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

Home Sweet Home

The last week has flown. I spent three amazing days in Silverton, got to watch the Hourse drawn Ski Jouring competition down one of Silverton’s main streets, helped

Ski Jouring

Colter getting it done

build a sick acid drop off a hotel for Colter Hinchliffe, Tour up into the East San Jaun’s, Stay in the Treasure Mountain hut which sat at 12,000 ft.  

and accesses some of the gnarliest terrain on the continent, kicked it with good people, great laughs and sick pow.

In the words of my Trew teammate, Pat Sewell, “I LOVE MY LIFE!!!”.

]]> http://www.shaunraskin.com/2010/02/11/silverton-treasure-mountain-hut-wrap-up/feed/ 3 http://www.shaunraskin.com/2010/02/05/silverton-at-dawn/ http://www.shaunraskin.com/2010/02/05/silverton-at-dawn/#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:41:43 +0000 sfraskin http://shaunraskin.com/?p=569 Yesterday I headed out to Silverton, CO to join the the TREW guys for a week of  slaying big pow lines and taking photos in next years gear (which is so SICK!!). It is me and 10 guys for the week. We are staying at this great little motel called the Triangle and heading up to the lift today to roll with one of Silverton’s guide. Looking forward to my first Silverton experience!!