The Life Unbound is a web series based around the experiences that have brought Weston and I together and which perpetuate our desire to continue reaching for our dreams.

Each 3-5 min Webisode will be jammed packed with imagery, action, and adventures that evoke a sense of what it takes to live the Big Mountain life style. From skiing epic big mountain lines, to down days, and night jobs we go beyond the glossy cover shot or film segment to the stories of hardship, joy, humor and success.

With a new Canon 7D, a few GoPros and a some help from our buddy/ photographer/ Mtn Ranks Owner Ross Downard we hope to capture images and stories that will captivate and inspire our viewers.
HUGE THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTING SPONSORS FOR MAKING OUR DREAM A REALITY!!!

TREW         TWENTYTWO DESIGNS      BACKCOUNTRY ACCESS  

BLACK DIAMOND             SCARPA           4FRNT

BACKCOUNTRY.COM       HESTRA         SMITH OPTICS      CW-X

Here are a couple images I am super stoked on that are a part of the issue. Check em out! Then go get your own copy so you can experience the best Issue yet!!!

Thanks To Telemark Skier Magazine for publishing this image in a format that does it justice!

Thanks To IceFall Lodge, BC for giving us the opportunity to be there!

Thanks to Paige Braidy, Candy Froerer, Martha Burly, and of Course Photographer and Great Friend Re Wikstrom For Capturing the Biggest Cliff I have ever hit.

The next Image was the only day I went out to shoot photos last season before tearing my ACL. The first sizable cliff of the season. The first run of the day.  And the first shoot and first shot that I have ever done with Grant Gunderson.

I’d say it turned out pretty well!!!

The Photo Annual is just dropping! With more great content written by fellow athletes and advocates, it marks the culmination of a lot of hard work by last years TSM Crew.

It was a wonderful team to be a part of and I think we all crushed it last season! Looking forward to seeing what the new Crew creates.

I am truly lucky to have such amazing sponsors that hook me up with the hottest in threads and gear. Here is a little sneak peak of what I will be rocking this year…

The boys over at Trew have got it going on! Their outerwear is insanely technical yet beyond stylish. Bringing a little bit for everyone from loud colors to mellow tones, they have what you are looking for!

Smith Optics has been a leader in eye wear for much longer than I can remember. From fun sunglasses that will flare up your day or night to super technical goggles that will have you seeing clear through the storm these guys do the job right!

Hestra makes some killer gloves and I just love the way they feel. Whether skinning up on a cold morning, or skiing epic blower they keep my hands dry and warm.

CW-X has been helping me come back from tearing my ACL last season. With there anatomical fit that supports muscles both as they develop and to help aid in fatigue, these keep my body warm and muscles feeling strong.

I have been working with Scarpa for about 5 years now and there is no other boot that I would trust to hold up to the big airs, steep lines, and long skin tracks that make up my days, weeks, and months of the ski season. The T-race is the best 75ml boot on the market hands down. If you like to charge hard and haven’t gotten on a pair I say give it a whirl and you will never look back!

The boys of 22designs have been leading the charge on the big mountain circuit for quite some time. The Axl is your do it all free pivot touring binding, that is agile enough for those long approaches, yet burly enough to ski whatever you dare on the way down.

BCA has been a leader in snow safety equipment for quite some time, but recently they have started really building on their backpack line. Offering comfortable, smart pack designs which have obviously been built by and for people who spend much time out of the resort. Whether you are looking for a small Stash pack for your slack country adventures or you are going full boar with a Float airbag pack you will not be disappointed.

Head on over to www.backcountry.com to view more styles and get your fall gear geek-out on!

San Juan

For the past four years I have taken December and January to be a time of not only building my legs, and excitement but also building my understanding of the snow and mountains, where I spend most of my days. This season I chose to take my knowledge and dedication of understanding our snow to the next level.

Jayson & Mike demoing a pit profile

Previously I had taken the level 1 AIARE Avalanche course, the Freeride Avalanche Summit over at snowbird, and countless refreshers, beacon clinics, and snow study discussions and seminars. This season, however I have decided to embark on a path a little more involved, marking the beginning of my long sojourn into the world of backcountry guiding.

Companion Rescue under the Shadow of Mount Crested Butte

There are many ways to approach such a career, but I thought there was no better way to begin this process than by working on becoming a snow science educator. The way I see it, if I am going to make a life out of being in the backcountry I want to make sure that the people I share that environment with are equally in the know of the potential hazards, proper travel and rescue techniques, and have and know how to use their avi rescue gear, because

…well, you never know who might be the one there to save you.

Probing On a line

DIG!!

So, the first step was to take my level II Avalanche course. I chose to go through Crested Butte Mountain Guides as they have some of the most highly experienced and accomplished instructors, not to mention that learning the science of snow in some of the most dangerous and unstable snowpack in the country seemed to be an excellent opportunity to really get my hands dirty.

Weston D. Looking Studious

So on the 16th of December I packed up my truck and headed out with Weston D. for Crested Butte, CO.

Staying warm in the shadows

I am not one of those people who loved school, or even excelled in the classroom environment, so needless to say embarking on this more classroom and science oriented program was more than slightly unnerving. Never-the-less I pushed on, following my desire to become a professional in the outdoors (beyond my career as an athlete).

Breaking Trail

With a new notebook, my BCA snow study kit, beacon probe, shovel, saw and a mind ready to be filled with terms, data, and concepts I headed into the classroom.

Column Test

During the course of our Level 2, C.B. proceeded to get hammered with a southwest flow, locally known as “The Pineapple Express“. We received over 5 ft of snow in our three days and the storm could not have provided a better venue for learning and exploring in depth the bonding, layering, metamorphic process and a slew of other topics and concepts.

The Face Test...Yup tasty!!!

Weston D. Getting a quality education

With a mind full of new dorky data and information based around snow crystal type and temperature gradient, I returned home to Utah just in time for the holiday season to kick into gear. I waded through the onslaught of family and friends all vying for attention, tried to catch a couple pow days in between, and just surrendered to the fact that, until  my AIARE Instructor Training Course in January, my life was gonna be hectic.

Hoodoo Tele Fest

Josh Madsen and Cody Smith Manning the NTN/ Telemark skier Demo Tent

Michelle and Shahib Just a couple of the charicters at the Fest

Jarl Berg all smiles after putting on another successful tele fest!

So on it went, and yes it was quite crazy, even managed to squeeze in a trip to Sister’s Oregon for Hoodoo’s annual Tele Festival. But, like you always do, I managed to make it through.

So here I now sit, having just completed my Instructor Training Course.

The view from Montrose

Being re-inspired by developing a new goal and vision for my future has been a really exciting process, one that started this past summer. However, I have decided that I really have to make sure that this “vision” I have for my future actually feels right in reality. While the Level 2 was the start and a prerequisite for the ITC (Instructor Training Course), it was not indicative of my hoped future career.

Red Mountain Pass

The real test was heading to Silverton, CO for my ITC. I headed out there alone, with the only familiarity being the Triangle Motel where I had stayed last year with the Trew Crew, and was staying again. It is interesting, when you come out of a period of feeling a bit lost and fragmented, those pieces tend to realign themselves, offering such clarity. And that was the space I was in heading out to Silverton last Sunday. I headed out with the only expectation of experiencing something new and by the end of the course feeling out weather my supposed path was holding up to reality.

Silverton

The course could not have been more inspirational, educational, and valuable. Tom Murphy, Tim Brown, and Ben Pritchett came to the table with years of invaluable experience, clear teaching techniques, and a free flowing concept of a continued development framework that highlighted AIARE’s dedication to the continual growth a progression of Avalanche awareness and education.

Pulling into town

It was an intensive 3 day course with each student teaching one mock level 1 section and an overall frame work of learning the Level 1 curriculum, Teaching techniques and skills, and then furthering our professional development on all aspects.

Ben Prichett leading classroom discussion

Tom Murphy leading Day two in the field

Josh, cleaning the walls

With only three days it is hard to imagine that so much could be accomplished. I was quite fortunate to be in a group and a class filled with seasoned guides, educators, and rescue workers all who had previously been in professional leadership roles dealing with backcountry safety. Now, at another point in my life (or even two weeks ago) I would have felt completely in adequate and self conscious. However, with my newly re-acquired perspective I was able to feel only inspired and look up to each of my classmates as mentors. With their experience they were able to ask insightful questions, add phenomenal first hand accounts that were applicable to the topics, and provide analytical commentary.

Murphy giddy with his EXTREME Saw

Tilt Test

The course came and went and I felt like a sponge trying to soak up each morsel of information. I am not sure anyone could absorb, in entirety, the multitude of ideas and concepts of the three days. However, I do know that I have been inspired!

Pre Trip Meeting

Green team gathering at the trail head for our final day tour

Tim Brown guiding us through a Level one "perfect tour"

On the March

It is now the middle of January and I am finally feeling the flow. I have completed the first major step on this new journey and am hungry to start practicing my new skills and see where this all will lead.

Up Track

The first Item is not the most cuddly of soft goods, hell it may not even be in this category, but without it those long fall days would be unbearable and the first couple months on snow would just feel a bit less inspired. Yes, i am talking about the one and only, Powder Magazine. This may not save your life if you catch yourself in avalanche terrain, it may not keep your fingers from frost bite, it may not even help you see when the light gets flat. But what Powder will do for you is keep your heart beating, blood pumping and inspiration ignited any time you are off the slopes. So stop by your local mag stand or ski shop and grab yourself the latest Photo Annual and start getting more creative on the mountain this year! While your at it Check out page 66:)

Wikstrom Feature With Shaun HUCK

BC Huck!!

So after you have gotten yourself all amped and ready to go HUGE!! You are really going to want to ensure that your noggin is going to survive the next day on the slopes so that you can remember that huge back flip you pulled and stomped. The Helmet of choice… Smith Maze. This Helmet is light, comfy, and does the job. If you are a woman make sure you check out the New Allure Helmet. It is the same as the Maze, except it has a little smaller fit and a little more fuzz around the ears to keep us a bit warmer.

Maze Looks great and feels even better

After you have your noggin protected we want to make sure that you are able to see where you’re going. The goggles of Choice- The Smith Phenom and I/O are my two top pics. Both of these goggles are part of Smith’s Integrated fit. Where the vents on the helmet works with the vents on the goggles to keep your lenses from fogging and your vision impeccable at all times. Not to mention that the style is just Rad!

Smith Goodies

Now that we have your head and face protected lets get down to the warm and cuddly stuff…

Weather your riding a lift, Skinning to the summit or taking sled laps, the key to a comfy day is in your base layers. That’s why I suggest CW-X as the ultimate performance base layer. Not only will the synthetic poly pro keep you dry, but the anatomical fit works with you body’s muscle configuration to support and reduce the amount of fatigue your muscles feel during a long day in the mountains. They have all different styles, and performance types so check out there website to figure out which style would be best for your body type and activity and then head over to Backcountry.com to get yourself some!

Trew Love

Outer Wear is key and I am beyond stoked that I came across the boys of Trew Gear about two years ago. Trew is a small company based out of Hood River Oregon. They have a mission statement that can be summed up in one word, “Technistylish”. They are using some of the most technically advanced fabrics and cuts in combination with some of the most cutting edge fashion forward designs to create a truly unique line that merges style and function. Constantly mixing it up these guys came out this season with a fresh line that was a complete departure from the loud colors of seasons past. This season Trew is using creative paneling and a mellow color pallet to show that your cloths don’t have to have loud colors to pop.  This line not only keeps you looking and feeling good but with the big “Thumbs Up” Logo it’s bound to spread the stoke to your buddies and that weird guy who has been check you out in the lift line.

Trew Crew

Hands and feet can either make your epic pow day truly Awesome or they have the ability to make it truly unbearable, leaving you shivering, swinging your arms, kicking your legs, with that lump in your throat and those thoughts in your mind like,  “really am I gonna cry right now?” “If I cry and my toe falls off will my buddies still make fun of me?” “I think I might Puke!!!”. Yes we have all been there, and the answer is no, don’t cry. Yes your buddies will make fun of you no matter what. The answer! for your hands get yourself a pair of Hestra gloves. These things are hands down the warmest and most functional glove on the market. Whether you choose my two favorites, the Seth 3 finger Pro or the Kaj & Severre Pro model or just go with the Patrol glove you will never have to worry about shedding a tear over your mitts again. As for your tootsies… Well I use many different brands, but they all have one thing in common, Wool! I stay clear of synthetic fabrics when it comes to my feet.

Skinning In

The final piece of soft good advice I leave to you is this… Make sure whatever your rockin you feel comfortable. No point sagging your pants if you just have to keep pulling them up mid run, no point wearing super low pro “techy fit” clothing if your gonna be freezing your ass off all winter. Be warm, stay comfortable, and remember while outer wear is stlylie you look your best when you are feeling your best!

Keeping Warm

Getting deep at Alta

Early season is one of the most exciting times of the year. Not only is the hunger for the snow at its peak, after 4 grueling months of playing in the dirt and rocks biding the time till the snow returns and offers that soft and fluid canvas once again, but the onslaught of new toys and gear that taunt you in every magazine and shop begin to call you to purchase and play… Or in my, very fortunate case, the gear just starts showing up, like a preemptive Christmass, in brown boxes of all sizes.

Weston D. Climbing Up to Gunsight

pow

I kicked off this season, like most, by attending the Utah Avalanche Organization‘s Conference down in SLC. The conference is held each year to review incidences of the past season, new procedures, protocols, theories about snow safety and/or study, and as a general refresher to blow out those cobwebs that may have built up over the summer months. This is a great way to remind yourself that what we do is quite dangerous, but by TAKING A COURSE and PRACTICING with you beacon, shovel, and probe we can mitigate that risk and have a fun and safe winter.

winter is here!

The UAC offers plenty of resources on their site to aid you in finding an avalanche course that is right for you, as well as many other tools such as a glossary, list of past avalanche activity, and much more.

http://utahavalanchecenter.org is the first piece of gear in my 2010/11 review and it gets 5+STARS:

Itis not only is free but it is an endless resource that can save the people you ride/ski with and your own life.

Avalanche Course

It is not enough to sit at home with a hot cup of coffee or a cold beer and read about the snow pack, what a beacon is, or how to ski cut a slope, rather we need to be a bit more proactive when it comes to ensuring that every day we get to go home and wake up tomorrow to play again. This is where an avalanche course comes into play. Not only are you spoon fed crucial information in a classroom environment by some of the most qualified snow safety professionals, but then you are able to apply those skills on the mountain in a controlled environment where you can feel what it would be like in an actual avalanche scenario.

Backcountry Access Tracker 2

BCA is a leader in snow safety tools and equipment and last year they revamped their beacon, with faster triple antenna processing, sleeker profile, and easier search mode, while keeping the simple interface and proving once again that simplicity is quite sweet.

**The best beacon is the one you know how to use and practice with**

BCA Arsenal Stash Shovel

Weather you go with the Arsenal probe or saw stash, this is a great system, that not only saves space in your pack but also saves crucial  seconds when rescue is needed. The saw and probe system do not require you to dismember the shovel to access them, allowing the shovel shaft and blade to be fully functional with or with out the probe or saw in, which means you can probe, find your buddy, and start digging right away!

BCA Stash BC

This pack will have you cruising up the skin pack knowing that you have all the necessities for a fun day of bagging your local peaks without bogging you down or making it so when you take the skins off you feel that you are pulled to the back seat, causing you to wonder why you just hiked for 4 hours to make quad burning survival turns down an open face of pow. The Stash BC is back this season with a sleek, no muss-no fuss exterior that has a sweet noose ski carry system, stowable/removable helmet carry system, mud room pocket (for probe, shovel, saw), hydration system, and many more features that will save you from looking like you are having a garage sale every time you want to grab a snack or another layer.

TwentyTwo Designs AXL

This binding will rock your world!!!! As the winner of Telemark Skier Magazine‘s editor’s choice award it has a free pivot tour mode that will have you screaming past your buddies on the skin track and the super responsive spring system will blow their minds as you rip fast, huge lines and stomp every landing.

Scarpa T-Race

The kick-ass boot has just got even more kick ass!! The 2010/11 T-race not only went back to its roots with the red and black color scheme, but Scarpa revised the retro concept of a tour mode on a burly, super stiff race style boot and nailed it! It has been years since I have skied a boot with a tour mode and I have to say I did not realize how much I have missed it. From long skins to even walking across the parking lot I am loving the optional walk mode. But the best part is that when you lock them into ski mode, you don’t feel like they have a walk mode! That coupled with the new intuition liner has me raving and saying kudos to Scarpa.

Rossignol Super 7

Unless you have been living under a rock or in the desert for the past three years, chances are you have read about, heard about, seen, and probably skied the S7. This season, Rossi took it one more step and created a rough and tough, AK ripping big boy- ahchemm… Girl- Ski. Offered in only one size (195cm), the super 7 has been stiffened with metal laminates and a slightly wider platform (117mm)  to give it the rigidity and stability that big lines require.  That coupled with the same side cut ratio as the S7 leads this ski to be the all around big mountain machine that can blast through crud, stay under your feet when mocking, and is nimble enough for those last second directional changes as the terrain unfolds.

So there you have it! That is what I have and will be rocking on all my adventures this season. Start making you Christmas wish lists and/ or saving the change under the couch cushions then go to backcountry.com and feed your addiction!!

Soft Goods!!

Keep checking in as I will be adding a soft goods review, and other reviews as the season progresse as well as more on avalanche and snow safety and as always more travel antics and stories.

Face Shot

A couple weeks ago I went down to Brian Head to do a few days of shuttle laps with the Huck n’ roll team of photographers. The trip was incredible! We had an all time caste including Jenn Berg, Re Wikstrom, Tommy Chandler, Grant Gunderson. We arrived around 2pm and quickly set up camp just out side of the Cedar Breaks National Monument. Within the hour we were all loaded with our bikes into our two vehicles ready to set up the first shuttle of the trip, to hit Dark Hollow.

We hit the trail and immediately I knew this was going to be an epic few days!! The trail was flowy and fast with some techy parts mixed in as well. After shooting tons of photographs and hiking bikes back up sections multiple times, before we knew it we had been out there for about 4 and a half hours just on the one trail and our hopes of squeezing a second lap in was a bit ambitious so we did what any good freeride team does, we started drinking beers as we headed back up to camp to make a fire and prep for a tasty dinner of shrimp fajitas. Yummy!!!

That night we kicked it around the campfire discussing the game plan for the next day. We would hit Bunker Creek and then hit up BlowHard. With great anticipation I crawled into my tent. Around 6:30am my eyes popped open as the realization of where I was cut through my dreamy mind. I jumped out of my tent and was welcomed into the day by watching the peach sky gently waking up The Cedar Break formation as well as the rays of the sun silhouetting the Peak at Brian Head. It was an invigorating way to start the day.

As the rest of the crew rolled out of their tents the scent of backcountry coffee and breakfast simmered out of camp. With full tummies and amped bodies we hit Bunker Creek. It was a fun trail with a few pedally sections, but we got some great shots. As we reached the shuttle truck the clouds started moving in and with further discussion we decided that Blow hard was a ride best left for tomorrow and that Pizzono’s, the local pizzeria, was our most intended destination. We ate more pizza then our exhausted bodies could or should probably be tolerant and then it was off to bed.

The next morning we woke, had some oatmeal, and then it was off to Blowhard. It’s a magnificent trail with the first few miles riding along the Breaks. Stunning views and a few exposed areas to really let you know you were riding in southern Utah. Again, hiking back up and taking multiple shots made for an extra long decent and by the tme we reached the shuttle Jen and Tommy had to start their journey back to Sal Lake City. Re, Grant and myself were more opened and decided to hit Dark Hollow again, without cameras. Despite an interesting flat tire, we made it down in relatively good time.

My goal for hitting Dark Hollow again was to hit this area of red rock spires and shale that I had scoped on our first day. I had decided on the trip that i wanted to start getting into Big Mountain Freeriding and this spot looked like the perfect way to kick it off. It was a little under 500ft. of vertical. So I rode ahead and started the long hike-a bike ascent. If you have never hiked a big DH bike up a lose scree field, I strongly suggest it. Nothing is more character building then trying to keep your footing while maneuvering a 45+ pound bike up a sharp rocky field. At any rate it took about an hour and a half and a few sketch falls to make it to the top. As I put on my knee-shin guards, my elbow pads and my full face my heart rate began to spike. “What was I doing up on this scree field?” With no trails and just a crazy lose descent in front of me. “What was I thinking?” Then I began to look at it through my skier eyes, suddenly it did not look so steep and my line became clear. I yelled down to Re, who was shooting from the bottom “Dropping” Next thing I knew I was surfing the shale, feeling confident, while at the same time realizing that my previous concern of cutting myself up on the shale if I skidded out was the least of my worries. Now my focus turned to the fact that I was mocking down this slope and if anything went wrong I would be tomahawking at skier speed down a rock field. Yeah… a spine and neck guard will be my next Huck ‘n Roll purchase! At any rate, miraculously, I made it down. With more adrenaline then I have ever felt before in my life, I threw down my bike and started jumping around in complete elated disbelief. I did it! My first Freeride line. Success!!!

With that accomplishment under my belt we cruised down to the truck, had celebratory beers and made the journey home.

I can not thank the crew at Huck n’ roll enough for inviting me on this adventure!!

The snow totals ranged anywhere from 1″ to 8″ across Utah, and the Uinta’s were looking promising. So, I put on all my new Trew clothing (they have to get broken in some how) brought everything needed incase we found a filled in spot that was actually skiable and started up the road.

As we drove past the Jourdenelle reservoir the skies broke and we could see the fall colors on Deer Valley and Park City Mountain Resort as well as the snowy alpine terrain of Mt. Timpinogos and the provo range.

After a quick stop to take it all in, we jumped back into the truck and continued on. As we headed up the Mirror Lake Hwy I couldn’t help but catch my self staring at the beautiful tapestry of fall colors, while driving through the lower elevations leading through the Uinta National Forest. As the road wound further up through the majestic range we suddenly were faced with a huge herd of cattle casually walking down the center of the scenic byway. I quickly slammed on the breaks, praying that I wouldn’t injure any of my bovine friends.

Weaving through the maze of cow

It was wild, as if we had just pulled up on a scene from an old western. There were cowboys driving the herd of at least two hundred down the paved path. As we weaved through the mooing cattle and yelled “Yah! Yah!” out of the truck window, I couldn’t help but get a sense of time a place, beyond heading up to go snurf, saucer, or ski, to being in a place that holds such a deep history and where so many worked, struggled, and died in an effort live and survive in this landscape. As we cleared the last of the cattle and hit the accelerator heading to our point of play, I felt so fortunate to be part of this environment, this mountain landscape, a place that to me represents play, peacefulness, challange and personal growth.

Wintery vista of Hayden Peak

It was with these thoughts that I summited the pass and roled over to the east side. With vistas that open to Wyoming and the High Uinta Wilderness, the snow grew deeper and the excitement of getting out of the truck and romping around was too much to contain.

We jumped out at Fehr Lake trailhead. After assessing, that while the snow was deep, it just was not quite enough to ski, we brought the only tools that could possibly withstand the versatile conditions that lay before. A Snurfer and a saucer. And in the great spirit of the late and great Shane McConkey, we headed off for an incredible adventure with our $4.99 plastic companions.

Slaying the Log slide on the saucer!

Pond Skimming on the Snurffer

Scoping lines for the coming season

The day was filled with side splitting laughter and an over all sense of freedom and excitement for the winter season to come. On our way home we stopped in to our favorite spot right at the gateway to the national forest, the Samak Smoke House. There Jen and Dave brewed up some hot coffee drinks and made some delicious sandwiches. A perfect way to end an incredible day up in the Uinta’s.

I have always had an innate understanding of the phrase “timing is everything” and in this case it couldn’t have been more true. I got a response that afternoon saying that she was going to pick the team by the end of the week and could I get all my info in before then. Of course I could! So with the heist of a college student finishing the final pages of a term paper minutes before it’s due, I typed, cut, pasted, and linked my way through the forms. I sent it in that evening and waited.

During that waiting period, which happens when you approach any company about representing them, I tend to get hyper obsessive, checking my email just about every time I pass my computer. Maybe it’s that I am still a bit of a rookie who is way over zealous about anything that has to do with skiing, let alone the potential of getting to represent companies that I have yearned to be a part of since I can remember.

At any rate, about three weeks and a couple false alarms later, I got the Hesta team list and sure enough, the last name on the last team listed (the local team) was yours truly. So game on Hestra!