It snowed a bunch

So last night it snowed about 8 inches in the Vail area. Get Excited

Yowza

So I havent skateboarded since long ago when I retired my "Cool Kat" skate board in the 90's. I wish I could remember why I did, I am sure it had something to do with not being good at skateboarding. But here is yet another sick video.

Skate or Die

I dont post too much anymore. I dont know if its lack of time or creativity. But here is another bad ass video for your pleasure.



Adam Kimmel presents: Claremont HD from adam kimmel on Vimeo.

Wolf

This is so good.

Amazing

This is amazing. I have not watched the news in quite some time. But IT seems that no matter what the news source I have never seen a video of this character who endorses J. McCain. I dont care really. I tend to hate politics and politicians all around. But I am still dumbfounded at the message even though it may be out of context (I dont know how it could be) that this man is preaching.

Even if you are not a "Christian", if you have ever even heard anything of the Bible, there is one key message. LOVE THY NEIGHBOR. Thats it. Thats all you have to take out of it. And yet here we have a most likely well syndicated "pastor" saying such things. AMAZING.

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Trip

Well, we did not make it to Aspen. After the first day my knee was tweaking out pretty hard and Hunter had some nasty blisters. But after about twelve miles of skinning that seemed to never end for some reason we reached a cabin where Andy and Mana were staying. We had actually made pretty good time. We were 6 to 7 miles past our original first camp. To our surprise there was a cabin located next to the one hundred year old mill that we had originally planned on staying in (quite glad that was not where we stayed). The two guys were really excited to see some other guys out in the woods and offered to let us stay with them to tend to the injuries. We fixed a huge dinner and then went to bed warm. We woke up the next morning to a great breakfast and a moderate climb and ski to see how we felt. I felt amazingly well for the altitude and Hunter was doing the same until his skins started to slide a bit. But my knee hurt really bad the whole way. An interesting ski down due to variable conditions and we went back to the cabin and decided the trip was probably over. The boys offered to let us stay as long as we wanted. So we stayed the night and it snowed a foot that night. We awoke the next morning and went for one more climb. It was really, really good. The snow was perfect and the grade was descently steep. Then we packed up said goodbye and skied out of the valley for one really long day. Then to Leadville for beer and pizza.

Trooper Traverse

Today Hunter and myself are leaving for the Trooper Traverse. This is a skin/ski from Leadville to Aspen over the continental divide. Wish us luck. More when we get back.

New Favorite Collaboration

Interesting

This is a video of Reverend Wright. The title on youtube is FOX News are liars.

Check it out.

The Legend of Anton Tozbar

In 1871 a nasty bear came into the poor Trenta valley, making damage. So, the best hunters of Trenta valley decided to get rid of him. It was April, 1871, when they organised a big hunt, where one group closed the whole valley of Beli potok and proceeded from bottom of the valley upwards, while the second group of five hunters went even much earlier around the mountain group (Pihavec), closing the valley from above. They knew the beast was somewhere in the steep valley, but the outcome of the hunt was uncertain.

It was morning and Anton Tozbar was on the edge of the upper group, near Planja walls, when suddenly the big brown beast appeared in front of him. No possible escape for both of them! The bear was pushed by noisy people, Tozbar was standing on the narrow ledge, the only possible passage. The first shot from some 80 feet distance was a good one, but not deadly. The animal ran further down and Tozbar after it, loading the gun once again. Suddenly the bear mounted on his last feet, prepared to attack, Tozbar aimed carefully and shot the second bullet from the distance of some 20 feet. The bear was deadly shot, but before breathing its last, reached Tozbar who could now fight only with bare hands and the empty gun. With its last powers the beast tore off Tozbar's lower jaw, when one of the other hunters came. The beast jumped after him, the man jumped up a rocky wall, holding for a pine-bush, but the beast still tore his leg. Then the bear finally died. When other hunters came, they found the poor Tozbar all in blood, but still alive.

Tozbar survived, but was doomed for the rest of his life to wear a kerchief under his nose by way of hiding and protecting the gaping wound. He could only feed on soup and liquids, so he carried the appropriate equipment all the time with him, hunting, working, guiding on mountains, living for 20 more years. At the time of accident Tozbar had one child, all others came after the accident. The story also goes (told by Julius Kugy) that one day he travelled to the dentist in Ljubljana, due to a teribble toothache (in the upper jaw, of course). The civil dentist accepted him, he took off his kerchief after which he cried 'Jesus, Maria, Josef' and lost consciousness. A military doctor was needed to take care of the poor man. The look on Tozbar's wound had to be terrible. The poor man died in a work accident, hit by a falling tree. Still nowadays you can see near his home, at the first house at the bottom of serpentines of the road over Vrsic a sign with a picture on it, showing this accident.

Source: Julius Kugy: Aus vergangener Zeit. Leykam Verlag, Graz, 1943.

Words

Here is a short list from the book Five Rings on how to live according to the WAY.

1. Do not think dishonestly
2. The way is to train
3. Have knowledge of every art
4. Know the ways of all professions
5. Know the difference between profit and loss in worldly matters
6. Develop intuition and understanding of all things
7. See that which cannot be seen
8. Attend even to the seemingly insignificant
9. Do nothing which is useless.

The author of the book is likely the most famous of all samurai swordsmen. He won sixty duels from the age of thirteen. He later became a strategist and began trying to understand the way. No matter what religion, matter of employment or sex these rules can easily apply to ones life.

Be Prepared

I dont know if this is overkill or just enough.
www.bernstrand.com

Ouray Ice Fest

I just got back from the Ouray Ice Fest. What can I say about the thing. Its not a good time to go climb, there are so many people there. But everything else is amazing. I was volunteering with the american alpine club (americanalpineclub.org). This an amazing group of people (not just climbers)that have alot to offer. But the community is the best part. The ice fest is a great time for climbers to hang out and watch the upper echelon of the group kick ass. And it also the best time to develop friendships, drink beer and eat food. I would like to give some special shout outs.

Bruce Franks and the whole Asolo/Lowe Alpine team
Some of the most truly great and helpful people I met. And thanks Bruce for the Ninja.

Charlie and Paul of the Access Club. I never shared a better tent space with an equally minded organization.

JP, Dana, Brittany, Hunter, Matt, The guys from Prescott, and the rest of the American Alpine Club for being very relaxed and just fun to sit in the cold with.

The rest of the Texas crew for driving all that way to climb ice.

Jim, Peter and Doug, for just being some kick ass dudes. Definately looking forward to the next Durango visit.

Zach and the golden crew for the mustaches and good times.

Billy for being the best random roommate ever. I look forward to climbing with you.

Rob and Christo from patagonia for the help and the rolly cig.

Eileen from Primaloft for introducing me to the wonders of primaloft insulation.

JT from Black Diamond for the best hangover I have seen in a long time.

Rob and Abe for all your hard work at the fest.

Margot for the amazing silver leather pants

John and Pamela Varko for the puking offer at Vedavou

Jim and Terry for the belay info. Much appreciated, my knees stay so warm now.

Phil and Paul of Mountain Gear for the constant insults.

Wolfgang for the sweet nomics.

And all the others that were involved in the amazing time I had.