone call and Hoen agreed to bring it up first thing Friday morn. It was cold that night, something like zero degrees. I woke up several times througout the night and got pissed cuz I couldn't feel my toes. In the morning I went to put my contacts in (glasses were in Seattle) and the saline solution friggin' froze soild! I'm blind so this kinda freaked me out but 20 minutes on the defroster fixed the situation. After getting some coffee around 8am friends started rolling into the parking lot. By 8:20 we were on the lift (advertised start time is 9am) and by about 8:30 we were out the backcountry gates. This is unheard of, the upper chair typically doesn't even start loading till well after the lower one has been spinning, and to have the BC gates open on first run is like hitting the lotto. Did I mention it was bluebird (!), another NW rarity. Rode a bunch, it was deep & rad, blah, blah, blah.

The lifts got PACKED after about 3 runs so Hoen and I put our contingency plan to work. The previous Sunday I went on a little snowshoe recon mission to scout some stuff I've had my eye on for a while. We grabed the snowshoes & poles and headed out for some adventure. Right away I effed things up by trying to guide by my memory & instincts. I wouldn't say we got lost but we did take the long way. It was cool though, my guiding error helped us find 2 new zones that hopefully we'll get a chance to film at this year. We got some REAL GOOD turns in and had to billy goat a few spots. The hike out went ok, but i'm sure we can find an easier way back next time.

OK NOVEL OVER, PICTURE TIME

>This slash sent pooh all the way down to I-90 below.