Blogs

Project Update: Colorado Dashboard

Submitted by jp on Wed, 05/03/2006 - 19:28


Check out EYE ON COLORADO, it's quick page I wrote to view the current conditions around Colorado. I was able to pull all kinds of data from sites I visit daily and dump it all on one page. I'm harvesting data from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Colorado's Ski & Snowboard Resorts, The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), MesoNet, SnoTel, and the National Weather Service.

Colorado Backcountry: East Portal to S. Arapahoe Lakes

Submitted by jp on Mon, 04/24/2006 - 19:38

Rollins Pass - East Portal
April 23rd, 2006

Click Here for Interactive Map of Route

Waterfall - RP

Alex and I got a late start, so we decided it might be a good idea to bushwhack our way up the mountain toward Arapahoe Lakes. The first surprise of the day came when we ran straight into this waterfall and we were unable to cross.

Alex - Waterfall

We took a quick break here and headed further up stream to find a good place to cross. Just above the top of the waterfall there is a fallen tree with a nice snow bridge making a safe place to cross. Here Alex gets a fix on our location.

JP - Above Waterfall

JP continues to slog up the steep face toward the lakes. The snow was melting quickly and the temperatures are rising forcing us to switch between snowshoes and our boots often.

The Couloir

Backcountry Update: Embedded Backcountry Maps & AvalancheData.com

Submitted by jp on Mon, 04/17/2006 - 19:39

BackcountryMaps.com is really coming along, we just added features to allow users of the "My Maps" module the option of embedding custom maps on to their own site. Above is an example of a public My Map created by JP and linked from a 3rd party site. We've also added some new features which allow much easier map marker creation. My Map users can now click anywhere on the map and create a marker from that point.

AvalancheData.com was launched 4/16/2006. Happy Easter. AvalancheData.com provides a service and home on the web for Avalanche Forecast Centers and Backcountry Observers. Create custom maps with any type of data, embed those maps on your Avalanche Center's homepage, collaborate with other forecasters, and use our tools and data layers for a complete view of any location.

New Hampshire Backcountry: Tuckerman’s Revine

Submitted by jp on Mon, 04/10/2006 - 07:16

I'm stoked to annouce our first guest trip report and author, Seth Beck from badcolonies.org. SBC is out killing it in the east coast backcountry and representing with the Illunimati. His post below from Tuckerman's Revine, New Hampshire looks like a great time with good friends. Keep an eye out for more trip reports from Seth and other guest authors in the future. Please pay SBC a visit at badcolonies.org -- sponsor them in the Mongol Rally 2006!

New Hampshire Backcountry: Tuckerman's Revine

I am not dead, just lame



These are the two runs we managed to get in. Afterwards, Carrie stated that “Tuckermans is more about hiking than riding, huh.” For a larger unmarked photo of the ravine click here


In 1996, I made my first trip to Tuckerman’s, it was my second year riding and I came completely unequipped for the steep slopes, lacking any real skills and riding a 151 Morrow Revert, the same model TR took the Open with in 1994. However, it would prove an experience that would influence the following years greatly.

Ten years later and a lot has changed, I entered the year with high hopes for the season. Unfortunately, a combination of bad weather, bad colonies, added job responsibilities, and a house under the constant attack of a one year old, left me with one of my worst years on the mountain ever.

Colorado Backcountry: Doug Coombs Legend

Submitted by jp on Tue, 04/04/2006 - 16:17


First I need to start with some very sad news, yesterday Doug Coombs and another skier were killed in the mountains above La Grave, France. Doug founded Valdez Heli-Ski Guides out of Alaska in 1993 and has made an immeasurable amount contributions to the backcountry, Alaska skiing, skiing in general and Alpine guiding. Please join us in sending your thoughts and prayers to the families involved. Another fallen great, reminds me of when Criag Kelly died. These guys are legends and will never be forgotten! R.I.Pow

More About Doug and Accident Details:

"Coombs was extremely well known at la Grave which he had made his second home. Star of numerous extreme skiing movies, twice the World Extreme Ski champion he had founded and subsequently sold Valdez Heli Ski Guides and operated Steep Skiing Camps Worldwide. He is survived by his wife, Emily and young son David. Prophetically Doug had once said that he imagined the slopes under the majestic peak of la Meije "would last a lifetime".

La Grave is a vast off-piste area with two main itineary routes and countless other routes. It is a worldwide mecca for off-piste skiers, in particular from Sweden and North America. Avalanche accidents and falls are relatively uncommon but have killed some well known and popular figures. In April 2003 German guide Philip Jaerschky was killed by an avalanche in the couloir de Chirouze In April 2004 Romain Berger was killed by a slide above the Trifides couloirs while praticing for the Derby de la Meije. A Spanish guide was killed by an avalanche on the nearby Tête de Sainte Marguerite on Saturday.

Colorado Backcountry: Broke My Back

Submitted by jp on Wed, 03/22/2006 - 07:47


Sorry for the lack of updates lately, it's been a painful month. On the 9th I fractured two vertebrae while riding up at Mary Jane and haven't been on the board since. I'm off to see a back specialist from Alpine Spine clinic next week, hopefully they will be able to give me a better idea of the seriousness of the injury and recovery options. Every season I usually end up with two fairly serious injuries resulting from snowboarding as much as possible. This year it was the MCL and multiple compression fractures, last year it was broken ribs and dislocated shoulder. The year before all that, it was more broken ribs and torn rotator cuff. You get the idea.. I figured that now I'm a gimp for the next month or more, I'd post a blog entry regarding some of the sites I dig and check out on a daily basis. To all the remaining soldiers out there, keep killin' it and I'll see you in a few more weeks.

Blogs:
120daysofpowder.com
ski-blog.com
coloradoviaalex.blogspot.com
heavywinter.com
cyberhobo.net

Community:
sacklunch.com
biglines.com
tetongravity.com
snowfilmer.com
coloradoski.com
backcountrymaps.com

Weather/Avalanche:

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