Life in the Mountains

The beautiful Pioneers

This place is magic.  Its either snowing, sunny, or "partly cloudy" which mean there might be a few wispy clouds floating through the sky.  As I drive through town, the sun reflects off of beautifully spooned ski tracks that are visible on just about all the hills surrounding the road.  This place is a mecca for skiing, and with little to do outside of the mountains, when its winter, its winter.

Home Sweet Home

Living up the East Fork of the Wood River, our log cabin is located at the edge of the Pioneer range, directly between Hailey and Ketchum, the two main towns in the southern part of the Wood River Valley.  As you head further north, houses slowly disappear, to be replaced by bigger and bigger mountains.  Heading north on ID-75, The Smokey Mountains expand to the West and the Boulders loom to the East.  Galena Pass, topping out at 8701', marks the divide between the Southern and northern ranges, with the jagged Sawtooth mountains looming to the north of the pass.  Often holding more snow than the other ranges, these mountains offer some incredible skiing, from lower angle trees, to steep, alpine couloirs; there is something for everyone.

Coming down Fuji!
Photo: Ethan Davis

Everett and Chris making their way through some wind affect on the Peanut

5th lake Basin, looking up at Hayburn Mountain

Working with Sun Valley Trekking, my days are either spent skiing, skinning, studying snow or maintaining the huts.  We have 6 huts/yurts located in the Pioneer, Smokey and Sawtooth Mountains, each offering something different.

Days that Im not in my snowboard boots are considered "rest days".  These are far and few between and man are they important!

Every Monday at 7:00 am the entire guide outfit gets together for our weekly meeting and check in.  We are a small group and rarely exceed 10 at these meetings.  Here is where we discuss snowpack, weather history and forecast, avalanche activity & hazard as well as whats skiing good.  Each week I understand more and more of the discussions and feel grateful to be surrounded by such dedicated & passionate people.

Checking out the snow on top of Fuji
Photo: Everett Coba

At least once a week we head out on a hut trip, generally to resupply the hut, check in and make sure everything is working properly, and, of course, to ski.  Often times we're pulling full sleds weighing over 50 lbs, along with our overnight and ski gear on our backs.  Needless to say, my hip flexors are getting strong!

Everett on the way into Fish Hook

Chris and Randall making their way up Mushroom Ridge

Sunrise in the Sawtooth

Although skiing every day may sound like a dream come true to many, there are a lot of sacrifices that have to be made in order to make this happen.  Whereas skiing has always been my escape, when I'm on my board everyday I find myself missing other parts of life that I usually take for granted.  I miss live music and hanging out in the garden.  I miss riding my bike and female companionship.  I miss dinner with friends and seeing my family.  In the moment right now I find myself questioning how committed I am to this lifestyle and if its worth it to give up so much to live this dream.


However, there are always two sides to a coin and I know that shortly I will be looking back on these days and miss the simplicity of focusing on a sole discipline.   Im surrounded by so many smart, knowledgable people and the experiences I'm gaining this winter I will carry with me for the rest of my life.  Whether I'm digging snow pits with avalanche forecasters, tail guiding in the smokies, or climbing high in the Sawtooth mountains, Im constantly learning, and that in itself makes it all worth it.

Whether I return next year or not, only time will tell.  But I'm here now and I am putting myself fully into this world.