The Comeback
The amount of support after writing my side of the story of the avalanche has been incredible and all of us (LJ, RC, and myself) appreciate it greatly. That doesn't even include all of the support we have gotten from my two partners as well. It's a good feeling knowing that there are lots of people who care, and more importantly see the importance of why we all decided to share our stories, to learn. After an incident like that though, then what?
As you can see from the above video, I bought some new gear and got back on the horse.
(For the record the video isn't of me, I shot it.)
The avalanche happened on March 1. It's been about 26 days since and I've gotten out about 15 days of earning my turns. My mindset has changed dramatically, which is either comforting now or scary thinking what I could of gotten myself into in the past. I don't put past safety on luck, but more so on the partners that I had. They have all been competent, more cautious than I, and ultimately people I can trust. Still do, really.
If you are friends with me on Facebook you would already know what my life has been like since but I know there are a few who actually read this that aren't. Besides spending my time watching snowporn videos on Vimeo, reading snowboard magazines, and of course, talking with close friends and touring partners about the incident I had to find something else to do.
The day after, and back in Utah with not much to do, I met up with a friend, grabbed some beers and drove down to Utah County where a hot spring is. Nothing was talked about of the incident really, just a lot of BS talk. It was great.
That following weekend I was left with almost no snow gear, so I went climbing instead with my buddy Nick who lives down in St George. 65 degrees and sunny everyday it pretty tough to beat in early March.
I got back from the weekend at St George and was aching to get back out on snow. I got questioned by a few people if it was too soon, or worse, if I should just bail on the idea of riding for the rest of the year. I thought that was a little too drastic but the idea that maybe I was returning too soon did cross my mind. That was until I strapped the skis back on 12 days later, and I didn't feel scared or threatened, just comfortable. Peering over the ridge and seeing the line that I was to ride I felt a rush of excitement, not paralyzing fear. It felt right, like I belonged there. Corny sure, but it's the only way I can put it in words.
 |
| The view from the summit. |
Two days later I hit up Patsy Marley, my go-to for taking new people up. The conditions weren't great but it was good to go out with someone new that I could talk to about avalanche conditions in a teaching fashion. It really got me thinking differently about terrain choices and how I decide as I had to verbalize what I was doing to my partner.
The day after, John called me and asked if I had the motivation to hit up Lone Peak, a big line. He also said that there was a possibility that we wouldn't even snowboard due to conditions. It would turn into a full 9 hour day of zero riding. That was okay with me, even if I ended up with blisters on my heels.
Couple days later, went up with a new [experienced] partner. Hit Cardiff, backside and front and found powder. Smiles all around.
The day after that, I hiked solo during low avy danger. That's not something I like to admit but hitting the mellow terrain that I did, I had to rely on myself and that was it. There was no one else there to say, "We should or shouldn't do this." It was a way for myself to get my head straight and be firm with my decision making, which consequentially has helped me stand up for my opinion. The day ended up being great hitting multiple short chutes, skiing with a friend I had met up there and getting home safe.
A few days later, I got a call from LJ, my buddy who broke his arm in the avalanche saying he was ready to get back. Despite the doctor's orders of staying off of excessive strain for 3 months, he took 3 weeks. We hit a mellow line in Days Fork with a couple other friends and all I got to say is that it was great to back out with him.
The day after that, hit up White Pine with a familiar partner and his buddy. Plan was to poke around White Pine, see what was good then go for it. We decided on Lake Chute, started hiking up it, saw some random skiers drop into, decided against it. Hit something else instead.
 |
| View from top |
After all that is said and done, my life hasn't changed much to the point of "living life to the fullest" because I think I was already doing that. If anything, I've learned to slow down and smell the roses, so to speak. I've been hanging out with friends more and riding less, which sounds weird for a ski bum. The incident has helped me realize that the people in my life is what makes my life worth living. Yes, I can go out everyday by myself and have an epic powder day, but I'd rather share that experience with my friends, or share some other experience with them.
With that said, I'm heading to Big Sky country and the Tetons for the next few weeks to hang out with friends and family!
0 comments