Eastside optimism; today...adapt, improvise and overcome was handed to me on platter. I dived in with both hands to head out, and up, to assess/experience the Surprise Valley area (out of caribou habitat) in winter. These are tricky little suckers to find, and one needs some local knowledge, to know where to park and where to head up. I decided, “why not the summer trail?” I am very familiar with the valley in the summer, but winter???? The Fossil Falls side (north) of Surprise Valley is an advanced area with avalanche skills, and ski skills very advisable. That’s the reason I chose the south side, less exposure, and I was comfortable with the terrain I would be skiing through. Skiing is the wrong term, more like ski hiking, as there was no gliding, just hiking....on my skis. Things were going well, steep climb from the road, tough trail breaking, the fresh snow on rain crust, collapsing every step, searching, scanning for the faded blazes, and snipped branches, the only indicator of where the summer trail was. Had a turnaround time as employment dictated the day. Once you’re in Surprise Valley, it resembles a scene from some space movie, large boulders, bubbly, bulging terrain, steep, stunning mountain sides and massive rockslides. From what Ive experienced of the Eastside options (east of the Maligne Road) there is the predicted descent...Truthfully, I was dreading it...I can handle conditions, but a 200m steep (think Old Man Mountain) through ice crust, was enough to parcel all my skiing skills into a sweaty ball... I was doing okay; I had left my skins on, for the hope of slowing myself down. Before I knew it, my ski caught an exceptional large hunk of ice crust, which tore the ski off my boot, I gracefully remained upright for a split second, and then the G forces won. “Rats”, I said to the trees. I assessed the scene, “how hard can it be to find your ski?” Thirty minutes later, I gave up...remember that employment dictated the day. Again, I assessed the scene, anyone that has a lost a ski in powder (I shouldnt even say powder) more like slab, sugar and crusts of week old bread can appreciate the frustration, effort and cussin’ involved. I with a Superwomen frenzy, dug out a large area, “how can a ski just disappear?” Next dilemma...I have to get down another 100++m with only one ski. I embraced the challenge; this is the new age of, “adapt, improvise and overcome” in JNP. It was quite a sight, that no one got to witness; delicately balancing on a skinned ski, in steep terrain, with very challenging conditions. Wobbly balance, oh boy, doing okay, one leg burning, oh so burning, lose balance, free leg posthole, sinking mid thigh, over and over again. I started to laugh at the absurdity of it all... Final thoughts on Surprise Valley area: an advanced area for skilled and desperate, diehard winter users who are desperately searching for options and alternatives. This area is not ski terrain...ski hiking, ski survival, and extreme snowshoeing is what this area provides. Positives: challenge, interesting terrain, and beautiful mountains. Will I be back? You bet...I need to find my ski. Loni
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 05:08:07 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015