Avenue Twin Peaks, Wasatch Foothills, Utah Nov 2012

I feel regardless of your affiliations and beliefs, holidays are time to be spent with family. I spent the whole weekend with my family, including hiking with my daughter on her first ascent of a peak. We have, after instant winter, begun to experience a high pressure ridge that is just keeping out all of the storms. Plus we have been upper 50's during the day, so just really unseasonable weather. We started on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, and headed up the trail. This has some good climbs without it being too steep. We climbed and climbed, taking a few breaks so my daughter would not be worn out, and finally reached the ridge. After a few snacks, we continued on and made the final push for the top. Avenue Twin Peaks are 2 miles to the peak, and it is about 1100 feet of elevation gain to the top. So it is a great workout. I think this was a great experience for my daughter, she really was loving being up there. We crossed over from the north peak to the south peak and had a full panoramic view of the Salt Lake valley. After soaking it in for a while, we made our way down, just having fun all the way to the car. I am very proud of my daughter, she did so well and never quit. This was by far the latest in the year I have ever gone hiking here in the Wasatch. By this time I usually have switched to just winter activities at this point. But when life hands you lemons, you make lemonade. I love hiking, and it was a treat to be on trail this late in the year. The only bummer was looking at the inversion that was in the valley, realizing that when the adventure was over, we had to go down in that gunky soup. I hope you all had a great holiday.

Thankful Turns- 11.21.2012- Snowbird, Utah

I got a couple of days riding Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving up Little Cottonwood Canyon. The sun was out and the snow was in great condition. And best of all, on the 21st, I got to ride with my friend Jeremy who I did the Wind River Range trip with back in September. Just fun playing around on things and slashing the smooth terrain at hand. It is days like this that are care free and no pressure. Which in my opinion, is what snowboarding is all about. And that made me very thankful for the turns I got. Hope everyone had a great holiday. Gobble Gobble!!!

Thankful Turns- Snowbird- 11.21.2012 from Christian Paul on Vimeo.

First Tram Laps 12/13- 11.18.2012

Finally the day has arrived to take the fun boat up into the sky! Snowbird opened the Tram to riding. I headed up on a snowy Sunday to give the new terrain open a whirl. Peruvian Gulch and Regulator Johnson were the options, and with the new paint job on the mountain from old man winter, conditions were prime. I was fortunate the get the first Tram of the day and it was so worth it. Got my first legitimate barrel of the season. Really fun fast riding, which kept it interesting and fun. It is days like these that I live for, floating in the freshies, and just losing yourself to the mountain. Days like these I find to be timeless, like you could care less about looking at a clock. Enjoy the video, more winter adventures to be had- get out there!

First Tram Laps 12/13- 11.18.2012 from Christian Paul on Vimeo.

Opening Day 12/13- Snowbird, Utah- 11.15.2012

The day has finally arrived! Opening day @ Snowbird! First lift served turns of the season. It was a really great time being up on the hill with my friend Jeremy. We rallied some really fun laps. Surface was pretty fun, a few greasy spots, but nothing too unmanageable. We even found some pow left over from the storm that gave us our base so the resort could open. This season is starting out a bit more promising than last year. Looks like old man winter is back, and we have a small storm coming in this weekend. I smell Sunday Funday on tap. More to come.........

Opening Day- Snowbird, Utah- 11.15.2012 from Christian Paul on Vimeo.

First Turns 12/13- Brighton pre-season- November 11th, 2012

Well in a matter of three days, winter arrived in full force here in Utah. With snow totals between 30 and 40 inches, it was time to get out and get some turns in. I made my way up to Brighton with my friends, and we got our gear together. I was a little behind, because I had some issues with my skins. Once I had all of that in order, I strapped in and headed up. It was bitter cold, and the snow was almost sticky because of the arctic air creeping into the canyon. As I climbed, I got a very nice cardio workout, and was really enjoying being out on the snow once again. I hit a very steep section, and my skins iced right up. I could not climb, as I would just slip backwards every attempt I made. I finally decided on a spot to break everything down, and drop in for a ride to the bottom. I had a very nice ride and even got some pow turns! Not exactly what I was shooting for as far as runs were concerned, but really fun to be floating in the fluffies after being off the snow for so long. It was really fun to be snowboarding again, and I have to admit, I have missed it a lot. Most of the resorts open this week, so this party is just getting started. Enjoy the short video from today, and there is more to come from this great start to winter that we just received!

First Turns of 12 13 from Christian Paul on Vimeo.

Jacks Peak, Wasatch Foothills, Utah- Nov 2012

I have been eyeballing the peaks around my new neighborhood I live in below the Wasatch Foothills. I have hiked almost all of this range, but this area I am in is one section I have yet to explore. I honestly did not know where I was headed, I just got on a trail on the Bonneville Shoreline trail head off of 2100 south above Foothill Drive. I followed it to the ridge, and climbed to a knoll that had a radio tower on it. I ran into a nice group who I got a bunch of history on the peak directly east from the knoll. It is called Jacks Peak. A toddler in 1995 passed away from a hard fought battle with leukemia. His parents scattered his ashes and placed two mailboxes on the summit with journals with his story and pages you can log your visit in. I had heard about this hike from trip reports and an article in the Salt Lake Tribune, but it was pretty cool that I stumbled onto it just heading in on a trail. After leaving the knoll you descend a low saddle. Then the climb begins, and it is well worth it. It is a good work out, and the views keep getting better and better. You climb two false summits and then you will reach the top at 6448 ft. A total climb of 1250 ft in elevation gain in about 1.5 miles. I enjoyed the workout since I have taken the last week or so off to get things ready for winter. It felt like a spring day up there. The climb was hot, because there is no cover on this hike. Bring your sunscreen for sure. After getting the workout I was after, and making the last section I found myself looking at all of the Salt Lake Valley, and all of Spring Canyon and Perkins Peak at the head of the canyon. I took some photos, and then signed the journal, and then sat on the highest point of this peak and just took in the view. After a while it was time to head down. It is a pretty steep down climb to the saddle, then it is manageable after that all the way to the trail head. This was a great intro to the area I am close to up here, and I will be checking out some more hikes on this front side of the Wasatch. We are expecting a huge winter system by next weekend, so winter might be upon us, and I may be tasting the essence of the greatest snow on earth if mother nature delivers next weekend. I am itching to get those first turns of the season for sure. Stay tuned!