Skinny Love

[audio: http://www.jakecast.com/wp-music/skinnylove.mp3|titles=Skinny Love|artists=Bon Iver]

Baldy Main Chute has become a bit of a deranged summer addiction of mine ever since moving to Utah. This was my 3rd consecutive summer hiking up and skiing the couloir and probably the most nervous I’ve been doing it. My ski boot did not go on without a fight and I was definitely able to feel it pushing into the lump where my normal-sized ankle used to be.
But alas! Everyday brings 90+ degree temperatures in salt lake valley and more snow meltage as a result. My skinny love waits for no one (or no injury as the case may be)…

I asked if I could get a copy and frame it as my ‘certification of awesomeness’,
but I just got strange looks.
Summer lifties can be so weird…
Shit Show.
Rabbit Hole.
Butterflies.
I should’ve shaved before trying to hitchhike.
One day I’m going to release a rap album (and accompanying movie) called ’6 Mile’ (distance up LCC to Snowbird, Lot A). This photo will be the cover.

Rest assured I captured enough helmet cam footage to do this July outing justice and I’ll be editing it together as soon as my ankle stops expanding from being forced into heat molded ski boot liners.

Jake

Recovery

[audio: http://www.jakecast.com/wp-music/thefuneral.mp3|titles=The Funeral|artists=Band Of Horses]

Last tram was 8 days, 7 hours and 47 minutes ago. For about 7 of those days I’ve been stuck on my butt (or at least not doing cool stuff like skiing) as I managed to blow my ankle up the day after last tram :(

Fuck this noise.

I was on crutches until ~thursday last week and managed to go rafting down the Heber River today so I’m assuming that this means I’ll be skiing Baldy main chute sometime this week. The doctor never specifically said anything about not skiing and a ski boot is basically an air cast so it should be fine.*

Now. On to the show part of this show and tell website. I don’t really have any awesome skiing fun to post since last week, but occasionally I do get sweet fan mail about videos I’ve posted or trip reports I’ve done (which is so awesome, thank you anyone that’s ever written anything in!) and I’ve still got copies of every letter I’ve every received, but this e-mail (actually facebook message) I received early last week made my day in ways I can’t begin to describe and I decided to post it here:

Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated your helmetcasts. Unfortunately, I’ve been disabled now for a number of years due to racing accidents, and I’m unable to ski even the meagre slopes here back on the East Coast. Your work reminds me of my days schussbooming the wasatch front, Be it going for Big air in Brighton, face shots of “carfoonda” down Eagles Nest in Alta, or doing the backcountry bit between the Canyons (which these days I guess isn’t as “extreme” as it was back in my day of the late 80s)…

Thanks man… keep em slick and fast, to make the good runs last.

Sean K.
U of U alumn and former powderhound.

There you have it. A UofU student/ski-bum from nearly two decades ago still stoked on the Wasatch. That just brings a big fat smile to my face :)

Keep you eyes peeled Sean (and other fans), I may be down for the moment, but I’m certainly not out and you can bank on some more sweet helmetcast action before long. Between bad crashes, busted ankles and pulled teeth from this last season I’ve got an arsenal of painkillers and other bad things, but there is still only one addiction I can’t seem to kick…

June 2007.

July 2008.

July 2009.

Summer 2010.
???

Trying to make those perfect turns last,
Jake

*JakeCast.com or its writers (me) are not responsible for any injury or death that may occur as a result of taking my incredibly stupid medical advice. The psychotic ways in which I justify skiing on failing body parts are probably not for you. I’m extreme. All day. I stick uphill ice…on my soft skis. Send it.

The Closer

Sigh.

The end is here.
Today marked the ending of Snowbird’s official 2009/2010 ski season. From skiing a groomed ribbon of snow under Gadzoom on November 17th all the way until pond skimming on June 20th, it’s been a blast.
Fret not, because while today might have been the end of the lift served ski season, it was also the start of the backcountry release waiver ski season. Let the clock on my delusion start now.

Big thanks to Gered for capturing the awesome shot of some of the closing day ceremonies.
In addition to mountain biking and rock climbing, I have also begun water skiing this summer. It rocks.

Keep your eyes peeled as a special Father’s Day HelmetCast is being edited as we speak (or type, if you want to be technical about it).

Jake

You’re Never Over.

[audio: http://www.jakecast.com/wp-music/youreneverover.mp3|titles=You're Never Over|artists=Eminem]

Another 600″+. Another 100+ days. And Snowbird is calling this the end of the 09/10 season.
So I guess that’s that, right? WRONG.

It’s not over until every last inch of snow melts out of Baldy Main and I am not longer able to get a dune buggy ride off the mountain.

You never really have to go through the five steps if you just stay on denial.

Pics from last weekend:

Team Tram

Check out my sweet pizza wedge…and jeff in the background rocking a speedo…

Corn Harvest.

Sweaty Tram Antics.


JP and I sending in the slush.

I go for some Silver Fox pond skimming!

A crying shame.

Jake