Skiing pics

[scheides]

So MattD accused me of being out of touch with whats going on on the Internet earlier today, so I figure I better fess up and show what I'm up to. I left Mpls Friday night after work, drove up to my parent's place, slept until about 2am, then drove with my Dad, Brother (Ian), and cousin (Lee) out to Montana. On the way we heard Red Lodge had gotten 6-9" of snow, so we made a side trip down there. We got about a half-day in there, good warm up for the trip. Had a few beers in the bar there then went on to Bozeman to stay with some family there. Sunday, we woke up, went to Bridger Bowl with the intention of skiing for about 2 hours and then heading south to Big Sky. Well we skied all day, had an awesome time, then got all our stuff together and went down to Big Sky Sunday night. The ride down there from Bozeman is amazing; through the galatin river canyon, then up to big sky the roads are....perfect for a cruise some day


Took it easy the first day, it was cold and cloudy. It snowed a few small inches (2-4") last night, and was beautiful out this morning, so we decided to finally do a little big-boy skiing One of the main reasons this place is so cool is that there is a tram that takes you to the peak of the mountain. Its all down hill from there

Going up, my dad and I:


View from the top:


I said big-boy skiing, but the girl on the left is 12 and she went down the same way I did:


My Cousin, Brother, Dad, and I:


Coming down through a small catwalk to get into one of the side bowls, shows a bit of how steep it is. Not the steepest part right here though:

[scheides]

My brother:






Snow was just amazing. Not too much powder, but we were doing all untracked stuff all day. We did the tram three times before noon:


Man meeting at the end of the day is now tradition, beer and booze at the base of the tram (last run of the day). I'm drinking out of a ski pole that has a built-in flask!!!!




More to come, as the fun develops

[EclipseGST]

Thats awesome... Looks fun.

[sleepydsm]

Looks like you had a great time!

[niterydr]

Flask in the pole is awesome!

[crazy_skier]

damn you scheides... i had just gotten over my craving of skiing for the summer and now its back.

it looks like you have had an awesome time out there... and i love the flask in a pole!!

[Kracka]

Matt D. ownz you!

[TkrPerformance]

nice

[Matt D.]

All these people doing fun things over the weekend while I was busy trying to decide if I wanted to bow to the porcelain god or sit on the porcelain throne.

[Kevin 1G Drummer]

Haha the ski pole flask is awesome! Looks like you're having a great time!

[Halon]

Looks like a good time man! But that first picture worries me. Are you sure you are a good enough driver to handle those turns?

[scheides]

There was no cones so I was ok

A little fun we had:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7aMjEn_X_uo

[Kracka]

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr poor man!

[X Factor]

Looks like a great time, awesome pics!

[scheides]

Went out for sushi last night, first real dinner I've had since I've been here. Otherwise its been beer and snacks

Did tram again today, this time headed down the front face that comes down on top of all of the 'regular' ski area.

Randy, My dad and I. We're heading around the peak to the area behind us, to the left:


Little washed out from the sun, but this is me getting ready to drop in. 7 years ago I fell almost 350 feet and went headfirst, face down over rocks and broke my wrist. Confidence is key here:




About halfway down catching our breath and waiting to drop in to some powder:


6 days of skiing under my belt now, and after these tram runs we go bomb down the groomed runs at 60+mph so my body is starting to really feel it! I can't wait to just hop back in the evo when I feel the need for speed!

I'm pointing at the little thingy you ride up in:

[crazy_skier]

just making it worse for me arent you haha

looks like you guys are having a great time out there... how much snow exacty is there?

[trippleA]

looks like a great time

[brando]

looks like a friggin sweet time

[scheides]

Well I'm back....barely. The trip ended with a bit of a bang!

Last day my bro goofing off with a bird that meandered onto the hill:





So fifth day at big sky was 7th day skiiing in a row. I took one long lunch break one day but that's about it, I was SHOT. We had done the tram 8 (?) times in 4 days, so doing a little snow cross/last-one-to-the-bottom-buys-shots on the last day was probably a bad idea. Bomb from the base of the tram to the hot tub, I am in a full tuck and when we are about 1/3 of the way down a green run on the lower mountain I catch an edge and eat it HARD. Again, full tuck and WOT, I am probably doing 35-40mph or so (not too steep so not too fast) and before I can think my face is smashed into the snow and I am sliding out of control. I sat up, totally dazed, and got my stuff together and kept going. Both of my lips felt swollen, face hurt a little, but helmet saved me again! I took off my goggles at the bottom and they were actually smashed, snow stuffed inbetween the two lenses.



My nose hurts like a SOB sunday and today (Monday) but it looks straight.

Ride home was mostly uneventful until I got to my parents place. We stayed the night Saturday and woke up to about 1" of ice covering everything, the driveway (they live out in the country), cars, etc. We have breakfast, then I ptex (repair), sharpen, and wax my and my dad's skies, and my brother's snowboard, and then decide its time to head out. It had been snowing a bit but I did not know how much! I came out to see about 8" of snow on top of anna's GLI. We broke out the snowblower (with chains on it), shovels, etc, all to no avail. With the ice under the snow the car was just not going anywhere. I later found out the freeway was closed, so it did not matter!

I ended up spending the night with my mom and anna, watching all of the first three star wars movies, good times. Another 4" of snow piled up on the cars and such last night. Brainerd received 24" of snow. I woke up early today and drove back, got to the cities around noon, then straight to work!

Its good to be back, let there be no more snow till next year!!

[A//// Guy]

Glad you made it back in one piece! Trip looks like it was a blast!