The definition of shralping is never clear, but throwing Cascadian powder around does perhaps qualify. Along with exploring Stevens trade routes, today also involved testing a few items from Mountain Equipment. In this photo Louie is enjoying a pair of Kamchatka Salopette, meaning full side-zip bibs that are nice and minimalist. He's also wearing a Mountain Equipment shell. These guys make some of our favorite stuff, and this year it all gets even better. We'll cover as much of it as possible over coming months. Click all photos to enlarge.
I’ve done a lot of ski trips in my life. Based on such experience, Washington State sojourns tend to be exercises in shell jacket testing under full moisture conditions. Today we tested some Mountain Equipment shells, but a water column eval was not to be. Instead, the sky looked like Colorado but the ground looked like a glacier. Perfect.
Lou
Woody Dixon finds yet another patch of untracked Cascadian whiteness.
Louie backcountry skiing Stevens Pass. We kept wanting to include the undercast in our photos.
Can't decide which photo I like better.
We're tourists, so we can't get enough of the ghost trees.
Enchanting PNW, Woody Dixon leads the way.
After this little soujourn on Stevens, Lisa and I said goodbye to Louie and headed back to Colorado. We’ll spend about a week back home then we’re on the road again, or in the sky. In fact, we’re thinking we might get to report on some rather disruptive gear along with rather good pastries, so stick around.
After 15 days of perfect pow, great friends and turns with Louie, it will be a while before Lou stops grinning. Heartfelt thanks to everyone who made our trip so magical. We wish you equally wonderful adventures in 2013. Happy New Year!
Cascadian farewell to WildSnow. Stevens waved goodbye with a brocken spectre.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
