On the last day of 2010, a year full of plenty downs but also full of more substantial lifelong ups, I was fortunate to spend it at Berthoud Pass where I most feel at home in the mountains. Joined by Ed, Gary, and Forrest, we ventured out to a little zone called the Mushroom Patch. Not oddly, there are similar spots at Winter Park and Vail Pass, but this area at Berthoud Pass is far less known and we fully intend on keeping it that way.
For the complete gallery, click the following link with all photos courtesy of Forrest.
Where we skied:
Ed showing how awful the snow was:
Gary in the mood for pillow stomping:
Now it's my turn while sporting the new Westcomb Vapor FX hoody and pants along with the Skeeny hoody underneath:
Now back to the gear from Westcomb, an outerwear company created by guys formerly at Arc'Teryx. Not only is their stuff super bombproof, durable, breathable, and light, but unlike most clothing manufacturers, they don't outsource to Asia and all garments are handmade in British Columbia, Canada. On a day where the temperatures didn't climb higher than -10F, I was plenty warm in the Vapor FX hoody/pants with only a light shell and base layer underneath. Granted I've only been using the stuff for a few weeks now, but I'm beyond stoked on how well everything is made and I cannot say enough awesome things about them. If you're in the market for new backcountry mountaineering gear that will last a long time with the comfort of knowing it was made in Canada, look no elsewhere than Westcomb.
I also should add that I'm absolutely in love with the new Scarpa Maestrale touring boot. There are four things I was looking for in an AT boot: (1) lightweight, (2) stiff, (3) Intuition liners, and (4) Dynafit-compatible. Not only does Scarpa cover all of the above with its new offering, but the walk mode is beyond amazing. Immediately, I noticed my stride increase dramatically such that uphill climbs can now be considered effortlessly. To give an idea on stiffness, I felt that this boot was almost too stiff for my 180-lb frame on the descent but ultimately, it will be something I will grow accustomed to in the future and appreciate much later in the season for spring and summer descents where the added stiffness will be needed. As far as weight goes, the Maestrale is now the world's lightest four-buckle boot weighing just a fraction over 6.5 lbs. for a pair in size 27. I've only had two days on it, but I blown away by how incredible it is considering it's exactly everything that I've been wanting in an AT boot. If you're in the market for something like this and have feet more on the narrow side, definitely give the Maestrale a thorough look.
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