VertFest 2012

VertFest was looking to be an icefest one week out, but then the forecast got better and better.  On the morning of the race, we found over a foot of fresh greeting us at our house!  It continued to puke the rest of the day, adding another foot plus by the end of the day.  About 160 people were at Alpental, getting ready to race. It seems that VertFest just keeps growing every year, which is awesome to see.  

I noticed many light ski set-ups outside the lodge, including a pair of La Sportiva carbon RSR skis (very light, very expensive), so I knew that there were some fast people there to race.  Among the competition were the always dominant Traslin brothers from Canada, pro bike racer Andrew Pinfold (also Canada), Brad LaRochelle (past US national team rando racer), Brian Harder (fast rando racer from Jackson) and local fast dudes Seth Davis, David Brown, and Lowell Skoog.

[They're off!]

[With so much snow, it was a funnel to a single skin track.]

[Brandon out front]

Due to all the fresh, deep snow, the strategy of the day would be to avoid too much trail-breaking and ski down fast.  However, since I am not a great downhill skier, I decided that my only chance to compete was to try to get some kind of uphill gap.  So, I ended up out front most of the time as the slow pace of following was driving me nuts, and nobody else wanted to waste their energy.  The uphill portion of the race went well. I didn't have any skin issues for the first time in a race.  I also didn't really feel gassed at any point, even with being dumb enough to break trail most of the time, so some actual race-specific training paid off.  

[B rounding Chair 2 with La Rochelle & Pinfold following]

[Andy Traslin chasing]

The first descent started out good. I was holding second place until I found some deep snow to get stuck in, then repeated that five more times (including one near suffocation incident), and I managed to pull into the second lap transition about two minutes behind the rest of the lead group.  

A quick transition put me out in front of Mike Traslin, and within a couple minutes I regained the lead group.  Again, I took over trailbreaking, and at the top of the second lap, there were 7 of us all ripping skins at the same time.  

The last downhill was a full-on race for the Traslins and Seth Davis, with Seth just beating out Andy for the win and Mike Traslin in third.  My goal on the last lap was to slow down, and thus not crash, and hopefully not lose two minutes digging out.  

I ended up in seventh place, which is not a great finish but, until I get better at the downhill portion, I think this is how it will go.    

Heather did not compete this year since she wasn't feeling well. Instead, she snapped pictures, skied some pow and managed to help out at the Snake Dance gate.  Our friend Melissa did great with a 2nd place finish in the Womens Rec. race, very close to the winner Holly Davis.

[Melissa cruising on her way to 2nd, even with the heavy ski/binding set-up.]

Mt Catherine

Seems like we've reverted back to Mt Catherine a lot this season.  Hard to beat since it holds snow well, is close to home, and avy safe.  Hillary and Jamie wanted to get out for a tour, so with a leisurely start we headed out.  Found 4-6" dust on supportable crust, sunshine and good times with good friends.

Hillary skinning 

On the summit

Heather

Jamie

Hillary in the old growth

Hillary in the Catherine chute

North Slope Chair Peak

After such a good day yesterday, Ed and I headed back out into the mountains, this time the north slope of Chair Peak was the destination.  It blew hard the whole night before, so Ed and I discussed the possibility of things slabbing up even more than yesterday.  We came to the decision that we would head up there and check things out as we went, being cautious and ski cutting things.  The wind was howling for sure, especially when we crossed the ridge over into the North Basin of Chair, visibility was low at times.  We found some of the firmest slab that Ed and I have ever seen, at times it was so dense that it seemed like wind blown hard pack.  I was a little concerned, we took a conservative approach and carefully picked out safe zones to leap frog down the slope.  I dropped the first rollover and skied it very delicately, not wanting to tempt things.  Ed dropped in, and tried to do a ski cut, but barely achieved any penetration.  Then on the next pitch (with Ed below me in a safe zone off to the right) I dropped in and found some penetration on a pocket, next thing I know I hear Ed yelling, I veered off towards him straight lining  unaware of what was happening behind me.  When I reached Ed I could see the slide passing me on the left, I triggered a slab that fractured probably 300' at least, across and down the bowl.  It wasn't real deep or real fast, but, I definitely could have gone for a ride, as it ran down the entire length of the slope down to the lake, 1500' below.  After the slide, and the adrenaline subsided slightly we skied (again conservatively) down the debris pile down to the lake.  It was my first time skiing with my Avalung in my mouth, head definitely on a swivel.  Overall it was a great day again in the mountains, a good learning experience for sure, and good to be back out in the backcountry with Ed.

Ed skinning up, Pineapple basin and the Tooth in background

Quick, get warm clothes on!

It was blowing, hard at times

Ed 

Looks ok here for Ed

Then, my turn, and this, yikes!

Looking down the debris pile

Ed in the debris

The exit 

Across Snow Lake, back to the barn

Slot & Circus Couloir

Ed called and was motivated to get out in the mountains and do some real skiing (i.e. not lift assisted).  We initially planned on skiing Red and Lundin, but, in typical Brandon and Ed style indecisively changed our plan to ski north facing instead of west and south facing.  Good choice it turns out, since the sun came out and baked things, but in the sheltered north recesses Mt Snoqualmie we found good powder.  A little slabby and reactive (were able to kick off a couple small slabs that ran a ways, but beautiful day to be in the mountains.

Ed at the top of the Slot, Chair, Kaleetan in background

The Slot entrance

Ed dropping in

An amazing line

Down in the bottom

Ed skinning up the Circus Couloir

Booting the final 100'

Nice Views at the top, L to R: Bryant, Chair, Kaleetan, Roosevelt

Ed dropping in

Shallow slab that cleaned things out

Ed styling the apron

Ed booting out to the Phantom, heading home