Off the Reservation (part 2)…

The Library and Kickstep Mountain - Turnigan Pass

I spent another two weeks up in Anchorage visiting the snow in Turnigan Pass and Hatcher Pass.  The snow was a tasty variety of cold smoke powder, that we don’t see too often down here.  I got back to Juneau in time to take advantage of the most recent precip, which I have to say is every bit as good as I found up North.  The following photos are from multiple trips in Turnigan and one photo from Hatcher Pass as the viz was some of the worst I have ever encountered; I had to use my poles to make marks in the snow so that I wasn’t about to accidentally skin off a cliff!   Overall it was a great trip with plenty of good turns to be had.

Picking our way through the white room, in Hatcher Pass.

Skining up the side of Magnum in Turnigan Pass.

Skinning up the approach to Cornbiscuit, Turnigan Pass.

Lee checks out the view of Kickstep from the Sunburst Ridge, Turnigan Pass.

Off the reservation….

Top of Magnum in Turnigan Pass

I have a confession for all of you… I’ve been cheating, and its not the first time.  I’ve been riding snow in Turnigan Pass, and at Alyeska.  Shameful I know, but sometimes the temptation is too great and I have to give in to the sinful quality of snow in other parts of the world.

I know, take a deep breath and calm down. There is snow to be found elsewhere, and you’re probably guilty of the same pleasures (you know who you are). Don’t get me wrong I still love it here, but its just well, its good to see if the snow is really whiter on the other side…Alright who am I kidding, given the winter we’re having this seems to be the only place that doesn’t have good snow.  Alright no more negativity, there’s a lot of winter to go and we’ll get ours…hopefully soon. Normally I wouldn’t do this, but given our weather cycle and the fact that I’ve been busy with other photo work, I’m going to post not only photos from other AK locales, but a few non-backcountry photos. My hope is that it’ll provide a little entertainment to your day and at the very least its eating up my time putting together this post.  Normally I’d post these photos on my personal blog, CSMPhotos, but I’m thinking of changing this blog to a vehicle for all my ski/snowboard photos, as no one else seems to be posting here.  If you have stuff and want to post please do!

Turnigan Pass