The passing of an Oregon mountaineer

I didn't know Hank Lewis, really.  He passes away last week, at 98, and I've been thinking about him.  I met Hank at Timberline lodge once, after a search and rescue, and drank a beer with him and some Mazama folks. I wish I could have interviewed him for my records.  My dad was a Mt. Hood ski patroler in the 70's and Hank's name would come up and was held in reverence.  He was one of the original hard men of the Oregon Cascades.  He did his time with the 10th mountain division and like many of those guys he made an impact on the mountaineering and skiing life we enjoy today.  I hope where ever he is that his pack is light and the snow is good.

Here is his obit, in the Oregonian, and also a good piece from 2007.

Mt. St. Helens

The beautiful volcano of Mt. St Helens is best skied in the month of May.  We enjoyed its sweet corn last Friday and it retains a reputation as one of  the best ski descents in the Northwest.  It's such an easy day up (5 hrs) and a great bunch of turns down to the car.  They do charge you $22 for the experience but it's a nice bathroom at Marble Mt., I guess.

Short Skis Don't Have To Suck - Altai Skis

 

   

The Hok

I had heard, through a mutual friend, that our buddy Nils Larsen was working on a new ski idea.  Nils and his business partner, Francois Sylvain, had worked for Karhu together and have spent many years in the ski business. I figured something was up when he came through Portland, last week, and the skis fit in the trunk of his rental car.

Nils has made many trips to the Altai region of China documenting the skier/hunters there and who were, possibly, the originators of skiing (sorry Norway).  Essentially, in the Altai, they chase down deer on these short, horse hair base skis, until the deer are exhausted and drag them back to the village for dinner.  These skis and the single pole, that's useful for turning and poking your buddy, are also used recreationally for practice.  Nils's ski-shoe idea arose from this experience.  Imagine that...a snowshoe with glide!  The Hok model is short (125 cm and 145 cm), has a metal edge and a section of skin material on the base for climbing.  OK, I'm a snowshoe hater and also no fan of skinny nordic skis when the going gets tough, so these little guys were more fun than a waterslide.  You can motor through tight trees and brush, on the up-track, and assume a good, bent knee and ankle ski position for a turny downhill run.

Check out the Altai Skis site and look for the skis next Fall at quality ski retailers or order on-line.

Closing Day Vail, CO

Too much snow to go

Retro suit of the day

Pond Skim on Gold Peak

I have never attended the famous "Last Day" of the season in Vail, CO, even though my brother lives there and I visit, to ski, every year I can.  This year it was like an 11" of new, Winter day on Mt. Hood.  Plenty of heavy snow for my liking.

It was also my first pond skimming event.  The video attached is from 2009 and a much warmer day.  This is Chris Anthony (Vail local, pro skier and Warren Miller talent) showing great form and flair. 

Out of harm's way