Sweet Catherine

It's funny...I've been on the arm of Mt. Catherine several times but never skied it, even though it is literally in our backyard. We've always had some other goal and have bypassed Catherine. Brandon has skied it several times but this was my first trip to ski Catherine. I must say, she is my new favorite.

 the classic hold your hand out close-up

 B looking out, Granite Peak in the distance

 Untracked powder in the trees...

...on a beautiful sunny day.

Could it be better?!?

[Chikamin Peak with Hidden Valley in the foreground]

Plake @ Hyak

On the night of March 4th, Heather was at a friends house and I was home alone, when I heard the sound of a diesel idling outside. I looked out our front window and noticed a big rv right in front of the house, the occupants sitting inside looking at a map. It was snowing so hard I didn't notice that it was Glen and Kimberly Plake, lost, a few hundred feet from the Hyak parking lot, which they were trying to find.

The Plakes were looking for the Hyak parking lot to spend the night to ski the next day as part of Plake's down home tour. They showed up unexpectedly at Hyak because their original destination of Hurricane ridge was closed. Regretfully I didn't go out and offer directions, but had the chance to meet Plake the next day. Heather and our friend Melissa actually got to ski with Glen and Kimberly, while Ed and I skied powder on Mt Catherine. Pretty cool to actually meet a ski icon, and for Heather and Melissa to ski next to him.

Ed and I with Plake

Ed next to Plake's sweet camper with built in ski tuning shop

Ed skiing pow on Mt Catherine

Ed ripping

Mt Catherine

Late posting but did not take pics, only video, so it took a little while to put a video together. Ed and I headed over to Mt Catherine last Saturday to find some low avy danger tree sking, which we found. We also found many groups of people with the same idea. We ventured into a line that Kevin Curd showed me last year (not the standard descent route) to escape the crowds, and found Kevin's and Greg Louie's tracks from earlier in the day. Fresh snow was still found and after two quick laps we called it a day.


Untitled from Brandon Kern on Vimeo.

Finally Video/Vimeo!

The first of many (hopefully) vimeo installments thanks to Mac and GoPro Hero camera, enjoy!

Silver Peak 2/21/11 from Brandon Kern on Vimeo.

VertFest Video

Here is a great video -created by The Storm Troopers- of the VertFest Randonee Rally. When I watch this, I think that everyone looks like they are going really slow, like they are out for a Sunday stroll. But I was there and can tell you that I was certainly not strolling (and I was nowhere near the fast dudes). In fact, I believe I was panting and growing concerned about my inability to take in enough oxygen. Anyway, enjoy.

http://thesnowtroopers.com/2011/alpental-wa-vertfest-nwac-fundraiser-21311/

Thanks to The Snow Troopers for the awesome filming and editing work. Check out their main site for other cool ski videos.