The CragBaby

Shaft and I cruised up to Solitude in celebration of St. Patty’s for half a day of skiing. The snow conditions were pretty good (meaning a little fresh powder only in the trees), but it was just nice to escape the city for a bit and take a break from the stresses of life.

No matter the ski day, the picture always looks the same. =)

On the lift. The boys are on the next chair.

I headed up to Solitude for a half day of riding with Triznut and The Tobin James. The conditions were better than expected when we started to ride, but as the day progressed a storm blew in. Next thing we knew we were riding up the chair lift, surrounded by thunder and lighting and were told that the mountain was closing down. It was dumping snow, so we slowly made our way down from the summit, enjoying all the fresh lines. By the time we made our way to the bottom the lifts had re-opened for one last run. W00T! We took it, smiling all the way down. We finished out the great day with a classic Garlic Burger and beer at the Cotton Bottom.

The Tobin James with me in the background.

All three of us freezing but happy!

The EPIC Partner’s Meeting was held on the 8-9th of February. I thoroughly enjoy our Partner’s Meeting as it is just another chance to rub shoulders with our CEO’s and talk with our investors. This year was especially exciting as we boasted our 2007 six exits, Josh Coates entertained the dinner crew with the funniest PPT of the Mozy life cycle and Tim Draper managed to embarrass everyone at the lunch table.

The meetings were again held on a Friday with Saturday spent skiing at Deer Valley. I have always foregone the skiing, as snowboarders are barred from Deer Valley, but this year I thought I would give the two planks a go. Shaft came up for the day to give me support on the green circles and take video.

Me and Shaft on the lift at Deer Valley.

Deer Valley = tourist picture.  Yep, I am heading in the direction of the green circles and lodge.  =)

I surprisingly loved the two planks. It wasn’t a direct comparison to the board as the two sports seem to have a completely different feel. On the skis I just wanted to try and go fast for some reason, even while still rocking the snowplow. On my board I don’t really love speed, but like to do little spins and try to land jumps, though never very successful. I think mostly it was just fun to try something new, to be scared to tumble down the hill once again. I actually would be pretty jazzed to give it another go.

Third time up in this year of powder was spent at Snowbird with Shaft and later joined by Dr. M. Snowbird has been my resort of choice for the past three or four years and feel like I know the mountain well. However, Dr. M. had a whole handful of excellent beta of chutes and tree lines I had never skied. Poor Shaft had already done a 5mile snowshoe walk / race that morn and remained cheerful as we drug him all over the mountain. Good times!

Me real smiley on The Road to Provo.

Dr. M joined Shaft and I half way through the day. Even though he has skied for years, he insists on always have the bar down on the chair lift. =D

Shaft also captured the Snowbird boogie, a staple for a good day of riding.  H.I.P. #2, this is my equivalent of the “Going to the Burren” dance.

I haven’t really hit up the snow this year. Seems funny to live in Utah, especially this year and not “slide on snow”. I think I just needed a break for a year. I usually have a season’s pass and take snowboarding a little too seriously. So, I didn’t make the investment and have only gone out a handful times, though our snow has been phenomenal. I think this year I just wanted to climb more than board. And the rarity of the days has made riding real fun. One powder day in January Triznut, BW, Shaft and I decided we were heading up because we were slammed with powder. We waited two hours (Triznut and BW in one car and Shaft and I in another) by the 7-11 at the base of the canyons. We were hoping to get up Big Cottonwood for a day at Solitude, yet when the 2 hour wait mark hit, Shaft and I headed up Little Cottonwood to Snowbird. It was my first time to snowboard with Shaft and it was such a great time. The powder was fantastic, the lifts were not too busy and the alpenglow on Superior at the 4 o’clock hour was stunning. I had taken pics, but unfortunately they were erased. No pics, but still great memories.

Gunner was patient enough to take me out for my first time on ice. As a newbie we hit up the popular Great White Icicle, four out of five of the pitches as the fifth was looking a little thin. However, unlike a newbie we started climbing at 6pm as Gunner was called into work during the day.

Unfortunately blurry, but still a pic from one of my first climbs.

Gunner hanging out at one of the belay stations.

Me real excited to be on the ice, even if at night.

The Gunner and I (for some odd reason) decided to go snowshoeing one day. I think the snow quality on the slopes wasn’t super fab and I wanted to get the dog out. Otherwise I have no idea how we came up with this idea. =)

We took the lil’ Cb-Gbers up Millcreek and stomped around on the snow for a couple hours. CB, sporting her little booties and two sweaters, did excellent, hiking the whole time until we got onto fresh snow where she unsurprisingly started disappearing into the snow drifts and had to be carried.

The Gunner and CB.

I have purchased a season pass to Snowbird for the past four or five years, loyally riding at least every Saturday and Sunday plus more while I was in school. Last year I started to burn out on being specific resort bound and just on snowboarding in general. As a result I decided to forego the pass this year and thought I might expand and check out some other resorts, or even considered just climb all winter long.

My first day out for the season was with Gunner and one of his orthopedic surgeon friends, Kubiak, at Snowbasin. Sure I had heard of Snowbasin, but I had yet to ride there. To my surprise the terrain was phenomenal and the crowds at least half of that at Snowbird. Huh… who would have known? To top it off, riding with Gunner and Kubiak was a blast as we all loved to swerve through trees and the day even ended with Kubiak’s pass being revoked. =D

My work day today has been spent plugging away on an extensive spreadsheet in a windowless cubicle. I stop at one point to check my email, only to see these pics from my friend’s mobile phone sitting in the inbox.

The sad thing is, he is working.

Our jobs are obviously very different. =)