Billy Goat Ascent Plates

I was an alpinist long before I was a ski mountaineer. And, although I love skinning uphill, booting up steep couloirs still has an honored place in my heart. In the right conditions, booting is more efficient. There’s nothing I hate more than zigzagging up a narrow chute on skis doing kick turn after kick turn. On the other hand, conditions can dictate a skis-only approach rather than sink crotch deep and “trench” upwards.

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Rainier Speed - My Way

Mt. Rainier and the Gibraltar ChuteThe best performances in the mountains arise from a combination of preparation, fitness, conditions and some luck. Watching the antics on Mt. Rainier the past few weeks made this perfectly clear. The players were certainly fit. The route was well known to Andy and Jason while Eric Carter and Nick Elson had the advantage of the cattle trail being in. The weather cooperated for both parties and everyone had the chops to ski the line. The result was two brilliant performances and standard-setting times. Daunting, to be sure.

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Rainier Speed (Updated 6-5-13)

Admittedly, attempting speed ascents of mountaineering peaks on skis is a niche sport right now typically practiced by skimo racers worldwide. Numerous records are set in the Alps each season and have been for years. But similar practices in North America are just starting to be more common.

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Grudge Rematch

Google Earth graphic of the day's objective.Since I’ve failed to get my partners motivated for a proper alpine start up here in AK, I decided to have one myself on Saturday. The season is rapidly coming to an end with temps in the 70s this weekend. But I wanted to finish the season with a grudge rematch on the line I took a fall on not too long ago.

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Alaska Late Winter Hits - Volume 3

The gem of the Chugach Front Range - Ptarmigan PeakThe last installment of early spring fun involves the obvious prize, Ptarmigan Peak and some other lines of desire down the road.

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