Hero Snow & Honeycomb- 2.9.10.2014- Solitude Mountain Resort

What an amazing storm! 3-4' feet fell all over the Wasatch filling things in nicely. Sunday Funday was hero snow, meaning it was so wet and heavy, you needed to be a superhero to move it around. This is the base builder you want as we head into our spring cycle. I had a great time riding, even though this was the most crowded day of the season at Solitude. I was for sure a soggy waffle by the time I got done riding on Sunday. Another front came in Sunday night, putting down a much lighter, colder consistency, which made the turns so creamy. I made it back up for opening bell and I lapped the front side until Summit opened. Once they started loading Summit, I headed for the Headwall Forest, which was a mix of new snow, and avy debris from the control work done to get it open for us. Thank you Solitude Ski Patrol for keeping us safe. As I unloaded Summit for the 5th time, ski patrol signaled that they were going to open Honeycomb Canyon. It looked so amazing, and the stoke meter was on high! The roped was pulled, and the shred fest began! This was by far the best snow all weekend, and I had some amazing runs back there. Even a lap out the Powderhorn gate was creamy and blowing up snow in my face all the way to Meadowlawn. This is why I love snowboarding in the Wasatch, when it is good, it is damn good! Enjoy the edit from this weekend, and let's keep this party rockin'!

Hero Snow And Honeycomb 2 9 10 14 from Christian Paul on Vimeo.

February Begins- 2.7.2014- Solitude Mountain Resort

It looks like old man winter is back from this long hiatus that he seemed to be on. A series of storms are headed for the Wasatch, and this was the beginning of the big cycle for the year that we enjoy this time of year in Utah. I woke to Solitude reporting 8" of fresh, and made haste to get up the hill. I got the boots on and headed out to sample the new goods. The snow was right side up, and was the fluffy stuff we come to expect here in the Wasatch. I took my first five runs, and then- SNAP! My left boot lace broke, and made it interesting to get back down to change out my broken lace. I made it a quick change out, then I was back at it. I wandered over in the Aspens off Sunrise, and was surprised that there was plenty of untracked over there for the taking. A great way to kick off February, and also good at keeping our base solid. Looks like there is more on tap for this weekend, so wax em' if you got em, surfs up! Enjoy the short video from today, and pray for snow!

February Begins 2 7 14 from Christian Paul on Vimeo.

High Density Powder Day- 1.30.2014- Solitude Mountain Resort

After a very long drought with no snow, we finally got a storm that gave us a much needed paint job. The goods were of the high density variety, which cushioned the ride nicely, and bonded with the old snow, leaving that scratchy, greasy, worn out old layer a distant memory. I started out my day on the front side finding smooth lines and deep pockets you could just charge through. As I made my way across the mountain, I found even better snow, and deeper pockets of untouched perfection. I hit the Headwall Forest off Summit, and it was money! Honeycomb opened after some blasting, and it was very nice back there. This was just what the doctor ordered, and I took full advantage of the off trail goods that were there for the taking. It looks to be that we may have finally broke the back of that high pressure that has robbed us of so many storms over the last few weeks. This new deposit has opened up even more terrain and buried any nastiness that would have otherwise cursed us for the foreseeable future. Thank you snow gods for showing up just when we needed you. High flying slashable goodness was had by all. Enjoy the highlights in this edit, and lets keep this party going! Pray 4 Snow!

High Density Pow Day 1 30 14 from Christian Paul on Vimeo.

First Snow 2014- Solitude Mountain Resort, Utah

Well, after what seemed a hiatus from old man winter, we finally got a set of storms to get the hill going again. I was lucky enough to get up for a couple of days to ride some really nice fresh with very little hill pressure at all. The conditions were great, and I got to ride the whole resort. I even found some new lines that had filled in nicely and are now going to be on my hit list the rest of the season. The snow was really good, and riding with my friend Gabe was a total blast! I found so much good snow, and had some epic days out of this last storm. A little bit of everything to be had, wind, powder, sun breaks, and leftovers to be gobbled up. I feel lucky to have been able to get up and enjoy this. We are heading into high pressure this week, and things are gonna be a bit slow in the falling flakes department. Still, riding conditions are gonna be sweet, so I will be back up soon to get after it once more. Enjoy this video, which contains some of the highlights of some great days snowboarding to start off the new year! Pray 4 Snow!

First Pow 2014 Solitude Mountain Resort from Christian Paul on Vimeo.

2013 Retrospective- Christian Paul Photography

2013 was another year of adventures. This was a work intensive year which I found hard at times, and also found myself digging in when the going got tough. From snowboarding and touring in the Wasatch, to backpacking Boulder Mountain and the Uintas, our fall trip to Moab, to lots of day hiking in the Wasatch. There was no shortage of being able to get out there and enjoy the mountains. 86 days snowboarding, 41 days of hiking and backpacking, and 15 days of camping. Tons of images to share of the places that I found solitude and peace in. This video expresses the highlights of my year in the mountains. I am grateful for the time I get to spend up there, for it brings happiness to my life. Especially that I got to spend some of that time with my very busy family. Enjoy the video! What will 2014 bring? Stay tuned................

2013 Retrospective from Christian Paul on Vimeo.

Epic Powder Day- Solitude Mountain Resort- 12.19.2013

Well, after having one of the worst sinus infections I have had in ten years, we finally got a storm that pushed out the nasty inversion which has been a nightmare for health reasons. This storm was an early Xmas present for sure. It went a long way in burying the leftover features not yet previously covered. I started off my day sampling the goods on my first run. If this was any indicator that things were good everywhere, I do not know what is. I made my way around the whole mountain, finding copious amounts of snow in areas just a week ago I would not even imagined putting tracks in. This storm was not as cold as the previous cycle, and offered a 6-8% water content to cushion the ride. It seemed like a dream riding on this day, and every single run was fluffy slashing goodness! It snowed hard all day, so there was some refill action along with the flakes that had already accumulated. The best thing is that there was no crust, leaving just a few bumps, and bottomless goodness for one to get down with. I pushed it so hard, and wore myself thin getting after it all day. Friday the 20th brought the opening of Honeycomb Canyon, which was deep as you can imagine not being open during the entire storm. The photo above was taken on Friday after they opened it. This was a much needed paint job for the Wasatch, and we have are now over 100" of snowfall for the season. Enjoy the video! Pow Pow!

Epic December Storm 12.19.13 Solitude from Christian Paul on Vimeo.

December Begins- Solitude- 12.3.13

An arctic storm of epic proportions slammed the Wasatch early Tuesday morning. It brought tonz of snow to the mountains, and wouldn't ya know, Solitude was reporting 10" at 7:00AM. I made haste and got to the mouth of the canyon, threw on the chains, and headed up the BCC. The road was pretty greasy. I saw 4x4's struggling to get up the mountain. I made it to Solitude just before the opening bell, only to find it a virtual ghost town. There were people there, but not a lot as you would come to expect of this name sake resort. The first run was just a taste of what I was in for. The snow was the ultralight stuff that this place is famous for. It was snowing the whole time up there, and it picked up intensity just after my first few runs, and began filling it all back in. Free refills! I love days like this, it never gets old, and is renewed every time you drop in. I found knee deep pockets of fluffy goodness to carve in, with the shallowest areas still holding shin deep magic. This storm opened up so much terrain that only a week ago I wouldn't have even considered dropping in on. For sure a great way to kick off December with some delicious powder to get all crazy in. Enjoy the edit, I know I enjoyed being the person wearing the cam. Looks like we have entered a cold, active pattern. Lets hope that this is the beginning of the great cycle we see here in the Wasatch every year. Pray 4 Snow!

December Begins- 12.3.13- Solitude Mountain Resort, Utah from Christian Paul on Vimeo.