I bought a piece of land today. happy birthday in the form of 5 acres.

I have been inspired by our amazing avalanche conditions to explore more. explore deeper. we do get some stellar stability in our snow pack from time to time, but usually nothing like this. I thank global warming and our incredibly weird warm weather patterns. now it’s time to ski.

I have been doing just that. largely alone. and it has been incredible rewarding. though I have spent a considerable time in the mountains alone, I have never really felt alone. being by yourself out there teaches you things. it keeps you level.

and of all the time I have spent in the mountains.. I guess you become comfortable. you can account your potential threats in few, not in hundreds. I take this for granted, my experience and the simple ease of being out in the woods. through education and experience, there comes a time when you feel comfortable with the concept that snow moves and is ever changing. and you are comfortable in wilderness. you learn to pay attention to the details around you. it’s like an open book, nothing is lurking, it’s all displayed for you. angle of the tress, clearings in the forest, shape of the clouds, direction of the wind, angle of the slope… terrain traps, safe zones, cornices, animal tracks…. you listen. all the time.

I spent a few days recently in a cabin with a bunch of people from missoula I didn’t know. it was an interesting trip. I have never been on a hut trip where I seriously considered leaving after the first couple days. it became very apparent that my game was, well, elevated(?) compared to theirs. which would have been completely fine, if one very scared girl on the same trip would have not hindered my ability to tour and explore the mountains around there deeper.

what a weird scenario to be in. what’s the politically correct way of handling something this? I was stuck in a cabin in Cooke City, with phenomenal playground in front of me, avalanche danger rated low, for like the first time, like, ever. with a foot of fresh powder. dear god. with a group of people of whom some were scared by the snowpack, intimidated by the peaks around us and/or inapt in their skiing abilities. not to mention speed. also being fairly adamant about not allowing me to ski alone.

how can you ever explain to someone, that their comfort level, in your eyes, is completely hysterical. but you can’t. how do you navigate this kind of a dilemma? I see your right to voice your fears in a group and I want to respect that. I know they preached that in your avy I class you just took. but for the love of god. shut up and let me do my thing.

first world problems.

nonetheless. I have been skiing. the resort is dried up right now. and found myself thinking I’m kinda bored with it. did a walk on north summit the other day by myself. not for the faint of heart. it was bullet proof, to powder, to rocks, to wind scoured. lot’s of down climbing. you know, our usual run at big sky. really only did it for the sake of adventure. I knew what it would be, I was bored, wondering why I was at the resort. skied blackmore on tuesday, 4 hour tour complete with a summit lap and a newly discovered going-home-chute. north facing powder trough with a little mandatory in the pinch around the blind corner. when you’re all alone, it becomes a tad more exciting.

but it’s the sort of thing that makes you feel like a super hero at the end of the day.