Pyramid Peak

Although the weather wasn't bluebird, I took off today for some backcountry skiing with my buddy Scott, also infamously known as the Token Fat Guy. Not so fat, but he hauls ass up the mountain leaving me gasping.

We toured up to Pyramid Peak, which looks like a giant pyramid from the Girdwood Tesoro, and has some pretty steep slopes on the north and west aspects.

Looking east towards the Prince William Sound.

The massive peak center mass of this photo is Carpathian, with the box-looking top. It gets skied a few times per year.

Lobita searches for my ski partner.

Scott nears the summit of Pyramid Peak, at 3,378 feet. We gain almost 3000 vertical feet. as we start almost from sea level.

A rare view from the other side of the Turnagain Arm. Shown is the Seward Highway, Orca Mtn, Max's Mtn, and Mount Alyeska. Notice the sea ice on the arm.

No pictures of the snow as it was breakable crust from being wind effected on the south aspect of Pyramid.

Fast Eddie's

2 Day Storm Totals: 27" of snow, the most that Turnagain Pass has seen this year.

But I caught a great window of cold, clear weather with a bluebird day on Eddie's. Friends Jessica (with Hannah), and Josh (with Tex), and of course Lobita, headed out to ski some routes less traveled. By this time all of the pass was tracked out, and there was a big avalanche on Cornbiscuit where a girl was buried under 5-6 feet of snow. Due to a great rescue, she was found alive in 10 minutes. (See ADN article, http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/kenai/story/624379.html)

Jessica, Josh, and Hannah on the skin track.

Sunrise overlooking Blueberry Hill and the Turnagain Arm.

A nice track of powder, overlooking the "Sunnyside". This is the motorized side of the pass where snowmachines are allowed. We would ski this aspect (South) later in the day.

Looking towards the rest of Eddie's ridge, and Kickstep, the highest peak on the right near the sun.

Fresh tracks in Eddie's bowl, followed closely by the Powderhound.

The sun sets behind Tincan ridge.

Give me some food, or lets go skiing. What's it gonna be?

Probably the best photo ever posted on this site. Jessica drops in with epic views of the pass and Tincan ridge. Oh yeah, and knee deep face shots of cold smoke powder!!

LB catches up with the group, donning her hoody. It was a little chilly at this time...

The end of day. It is almost dark by the time we get back to the car. Alpenglow sets over the southern Chugach range.