Since the inception of CB3P, I’ve always thought to myself, “I should really do that race someday.” But, it always happens at a time when I’d rather just be backckountry skiing. And, I was also pretty terrified of the “paddle” portion as I have little river experience. But, after I was finally assured that the river section was indeed not too hard, especially if using a duckie, I decided that this year was the year I needed to do it. I even put it in writing, stating I wanted to do it on my 2019 Bucket List. See, that’s the thing. Sometimes just putting a goal in writing makes me want to achieve it even more.

So, there I found myself at the CB3P pre-race meeting at the Brick Oven on Saturday April 27th, with a crowd of people huddled around Tiffany Simpson, the race coordinator. Imagine putting together a race that involves skiing at the ski area, biking on a public road, and boating down a public river – the permits and red tape involved in all of this must be horrific. But, she’s got it down to a tee. She informed us of the rules and about some small course changes.

But she saved the warning that was to be most heeded for last. “The Gunnison River is running at the highest CFS that we’ve ever had in this race before…. Be careful. No one will be stationed to help you until the whitewater park.” And she continued, “The feature in the whitewater park is especially tricky right now. People are going to swim (laughing). I’ve sent scouts down and they tell me that you have to paddle extra hard to get through it. Now, if you swim, we’ll have people there to help. Listen to what they say.” And then I found myself wondering if doing this race was a good idea. I had been assured that the river portion was easy. But, this did not sound easy. I went to bed anxious, dreaming of whitewater. I hoped that my years of growing up sailing and swimming, and my overall intuition about water, would just get me through this segment.

In the morning, my heart dropped as I took my first gaze out the window. A rain/snow mix was falling from the sky and temperatures were hovering at 36. Skiing in that weather would be more or less okay. But, biking or boating in it sounded like sheer misery. I packed a few more extra clothes and gloves in my transition bags and dressed for the ski segment with an extra layer. I was still fighting a terrible cold, and needed to make sure to stay warm.

I was expecting more people to stay home. Yet, I found myself amazed at all the people who gathered around the starting line of the CB3P in this horrible weather, many even in costume – Crested Buttians don’t need much reason to wear a costume. Oh yeah, that’s right, I’d almost forgot – We mountain people can be downright hard core. And here I was surrounded by the hardest most core of them all.

We placed our skis on the snow and gathered back on the pavement for the Le Mans start.

I mustered a smile. Yes, I was about to skin and ski in a bike helmet. But, a helmet was required on all three sections of the race. Saving time at transitions was key. So, I, along with most other solo racers, decided to start and finish with my bike helmet, eliminating the need to change headgear.

The buzzer sounded at 10 am sharp and we were off.

And the skinning commenced. People passed me on the skin. For all the backcountry skiing I do, I am not a fast skinner. I can just go forever without stopping. I was hoping some of this would work out for me in the end. I held my own, though I certainly got passed. But, I was far from last, and for that I was thankful.

The event photographer snapped this shot of me a good chunk of the way up.

And not much later, I saw her – Stevie Kremer. I call her the fastest woman on earth – because she pretty much is. There she was, pushing and pulling and skiing her way down the slope as fast as she could, ahead of all the boys and everyone else, very much in first place.

And then the down train kept coming, but I was still going up. We skinned until the patrol shack just below High Lift. There, I pulled my skins and threw my jacket on. The “down” is supposed to be the easy part of the race. But the new wet snow made it otherwise. The surface was sticky, wanting to rip my legs apart, and made it difficult to glide when it should have been easy.

When I arrived at the base of the ski area, I was relieved. Even though it was pouring rain, I was looking more forward to biking in that crap weather than skiing in all that slop. I barely changed clothes. I was mostly warm and mostly dry. A change of socks, a shirt, and gloves and I was on my way for the biking section.

As they say, the bike to Gunnison is “downhill”. Well, yeah, true. But, you get your share of winds which make it not-so-downhill. But, I was feeling strong, which surprised me since I had only ridden my bike twice since November. And the 36-degree rain was making me cold. So, I pedaled hard, trying to stay warm, and passed at least 5 riders – none of whom I could even see when I first started out on my bike. My lower back started to ache, so I got up out of the saddle, and pedaled even harder. It wasn’t going to go away until I was done riding. So, I might as well just ride faster.

Frank waved as he passed me on the road in the car. He was moving ahead to grab some photos and greet me at the next transition. He got this photo of our friend Daniel dressed in costume.

And not too much longer he got these of me.

By the time I saw Frank again a few miles down the road, I passed two more riders. Coming in hot into the North Bridge put in for the Gunnison River.

I changed shoes, downed some Honey Stinger Chews, grabbed my borrowed duckie, and into the river I went. Emma and Emma (a team, as opposed to individual competitors like myself) were right behind. Emma had been the only one to pass me on the bike portion, flying by me in her hot pink tights.

I got in the duckie without hesitation, and somehow made it look like I knew what I was doing, even though I’d never even taken a duckie down a stretch of river before.

The river was swelling. The current was fast, and constant paddling was needed to keep the boat on the correct course. I looked behind and smiled at Daniel. He was now cruising by me on a kayak. “I have no idea what I’m doing here,” I yelled, cracking up. “Well, you seem to be doing just fine.” And off he went. I didn’t see him until the finish line.

I looked behind and Emma and Emma were still there. I rested my paddle for a bit to fiddle with something and that was a mistake. The next thing I knew, my paddle was floating just up the river from me. No, no, no! I thought to myself. I can’t do anything without a paddle. So, I frantically splashed around with my hands and arms to slow the boat to let the paddle catch up with me. Success.

But wait, what’s this? A weird current had me, and it was trying to swoop me into a sharp turn in the river on my port side. Paddle harder, paddle harder. The river tried to swoop me to my left, right into a low hanging tree. But, I narrowly escaped. I looked behind, and saw Emma and Emma paddling hard too. They were getting sucked into the same left bank. A turn in the river blocked my view. And then the were gone. I kept looking back. I never saw them again until the end of the race. But, indeed, they did end up getting stuck on that low hanging tree.

The rest of the river was lonely. Except for a few random people on shore, I didn’t see anyone – at least, not until the very end. I was told I’d know when I was coming up on the whitewater park. And that sometime shortly after the first feature I’d have to exit the river to the right and cross the finish line on shore. But, I heard it before I saw it – the roar of the whitewater. And I thought to myself, “Hey, it doesn’t look as bad as I thought.”

Meanwhile, Frank had been there waiting for me, watching scores of people flip their boats on this very same feature. Like this paddle boarder…. about to eat it….

And our friend Alex…. Notice her, her boat, and her paddle, and the kayaker trying to help her….

Frank pretty much thought I was doomed. And I did too – Until I saw the feature that is. Then, I knew I had it…. Ready, set, go!

I didn’t swim. And it was a lot longer paddle than I thought to get to the exit for the finish line. But, I crossed it, still all in one piece, wet as a rat, and still smiling – greeted by a proud husband on the other side.

Somehow, I managed to do alright, despite never having done this race before or having had taken a duckie down a river, or even paddled this section of river before. In fact, I did well enough to earn the top podium spot for the Women’s Solo “Fun” category.

What’s more, I finished 8th out of 13 solo women, and 19th out of 37 total solo competitors – smack in middle, with a respectful time of 3 hours, 27 minute, and 27 seconds.

Would I do the CB3P again? Heck yeah. But, hopefully in better weather Then again, what else would I be doing on a rainy/snowy cold day in April? I Might as well join a bunch of other crazy people for a crazy race!

The post Crested Butte Pole Pedal Paddle Race (28 April 2019) appeared first on 14erskiers.com.

Tecnica has taken on this challenge in true form with their “Women to Women” program, creating boots designed by women, for women. The result is a whole lot of boots that suit women better than those of most other brands.

Design

The Tecnica Mach 1 Pro ski boot is designed for the resort skier in mind. It is devoid of tech fittings, but does have replaceable soles for when those begin to wear out. As is true of just about any ski boot on the market these days, the Mach 1 Pro comes equipped with micro-adjustable buckle, and the upper two buckles have different hole positions for the buckles to be mounted through.

The liner is a CAS, meaning it is thermomodable.

And the shell is also CAS, meaning pin-hole sized indentations in certain areas of the shell make it easier to thermomold as well.

But, one of the most unique features of the Tecnica Mach 1 Pro is the moldable cuff. I have found that many women complain that the cuff is not wide enough for their calves, even after moving buckle positions out as far as possible. I tend to have the opposite problem so I move the buckles in as far as they will go. But, that’s often not enough. So, when I buckle the boot – as tight as it will possibly go – I’m actually wrenching on the buckle, restricted by the bend (or lack thereof) of the plastic and not the size of my calf. This is where a CAS thermoldable cuff makes this boot especially great. The cuff can then be molded to accommodate for varying size of calves, providing the best fit and helping boost performance.

Fit, Last, and Adjustability

The Tecnica Mach 1 Pro LV is a “low-volume” boot. Other Tecnica models come in MV, or mid-volume. But the Mach 1 Pro is only available in LV, low-volume. The last is reported as 98. But, I find that this the last feels wider than that. To compare, most of my backcountry ski boots have come in lasts of 101 to 105, and these 98’s feel closer to that width. And, even for a low-volume boot, I find that there is plenty of room for my wide yet high-arched foot.

At the same time, one of my pet peeves about many ski boots is the heel pocket which is often far too wide, allowing my heel to lift, causing bone spurs. But, Tecnica has this heel pocket just perfect so it hugs my narrow heel, keeping it in place – keeping those bone spurs in check.

As is typical with many high-end boots, the Tecnica Mach 1 Pro also comes equipped with canting adjustments both on the inside and outside of the ankle.

Flex

Tecnica also reports the flex at 115, which I would say is a pretty true rating. Perhaps even more important than the flex rating itself is how the boot feels as it does flex. Some boots are have a very rigid flex, allowing for barely any motion in the flex of the boot. But, the Mach 1 Pro has a progressive-style flex, allowing for a bit of natural movement, and then the boot stiffens as you flex\ more of your weight into it.

Flex can be impacted by a person’s height and weight, and Tecnica’s Women to Women design has taken into account a the lower weight and height of most women when determining the flex performance of the Mach 1 Pro. However, for those not happy with the flex performance out of the box, there is an adjustment setting for the flex on the rear of the boot. This unique design feature can make the boot just a tad stiffer or a little less stiff to accommodate for specific preferences.

Performance

Everyone who knows my style of skiing knows that I gravitate toward stiff boots. But, there is a fine line, because a really rigid boot is hard to ski as well as it is often less forgiving during those little “mistakes” or “balance checks”. Tecnica has designed the Mach 1 Pro to have the perfect blend of stiffness and forgiveness, allowing the boot to respond to quick motions and movement of the feet, yet still have a bit of flex to allow for some margins of error.

The Wrap

The customization capabilities of Tecnica Mach 1 Pro have allowed this boot to be adjusted perfectly for my foot, ankle, and lower calf. The result is a boot that not only fits well, but one that performs exceptionally well too. I can rely on this boot to respond quickly and predictably to slight pressures and movements of my foot, while keeping my foot comfortable all day long. After skiing for a few decades, I can honestly say that this is the best resort boot I have ever owned.

The Tecnica Mach 1 comes in many different models, ranging from a flex of 85 to 115, and lasts ranging from 98 to 100. As always, make sure to try on the boot to ensure a proper fit before purchasing!

The post Review: Tecnica Women’s Mach 1 Pro LV Boot – for resort skiing appeared first on 14erskiers.com.

The Dillon Pinnacles are an obvious and beautiful feature that you pass by when you travel along the Blue Mesa Reservoir on Highway 50. I’ve been awestruck by their sheer beauty for years, and have wanted to hike the trail that leads up to them for quite some time. But, I never actually got around to it until last May.

There is an obvious trailhead that starts on the north shore of the Blue Mesa Reservoir, near the bridge that crosses over to the south side. From there, it’s easy to find the trail as it follows along the reservoir to the north.

With the blue reservoir, the green spring foliage, and the sheer pinnacles behind, the hike was beautiful.

Plenty of paintbrush along the way too.

The trail goes up to a mesa below the Dillon Pinnacles, and then follows alongside them for quite some time, with magnificent views of the Blue Mesa Reservoir below.

The trail offers some closer views of the Dillon Pinnacles as well.

The trail ends at a small loop on the mesa.

The Dillon Pinnacles trail is a fairly easy hike that offers great views of the Blue Mesa Reservoir and the beautiful geological formation that bears its name. I’d highly recommend this trail to anyone!

What to know before you go

Dillon Pinnacles Trail is done as an out-and-back and is about 4 miles round trip. The elevation gain is small and relatively gradual, at 650 vertical feet. The best time to hike this trail is in May or September or October. But, Dillon Pinnacles can also easily be accessed in the summer – just hike early or on a cooler day to avoid hot desert temperatures.

The post TBT: Hiking Dillon Pinnacles Trail appeared first on 14erskiers.com.

The previously released Silverton and Crested Butte editions of the Off-Piste provide a bit more of an introduction to each of their respective areas. But, this Snoqualmie edition is more than that, featuring 80 routes that span from low-angle trees to 60-degree chutes that require a rappel. This guidebook fits the gamut of every kind of backcountry skier.

I must confess, I have never skied at or near Snoqualmie Pass – which is just a little over an hour outside of Seattle. But, skiing on Snoqualmie is no secret. Home to four ski areas, Snoqualmie is a skiing destination. And I’ve heard for years that Alpental is the best for those seeking steeper and more challenging terrain. In fact, skiing here has been on my bucket list. And now this guidebook makes me more inclined to take a trip there.

Each version or edition of the Off-Piste Ski Atlas that is released gets just a little better. The intention of these guidebooks is not to hold your hand through every little part of the tour, but rather to give you the minimal information you need for a safe tour – like where to start, where to finish, a brief description of where you’ll find the skin track, and a few other tips and tricks. Descriptions are brief, but the guidebook is highly visual, providing photographs of each of the routes. Here’s one example:

Unlike many other standard guidebooks, the Snoqualmie Pass, Washington Off-Piste Ski Atlas provides an avalanche terrain exposure scale so skiers can make wise decisions based on the conditions for the day. This guidebook also provides aspect and slope information in graphic form, as well as a host of other information signified with other icons.

It even has a full list of routes at the very end.

Similar to the Crested Butte and Silverton editions, the Snoqualmie Pass, Washington Off-Piste Ski Atlas is lightweight, compact, and relatively durable. It fits well into your pack. Even if you live in Colorado, you’ll find yourself wanting to check out the steep terrain and largely stable coastal snowpack that Snoqualmie Pass has to offer!

The Snoqualmie Pass, Washington Off-Piste Ski Atlas can be found in our store beginning Monday:

The post Review: Snoqualmie Pass, Washington Off-Piste Ski Atlas appeared first on 14erskiers.com.

Five years ago, Frank and I skied the steep Laundry Chutes on Mount Sopris with our friends Jordan White and Lou Dawson. It was a celebration ski, as I had just finished skiing the Landry Line on Pyramid the day before and had only one fourteener remaining to ski. My fourteener-skiing project was about to come to a close.

But, that day was a blur. In the midst of utter exhaustion, elation from skiing the Landry Line, and an upcoming marriage just weeks away, I’m sad to say I don’t remember a whole lot about that day. So, I vowed to return to Sopris one day. That day finally came.

This day had been in the works with my friend Ann Driggers after we made an attempt in late April but were thwarted by bad weather, which had not been predicted in the forecast. Spring brought a flurry of storms, making getting up in to the alpine difficult. But, then I saw a window in the forecast and I knew we had to go for it. A few quick texts to Ann and I knew she was in for Thursday, and better yet – we were planning on a girls day out in the backcountry. Ann rallied her friend Sue King to join us as well.

The day could not have been more perfect. With a few inches of fresh, a good freeze, crystal blue skis, and no wind, we knew as we hiked that Mount Sopris was going to deliver quite the treasure that day. Me and Sue walking on the trails toward Thomas Lakes.

Thomas Lakes was as peaceful as ever.

Up toward the Thomas Lakes Bowl we went.

Conditions were so good we were able to skin right up the Thomas Lakes Bowl.

Once on the east ridge, we admired the views of the Elks. Sue and Ann with Capitol Peak in the distance.

Once we gained the ridge, we headed to the east summit, and continued following along the ridgeline to the west summit. Interesting fact here – Mount Sopris is said to have two twin summits, both measured by the USGS as having an identical elevation of 12,953 feet.

Our line started just past the west summit. Me in the distance.

Sue and Ann making their way to the top of our line.

So happy to be out with the girls! Ann Driggers, Sue King, and Me.

The skiing was superb! Me dropping into the goods – a line called the Elbow.

Sue.

Ann.

I don’t think our smiles could have been any larger once we reconvened at the bottom of the Elbow. From there, we headed over Nettle Pass to return to Thomas Lakes. We passed by the magnificent Laundry Chutes along the way.

I’ll be back to ski them again, that’s for sure…

But we still had some good skiing to be done! Ann on the lower slopes.

Once below Thomas Lakes, we caught a striking view of our tracks and our line.

We stopped in the sage brush field to capture our first real signs of spring – pasqueflowers!

Mount Sopris is one of those mountains that’s worth returning to time and time again. I’ll certainly be back. Maybe even next year

The post TR: Mount Sopris – Skiing the Elbow (12 May 2016) appeared first on 14erskiers.com.

And while we were at it, we were going to keep looking at all the great terrain surrounding us. Pam and Brittany:

Pam, Brittany and Susan headed out to a peak and found quite a bit of that perfect aspect that still had soft snow.

The last avalanche cycle hit this area hard, and we saw a lot of crowns that were only beginning to fill back in:

Susan finding the “rippled snow” I was talking about:

Another view:

Meanwhile, Chris, Ben F, Ben M, and I went for the aesthetic chute we looked at the previous day. Ben:

The apron was surprisingly good:

Apparently this raven followed me down my run. I like ravens.

The skiing was better than we expected, so we decided to delay our departure and take another run, with the two groups switching runs. This is a remote area, so it shouldn’t be surprising that we saw an endangered species on our second run. Homo Telepithicus had long been thought to be extinct until they began reappearing in mountain areas in the 1970’s. In recent years, however, sightings have been increasingly rare as the more robust Homo Randoniens wins the survival of the fittest. Here is the rare Homo Telepithicus we spotted:

Meanwhile, we continued to a narrow chute which looked promising and indeed had the best snow of the day:

Susan dropping into her second run:

So many line variations above Brittany:

The real measure of how good a ski destination is can be seen in the context of the conditions. When we booked this trip, we fully expected to find some good stable powder skiing, or at least some corn skiing. We found neither, and yet I think everyone would happily go back. Why? The potential is plain to see- we just came up short when we rolled the weather dice. We’ll be back- if not to this cabin, at least to this area- it’s too good not to.

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We have been trying out some prototypes this winter, and the idea is simple. Part of the basket is a stiff plastic, with hooks and ramps for grabbing the heel risers, while the rest of the basket is softer, like most pole baskets.

We tried using the baskets on a few different bindings, and let a few people borrow them, and it really depends on the system and the user for how effective the baskets are. In other words, it really depends on how you like to use your risers, and what gear you use. Worst case: the hook is the perfect size for opening a beer bottle. For more information than I can possibly give, a ton of photos, and an opportunity to help fund their Kickstarter campaign, Click HERE

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