Dead

This winter has killed quite a few people, none that I knew well personally, but two that I had met before and followed since they were somewhat of skier celebrities. One especially named Rando Steve, whose site i've always had linked at tetonat.com. His site was inspirational and key to exposing me to some of the skiing possibilities in the Tetons. As Spring approaches I find myself noticing the absence of his weekly updates on new ski lines and current conditions up high. It's also a motivator to better document what I've done and be better at sharing for the sake of others, and myself. Steves site speaks wonders for what he has contributed to skiing as a whole.

run of the mill "hating"

Woke up this morning horribly disappointed in the skiff Logan and its mtns receives overnight; especially considering Big Sky MT has gotten something like 9 in the past 24 hrs. This hits particularly close to home when considering where I was 3 weeks ago...

It was 40 degrees at 8500' yesterday in the Bear River Range, meaning anything but steep North faces covered in trees got baked by the sun. Probably better to just stay low and get some work done. I always say this, but I'll say it again. Right now Utah is experiencing a heat wave, a high of 40 + degrees up at 8500' meanwhile the high is nearly half that at 22 degrees a few hrs North. WInter is in full swing other places while utah is enjoying a heat wave. Where's winter?

Some new years pow at the Ghee

Benjerbrains taking care of buissness

Daddy Hansen gettin' it on

Check it out, sub-zero and bone dry weather in Rexburg ID, lead to a sweet backyard ice tower!

To Ski or Not to Ski...

Its that time of year when skiing is a pain in the ass, usually worth it, but always a gamble. Actually its been a pain in the ass for a few months now. The fact that waiting one more week could change the game considerably leads to a habitual procrastination traditionally only encountered when attending school...

More Pix From the Weekend

Grand Weekend

Nice Sunrise

Going Up

What!!!???

Yup!!!

Priceless...

Testing testing

Mendon Peak, Wellsvilles

Supposedly the Wellsvilles are the steepest range in the world (base width compared to vertical relief) I doubt thats true but its still a pretty steep narrow range, the 1st pix is looking over the ridge on the other side, is basically 1 mtn wide, and kindof a cool aspect with the Bear River in the background. Solo today, but pretty quick averaging an ascent rate of 1750' per hour, it only took two hrs to top out at 9000'+ for a nice 3500' run.

More than meets the eye

USU is probably the most under rated "ski-school" around, first thoughts usually go to MSU, U of U or something in Colorado. Beaver Mountain is adequate to take care of you're next date, but it's not going to induce much blood flow (I guess that would depend on the date) :) (forgive me :/) The Bear River Range and surrounding area receives close to 400" a year, that's worthy of attention.. Peaks pretty much top out just below 10K, and with a sled for access they can become very accessible. Plus, you're not sharing any of it with a bunch of college kids.

Keep your eyes peeled for Cache Valley's first B.C. Guidebook sometime next year...

Lately...

Its been quite a while since last posting anything on here, that doesn't mean nothings been happening...

Our objective

Transport

Harvesting

You get the idea...

Obligatory Scenics

Always wishing for more time

Grand Targhee Leash Law: Abolish it!

I have held a season pass

at Grand Targhee resort for over 8 consecutive years, needless to say I ski your resort a lot. I am contacting the resort because of their recently aggressive implementation of the required "leash" law for skis without brakes. It has been enforced in the past, and I've been complying until now. I telemark, my bindings do not release, and do not have brakes. I have never accidentally released, and never needed breaks. Leashes put me at increased risk of becoming buried in an avalanche. Ask any avalanche expert and they will tell you the same; leashes are a death sentence in an avalanche because they completely limit the skiers/riders ability to escape his or her equipment in an avalanche; an action that could save your life if caught. While Targhee isn't extreme avalanche terrain, there are areas that have the potential. Yes, I realize that your ski patrol controls for such conditions, however, their work is imperfect. Just look at areas like Jackson Hole, Snowbird etc. These areas have both had multiple avalanche fatalities in the last 5 years, IN BOUNDS!!!! They DO NOT REQUIRE LEASHES! I may stand to be corrected here but I've never been asked to show them, and I've never been turned away for lack thereof. Their patrols are arguably more experienced and better trained than Targhee's is, meaning your resort isn't above everyone else. Targhee has several areas of easily assessable hike-to avalanche terrain, Mary's Nipple and Das Boat to name a few. You have backcountry access gates, which also lead to slide areas. There is a considerable amount of avalanche terrain within and just outside the resort capable of sliding and burying someone; your leash law is completely ignorant and inconsiderate. I understand your current reasoning behind leashes, you are worried about a loose ski hitting somebody. How often does getting hit by a loose ski kill someone verses getting hit by an avalanche? Alpine skiers aren’t required to wear leashes because they supposedly have brakes that can stop the ski. I’m here to tell you I have NEVER witnessed a ski eject from a person and stop because of brakes! Especially in soft snow, which Targhee is rather well known for. Conventional ski brakes are practically useless besides holding a ski in place while stepping in. Alpine skis that release probably account for more injuries than either snowboards or telemark skis. I've witnessed multiple runaway alpine skis and I've never witnessed a runaway telemark ski. Another hazard of leashes is the possibility of getting the leash caught on something while skiing. It’s happened to me multiple times in tight trees, and has nearly resulted in my leg getting ripped off! Once I snagged a tree and was caught practically hanging upside down, I was trapped because I couldn’t reach up and release the leashes. Last, it’s just inconvenient, there are enough people struggling to get equipment on and off at the bottom of the lift, having to struggle with leashes is just one more pain. I see countless boarders going up the lifts without getting checked for leashes, and they obviously don’t have them, while I literally am forced to lift up my ski pants to prove I have leashes.

Please re-think your policy on leashes, whether it is changed to take into account backcountry users or be abolished completely. You won’t allow me to access the ski lift without the leashes, but rest assured I will be removing them as soon as I get to the top of the hill! Your policy is a joke…

Duc Tape

Just my opinion here,(I am a certified W-EMT-B multiple first aid classes etc.) My father is a surgeon, and I have been attending wilderness medicine conferences for well over five years, what I am about to say reflects many of the opinions of what these guys are saying at the conferences; DUCT TAPE

I am a big fan of just duct tape, or even really high quality athletic tape, and here's why. First aid kits come with all kinds of jargon, bandaids, blister pads, tylenol, blood clotting agents, gauze, "sterile" wipes tweezers and bandaids, tourniquets, bee sting kits (ive never seen a bee at 10,000' in winter, have you?) sissy scissors (just use your multi tool) bla bla bla. But honestly, what can any of these accomplish that duct tape can't? How often do you use that shit? How often is it destroyed when you actually need it? (we witnessed a perfect example with the OP), and how much money is wasted on it? Chances are it will all go unused, serves only 1 purpose, and until it is needed it will degrade and fall apart in your pack. Furthermore, 90% of the price you paid probably went to the packaging or case. The rest is just fancy toilet paper. I've never seen a first aid kit remain new and un-damaged from being carried around for a season. It's gonna get soiled if you take it with you. That means your "sterile" guaze isn't really that clean anymore, neither are your shears etc. You're only as clean as your dirtiest item and it's pointless to worry about being "sterile" when you are mere hours from rescue. Our bodies can handle a lot, and the riggors and hazards of a day in the BC can easily be met, and dealt with in the bc with duct tape.
Look at items that you actually need, and then sort through what might be luxury. Ibuprofin might be nice for a headache, but it won't make the difference between getting out or staying the night. Its simply comfort related. We are in the mtns, if you want comfort go rent a suite at the Holiday Inn. Regular grade bandages are junk, fall off if wet at all, and have limited coverage anyways. Any cut small enough for a bandaid probably isn't serious enough to get ansy about, if it is use duct tape. You shouldn't have to worry about any horrible bacteria environments in the BC, and if you are planning on leaving within a day, there isn't enough time for a huge infection to start either. DO you wash you're hands after taking a piss in the woods? I don't either and I haven't gotten sick yet, chances are it won't hurt the guy you're helping. Cleaning the wound off would be great, but clean water will do just about as much good as saline, which is all they'll use in the E.R. anyway. It's not like you are going to wipe to wound out with an alcohol pad, so why carry one? I'm not super concerned about transmitted diseases because I know most of my pals pretty well, their habits and history, that might be of importance if you're sketched out, but chances are if someone gushing enough blood out there to get on you, you will be far more concerned with stopping it and rubber gloves won't do much to keep yourself isolated anyway. This may sound selfish, but I carry what I need for me and my group only, I'm not taking care of the rest of the hooligans out there. I'll stop and provide as much assistance to a person in need as I can, but I'm not lugging around stuff JUST for them and some scenario that happens once every ten years.
Duct tape can be used for splints, slings, repairs, tourniquets, blisters, face mask barrier for mouth to mouth, you name it. And its better at those jobs than any of the specific commercially sold items with one purpose. If you are desperate for something to soak up blood with use extra clothing or a handkerchief. Most of us will be carrying an extra layer around anyways so use that, with duct tape. Don't worry about getting cold cuz you're probably working you ass off to get yourselves out (unless this is a remote multi day thing) The only exception is pain killers, but lets be honest, if some dude busted his femur out there I really doubt a few soggy ibuprofen will make a difference(unless the entire bottle is ingested) you're better off getting your hands on a bit more powerful potion or you may as well not carry anything... Even duc-tape can be fashioned into something to bite onto, hell, if they don't shut up, put some over their mouth.
Please keep in mind that if you are really remote then its a whole other ball game, but I haven't ever had the need for anything other than duct tape. I can't really foresee a situation where I wouldn't need it. Also remember that prevention is the best medicine, smart thinking and practice eliminates accidents (shit can still happen) and when it does you've got duct tape. Knowing who you are with and their needs is also important, and you should adjust accordingly. The strongest selling point in all this is duc tape has multiple uses, it's also capable of assisting in fashioning a shelter, and repairing broken gear ie: torn coats, zippers, broken boot buckles etc. It will get you out of there. I heard glucose mentioned, but can't a pack of gu energy gel double?
Once you start adding things to cover every scenario you head down the endless tunnel of preparedness and you'll en up lugging around ten pounds of supplies. If you're like me you'll know that carrying a ton of crap around isn't fun, especially stuff that you'll more than likely not use. Do yourself a favor, ditch the first aid kit and invest in a roll of duc tape.

__________________

Tony Grove Solo

Earning It

view from the top is always better

virgin run

mandatory yours truly pose

sweet sunset...

I saw a porcupine crawl in its den, a nice deer and a herd of about 20 elk just as it was getting too dark for pix, all in all a sweet evening with some even better turns.

Here it goes...

A pictures worth a thousand words, I don't think I need to say anything else...

Skiing in Logan??? no way

Today's trip was surprisingly good, even though we got the truck stuck and had to hike a ways. Skies were clear and we could see the Uintas and the Wasatch to the South, we even had some pretty good snow to boot!

eye candy, future objectives...

Evidence...

Your's truly

Cade Searle

Props to my little bro!

Benjamin James Hansen

Video Forthcoming...

Looks like it's coming down hard, maybe enough for some turns by the end of the week!

WYO22TetonPassWest.jpg

The pass wecam is usually a great way to see if its snowing at night because there are lights.

Get Ready...

SIGNIFICANT MOUNTAIN SNOWFALL POSSIBLE SUNDAY INTO MONDAY

AFTER A PROLONGED MILD AND DRY FALL...A STRONG STORM SYSTEM IS POISED TO BRING MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES...AND WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION ACROSS WESTERN WYOMING EARLY NEXT WEEK. SIGNIFICANT HIGHER ELEVATION SNOWFALL COULD OCCUR MAINLY ALONG AND WEST OF THE DIVIDE SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. SNOW AMOUNTS OF 6 TO 10 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE ABOVE 7500 FEET ALONG WITH 10 TO 12 INCHES POSSIBLE IN PORTIONS OF THE TETONS ABOVE 9000 FEET BY MONDAY MORNING. 1 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOWFALL ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WESTERN VALLEYS WITH 3 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOWFALL POSSIBLE IN THE NORTHERN JACKSON VALLEY BY MONDAY MORNING. HUNTERS AND OTHERS HAVING OUTDOOR INTERESTS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THIS MAJOR CHANGE IN THE WEATHER LATE THIS WEEKEND. SOME SNOWFALL WILL LIKELY IMPACT THE WESTERN VALLEYS AND BASINS. PLEASE KEEP INFORMED ON THIS DEVELOPING STORM SYSTEM.

Selling some gear

I'm trying to get rid of some gear to raise a little cash and make room for more, a 2006 Jackson Fun Kayak and a Custom Igneous Snowboard are up for grabs, if you're interested shoot me an email: sambhansen@gmail.com