Boarding at Breck

Six Olympic medalists are in the lineup at this weekend's Chevrolet U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix at Breckenridge: Gretchen Bleiler (silver '06; Aspen), Lindsey Jacobellis (silver '06; Stratton Mountain, VT), Kelly Clark (gold '02; Mount Snow, VT), Ross Powers (gold '02; Stratton Mountain, VT), Danny Kass (silver '02, '06; Mammoth Lakes, CA) and JJ Thomas (bronze '02; Golden).

"They do such a great job dialing this pipe and I always look forward to this contest," said Bleiler, the reigning Grand Prix champion.

If Olympians aren't a big enough draw, the quarterpipe that's sitting downtown in the Miners parking lot just might be. Last year Luke Mitrani boasted 31 feet of air at the quarterpipe after a tow-in during the Paul Mitchell Progression Session. Give me a "whoa!" people.

DJ Roots and DJ Vajra will perform live during and after the downtown exhibition.

What time?
SATURDAY
11am-noon HP Finals Practice
Noon-1:30pm HP Finals Awards
6-7pm Exhibition practice
7-8:30pm Exhibition

SUNDAY
11am-noon Junior Jam Practice
noon-1pm Junior Jam

If you're tied up with work or Christmas shopping and events Saturday, make a note to check NBC's TV sked on Dec. 24. Breck folks say the Peacock network will show all the action worth airing.

Davenport skis Kit Carson

It was 14er #47 this week for world-class skier and adventurer Chris Davenport of Aspen, who's nearing his goal of skiing down all of Colorado's 14ers in a calendar year.

He sent this e-mail:

Christmas came early for Ted Mahon and I on Kit Carson Peak in the Sangre De Cristo mountains. Not knowing what we were in for, we set out on a long drive Tuesday and found ourselves camped at the trailhead for Kit Carson Peak Tuesday night. Wednesday was a long and incredibly satisfying day on Kit Carson. Skiing deep, fresh powder on a steep fourteener in the month of December is a rare treat, and we took full advantage.

Happy holidays everyone! If Mother Nature grants my Christmas wishes I'll be back in the high peaks soon, so stay tuned.
Chris

Read all about Chris's quest on his blog.

Cell signal on Mount Hood

The cell phone of one of three climbers lost on Mount Hood since the weekend received a signal from the cell phone company late Tuesday night, “indicating it was back on,” authorities said today.

The T-Mobile cell company has been signaling the cell phone since climber Kelly James, 48, used it to call his family Sunday, the AP reported.

On Wednesday, the company said the phone went silent the day before.

The Hood River County sheriff’s office said that at 10:55 p.m. Tuesday “T-Mobile received a signal on the phone indicating it was back on, when it had been off.”

The sequence of signals suggested that James may have been turning his cell phone off to conserve battery power, a possibility that brought hope to family members who have gathered near the mountain.

“My heart was in my throat when I heard that, because if it’s true it means Kelly is alive, and he has his wits about him,” his brother, Frank, of Orlando, Fla., said at a news conference.

Rescue workers confronted stormy weather on the mountain again today, and said they would be searching lower elevations in hopes that James’ two companions, Brian Hall of Dallas and Jerry “Nikko” Cooke of Brooklyn, N.Y., had gotten down from near the top of the mountain, where James was believed holed up in a snow cave.

Video shot Wednesday and shown on various news programs shared the brutal conditions the climbers and rescue teams and enduring.

James' wife, Karen, said at today's press conference that the families of the three men remained confident.

“While this is one of the worst weather days, our spirits are still high,” she said. “These are three of the most phenomenal men you could ever meet. They’re smart, they are strong, and they care so deeply for one another.

“My husband proposed to me on Mount Rainier, and we’re planning our 50th wedding anniversary there, so I know he is coming off thismountain."

Tracking Hood mountaineers in cyberspace

The New York Times has an insightful look into how one of the climbers lost on Mt. Hood was an active member of several online mountaineering forums, and how those forums are reacting to the on-going search.
Read it here.

Keystone's new terrain opens Saturday

Keystone's Independence Bowl opens Saturday. The terrain will be accessible by snowcat (for an extra fee) and hiking. The resort is giving the media a sneak preview Friday. I'll let you know how it is. Until then, the folks at Keystone have already had a sneak preview and made an awesome short video tour.

Take a look by clicking here.

No news from Mount Hood

Photo from the Oregonian

Three climbers stranded on Oregon's Mount Hood haven't been heard from, despite the fact that one still has a working cell phone with reception.
According to UPI, one of the men called his family Sunday to say they were in trouble. They haven't been heard from since. Two rescue crews of 40 people have been kept off the mountain by severe weather, and more bad weather is expected to move in today.
The question is, are the men waiting it out in a shelter or are they, like seven students and two teachers from Portland's Oregon Episcopal School who were trapped in a blizzard on the mountain in 1986, dead?

An expert told the Oregonian the climbers could survive for another week.

For a map of the area from the Oregonian, click here

It's official: A Basin expanding

Arapahoe Basin will add 395 acres of terrain in Montezuma Bowl in 2007-2008, after getting the expansion approved by the forest service Nov. 30, according to the Denver Post.

The move almost doubles the size of this ski hill, known for its long season and killer steeps.

Good for A Basin skiers, but no so good for local backcountry skiers who have long used the bowl for human-powered skiing. But as Lou Dawson points out on his blog, there are plenty of other places.

Winter car emergency kit

image from outdoorlife.com

Last week's story of the Oregon family who got stranded in their car (Dad, who went for help, died before he could find it) got me thinking about what everyone needs to keep in their trunk during the winter, especially when driving through more remote spots in the Rockies.

Outdoor Life has a long and silly (though not intentionally) list of what the emergency car kit should have. First item, no kidding, 3 sets of underwear.

While changes of underwear would be nice, here's more practical advice:

gloves

a hat

a warm jacket

a sleeping bag

some food with a good shelf life

something to start a fire with and, if you have it, a camp stove.

I think it's less important to be ready for a week than ready for five or six hours. Two weeks ago my car konked out between Alma and Fairplay. Not exactly remote. But it was 9 degrees out. It took the tow truck 2 hours to get there. I was glad I had extra clothes in the car.

Rescue on Mount Hood

Most climbers familiar with Oregon's Mount Hood know that it can be treacherous, even in the summer. But climbing in the winter? Unusual and risky, as illustrated by the search for three climbers lost on the 11,239-foot mountain. The three climbers have been missing since the weekend. The weather has been ugly, and searchers haven't made much progress. The three men separated - one called on his cell phone for help, saying he was in a snow cave the men built. But the other two left the cave in search of help.

The men were last heard from on Sunday, when they made the phone call. Rescue officials said it appeared the men set out for a "light and fast" hike with minimal equipment. People familiar with winter in the mountains know that it doesn't matter how light and fast you are if a storm moves in.

First skier vs. tree of 2006-2007

from the Denver Post

A skier died from head injuries after hitting a tree at Keystone this week. He is the first of this winter, but probably not the last. On average 13 skiers die from injuries every year in Colorado. It happens with remarkable uniformity.

Here's what happened this time:

20-year-old Benjamin Hawk of Oregon hit a tree while skiing with friends on Keystone's Spring Dipper (an intermediate run) at around 2 p.m. when he lost control and hit a tree, according to witnesses.
Hawk, who suffered severe head injuries, died shortly after 7 p.m., according to the Summit County Office of the Coroner.
Officials say he was not wearing a helmet.

The accident follows a typical pattern:

1. The skier was on an intermediate run. Skiers almost never die on expert runs because they don't ski as fast. The last death in Colorado on a black run, I believe, was two years ago at A Basin when a freak in-bounds wet slab avalanche killed a skier on Pallavicini.

2. There was no new snow. It hasn't snowed significantly for almost two weeks at Keystone, which means the runs are fast and probably icy.

3. The accident happened after noon. Groomed trail conditions deteriorate throughout the day as they become more scraped off. Skiers also become more tired and prone to mistakes. Almost all fatal skier vs. tree accidents happen later in the day.

4. The skier was a guy. 81% of skier fatalities in Colorado have been males according to this study. Average age 32 years.

5. The skier wasn't wearing a helmet. In high-speed collisions with trees, a helmet doesn't offer 100 percent protection, but it helps significantly. A Norwegian study published in February 2006 in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that using a helmet was associated with a 60 percent reduction in the risk of a head injury. And since a broken noggin is painful if not fatal, it makes sense to wear a helmet, particularly in the above conditions.

What will the skier fatality count be this year? Hard to say. If it keeps snowing, as it did last year, numbers should be low.

Face shots for the masses

This pic is from Wolf Creek today! Obscene, isn't it? So much snow the guy could probably use one of these.

It's still snowing too, and the next half price day is Wednesday!

This much powder for $26? Obscene.

More moolah for murdered lynx

The reward for information on who killed two lynx this fall near Durango has risen to $10,000 with a pledge of $2,500 by the Denver-based Animal Assistance Foundation.

After the lynx were found dead in separate incidents the Division of Wildlife offered $500 for information about the poachers. Several other conservation organizations followed immediately with their own pledges for reward money including Sinapu, Humane Society of the United States, Defenders of Wildlife, National Wildlife Federation, Center for Native Ecosystems, San Juan Citizens Alliance, Colorado Wild, Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project, and Wilderness Workshop.

But still no leads.

That doesn't mean the trail's gone cold. The DOW often gets tips months after an incident.

And $10,000 might be pretty hard to resist.

Snow from the south

Wolf Creek has a foot of new snow, with more falling now. That makes the total this year 146 inches.
For other snow levels, click here.

By the way, I sat in on a great avalanche certification class put on by the Pikes Peak Alpine school this weekend. Head guide Jamie Pierce had some great sources for where to find good weather and snow info for the Rockies.

Here's a rundown:
Colorado Snotel readings: dozens of remote mountain sensors (see below) that give you real-time info on snowfall, wind and temperature.
CDOT: has information in its aviation section on "winds aloft" which can help skiers sort out what's going on with the snowpack.
And don't forget the "Pikes Peak over 11,000 feet" report we link to everyday (look for it to the right).

Where are the snowboarders? Not in the Rockies

According to a survey printed in Future Snowboarding magazine this month, only 23.3 percent of snowriders in the Rockies are knuckle dragging one-plankers.
The rest are skiers.

Here's how other regions break down.
West Coast: 44.9 %
Midwest: 38.4 %
Southeast: 34.6 %
New England: 26.3 %

No new snow, but skiing is still above par

After a snowy weekend five days ago, the mountains haven't seen an inch. Don't expect a powder day unless you know about some secret stashes. On the upside, it's been cold up there -- no freeze and thaw -- so the snow should be good quality packed powder. On days like this, it's key to get there early. Ski your tail off until lunch, then take it easy as the snow deteriorates.
With many people starting ski vacations next weekend, this weekend may not be that busy.
If you go, let us know.

Answers to the Thanksgiving scavenger hunt

Wow, The Gazette had a great response to the scavenger hunt. Considering we sent you over hill and dale, we got about 50 entries. That's a lot of people who spent a day (at least) getting to know the city's parks better.
Our winners, drawn randomly from the correct entries, recieved four tickets to Loveland Ski Area.

Here are the answers:
1. Start downtown, in Monument Valley Park. The park has a pond with brightly colored aquatic inhabitants. What are they?

Ducks or carp (we accepted both)

2. Make your way to Colorado Springs’ oldest outdoor shop. (Hint: It’s a hacky sack boot from Acacia Park.) What bird hovers over the entrance?

Bald Eagle

3. In Garden of the Gods, make your way to Gateway Rock. There’s a plaque on the south side. What is the wish expressed on the plaque?

That it be kept forever free to the public

4. From Gateway Rock, go south along the paved walk until you find what some of the first pioneers to see Garden of the Gods said would be a good use for the park. What was it?

Beer Garden

5. Next, find Balanced Rock. What is the name of the less-well-known prow of rock next to it?

Steamboat Rock

6. Now head to Manitou Springs — and don’t forget to take a tasting cup. Ask around town for the location of Twin Spring, the bubbly favorite of the town’s mineral water connoisseurs. According to a sign beside the sputtering, encrusted spout, the water contains a trace of what?

Lithium

7. From Twin Spring, dash to Barr Trail. At the start of the 12.6-mile trail, what does a sign warn is “dangerous” and “common” on the 7,300-foot trek up to Pikes Peak?

Thunderstorms

8. Head east from Manitou Springs to the main trailhead for Red Rock Canyon Open Space, just off U.S. Highway 24. Get ready for a short, beautiful hike. Using a map at the trailhead, locate the Quarry Pass Trail. That’s your destination. Along the way, keep your eye out for a series of teeter totters. This isn’t a child’s playground. What is it?

Mountain bike freeride park

9. Once you reach the gap through the stepped layers of the red rock quarry, where the Colorado Stone Co. carved up the land in the 1890s, look north at the closest carved wall. How many distinct layers are cut out of this pyramidshaped wall?

Six

10. From Red Rock, head to Bear Creek Nature Center and set out on the Songbird Trail. This short trail, concrete and boardwalk, is handicapped accessible. What man-made feature sits alongside it?

Birdfeeder

11. Now it’s time to do some detective work. Find the waterfall named after Colorado Springs’ most famous poet and early booster. It’s in one of the city’s largest and oldest parks. (A few hints: The park has more deer and mountain lions than grass and flower beds. Part of the poet’s house sits in the Pioneers Museum.) Make your way to the falls, then follow the trail that climbs steeply up over a bridge to another cascade above. At the highest observation point, a sign describes what types of plants grow in certain parts of the canyon. According to the sign, what is the dominant factor involved?

Direction the mountainside faces

12. Stop at the Starsmore Discovery Center at the mouth of the canyon as you head back into town. The regal stone house, moved to its current location in 1992, now acts as a nature center and host of the annual Hummingbird Festival. According to a sign near the front door, why do hummingbirds zero in on red flowers?

Hummingbirds can see red, insects cannot, so they don't compete with the insects

13. Now head back to town. The Rock Island Trail between Powers and Murray boulevards hides a comfy concrete bench. How is it shaped and whose words are inscribed on it?

Oak Leaves, Ann H. Zwinger

14. From here, head to Palmer Park. In the maze of roads and trails, look for a spot called Yucca Flats. What family members are meant to use this part of the park?

Dogs

An important message for men's heath

Seriously, guys, are you listening? Don't try to be a hero.
The Associated Press reported today that the body of a man who left his family in a stranded car to go for help was found, three days after the family was rescued.
Sound familiar? Last year a family became lost on a winter hike on Grand Mesa in western Colorado. Dad went for help. Mom and daughter spent a cold night before rescuers found them.
Dad's body was found weeks later under the snow.
It doesn't take a scientist to see pattern here.
I know, you're a man. You think you can help. You're a do-it-yourself kind of guy. It's up to you.
But come on. If you were that good at getting yourself out of fixes, you wouldn't be in a position where you have to leave the kids and wife to get help in the first place.
Just stay put!
While you're waiting, you can read one of several informative survival guides available from credible publishers.
If you happen to have access to the 'Net, there's some helpful advice there too. Our favorite, and first on the list of The psychology of Survival: Know yourself.
Oh, and you can learn to make your own budget survival kit (pictured above) at www.survival.com.

Shake, rattle and run

There are rattlers, and then there are RATTLERS. This is one of the latter. We got this photo via e-mail and we're putting it out there for our readers. The e-mail says this guy (unidentified) found this gargantuan rattler - 9 1/2 feet long, weighing 10 pounds - near his home in Louviers, by Sedalia. Anyone know this guy? Anyone seen a rattlesnake this big before?

Opening the South Slope? There's talk, sort of...

Colorado Springs Utilities has unveiled a new draft watershed access policy that lays out how much access regular folks will have to certain city-owned reservoirs. The big open question in this is the South Slope, a clutch of five reservoirs on the south side of Pikes Peak that has been off limits for almost a century.

In 2000 Utilities seemed ready to slowly allow access. Then came the terrorist attacks of 2001 and security closed any talks.
Now, after much prodding from local groups such as Friends of the Peak, which would like to see the Ring the Peak Trail completed, the draft policy has come out.

Read it here.

Here's the general reaction: Many local hikers are angry. The vague language of the plan seems to suggest the South Slope will stay off limits, except for a narrow trail corridor for the Ring the Peak trail. Utilities officials said they can't open the area because it harbors "sensitive species" but they did not name those animals.

"We've been double crossed," Zoltan Malocsay, author of the "Trails Guide, Denver to Pikes Peak," who was on a committee that advised the city on the opening of North Slope Reservoirs in 1992, said on AM 1580 yesterday. "This has nothing to do with preservation. It has to do with maintaining a private fishing and hunting preserve for [Utilities employees.]"

The next public meeting is in February. The question is whether access advocates will be willing to settle for a trail corridor, or whether they push for more access to the South Slope.

What will happen? We'll see.

Cold, but not too cold

So, we went to Monarch on Sunday, leaving in the wee hours to get there in time for 9 a.m. lessons. We made it there in time to sign in and get our gear (did the package thing, semi-private lessons, lift tickets and gear), but spent the first 15 minutes or so in the parking lot with a flat tire. Argh!

How long had it been low/flat? Who knows. Didn't seems to be handling weird, but with the snow and ice... (I got new tires Monday.)

Anyway, it was brisk on the lifts, but OK once you were faced down the mountain. Yeah, I know, it's not like we were raking the mountain on our first day out. Green runs all the way. (We have the whole season to pick up skills, right?)

Ran into entertainment editor Warren Epstein and his boys at lunch, so that was fun hanging out with them off and on through the afternoon.

Dave wrote of three days skiing - that was telemarking, right? - powder at Breck.

What about the rest of you? And just who skis Gunbarrel, anyway?