Monday Evening After Work(out)

Why did the "mountain chicken" cross the skin track?

Today after work Meghan gave me the OK to make a ski tour up Pyramid Mountain. On Saturday, while temperatures reached the upper 50s down in Kodiak, I skied it as well and got fried. My Dad would say that I got a "good base coat." Well, before heading out this evening I applied a healthy layer of sunscreen. I arrived at the top of the pass to find the mountain devoid of fellow skiers. The sun was still warm at 6:45 when I flipped up the heel pieces of my bindings and started climbing. While skiing alone I usually bring along the nanoCoug III (an iPod nano). Tonight's playlist featured a live recording of Antony and the Johnsons - you can listen to a part of it here. After crossing paths with a ptarmigan and stopping to admire the still valley below, I reached Pyramid's northwest shoulder, put the skis on my pack and kept climbing until I reached the summit ridge. Only briefly did I stop to admire the view - strong winds and choosing a safe route to descend kept my eyes focused downward. Ultimately, I decided on the north face and climbed down to an appropriate area to dig a pit and test the snow. Fortunately, my stability tests revealed safe conditions for a descent. Checking my pulse and taking one last breath, I slid into my first turn and picked up speed. The top five inches of snow was soft yet heavy, forcing me to make wide turns. Only after my sixth or seventh turn did the weight of the loose, wet snow sliding with me start to push me downward. I made a couple more turns and skied out of the direct path of the sliding snow back toward the direction of my ascent. The long, sunny days have definitely started to warm the white stuff up high. The snow was soft for the rest of the descent and I reached the parking lot at nine o'clock to find a solo snowboarder pulling his board from his truck to start his own tour. He might still be up there making turns as I finish this sentence.

Up on the right, down on the left

An April Evening Ski Tour

High on Pyramid's southern ridge looking west.

On Saturday, while UNC was dominating Villanova in the National Semifinal (my bracket was busted weeks ago), I completed a tour on Pyramid Mountain. Although most of the skiing on Pyramid is off of its north ridge, the southern ridge is its most striking feature. It is the southern ridge, long and sharp, that gives Pyramid its name – viewed from the south it seems as if you are looking at the corner of rocky pyramid. Not interested in driving up the pass to the north ridge, I stopped at Kodiak’s “muni” golf course, took out the skis and started climbing. It was 4:45 p.m. Except for a few steeper slopes that received several hours of sunlight during the long clear afternoon; the snow on the climb to the ridge was solid.

Looking up the ridge

Once reaching the ridge at about 6:00 p.m., the sun still high above the horizon, I had striking views of Buskin Lake, Barometer Mountain, and Chiniak Bay. I continued to climb along the ridge encouraged by its gradual slope. “Could I top out?” That is, could I reach the summit? I thought to myself between heavy breaths, perhaps pushing the envelope. After several more feet of elevation gain, however, I realized that a “summit push” might not be the safest idea. The ridge began to slope off to the right creating a double fall line that tested the traction of my skins. What’s more, the left side of the ridge was defined by a large cornice, which was definitely “off limits.” After losing traction and sliding, backwards, a few yards downhill I decided it was time to turn around and lay some turns. The downhill offered some of best the skiing that I have encountered so far this spring. I skied back across the golf course and reached the car at 7:00 p.m. - amazed at the amount of daylight still available.

The ridge from "sea level"

First Tracks and Pie

We celebrated a birthday up here on the island. Meghan and I took a sunny, snowy birthday hike on Saturday. And then she baked a pecan pie for me. Pecan became my favorite pie after a visit to Meghan's Grandparents in Arkansas a few years ago. We ate the pie for dessert after feasting on caribou lasagna at a friend's house. The next day I put on the skis for the first turns of year on Pyramid Mountain near town. The snow was soft on top over a layer of crust. It felt good to get the kinks out.

Shelley Visits Kodiak & Hilarity Ensues

Guest Blog: Shelley Sanderman

Clockwise from top left: Here I am, opening my "welcome" gift. My lovely hosts provided me with Alaskan beer, Alaska magazine, Alaska sticker, postcard and mug. Best of all...Alaska socks! Photo right: My triumph over Pyramid Mountain. Meghan showed me the amazing views of the ocean, mountains, and volcanoes. It looked very pirate's cove-esque.

Next: Enjoying reindeer sausage at King's Diner. Impulse item. Last picture: Reconnaissance. I was able to thwart the local seabirds' activities by building my own nest in the Kodiak grasses. Although my wildlife viewing skills have vastly improved, the Kodiak bear remains elusive. We seem to visit all the same locations, but he leaves shortly before I arrive. I am hoping to have better luck finding him if I wear my new socks tomorrow...