smoke break

I have class from 9:30 until 1:45. Then I go to work until 5 or 6ish. I like to drop my books off in my car and have a smoke before going to work. I also like that I have a gold permit, and park right outside the law building. I like watching the rest of the students walk with their heavy books and backpacks past my car as I sit behind limo tinted windows, with my heater on, and rap music playing... cuz i'm gansta y'all

Valentines Day on Powder Mtn

Breakfast of Champions! Looks like it is going to be a bluebird day at Powder Mountain.

I suppose we could rush out the door, but why? We area all quite sure our bodies will poop out before we run out of daylight.

We take both trucks up to the parking lot. Holiday weekend, fresh snow, clear skies. It is going to be beautiful. 

We gear up and scoot down to Paradise. Legs a little tired from big day at Snowbasin yesterday, but no one

is complaining!

 

Nice turns right off the top. Jake instantly sets up for pics of everyone jumping. Madi lands it. Kate skids out. Erin gets the day going with a face plant.

We do a few laps on Paradise, then over to Hidden Valley. We eventually scoot over to the palma lift. The absolutely most beautiful time of day.

Madi is nervous about the lift - but nails it!

Top of the lift. Jake's just about to give us instructions on bombing it across the field.

Does it get any prettier than this?

I cant remember if this is named inspiration, starvation, or desparation point.  But Jake jumped off it.

Everybody taking a break before heading down. Warm weather. Peeling off layers.

So - what line you taking?

Group photo taken on the top of Paradise.

It has been a wonderful day at Powder Mountain.

Oh wait. One more run!

This is the run that drops off the road. Kate, Jake, Erin, and I dropped it. Jesse, Madi, and jon drove the shuttle. First run was fantastic. We opted for a second run but were pushing the attention of Jesse and Jon. As we were going down, we were talking about the frozen margaritas waiting for us in the truck. When we met up with the trucks, there was a definite decline in the general mood. Jon was mad because he hit a bump and dumped the margaritas over. awww dang. they would have tasted so good!

It wasnt until later during dinner when Madi spilled the beans and told us that jon had been spinning donuts in the parking lot and the margaritas got dumped over. His defense - he's used to nalgenes and beer cans. Since when did we pack margaritas in a bucket?

Nothing is better than a hot tub after a day of skiing.

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.