Last Day in Whistla DOA

Where to begin.... it was a trying season as far as conditions, finances, and injuries go, but as always Team Get Awesome found tasty treats for the monkeys to eat!

Snowmadic's Last Day at Whistler, looking to Blackcomb Peak from the Peak-2-Peak Gondola. For those who know we were en route to DOA, and for those who don't look for the tiny little white chute on the looker's right of the massive peak.

Looking eastward toward Decker, Mt. Trorey, Mt. Pattison and Tremor.... fun and games await those prepared, but death and destruction are close at hand to thin the heard.

Post DOA... Team Get Awesome knows what's up with the Power Claw! Safety tip of the day - If you get scared, don't pee your pants, cuz they'll freeze to your leg.

Be wary of the sharks, they lurk in the shadows! Top to bottom, big sweeping turns are how we do.

All in all another surreal year in Whistler. This time chillin in Bayshores, Snowmadic and Team Get Awesome where once again running a muck from the CreekSide base. Frequent lift closures, unstable snow conditions and a complete bullshit operating budget from Intrawest combined to drive Team Get Awesome deeper into BC's absolutely belligerent terrain. Come with me won't you on a 3,000+ mile journey from the flannel shrouded Great White North to the land of street tacos and swine flu. These are the Pow-Centric wanderings of Snowmadic-

Post Whistla Day 1 (PWD1)

Circa 6am - In search of the Gnar I boom eastward out of Whist-la toward the infamous Revelstoke-yah.... little did I know what awaited around the bend.

Zooming toward the illustrious "Duffy Lake Road" from Whist-la to Lilloo-icious, the storm clouds began to blot out the lazily rising sun.....

It got pretty hairy navigating the storm and I ended up sacrificing my camera crew to appease Ullr's bloodlust. Tragically I was unable to get any photo's, but I did manage to wrestle the camera from them before they were swallowed up by the unyeilding whiteness.

Before long I was cuttin trail and spottin wildlife... this guy was lookin for a lift, but I didn't like his disposition.

Remember - Only you can prevent forest fires kids

After 7 hours, a few hundred miles and a some solid whiteknuckle driving induced adrenaline, Mount Mackenzie emerged from the clouds and shone down upon Revelstoke.

Long after the sun set, the full moon shone bright and the pagans danced throughout the night.

Ullr heard the calls of the heathens and before long the full moon and streetlights alike were shrouded in the falling of goodness from above.

With morning fast approaching I tuned up my snowsled and put on my gofast pants, for tomorrow would hold wonders yet realized.....

Revelstoked!!! PWD2

As the sun sparkles through the trees on my first chair of the morning at Revelstoke, I ask myself what could be better? Scooby Snacks would be pretty sweet....

Peering over the edge into Separate Reality Glades dilutions of grandeur dance before my eyez.... Thinking I'm TRice I launch off some pillow and proceed to execute a flawless triple tomahawk headplant to body pretzel. Let's just say twinkies can also be used as impact reduction devices.

These little buddies were just chillin on the west side of Sub Peak like some paste eating grommet went crazy with a soft serve machine. I'm kinda wary of the supernatural, but these snowghosts didn't seem too bad. They were actually kinda yummy looking so I took a bite of one..... they didn't taste as friendly as they looked.

A little walk and vuala! the not-so-secret egress to Greely Bowl. Over the mountain and through the chutes to crazy deep pow fields I go!

Making Team Get Awesome proud I searched out a tasty couloir to get some sweet air and lay down some elephant turns.

Looking back up Mount Mackenzie the tasty couloir I annihilated (which I later find is called Powder Assault) can be seen to lookers left of the massive igneous rock outcropping dominating the right side of the pic. Get Awesome today, stay awesome tomorrow!

Snowghosts and snowdogs seem to have struck an accord in Rev's back 40 Glades. Seen here frolicking in the AM sun, how could you not be stoked? Maybe if you didn't have a jacket, or pants.... that would be a little chilly. Luckily I was equipped with the bomber gear and the beta on where to find the sickness, but still no Scooby Snacks.

Sometimes while zooming through the forest on your shredtastic journey you may come across, or in my case fly over, some crazy hobit looking terrain like this. I was half soaring, half falling/crashing off the waterfall in the middle when I realized Snowmadic = not so good at spontaneous unplanned flight.

Sometimes extra goggles are the difference between a call to the wah-mbulence and continued gravity induced SnowShredding. When seeking adaquate camoflage from the Pirates and the Tali-bra lurking in the shadows always opt for neon. Nothing says "you can't see me" like CalTrans Orange.

Once it hits your lips.... the pow is so goood! Grab your snorkel and get ready to romp!

Onwards and southwards, though Rev was more than hospitable, there was weather coming to Rossland and I was on a pow-centric shred mission to find Ullr. Packing up the Suby I was ready to spread the spirit of stoke and propagate the Snowmadic modus operandi.

Boats are pretty cool, and I've yet to install water wings on the Suby, so onwards toward Rossland Capt. Stubing! And watch out for those pirates, I didn't bring my slingshot.

Many hours, miles and a couple rock induced dents later I rolled into Rossland completely exhausted and ready for the omonious clouds on the horizon to begin their onslaught.

The ambiguity associated with a Snowmadic pow-centric journey can be unsettling for some; however I've found it liberating to check the latest weather reports and make the call at the last minute regarding where to go and when to get there. In this case luck was on my side and the flakes were falling heavily before I succumbed to delirium.

Puking on Rossland PWD3

Puking!!! Rossland British Columbia and Red Mountain.... need I say more?

The Roots area provided ample huckabililty for all manner of meat chucker. Faceshots and no one to talk too but myself. Locals on the chairlift were claiming best day of the season. The chest deep blower was truly a site to see, I'd probably trade my fave pair of house shoes for a little taste of that goodness right now.

Cambodia turned out to be much colder than its southeast Asian namesake, though the pillows kind of looked like poppys if you really squint and cock your head a little....

All I found in Needles was a grip of snowghosts, faceshots and solitude. I was contemplating the logistics of digging a snowcave and returning to society after the spring thaw.

Fun Fact for the day: Fixed grip lifts = Freshies all day

Sunset in downtown Rossland with Red Mountain looming in the background. After 10 hours of ruthless pow frenzy me and my newly found Quebecois rallied for the chaos to come.

Rossland Chapel with the Firehouse, Red Mountain and the full moon lurking in the shadows. Ullr had come and we had conquered. Where do your allegiances lie?

Burning deep inside my loins like a giant golden hawk is the desire to one day be a powhunting dirtbag 24/7/365. Until that time I will settle for days like this, and though I was alone, I felt right at home. Word to the wise: go out and find the goodness. Regardless of your chosen focus (snowsliding, wave riding, basket weaving), the adventure of the exploration and unknown easily trumps the same old gettin old any day of the week.

Montonia PWD4

Receiving an urgent telegram from my friend and compatriot Johnny Dangerously, I made the decision to cross the border and head for Montana. Mission: Infiltrate and conquer the shred meccas of Bridger Bowl and Jackson Hole. With the sun rising on a new day I found myself back in the US of A.

Barging the highway through Idaho, I found the conditions treacherous at best. Imagine a bitter cold day, boiler plate ice passing lane and slush puppy icebath in the trucker lane. Add to that the constant procession of balls-to-the-wallz meth smoking truckers, 15mph Safety Sammy, and Jimmy Bob towing 15 tricked out sleds to the local snowmobile rally and you may start to get a picture of Idaho in the winter. Realizing I somehow ended up in the Land of Oz I began assessing the threat of flying monkey attack.

I was driving so fast the Suby developed these crazy speed-cicles. Think of them as the fudge pop of the icicle world.

This shoebox of a bar in Butte had more Evel Knievel memorabilia than I could shake a stick at. Turns out Evel used to show up and bust wheelies around the place or something loony. Needless to say I didn't see Evel.... Though I did get a burger and coke for $2.75, and as an added bonus was entertained by the antics of the toothless mine worker's drinking team.

Eventually I made it to Bozeman International Airport and swooped Danger from the clutches of the Sway Denim Secret Police. Peeling out from the curb I yelled over my shoulder "Johnny Dangerous is a hero and a saint!" Luckily we escaped, and I could tell Danger was stoked to be back in the land of pow turns and neck beards. Vive la vida pura!

Big Sky Country PWD5

I don't know why, but Sunshine follows Danger where ever he may roam. Regardless of the fact they only have 2 letters in common, every time I see Danger it seems to be completely bluebird. He really needs to consider picking up the lens and making some power moves because seriously, not a cloud in the sky.

One thing's for sure Montana has got a lot of it... big sky, fresh pow, whatever you're looking for go to Montana when you're feeling a need to supersize on life.

This is a Montonian wind chime. I knew there was a benefit to skiing.... once you've bent your silly ski-stick trying to throwdown some mean french-fry action you can get all Martha Stewart on that ish and play arts & crafts on the hill.

Danger didn't have the equipment to hit the gnar lines, he claimed "peeps are for creeps," but we did find some tasty goodness and righteous radness right off the groomers. When it comes to out-of-bounds riding, remember kids: No Transceiver, Shovel and Probe... No Go!

Watch out when Danger's schizophrenia kicks in.... one second you're shredding the gnar, the next you're getting it your way. The King was rockin the shades at Bridger Bowl.

"Lewis & Clark Motel: Leprechauns, Castles, Good Luck and Laughter... a thousand welcomes to anyone who comes!" I dig it the most!

Yellowstone Park was kinda lonely and Danger thought it was a good time to take a nap, but I knew we were just entering bat country. Constant vigilance is necessary when traveling where the wildthings roam.

After many hours of books-on-tape and Danger's nasal orchestra the Teton's reared their sizable mass before us. One can see the cautious approach the Suby's silhouette is taking in reference to the sizable peaks.

Cresting Teton Pass we get our first glimpse of Jackson Valley with the sunset at our backs and fresh lines ahead.

Believe it or not this giant inverted 'U' shaped xmas monstrosity is actually a free-standing arch made entirely from deer and elk antlers. Cowboy Up!

Bridger was the sickness with the quickness, Montana was awesome, but Jackson is looming large on our radar. Sweet dreams, good night and good bye, this is Snowmadic signing off until tomorrow.

Jackson PWD6

Jackson was Awe inspiring besides the requisite parking fee, and shuttle fee, and breathing fee, not to mention the lift-ticket fee... I'm actually surprised I didn't get charged a skibum fee for the questionable odor emanating from my two week old base layers.

Jackson's new tram was definitely nice, I mean 4,100' vert in 9 minutes is pretty sweet, but nothing ever really makes up for the fact that you're crammed into a flying aluminum coffin with 99 other bipedal monkeys wanting nothing more than to kneecap the halitosis having, one-piece wearing, bozo in front of you stepping on your gear.

All this terrain is open for touring and exploration, if you look close you can see evidence of gravity induced snowsliding afoot. No go without gear though, so bring your scuba tank and rubber pants because it's deep.

Danger quickly made friends with Bruiser the patrol dog.

Bruiser here was so pumped on Danger's nunchuck skillz he showed us the way to the promised land of pow turns, mini people and Shetland ponies.

To achieve the desired post pow-frenzy freshies one must begin with a walk.....

Once the walking has been conquered a potential reveler must then subjugate them self to the climbing.....

But in the end when you get top-to-bottom Shot 8 chute in Casper Bowl, life is good, gravity pulls down and Curious George was a monkey. Here Danger can be seen calling for a rerun.

That's some massive cliff.... I bet I can throw a football over it!

Gazing wistfully westward, the fun to be had in these peaks is beyond comprehension.

After a couple Casper Bowl runs, and some mini-shred circus through Dick's Ditch, we escaped Teton Village before they started taxing us for having too much fun. The King showed up to party so we propagated Team Get Awesome's reputation for heretical consumption of Scotch and ManSodas. The rest is far too incriminating to disclose without proper auditory contraceptives.