Seven Springs surprise

An unfortunate part of moving back home means a lack of skiing areas (actually a rather severe shortage of snow). So a goal of mine and my friend Brians' was to embark on a ski excursion before we left wild and wonderful WV. A close inspection into the forecast yielded expectations for snow first, then sleet and then freezing rain- all in a matter of hours. We knew we had to act fast in order to fully take advantage of the weather. Typically we might consider going south to higher elevation resorts, but this time around we concured the best snow is north, in PA.

What started as flurries when we arrived turned slowly into a full blown winter storm, dumping an astonishing 4 inches of pow in 2-3 hours (wow-wee!). We stepped inside for a relaxing lunch, followed by a french vanilla coffee with Manner wafers to watch the flakes get bigger as they fell outside. Brian and I kind of knew this would happen and absolutely love surprises (albeit expected)- especially powdery ones! We cranked out as many runs as possible on this little mountain only to be halted by sleet for no more than 15 minutes that turned into a freezing rain and ruining the pow beneath our skis as we tele-smacked our way down the mountain. At this point we both agreed it would be wise to stop while we were ahead and make moves for Morgantown.

Upon returning to the car, we were greeted with a nice, thick glaze on everything:















A quick brush-off, a step to the gas-pedal and a couple breaths later we stopped in Uniontown at a bomb-diggity shnittle-bang family Italian restaurant for a Yueng-Ling and cheese covered pasta followed by a rich desert accompanied by a coffee. Some days life can be so good you can taste it in your mouth by the end, staying stoked with good vibes and good company, those are the days full of pleasant surprises.

Ski tour reward

So the other morning we woke up to quite a lovely surprise, a delicious frosting covering everything outside! As I had finished my finals just the day before, I thought it well suited to enjoy a mellow ski tour up to my favorite local forest, Coopers Rock.

The snow was a soft velvety powder that provided for excellent glide characteristics, I reckoned there was about 4 inches and in the open meadows, drifts up to 6 inches. I was all alone on the trails on this day, just me, the subtle ripple of the wind and nature's sugar. The trail was quite a meandering one, taking me up and down and all around- but maintaining a nice high altitude above 2,000 feet. I hope this will not be my last ski tour in WV for a while!

The tranquility of the landscape took me for a dream!

It was really nice to get out after such a tough week a slave to my course work, there is nothing better to reward oneself than with a laid-back ski tour (-:

P.S. If you are wondering where the pole is for my left hand, it is supporting the camera for this candid shot.

Mountain climbing technique

Technique is more necessary in mountaineering than most other sports, a small mistake can easily cost you your life. A regular neighborhood game of soccer rarely carries such risks. The climbing itself is not the difficult part, maintaining a sense of clarity in the face of danger is the most daunting task. While climbing requires strength, agility and endurance- these qualities are of no use to an individual who lacks good reasoning skills.

Using your head helps you to develop physical qualities that shine brightly when climbing. Technique offsets danger, keeping climbing as an obscure sport that does not flirt between life and death, but relishes in the connection of you with nature and the elements. Many situations are out of your hands, a rock breaks loose, a storm approaches, these experiences shape one's ability to assess risks. That is what mountain climbing is, a constant and deliberate assessing of risks. By knowing one's own ability or even one's self (among the toughest self-examining traits), one can stay within their limit. For that is the greatest thrill of climbing, the simplicity of; yourself, the rock, and the challenges that lay ahead. The imminent challenges of climbing reflect to life itself, applying technique, taking a risk, and seeing where it takes you.

Leisured climbing in suburbia

Thanksgiving break for students is traditionally marked by relaxing, sleeping, eating lots of turkey and for some- dreaming about climbing (-; After exercising patience all week, sitting around and eating everything there is to eat, I made some phone calls and made moves for Carter Rocks, Maryland. Carter Rocks sits along the Potomac river just across from Virginia. A mere 60 feet tall at its highest point and perhaps a quarter mile in length, Carter Rocks is nothing to brag about.

My old friend Dan accompanied me and our climbing style for the day was traditional. I led the first route, brushing off the initial joy of anticipation. It was not so difficult, "for good technique combined with fitness is all that is needed to overcome the difficulties" (Gaston Rébuffat). We had only the time for two routes, so after Dan had conquered the climb, we moved on to a simulated multi-pitch route. It was excellent opportunity to practice setting gear, in a safe setting where one is not so tired as to make silly mistakes and time can allow for endless creativity. About 15 feet up, I set up an anchor, I was particularly fond of my nut placements, for the crack was bursting with tapers:

I belayed Dan up to my stance and then he belayed me to the top (another 15 feet). While it was a short route, it high lighted the important procedure to exchanging gear and switching belays quickly.

That is all for now, I am back in West Virginia, hopefully there will be opportunities to place more gear, even with finals looming on the horizon...