WINTER /SPRING2016
MOUNTAINLIFE
43
But then, awell-timedmiracle happened
—
it started to snow.March andApril
storms delivered in amore usual fashion and the alpine actuallybegan filling
in. Even as everything lower than treeline transformed into instant summer,
far above the valley, there existed a semblance ofwinter. A short, late-season
windowopened and the usual rules for getting it done still applied
—
wake up
early andbe therewhen its cracks blue.
Photographer and friend, BradSlack, and I decided to escape the valley and
get away from the “worst season ever”negativity that hadbeen festering all
winter long.We battledourwaypast tree-line and set-up camp
—
armedwith
splitboards and awill tonot letwinter pass us by.
We drankbeer by campfire and scoped lines by starlight. A3:30 a.m. alarm
sounded andwe rolledout of our sleepingbags, excited to still see stars.We
pushed to the alpine, and likeBrad and I have done before, we partedways
oncewe hit the ridgeline. A solo, pre-sunrise ridgewalk gaveme ample time to
reflect on the season that almostwasn’t, and the sun crested the ridge as I stood
on topofmy line. After radioingBrad, I dropped into soft, powdery snow
—
leaving any sour taste from a frustratingwinter behind.
At the bottom, I took amoment to lookbackup in the earlymorning light
and admire the track comingdown themountain. I quickly switchedmy gear
over and startedhikingup formore. I hadno excuses.The daywas still early
and even though itwas nowApril, thewinter I hadbeen impatientlywaiting
for had finally arrived. It felt good to get out.
Asolo, pre-sunrise
ridgewalkgave
meampletimeto
reflect [...]andthe
suncrestedthe
ridgeas I stoodon
topofmyline.
Good times POV. JOE LAX.
