► Song of the week:
The Herbaliser featuring Roots Manuva: "Lord, Lord"
(hit play and continue reading along with the visual enlightenment)
► Vail Pass (3/1/08):
On this particular day, I met up with Matt and Katie for my first backcountry tour at Vail Pass. Weatherwise, we could not have picked a better day. Completely bluebird skies and temperatures in the mid-40s. Unfortunately, such great weather makes for lousy snow conditions and we were cordially greeted with the most mashed of mashed potatoes I've ever laid my feet on. Nevertheless, a most excellent day was had with great friends.
Some pictures.
(click on images to view in larger size)
Sunrise in Denver:
View towards the skyline under fire from several miles away and at a very fast speed:
Katie admiring the view at Vail pass:
View towards the other side of the mountains:
Earning our turns:
► Vail Pass (3/8/08):
The crew:
The meetup in the parking lot:
The playground (taken from the previous week):
The playground the day of the huck fest:
The skin up towards the goods:
Bernardo digging for pow:
Now it's Dave's turn:
And on goes Marc:
Dave waiting his turn at the top with Cody:
I go last and still manage a little fresh snow:
We then made our way over to a booter already made for us to throw our bodies in the air.
Bernardo goes for a front flip:
Brannen goes for the backie:
Dave's turn:
And now Marc:
And now it's time for the huck fest.
Bernardo again with a front flip:
Brannen stays the course and follow with the backie:
Now it's my turn to huck something twice as big as the biggest I've yet to do. Good thing I had 6 other friends to start counting down from 5 and threatening to take away the cameras. After landing in neck-deep snow, I plan on going bigger next time. Is there any other way?:
Dave is up next and stomps his air ... well almost:
Last is Dave but certainly not least:
We celebrated the day with drinks afterwards and went our many separate ways. Until next time, and of course, there will be many more.
► Berthoud Pass (3/9/08):
On Sunday, I met up with Jason and Bernard for my first trip to Berthoud Pass. Weather was supposed to be cloudy, windy with a wind chill of -5 and a 50% chance of snow showers. We got to the parking lot promptly at 7 AM and were treated to this miserable sight:
And this:
And this:
Poor us, right?
The route up towards the top of the goods:
Jason posing with the tropical storm clouds in the background:
And now for my ugly mug sans hippy beard that had been thriving for the last two-plus months:
Bernard makes the first descent down the hardpack madness!
And now it's Jason's turn at glory:
We got to the bottom of our first lap and were waiting for 20 minutes to catch a ride back to the base. Luckily this guy helped us out:
Bernard at it again:
We take a break from the pow and Jason decides to send it high into the sky:
He soon grew tired of that and decide to SKI RIGHT INTO ME!! So very EXTREME!! (NEED MORE EXCLAMATION MARKS!!!!!)
Bernard trying to get back to the white room:
~ The END ~
► Tough Guy Award of the week:
Army captain loses his leg on Cresta Run
Army captain loses his leg on Cresta Run
By Stephen Adams
Last Updated: 1:54am GMT 06/03/2008
An Army captain survived a six month tour of Iraq unscathed only to have his leg torn off attempting the famous Cresta Run in Switzerland. Captain Bernie Bambury, 32, lost his right leg below the knee after he hit a marker post at a speed of up to 80mph on the 4,000ft-long tobogganing course in St Moritz. His leg was shattered and severed hundreds of yards from the finish.
But the brave soldier, from 4th Battalion The Rifles, completed the run before asking friends: "Is my ankle broken?" He then heard the horrifying reply: "It's not broken, it's gone."
The Army officer underwent nine operations by medics who tried to sew the limb back on but Capt Bambury was told it might take two years for him to walk again and he was unlikely to regain full mobility. As a result he gave the order for surgeons to cut it off, preferring the certainty of recovery with a false leg.
Capt Bambury, who is based at Bulford in Wiltshire, said: "The overwhelming balance of medical advice was that amputation and a prosthetic limb would give me the best prospects for the rest of my life and the swiftest return to duty.
"Keeping my foot could have taken up to two years to succeed with a minimal chance of success. I am looking forward to starting my rehabilitation."
He is now at the Headley Court military rehabilitation centre near Leatherhead, Surrey, which has gained a strong reputation for helping those with multiple injuries and fitting soldiers with prosthetic limbs.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "This was a tragic accident and Capt Bambury has taken a brave decision on medical advice to amputate his foot. We hope he is able to make a swift recovery and wish him all the best for his rehabilitation at Headley Court."
The Cresta Run has a long association with the British Army, being created by Major WH Bulpetts and Caspar Badrutt, owner of the Kulm Hotel in St Moritz, in 1884. Since then many officers have taken the opportunity to try their skill at the purpose-built course, which drops by 514ft in altitude over its 3,978ft length through the hamlet of Cresta and includes gradients steeper than one in three.
It is so fast that tobogganists, who ride their sleds head-first, must control their approaches through the u-shaped turns or risk being flung out of the ice gully at high speeds. Women are not permitted to ride the run, which is maintained and administered by the St Moritz Tobogganing Club, better known as the Cresta Club. It is a British club but its members now come from all over the world.
► Toy of the week:
Playmobil Security Check Point:
► Quote of the week:
"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter."
- E.E. Cummings
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