North American Ski Mountaineering Championships 2012

North American Ski Mountaineering Championships 2012

                                                              

Crested Butte, Colorado January 27-29

Race course profile

  

The Crested Butte Mountain Resort hosts, with representation from the International Ski Mountaineering Federation, the North American Ski Mountaineering Championships. The race involves two days of racing: Saturday will be a Sprint venue. Sunday will be the Traditional Individual race. The combined times of both days reveals the winner.

                                                             

                                                         

The course follows the ridges to the Peak



Saturday’s Sprint venue will consist of a quick technical uphill/downhill/boot-pack/transition course. The vertical will be approximately 600 feet. The course will start with an uphill skin, downhill ski, uphill skin followed by uphill boot-pack and skin to top then a final downhill. A lot of transitions and a super fast pace throughout the race is expected.

Big views from Crested Butte

                                                                

Sunday’s Individual race venue boasts approximately 5,300 feet of vertical gain. The starting elevation hovers at 9,375 feet and the first limb takes us to the summit of Peak 12,162. A via ferrata system on fixed ropes will be used while ascending a Class 5 ridge to the summit of Peak 12,162. Three major climbs will be involved as well as two boot-packs. Three long downhills will provide some relief to the lungs.

                                                                

The weather forecast calls for a quick storm tonight with some snow and then cold temperatures dropping below zero for both race days.

Terrain near CB

                                                          

The race will draw the best racers from the United States, Canada, and rumors have some of the Italian Team members competing as well. The Italians are currently the top Team in Europe on the 2012 World Cup ski mountaineering circuit.

The weekend looks to be busy. Tomorrow I plan on checking out the Individual course in the morning and the Sprint course later in the day. There is a mandatory meeting/gear check from 4-7pm on Friday. I look forward to seeing all the good friends and racers. Today I briefly ran into friend and race coordinator Bryan Wickenhauser and two Canadians. Another update tomorrow. Fortunately, the good friends and supporters at JHMR and CBMR provided excellent slope side accomadations.

                                                                  

Sleep well for the big races

Skimo races 1/7/12, 1/8/12

                                                                 
U.S Ski Mountaineering Championships and Grand Targhee Ski Mountaineering Classic

                                         

                                                                      

Congratulations to Luke Nelson and Sari Anderson - the 2012 U.S. National Champions.!

And congrats to all the racers who entered and finished.

I finished the races with the results below.

U.S. National Championship                          1/7/12   11th place

Grand Targhee Ski Mountaineering Classic     1/8/12    6th place

U.S. Ski Mountaineering Championships 2012

2012 U.S.SkiMo National Championships            

January 7,2012 Jackson Hole, Wyoming                                               

                                                                 

Overall View of course

                                                                  



Second downhill - Paintbrush



Rendezvous Bowl

                                                                         

Lower Sublette Ridge (from near Bottom)

                                                                                                                                   

View from top of Tram into Teton Range

Cody Peak

The 'alternative' 2012 race course has not been anounced yet for the U.S. Nationals. These photos were taken mostly on 1/3/2012. An update is expected from http://www.jacksonrandonneerace.com/ soon.
As far as I can tell, the course will cover the distance and vertical of previous years. There will be a few diversions on the downhills and on the Big bootpack. I believe the Race division will skin around Corbet's Couloir and follow a 'booter' up Dean's area.
The line-up for the race is looking great with racers coming from all over the country and Canada.
Should be a great race and good to see all the good racing friends and folks.
If you are thinking about signing up - do it, the more the merrier. This is a grand race.

                             

                                                            

xmas eve 2011

 

Skiing on race gear on Christmas Eve 2011

Skiing with Bella Dog

                                              


Saturday December 10, 2011
Teton Pass, Wyoming

                                              
                                         

Wyoming cold temps and ski touring

December 3^rd, 2011 Ski Tour

                                                       

A long time friend suggested we head into the mountains for an early season ski tour. I was game, as we hadn’t been out in the mountains together for awhile together. The forecast was for super cold temperatures, sunshine, and a little wind. We set plans to travel towards Grand Teton National Park or simply ‘the park’. 

                                                            

We met at a coffee shop at the easy hour of 7:15am. A third party arrived at the coffee shop and we were heading north in a warm car and knowing we were soon going to have to brave the cold. We set out in the early sunshine with a tentative plan to ski up Avalanche canyon and make a long ski tour. We traveled less than fifteen minutes and realized the travel up the canyon looked daunting.  Low snow and extensive bush whacking and travel through downfall canelled thoughts of early season travel in that area from the valley bottom. We all shrugged. We looked to the next canyon north and we all smiled. Garnet canyon was our inline option.

                                                                   

We traveled quickly over the glacier moraine and across the frozen lake to the base of the canyon and climb. We climbed steeply and through fairly well covered terrain with much effort. Large ski packs filled with down clothes, wind breakers, food and water kept our progress honest. However, we all soaked in the sunshine as we pulled out of the valley and skied inward towards the heart of the canyon. As we approached the ‘meadows’ we stopped to fuel and water up and take a sit down break in the last sunshine for awhile.

                                              

                                              

We ate quickly as the temperatures forced us to eat and talk on the move. We headed up the north fork of Garnet canyon to a snow platform below the Teepee glacier and south-east face of the Grand Teton. Skinning up canyon we were able to follow an old skin track partially for awhile.

                                         

After the meadows we skinned and booted our own chosen line. The platforms we had skinned to, we all agreed, was our time to ski and put the climbing skins away.

                                        

We skied mixed and variable conditions for 4,000 feet, but we found mostly good quality powder. The coverage was a bit sparse and the skiing was tentative, slower than usual, and extra careful about what lays below the slopes surface – rocks. 

                                

However, we found the good ski lines, soft snow , and splendid alpine views.

                                     

                              

2011 Fall Trails, Colors, and Summits

                                                                     

The months of September and October have shelved out several outings into the various local mountain ranges. The trips have been mostly hiking adventures which have included long days walking in the various weather and trail conditions. A few early snow storms have produced some snow in the higher elevations in the surrounding mountain ranges.

                                                       

The varying terrain can make travel tricky and much slower as conditions vary widely. Planning and timing of route selection becomes more challenging in the higher elevations. Expect Fall colors in certain locations as the tree’s spill out their last colors before winter arrives. The trails are mostly quiet now and few people are seen except for hunters.

                                                      

Snow, cold temperatures, and wet conditions can be expected at the higher elevations. September and thus far this October have netted nine notable peaks in four different mountain ranges. Snow capped mountains and cooler temperatures have arrived with wind to produce dynamic large scale views.

                                                                                                            

The trail walking and hiking this time of year produces great glimpses of migrating elk herds, migratory birds blowing and quickly passing through the area, and other tracks of big wild animals gathering food before winter season.

                                           

Excellent hiking partners, solo trips, and Bella dog have provided many laughs amongst the beauty and adventure. 

                                                        

September started off with Buck Mountain and Table Mountain in the first half and finished with Steamboat Peak, Palmer Peak, Grand Teton, and Antoinette. October has yielded Cache Peak, Powder Peak, and Jefferson Peak. The recent mountain ranges include the Gros Ventre, Teton, Snake, and Centennial.