The Woods

Powder Anxiety

Some time in October, around the time when ski movies are premiering and new ski mags show up in the mail, the annual “jones” for shreddin powder begins. We gather our gear, mount up new skis and anxiously wait, day dreaming of blue bird pow days. Eternity seems to set in and fall drags on forever and ever. Until one day it starts to snow, winter begins and skiing follows. However, this year the phenomenon of winter is not really happening yet.

 Desperate times call for desperate measures, so resorts around Lake Tahoe began to make snow and push for openings around Thanksgiving day. It’s great to get out on the boards and rail some turns, but unless your from the midwest, you’re probably going to get board with the man made “ribbon of death” sooner than later. With so much uneasiness and anxiety about skiing and winter, I had no choice but to quit my job, and head north where the snow is.

I hopped on the next available Southwest flight, and hours later found myself in Seattle, just moments away from gigantic peaks and yes, lots of snow. My first days ever spent in the Cascade Mountains were with “extreme” skier Drew Tabke. We shredded around Crystal Mountain seeking out every last bit of pow we could find. Crystal is awesome! With breathe taking views, sustained steeps and rock features everywhere, there’s not really ahything to dislike. 

 Tabke was fired up to ski something new, so the next day we journeyed out for the CJ couloir. A 3000 foot long couloir with a 50 plus degree entrance that leads to a tight choke half way down. After a 2 mile approach, we strapped on our crampons and booted straight up the beast. The climb was challenging with constantly changing conditions of punchy crust layers, bullet proof ice and occasional powder patches. We pushed onto the top, a little apprehensive of how the variable conditions would ski.

 Tabke dropped in first, carefully making his way down the steep exposed entrance. I hesitantly skied in behind him, and much to my surprise the turns were powder-ish. The conditions were definitely variable though and a fall would have been fatal. So we took are time and survival skied down the couloir, rather than opening it up and “givin er”.  We were both psyched to ski such a rad line and celebrated with cold beers down at the truck.

Being more responsible than I, Tabke traveled back to Seattle to work. I continued on, and hooked up with some friends from Squaw Valley, who just happened to be at Crystal. I joined the crew of shredders; Josh Anderson, Mat Jackson and Ben Paciotti who all grew up skiing at Crystal. We spent the next few days casually crushing it on their favorite lines from childhood. Inevitably, we found ourselves reminising and playing cards at the Snorting Elk each night until last call.

Now I find myself in Tahoe again, back to the ribbon of death. Dreaming of the ellure created by the mighty Cascade Mountains. I am anxious and needy as ever for snow, but feel fortunate that I got to experience a brief moment of winter for Christmas. For now there is nothing to do but eagerly wait and  obsesively check weather forecasts and models. The only other option is to burn skis, vacuum cleaners and pray for snow.

 -Josh Daiek