Mount Baldy Promotion

What a better way to promote an Army officer than to do it on top of a mountain??

My friend Marc chose Mount Baldy - the prominent peak above Eagle River - to host his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and invited 30 of his closest friends.

We had everyone from an ex Navy SEAL, paragliders, children, other Army officers, and those who never venture into the backcountry. I was the only skier, and Sam chose to snowboard (I didn't hold it against him...)

A nice early morning pic of Denali and the rest of the Alaska Range.

Me on the skintrack shedding some layers. It was -2 F at the parking lot, but got really hot once we started the climb to the summit.

Lobita and I make our way up the mountain. This is my favorite ski picture of the year!!

Reaching the summit of Mount Baldy and traversing the ridgeline. Peaks in the distance are Magnificent (center) and Mile High (left). Notice the ridge top winds blowing the snow around. It was puffy coats and hoods during the ceremony.

About 30 folks gathered for the ceremony. In the background is Anchorage, and behind to the left is the famed Redoubt Volcano, visible from Anchortown.

LTC Tom Roth (my old boss) pins the silver oak leaf on LTC Marc Hoffmeister.

Sam the Adjutant reads the citation for Marc's Meritorius Service Medal (MSM).

Sam shreds the SW Couloir off of the Baldy summit. 4-5" of fresh powder on top of an ice crust.

Sam making more turns.

All parties descending off of Mount Baldy like the Chilkoot Trail.

Utilizing my "aggressive tow package" to yank a 2-wheel drive Toyota 4-Runner from the ditch.

Thumbs-up for a job well done.

This marks Day #34 in the Backcountry....