<![CDATA[DrTelemark.com - Dr. Telemark's Blog]]>Thu, 09 May 2024 11:04:38 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Frontcountry Musings]]>Fri, 02 Mar 2018 00:23:57 GMThttp://www.drtelemark.com/dr-telemarks-blog/frontcountry-musingsWell, it been a while and much has changed - including where I live now.  After several decades in Seattle, it was time for a change of venue.  With a property in the Methow Valley in Washington State that pulled me eastward, I made the move to Winthrop, Washington.  

Winthrop is the hub of the largest cross-country skiing system in North America with over 200 km of trails that wind up several valleys and mountains that surround the Methow River.  Adjacent to these incredible trails, are numerous mountains that are just a few minutes from home and when the snow is deep enough, these "frontcountry" mountains become a playground to backcountry skiers and riders. It is now March, when we expect the snows to taper off and head into spring, yet we are getting out into the hills exploring new terrain that I have never skied before.  This place is rich with places to discover, which is one of the true pleasures of ski touring.  Finding new runs, trying different aspects of slopes as the snow conditions dictate, being out with friends soaking in the majestic views of the Cascade Range, - all within a short drive from home.  That is the beauty of this place.  Sure, there are four seasons of outdoor activities to do here but no other sport can really match the wide open adventure of climbing up a new ridge in the winter and finding a great bowl to ski that is untouched and carving it up.  Check out my YouTube channel for videos of some of these tours.
]]><![CDATA[A July Snow Adventure]]>Fri, 03 Jul 2015 04:28:24 GMThttp://www.drtelemark.com/dr-telemarks-blog/a-july-snow-adventureAfter a dismal backcountry ski season in the Pacific Northwest, we watched the snow melt away rapidly and our summer activities started early.  Then came the email - my film, "The Ritual" was accepted to be premiered at the New Zealand Mountain Film Festival.  Yes, New Zealand in July.  Winter - new snow and a chance to ski in a whole new part of the world.  

So our adventure begins in the Southern Alps of the south island at the NZ Mountain Film Festival in Wanaka.  There has been a little snow high up at the ski areas - just enough to have them open for business when we arrived yesterday.  I'm hoping for more new snow, less gale force winds as it gets deposited these next few days and hopefully a chance to carve some turns in the southern hemisphere.  
 
More as the story develops.
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]]><![CDATA[A New Season]]>Sun, 26 Oct 2014 16:03:10 GMThttp://www.drtelemark.com/dr-telemarks-blog/a-new-seasonIt's that time again. The cool, wet days have returned to Seattle after a stellar summer of sun and warmth.  It feels like a switch has been flipped nearly every year, though the timing of when it happens does vary quite a bit.  This year it was in mid-October.

The early dustings of snow in the Cascades are transient.  It snows lightly, warms up a bit, rains, then melts the new snow away.  Just like the rain in the lowlands, there is an event - a snowfall that actually heralds the coming of the cold air to the high elevations begins the lay down the new base of snow that won't melt away until the summer.  We actually want that snow to be more dense here in the Northwest. Those first layers often do get a little rain on them which compacts them as the layer bonds to the surface below.  That bonding keeps us from having deep, climax slides that rip all of the snow down to the earth that we seen in the mountain states.  We have had some years with a very cold early season and those have led to greater loss of life in the backcountry from avalanches.

The forecast is for a la Nina year - warmer and wetter overall.  But really its about the timing - if the precipitation comes mostly when its a colder front, we'll get plenty of snow. That's what we are hoping for - plenty of snow and a well bonded snowpack.  Bring it on so we can get our board on and earn some turns!

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