A Day in AK from Chason Russell on Vimeo.

Chason Russell and friends made a trip to Southeast Alaska last spring, check out this edit of one of their days on the glacier.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison from Chason Russell on Vimeo.

2.12.2011

With a week of warmer weather and a settling snow pack I spent the time skinning, and getting sunburn in the mountains around Telluride.  Starting early on saturday with bacon and coffee I met Brian C. and Dustin H. with intentions of skiing the Silver chute off Silver Mt.  Skinning up the north side of Lena basin I had my doubts of getting around the south side of the peak due to the quickly warming sun.  Summiting Silver I decided to ski back into Lena basin in the cold north facing powder, Brian and Dustin continuing on making the exposed and scary traverse to the entrance of the Silver.  Back in the Bear Creek basin I met up with Jim C on his way to ski the north side of K 12, I joined in.

After a short but steep skin we were looking at soft creamy snow back to valley below.  Not wanting skiing to go buy to fast we stacked tight turns from just under the summit to the bench below.  Wanting a few more turns and time left in the day we put our skins on and made the move to ski the Bear Face off Little Wasatch.

2.13.2011

Sunday blessed us with another beautiful day, warm, sunny, and a dinner party up at the Alta Lakes Observatory.  Skiing over to the house with Chason and Emily we empty our packs of the nights dinner and drink and started up to the Birthday chute above the house.  Having tried to ski the Birthday four time earlier this season and being turned back for one reason or another I was hoping this would be the day we would be able to gain the ridge and put turns down the Birthday Chute.

Great snow all the way back to the house was only to be out done by Annie P’s amazing dinner in one of my favorite places in the San Juans.

2.14.2011

It’s always a treat run into friends from out of town when you don’t expect to.  Late sunday I met up with two friends from Durango, Parke and Ryan and made plans to ski the classic Telluride tour, Trout Lake to Ophir.  With plans set and the Ski Patrol rookie party in full swing the only thing left to do was grab one more beer before heading home.  Breakfast at the Butcher and Baker and it was off to Ophir to drop a car and on to the skin track.

In, what seemed like no time at all we were standing on the ridge looking down towards Ophir embracing the wind and excited to ski.

Great skiing with great friends in one of the most amazing places, I love my life…

Chute Ski from Chason Russell on Vimeo.

Josh Williams entering the Graveyard

click the link to view slideshow

http://vimeo.com/18367226

Scott Kennett waxing skis in the Elk Mountain Lodge basement

Skiing with the athletes and crew from Wagner Custom, some long time ski partners and some new friends,  is always a good time.  So when Pete called and ask if I wanted to go cat skiing at CS Irwin Lodge I couldn’t say yes fast enough.  Driving up from Telluride to Crested Butte the night before warm temps and rain made us more nervous than if we were driving in a blizzard. By the time we rolled into town the rain had turned to snow, and nerves were replaced by excitement of the day to come.

After an early breakfast, we met Karina and snow cat driver Caroline for the short cat ride up to the ” Movie cabin “, more coffee, a quick safety talk and we were out the door and on our way for the first of what would be many great runs.

Lead guide Billy Rankin gives the morning safety talk

Heavier than normal snow took a few turns to get used to, but then it was game on.  Run after run guides Billy and Allen Bernholtz led us to fall line skiing in soft snow protected from the wind.

Snowing hard at tree line

Wagner athlete Chason Russell enjoying the soft landings

the Winterstick in action

After a long day of soft and deep powder runs in the beautiful Elk mountains we were ready for a cold beer and some food, Billy on the other hand looked like he could go for a few more.  Thanks to the entire  staff at CS Irwin for a great day of skiing.

Billy, ready for more

photo Chason Russell

TELLURIDE FREERIDE WORLD TOUR QUALIFIER

The energy begins to build days before the event. Skiers with backpacks and fat skis begin to examine terrain, and lines that rarely ever have tracks in them become highways. By Friday morning around 140 skiers have converged on the prospect ridge for a final inspection of the rocky rib and surrounding terrain. Tents are set up, judges are in place, and the Freeskiing World Tour Qualifier in Telluride is underway.

Inspection Day. photo Chason Russell

DAY 1:
With snow in the forecast and a run order selected at random, one can only hope to get a window of visibility during a run that is sure to last less than a minute.  Running 84th in a long list of great skiers there is a lot on the line for this one run. Only 40% of the field will advance to the next day’s venue and this year, event officials have big plans for the finals.

Variable conditions including rotten snow and cheese grader rocks plague the venue. Line selection is key. Choosing a line within ones ability that stands out enough to impress the judges is the name of the game. As the day goes on, the lines become increasingly skied out. By the time I get to drop in for my run, I have changed my flight plan several times, but the crux of my run remains the same. Fortunately no one has put tracks on the small, shallow patch of snow that my run depends on.

Chason Russell day one. photo Brad Foley

Standing on top of the venue, I struggle to visualize my run several times amidst the distraction of the huge lines and couloirs staring down from Palmyra peak and Silver Mountain. It seems surreal when the starter gives the countdown, and my Wagner skis find the fall line.  Any thoughts give way to focus and I’m skiing on autopilot. Recognizing a few key landmarks I soon find myself on top of a rocky outcropping that hardly looks skiable. Believing in my skis and line I have chosen, I commit to the fall line and within seconds ski into the finish, welcomed by the cheers from hardy spectators. I can only hope it was enough to qualify me for the finals which are set to take place off the summit of Palmyra peak the next day.

Palmyra Peak, photo Chason Russell

DAY 2:
Waking up to clear skies, it dawns on me that we are getting the weather window we need to be flown with Helitracks to the top of Palmyra peak. Loading chair 4 at 7:30am, the surrounding peaks are glowing with rich morning light that reflects the glowing vibe in all the competitors. Hard to believe event officials and Helitracks will be able to fly 15 female and 35 male competitors along with all the staff to the peak of Palmyra, but as we near the top of lift 4 the unmistakable sound of the heli fills the air, seems we’re going for it!

organizers prepare competitors to load the helicopter. photo Chason Russell

Michael Gardner in the heli. photo Chason Russell

Arriving with several other competitors to the LZ on top of prospect ridge the heli has already made several trips to the peak. Organizers helped assemble groups by weight, secure skis and poles with duct tape and send waves of groups toward the helicopter. The closer our group gets to the LZ the harder the wind seems to gust. With incredible precision the pilot places the skids within inches of our kneeling group. In seconds we are loaded and airborne toward the peak. Gaining altitude we all seem to recognize when the wind is pushing the chopper around. Approaching the summit we hovered for a few seconds just feet above the snow before the pilot decided the conditions were not ideal to touch down.  The incredible sensation of thrust, power, and gravity, takeover as we peal down the west face of Palmyra with incredible speed. Seems we were only inches from the snow when we pulled off the summit for a second time. This time we pattern around the east face of the peak getting a close look at the spires of Palmyra. As we approach the summit for a third time it feels like the winds had subsided a little. Only seconds passed before we were crawling on the summit of Palmyra shielding our faces from the rotor wash created by the heli as it took to the skies again.

We would be the last group of skiers to be flown to the top because of the high winds. Fortunately the remaining competitors decided the hour long, steep hike would be worth keeping the competition on Palmyra. From the summit we all made our way down the shoulder of the peak to scope lines, it didn’t seem long before the athletes who had to hike began arriving on ridge. With more camaraderie than competitiveness athletes discussed line choice and snow conditions and before long the first female competitors began navigating their way down the hard pack snow on the north face of Palmyra peak.

Competitors on the ridge of Palmyra. photo Brad Foley

Without an inspection run it seemed many competitors didn’t know what to expect. After watching only a few runs it was apparent that technical controlled skiing would prove beneficial.

Travis Wolfe contemplating big air. photo Chason Russell

Michael Gardner was the third male skier to drop in, at age 17 and a member of the Telluride Big Mountain Team he laid down a run that would set a precedent for the remaining field of competitors. Pacing up and down the ridge finalizing my line, trying to stay warm, I remained entertained by watching competitors and spectators find their way to the finish area. By the time I was standing in the start zone, the light had gone flat and there were more ski patrol and event staff than competitors standing on the top. Visualizing all the components of my run one more time, I soon found myself making my first real turns of the day.

Chason Russell dropping in. photo Matt Steen

Excited to finally be skiing I worked my way through a technical section into a short one-ski strait line, over a small air, then over to one last air near the finish. Though relatively mellow it was a line I have wanted to ski for some time.  Not convinced that my run would be enough to put me in the top five, friends, spectators, and judges seemed to think otherwise. Next stop on the Freeskiing World Tour takes place in Crested Butte, Colorado.