President' s Day / Valentine's Day at Eden - Saturday

 

Saturday morning started off with a big breakfast. Looks like it is going to be a big day!

Snowbasin is busy today! Jake is unloading gear. Erin and Madi coaching.

Jon and Jake wondering why mom doesnt ride her super fancy lightweight powder skis. 

Jesse sporting his new board. Wahoo!

Up to the top of Strawberry Express. Jon has been wanting to ride the 'sisters' bowl.

  

Mike, Brody, Jesse and Madi riding the Strawberry Express Gondola.

Is this the Santa Chutes? I love this bowl.

 

Buckling up at the top of John Paul's.

 

 The group - Kate, Erin, Jake, Brody, Madi, Jesse, Jon, Mike

We are all just about beat - but Kate, Jon, and Jake run up for one more run. They make it up the olympic tram and hike No Name Peak. 

 

 Best run of the day!

A couch and TV never felt so good.

Spring Break 2010, Moab

Yo,

Time to make a decision ya'll.  I am trying to reserve campgrounds, determine a head count, and for what days.

Here is the proposal:

March 27- April 1st in Moab, Utah

We would like to try all the different types of activities like:
motorcycles/ four wheelers ($200 a day to rent a machine)
mountain biking ($40 a day to rent a full suspension)
*jeep safari ($50 per jeep for trail registration and $150-$200 a day to rent a jeep)
rafting (mom is requesting a permit)
rock climbing (jake has most gear)
and spectating for some of you, of course.

So, there are two types of campgrounds: established (KOA type RV park which is $30 a night) and free range like cattle(pick your spot from the road).  Some people have mentioned the desire to shower while down in the dirty acres of red rock land, so obviously the first of the two options would be best.  However, the established campgrounds have quiet hours after 10pm (bad for loud people like Jake, Jesse, and Jon).

Ultimately, I think there are some half decent campgrounds in town that are family oriented.  Everyone could shower, enjoy good cooking, use clean plates, and utilize the restrooms.  We wouldn't have to rent a hotel if we got one of these campgrounds, but I need to reserve it really, really, really soon.

So, let's try and figure out who is going and for how long so I can plan the trip for everyone.  I will likely get two campsites next to each other.

Please forward to any extended Splan Family members like Erin, Geff, Pat, Ryan, etc.

* Note: Frank, Madi, and I talked about renting a jeep for one day so we can go rally!!

Talk to you soon,
--
Jesse

pics attached - jesse on the Middle Fork of the Salmon May 08

Home repairs

Jake and Jon doing some repairs to the furnace that feeds into my room. Some of the duct work had split open so all the hot air was blowing into the stairs that go into the basement.

 

It's always good to get a bite to eat after helping mom out.

kim gets with the program

I am spending my time in remedies class to create an account so that i can make astute comments on the profound and artistically composed pictures of my family. maybe later this week i will take a picture with my new iphone and post it. and maybe, if i really get my shit together, i will figure out how to post a pic directly from my phone. it will be so exciting, and you can all vicariously live the vandal dream along side me.

Avalanche Class

Snowmobiles, skis, boards, you guys are all over these mountains. Avalanche danger is real, and quite honestly - it's really frightens me. So I've decided to push on avalanche education and signed Kate, Erin, and myself for a class.

I figure if Jake gets buried someplace, it's going to be Erin digging him out. So I REALLY wanted her to take the class too. Jake thought that was hilarious.

I think they call that EGO. Number one safety hazard in the backcountry.

Friday evening we attended a lecture at Westminster College. Sunday we skinned up the Willows, the area across the road from Solitude.  We met Nate, Brad Cherry, Allen(?), and Kelly Robbins the instructor. Kelly rode a split board so it was perfect because three of the six students were all new on split boards.

That is Kate in the red. 





After we got up the hill a way, we stopped in the sun and learned about probes, beacons, shovels and how to use them. Kate and I used Jake and Jon's very cool avalung packs with shovels, carbon fiber probes, water tubes. Super nice gear, but so stinkin' HEAVY!

Erin is in the blue coat listening to Kelly.

I don't think I've ever seen Kate pay as close as attention to ANYONE in the mountains.

After we took turns hiding the  beacons then searching for them, we geared back up and headed up the mountain to the other side of the ridge to dig snow pits. 

We really lucked out with the weather. Not cold, no wind, good visibiltiy.  Rock on Kate!

 

What ya doin' Erin?

We hiked up one last face so we could get a few turns on softer snow. Snowpack was pretty solid since we've had  a few warmer days. But who cares, it's always beautiful doing a few turns in the 'wild'.





 

 

This doesn't look quite right kate.

Another beautiful day in the mountains.