powjournal-blog

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It's not often that we get enough snow in Missoula, Montana to ride Mt. Sentinal but February 27, 2014 was one of those days to remember... watch on full screen in hd for best results.

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It was that kind of day wheewwww so much fun out there. Skinned up Mt Sentinal from Crazy Canyon trail  and then drop down the south facing slope toward the interstate and caught up with Hellgate Canyon trail part way down. Lots of soft snow for sure... A couple incredible turns and a few tight tree turns but nothing too out of the ordinary. Skinned to the top in a hour and a half. Switched from skis to my board, then ripped all the way down to Kim WIlliams Trail, a little more then two miles up the trail. Switched back to skin mode and was able to skin all the way to my door step : ) I love Missoula. Got a ride from Dylan back up to my rig and whipped across town just in time for my chiropractic adjustment. All in all 2 and half hours from my truck back to my house, will call it 6 miles of skinning and about a 2000 vert ride.

Cheers, @aliasblessed

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Humbled by pain & pointed back to God

Okay so been out riding again and way behind on my journal but let me take you back to the moment that changed my season and pointed me back toward God and my faith. Early season I was all about getting in as much riding as possible period. Willing to ride every weekend skip church, blow off other responsibilities etc... I was really concerned about one thing, ripping as much pow as possible making the most of this season. I became what I didn't want to become a jaded pow snob. When I got hurt riding at Disco last day of 2013 it turned out to be a huge blessing in disguise, God's way of pointing me back toward him and showing me how fragile we all are. One second I'm flying high ripping down the mountain and the next moment I'm in extreme pain, unable to pick myself up, humbled by pain. God has a sense of humor he made me haha but seriously he puts people and events in our lives to point us toward him. He puts people in our lives that can have a major affect on our lives. Spiritually for me that was my sister for introducing me to fresh life and encouraging me to check it out, Pastor Levi Lusko making church light and heavy at the same time and everyone at Fresh Life Church especially the rockin band.

Back to the mountain, Thank God I was riding with friends that day, they were there to pick me up and help me get down to the lift. Thank God for Gloria, an angel by name and a blessing in my moment of pain, she gave me a sweet toboggan ride down to the base and some ice to numb the pain. I'm so thankful for Dr. Garr and all the smiling staff at Health source in Missoula. He helped fix my back, and got me back out riding in three weeks. It's been more than a month since the incident and as time goes be we gain insight on the past. I've been out riding again on Saturdays at Disco, ripped a solid friday at Snowbowl, a sick/pow day two weeks ago at Lt, and skinned up and rode a tight line out at ole Marshall mt. I feel truly blessed to be able to do what I love and realize it's all because of him. I am enjoying it so much more, I feel alive again. God created snowboarding to be a blessing and every pow day is truly because of him. It's such a beautiful blessing. It's my favorite thing to do in the world and I've found no better way to enjoy his beautiful creation then riding fresh tracks, but none of this would be possible without his blessing, some of those in the form of soft and fluffy gorgeous snowflakes. What I learned,  1. It's important not to turn what you enjoy into an addiction because at that point it becomes monotonous. 1a. His beautiful gift won't be fulfilling unless were rooted in him. 2. Theres more to life then pow turns. Being grounded in faith and anchored in the church is the most vitalizing and refreshing then chasing any high or feeling. Yes even better than that beautiful slash turn or incredible face shot. Getting out and experiencing his creation and seeing his beautiful handy work is such a blessing, don't forget the reason were breathing. Check out fresh life church such a blessing. http://freshlifechurch.com/

All glory to God.

Psalms 63: 1-5

 O God, you are my God earnestly I seek you;

my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you,

in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and glory.

Because your love is better than life,

my lips will glorify you as long as I live,

and in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as of the richest foods;

with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

God Bless

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Here it is, the run I got banged up on right at the bottom. I'm doing well just a little hurt but still feeling blessed I mean look at that snow, im still moving okay, it's all good. Stoked to get back on the board asap.

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The last day of the year.

Well it was the last day of the year and all across the mountain, kids were playing and skiing and ...  wanting there parents. Up at Discovery and it's Saturday. Didn't have any lessons this morning so I got to head back to the fingers and test out the conditions. The snow was pretty deep but some early conditions yea yea heard that one a bunch skiing rock dodge. So had plenty of good tracks in the morning. I didn't see a lesson coming my way so I opted to help catch little ones in the kinderski. It's always super entertaining working with those little ones. Some are super into it, others are for a couple runs then it's " I want to go ski with my daddy" or "wheres my mommy" usually we get them thinking about skiing again and that works for a while.   Some kids were having a fun time lapping the carpet, when we decided to go ride the bunny chair. This is when things got wild. This should maybe stay in the private journal but I don't have one so consider this inside info. All day were preaching "pizza pizza show me your pizza" and on the carpet hill these adorable 3 and 4 year olds love to go as fast as possible right and who could blame them, but any ways it involves someone catching them at the bottom. So we decided to go on the bunny hill. First problem I'm on a snowboard, there on skis not really a problem but getting on the chair my little one almost didn't get on, getting off yea same problem, then he fell pretty hard. On the run it was like chasing run away trains. The first runaway a little girl straight lined it and was looking good before the speed got to her and she crossed tips. The second run away was the little boy who rode the chair up with me, and bless his heart he straight lined it to. I was down toward the bottom and he was taking off for the trees so I stuck out an arm to catch him but lets just say he was going a lot faster then when we were on the carpet and it was more of a knock down then a catch. Okay so after all that we all made it down to the lodge safe and sound. With the little ones back with there parents it was time to ride hard for an hour. When you play hard in the play ground sometimes you gotta take your knocks. Well it was back to the fingers on Limelight with a couple fellow instructors Cavan and Wyatt. Well it was all psshhh and swwshsh until right at the very end then it sounded like aggggghhhhhh  followed later by an I'm okay I'm okay. So I was right at the bottom coming out of the fingers when I hit a hidden rock, flipped forward somersault style and then landed on a rock. Seriously took everything out of me and then some. Thankfully I was with some friends and they helped me out and got me moving again after a little time. I rode as far as I could to the traverse before opting to walk as apposed to skate. When I got to the bottom I wanted to put my board on and ride up and then ride down but ran into trouble bending down to get my bindings on. Ski patrol was just finishing there end of the day sweeps and offered to give me a courtesy ride on the toboggan from the top down to the lodge. Gloria gave me a safe ride down with plenty of face shots, can't say thanks enough for all ski patrols help. At that point I just needed to gather my stuff and get to the shuttle, my buddy Bo came and gave me a pat on the back and a helping hand. We had a good laugh about playing hard in the play ground. He wished me a speedy recovery and went to post up on the shuttle.  I was super lucky to have friends with me to help me thinking about it I was stuck. Super humbling experience and the pain yea pretty painful. The ride home was slow but not the drivers fault, I was just uncomfortable. That night was the scary I woke up around 3 and had the trembles but I popped a couple pain killers and took a hot shower and felt a bit better. Since then its all been about recovering as fast as possible, its slow progress, lots of rest, ice, heat, stretching and trying to stay active without impact. To stay busy I've been reading, playing a little guitar, doing an aran a day and watching a bunch of snowboard movies, trailers and some football.  Honestly feeling lucky, hopefully only out a week. Pray for snow!

 http://www.snowboardingtunes.com/snowboarding/films-in-hd.php      Favorite one has to be this part by Eric Jackson  http://www.snowboardingtunes.com/film/jake-blauvelt-naturally

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A day in the backcountry Dec 30

A  day in the backcountry is always incredibly refreshing, a good day in the backcountry starts with a good crew ready for a day of touring. The most important thing about riding backcountry isn't the epic untracked pow it's SAFETY. With this is mind Keenan, Kyle and myself headed out to crystal theaters an area I had always known as the g-spot. After sorting out our confusion with the name and coming to the conclusion that older and younger backcountry groups have flipped flopped the name so not to date myself we went to Crystal theaters. Skinning is so natural its such a refreshing way to travel. Crystal requires a medium length approach through absolutely gorgeous country. Skinning through an old growth forest and watching the snow get better and better as we gain elevation is tantalizing. Getting lost in the moment and then thinking a little about the glades and pillows ahead. 

When we arrived at the mid way spot, we discussed option on what to hit. The snow pack seemed stable but we decided to head to the top and dig a pit. We dug a pit and did an isolated column test with good results indicating a strong snowpack with no weak layers to concern us. With that out of the way it was time for some turns, we rode the far left lines of the bowl avoiding most the pillows, saving those for a day with more fluff. Fun turns to the bottom with Keenan and Kyle sending a sick tree line drop. We ate a quick bite and then skinned back up to the midway, planing to drop the trees down to the road. The snow and turns on this section has always treated me right, it always seems to hold amazing snow. I love that line, tree skiing through sprayer pow super epic!!  Fun turns to the road and then it was time to boot it back around and then ride back to the truck. Had an awesome innovation, on the walk last year I would just kick my board and walk behind it, this year I did a little kick push skate while standing on my board. Explanation I kept both feet out of my binding with one stagnant foot then kicking with the other in a kick push coast motion that added quite a bit of efficiency to my flat road travel. Lastly we skied the sketchy snow down to the highway and headed for home. Super fun day in the Backcountry think snow and safety first. 

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Disco Dec 28

 Alright back from an awesome Christmas spent with my wonderful family. Day 3 at Disco and it didn't disappoint. Overall tenth day of the year but lets get this straight it's not about days or bragging rights, its about doing what you love. Well no morning lessons so it was time to go check out the fingers. A friend of mine who works ski patrol gave me a tip that morning to head that way. So right after making the boot over to the fingers I get a call from the boss, 1 hour private lesson, I tell her i'll be there in 15 minutes and took off down the fingers up limelight and down claim jumper on the other side right in the nick of time. It didn't disappoint one bit and I had a tough lesson with a 2nd grader named Austin. We had fun and worked on feeling our edges and making J turns. Austin will get it he just needs a little more body control. Ate some lunch checked in and it was back to laps on the backside. 

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Disco Dec 21

Second day at Disco this young season and the base is getting better. It was a pretty slow day allowing for plenty of riding. Actually thats all I did because there weren't any snowboard lessons. Things were slow in the morning sticking to the front side exclusively not by choice, we were limited to what was open. Fun morning cruising groomers, when around lunchtime the much awaited word came as Jed ran into the shack grabbed a coat and hollered "there opening Limelight". For those not familiar with Discovery, Limelight is the chairlift on the backside with exclusively steep terrain. I ate my noodles as fast as possible and put my boots back on only to run out of time. Having to wait until after check in to go explore the backside, but hats where I headed when there was no afternoon snowboard lesson.

My first run on the backside was a special run, being away from an area that you've had amazing runs in the past and being back at that spot is incredible. That moment when your back at the top and it's fresh deep snow and your about to drop that line you've wanted ever since the last time. Well this first run was that and then some. I probably had the tenth line on the backside as the base was a bit unsettled leaving lots of hidden obstacles and few riders. The turns were thick but with a big wide board I floated and slashed and found a couple faceshots and blower turns on my couple of laps shredding the backside. #whats a little more P-tex 

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Powder Thursday

What more needs to be said.  

Thursday was a really awesome day on the slopes like everyday, but especially good. The primetime terrain was available at LT and in fresh pow, look out and send it. The bowls were holding snow and rocks around hollywood were perfect to huck in the morning. First tracks through sharks fin. Chair 4 and the pow made for some long leg burners and slasher turns. Chair 2 was a little more beat up but still some spots to slash. Ben, Arlan, Aaron and I had a good time. Stopped on the way home to listen to some live music from You Knew Me When at the Bitterroot Brewery in Hamilton, enjoyed a cold one and some folk. POW THURSDAY !!

Checked craigslist for tickets the day before and got hooked up. Met a very nice lady at the hair salon selling tickets on craigslist, really came through on some cheap tickets, shhh hush hush but she might have more. SNOW SNOW SNOW !! 

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A serendipitous day at the pass. Great story from a random Tuesday in December. So decided to give my roommate a ride to his car before I headed to the pass for a day of splitting a couple easy laps. Driving through the University district when I see someone who looks pretty familiar taking a nice set of pow skis out to his subaru. I quickly drop off my roommate and pull around the block to try and catch him before he heads off (tuesday only close place to ski is the pass). I pulled up next to his ride and we got to chatting about our plans for the day. Turns out we are both headed to the pass for some casual pow turns. Keenan grabbed my number and headed off to pick up his other friend, we plan to meet at my place in ten. He pulls through the alley ten minutes later, he didn’t save my number but turns out it wasn’t a problem. Loaded up my boots, poles, strap on the board and were headed for the pass. Keenan drove really fast skinned really fast and skied at that same pace. His friend Morgan was real handy with her snowshoes and just as fast on the track, we made really good time and good turns on our three laps. Spring skiing in December, fun but more winter weather would be pleasant. Blue bird day, fresh snow and the fun crew made for a really great day at the pass. We finished our third lap hiked up the road and still managed to make it back for happy hour at the Bridge. Nothing better then a slice and a cold smoke (brew) after a day of riding some pow at the pass. #earnyourownturns 

photo note: Had some sun flares on a few shots so black and white was the only option for those shots. Also note some pixelation across the board due to a variety of issues one being operator, mainly point of focus but that said not a bad set of stills if I say so myself.  

photos by Keith McGlothlin 

featured: Keenan and Morgan thanks for a fun day!!

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500 miles part 3 Discovery opening day

The opening day of the season at Discovery Basin was like heading home for me. I worked at Disco last season teaching snowboard lessons. Super stoked to be back at work and at the best job I've ever had hands down. The build up to the opening day at Disco was a brutal wait, about two weeks delayed but it was finally here. So all of us instructors and locals were itching to get back out there. It was incredible arriving back at the mountain, seeing friends and co-workers I haven't seen since late last season. Lots of big smiles and hugs, high fives and how ya doing, was the most common reunion interaction of the day. It was a super fun day with good friends and a couple inches of nice fluffy on top. So grateful for this job that has put me around good people, and great riding partners. It's awesome!! toward the end of the day I was getting a little burnt out but the vibe of the group said "keep pushing it" we all ripped up all the pow and the steep that was available to us til the last chair had stopped turning. My friend Alex and I enjoyed the nice long drive back to Missoula chatting about the wonderful day back at Disco. Good friends, good times and memories that will last a lifetime. Looking forward to another year teaching and shredding at Disco. Think SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW!! Another foot and Limelight might be an option !! 

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Drive 500 miles part 2

Made the short drive up to Snowbowl on Friday, with my friends Haley and Ben, goodtimes for sure. It was a discount ticket day and that is right up my alley. The bowl only opened up for the one day last weekend so there was lots of fresh tracks to lay down. Really surprising how deep the snow was at the top in contrast to the amount at the bottom. None the less a beautiful day in the clouds at Snowbowl. Best run of the day wasn't exactly a poached line but it wasn't exactly legit either but none the less it offered some sprayer turns and a nice core shot (ouch) overall well worth the ding. Looking forward to another pow day at the bowl. Think snow!!  SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW  

Beer of the day: Blown out Brown: Bitterroot Brewery  

Photo Cred: Ben Sparrow 

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I would drive 500 miles part 1 Big Mtn

Whats up all been a few days and I've been out a couple times. First day day out was Wednesday, me and three buddies decided to celebrate our recently attained freedom from finals and go up to Big Mtn to shred some pow. Champaign powder for sure, it was incredible. Steep terrain, awesome features, deep snow, and quad chairs wowza, to quote Dylan "powow for days". It was a fantastic day at the fish. Knee deep and some fun drops and what better way to finish the day then at Mooses, for some pizza and a pitcher before the drive back to Missoula. Extra special trip for me, as I grew up skiing at the fish so its always incredible to go back and enjoy "disney world" for a day. 

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Opening day Lost Trail !! 

Back in Missoula, Montana it's dead week, means were wrapping up our classes and then next week is finals week. So we got dumped on early in the week LT was reporting 48 inches so obviously everything else kinda either got dropped or put on hold for powder thursday. So early in the week me and my roommate are looking over the pow reports, LT got hit hard. I just start laughing because my afternoon class thursday got moved to friday afternoon, I'm golden. My roommate Dylan is in a little harrier situation. He's suppose to present for a class on thursday afternoon with his group. After tossing around bad excuse after excuse for a day or so, Dylan woke up with the excuse for the job. Dylan emailed his teacher on Tuesday: saying that he had a business meeting in San Fran for his families company. Bought it hook line and sinker, worked like a charm. Got a good crew together called our friends Tyler and Haile and hit the road early. 

 I've had some crazy days at LT ask Andrew Warren or Seth Cox def multiple 30 inch days but an opening day with that kind of pow is straight up a dream come true. I found myself saying stuff like "this is all time"(thanks travis rice) Finally got that day, fresh tracks all day but the first run of the day for me took the cake as best line i've ever smashed. So chair 4 wasn't open but Me, Dylan, and Hayle tracked into a run no one had hit. Big thanks to Dylan Bell for leading the train through the flat stuff. Dropped this shoot i'd remembered from years past and seriously got the best face shot iv'e ever had, at least 2 maybe 3 second white out. So I make one set of turns down the gully and then cut over the ridge and spot this 15 foot rock drop... Drop it, stick the landing and coast on out to the toe rope. It's not even turning yet but thats no big thing, unboot the bindings and damn near ran to the top. Met up with my buddy Dylan, we lost Haley in the pow but from there it was on. Rode some amazing tree runs and ski runs, the pow was everywhere. We found Haley later that day her first run didn't go as well as ours but the turns we got that afternoon made up for that. Tyler was crushing it all over. We all had a blast, Dylan still can't feel his parts of his big toe but it's only the calloused part. The take home from pow thursday is get to pow thursday it can be unreal, the day of your dreams. The cold didn't matter the atmosphere at Lt was joyous. My favorite rider of the day was a older powderhound with a huge purple pow coat that went down to about his knees, his beard was the real deal, evidence of his day, faceshot after faceshot. I hope i'm riding that hard when i'm 60 or 70. Random side note funny sticker of the day,  posted on a set of skis "no cares you ride Bridger" laughed my ass off. On that slightly offensive note to my friends in Bozo cheers and go rip some pow. Thanks for reading if you you don't like it don't read it , but know this is all for fun with the intent to document the pow season. The pasts runs together becoming a little fuzzy with no written record. Thats why i'm excited to keep putting my  thoughts, memories, and epics into a more permanent place. This blog is not designed as a place to brag but to fondly write and share the good times, the fun days with good friends and of course my favorite past time rippin pow. A look inside this powderhounds mind. Follow along as I chase the pow this season. 

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Opening day Red Lodge

Whats up powderhounds, 

Well I went back home for Thanksgiving definitely enjoyed that time with family and friends. The day after Thanksgiving needs no introduction, my roommate and I made the no brainer to go skiing instead of well whatever "normal people" do on black friday. Let me tell you I've been skiing at Red Lodge on some pretty epic pow days, friday after turkey day to open the season was a day to remember. Red Lodge got hit pretty hard early season and the fluff was fast with plenty of tracks to be swished through. The snow consistency was like nothing i've ever skiied, it almost felt like water skiing with a touch of spring skiing but much better, the snow had been softened by the sun and the turns were incredible, it made that sound shhhhhhh. It was a blue bird day and the views riding the chair up on Grizzly looking into the beartooths and then looking back across the plains were unreal. 

The first day at the mountain was a pilgrimage home for me.  A throwback to my adolescents, a trip down memory lane. The fondest memory I have at Red Lodge is of two back to back powder days with my dad and my sister. The first day I think Red Lodge reported a foot and my dad called us out of school. The next morning we woke up and they had reported another 10 inches we took off right then and all our tracks from the day before had been filled in. An incredible set of pow days.

Back to black friday though for me it didn't come without a cost. Shrreding through some trees on Coal Creek I did a little summersault somewhere along the way and dropped my phone off in the woods. Tracked back twice but no luck so back to the days of the flip phone. Dylan and I enjoyed Missoula's finest winter brew at the Beirstub over some lunch. The atmosphere was euporic and needless to say we had a great time. Went out for seconds over on coal creek and then beat the rush out of lot, after skiing our legs into oblivion on our first day of the season 13-14. 

Note to self: Need to start stretching in the mornings, and tighten things up (pushups) not quite in ski shape. Took a little fall on my back, the guy who saw rolls by and says "thats gonna hurt when your 40" my response to Dylan on the next lift "shit,  it hurts now." Dylan and I made a quick stop for a pint at Red Lodge Ales and then hit the road. I spent as much of the next day in my parents hot tub as possible working out my tight legs and sore back. Amazing day up at Red Lodge more fond memories for sure, can't wait for the next one.

Side note: no photos sometimes you just gotta get yours 

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This was first day of the year for me, went out after the early big storm, skinned up at the pass and did a couple laps. Tons of families out playing in the snow on this Sunday afternoon met a nice gal Sarah on my split up. Chatted a bit gave her a high 5 and dropped into the 2013-14 season.  A beautiful thing winter is back!! The turns were a little slugglish and a bit sketchy as the cover was limited and the base unsettled but nice to be back in the elements and having some fun turns for sure. Note to self need to wax my splitboard.

Photos by Keith McGlothlin 

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A blink in time, a moment of clarity, the mystique of the changing of the seasons.  Photo by Keith McGlothlin