WINTER /SPRING2016
MOUNTAINLIFE
35
Words &Photography by JimMartinello
The night wind gusts 40 to 70 kilometres an hour while the hammering snow plasters itself to thewindshield faster than the
wipers can keep up. Constantlywatching for the orange bamboo reflectorsmarking the road, I slowly crawl upwards into the
storm to carve a path into a powdery beyond. In the blowing, blinding darkness, I open up a doorway to the alpinewonderland
and lay down fresh corduroy for the epic day ahead.
The vampire hours
—
heading out for an all-night affair of crawling, sliding and plowing through pillows of snow
—
where empty
mountains are awild place to be and every night is amystery. Cruising into the darkness to discover what is in store; is it a starry
night or a shit storm?Or is it what all groomers love themost, sweet and ultra-dry powdermaking tiller perfectionwhilewe lay
down themagic carpet ride.This iswhat snow catsweremade for.
Themusic and subwoofer pumps and time is flying through the obscurity like an unseen owl. Soon the storm is clearing, the sun
is about to rise and the blackness of night crawlers comes to an end just as the valley readies to seewhat we’ve laid down and
helped to shape
—
what themountain canvas looks like for a new day.
There ismore to the preparatory ritual than simply the night crawlers of course, and huge recognition should go to everyone
who is a part of getting themountain open in the earlymorning hours and keeping it going all day. Ski Patrol kicking ass, lifties,
maintenance,mechanics, cooks… there is a lot of heart and soul going into every day and night, that fewwill ever know unless
they end up there themselves, crawling along in the vampire hours, finding the beauty, challenges andmystery that lie ahead
every time you venture out into the night.
Themorning brings endless rewards. Be patient and have fun sliding and turning in thewinter wonderland. Rip, carve and shred it
up because the night crawlerswill be there, ready towipe the slate cleanwith every sunset.
NIGHTCRAWLERS
THELATESHIFT INAWHISTLERBLACKCOMBSNOWCAT
BACK
YARD
Rider on the storm.
