Quiver Update 2018

Over the last several months, a few commenters have suggested that I update my “quiver” piece that I wrote several years ago. I’ve certainly gone through a few skis since then, discarding some I didn’t like while embracing a few that I did. I will list my favorites here while expanding on the topic of what (I think) makes a good ski for ski alpinism and general back country whoring. So, while the snow is finally falling in Alaska and the temperatures drop, I’ll take a break from whining about my jacked up knee and write about something perhaps more interesting.

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Blown - Life after my ACL rupture - 1

The following is the first in several posts I plan to write about my new adventure involving the injury to and subsequent reconstruction of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament of my left knee. Before starting to write, I was conflicted about even doing this. I could just suffer in silence and get on with the business at hand. But with an extra 15 to 20 hours a week on my hands and a real need to quell some demons in my head, I decided that writing about the experience would be good medicine. I also believe that documenting this medical adventure may provide insight to other members of our tribe that might face the same road someday. This injury leads to a series of important decisions that many skiers are completely ill-prepared to make. I hope these pages provide a resource for making well-informed decisions about treatment and ultimately, return to the sport we love.

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Nez Perce Trifecta - Part Deux

The Sliver - Nez Perce, Grand Teton National ParkNormally, when one travels to altitude after living at sea level, it’s best to ease into high-level physical activity. The physiologic adaptations, which allow us to tolerate exercising up high, take the better part of a week to get rolling. Certainly, several weeks are needed to feel strong. But with short vacations, it’s hard to be patient. On my recent trip to the Tetons, I demonstrated a complete disregard for what needs to happen.

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Spring Powder and New Zones

Skiing in the Front Range of South Central Alaska's Chugach mountains is an acquired taste. In the middle of summer when the mountains are mostly snow free they look like hills and inspire little hope for skiing adventure. But throw some snow on them and suddenly their intricate features and deceptively large scale start to show.

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Mt. Blanc du Tacul

Pat and I had time for one more outing before he had to leave to guide a client on the Ortler Tour in Italy. Both of us had designs on summiting Mt. Blanc and thought that doing the classic traverse would be the way to go. This route starts at the top of the Midi and hits the tops of Mt. Blanc du Tacul, Mt. Maudit and, finally, the MB. This covers significant linear distance as well as the obvious vertical.

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