Focus Productions

15th Anniversary International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race

The 15th Anniversary International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race (IPSSSDR) kicked off last Friday, January 29 on the Jackson Town Square. The race is heading to a finish in Park City, Utah on February 6. For daily updates and more information on the race go to www.wyomingstagestop.org.

 

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Jess McMillan wins Chamonix Freeride World Tour Event

This photo shows Jess skiing her home mountain, Jackson Hole. She won the FWT event in Chamonix last weekend. Check her website, www.jessmcmillan.com, for the full story and video.

Cody Peak Open

Backcountry skiers cautiously ventured onto Cody Peak via the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort last Thursday and Friday. No mishaps occurred there and the skiing was great.

Numerous avalanches did occur in nearby regions, though, with one fatality (see previous post).

This motor-drive time-lapse is from one year ago, skiing Cody Peak  with Tommy Moe, Rick Armstrong, AJ Cargill, Lisa Watson, and Mike Tierney.

 

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Backcountry Avy Hazard High

Here is the report from the Bridger-Teton National Forrest Backcountry Avalanche Hazard & Weather Forecast. Go to www.jhavalanche.org to read the entire report.

January 30, 2010

Dangerous conditions exist. Multiple incidents occurred in all of our forecast areas yesterday afternoon. Snowmobilers in terrain above Ski Lake reported that an extremely large full depth hard slab avalanche released on a northeast aspect. The crown was reported to be up to 12 feet deep and 2,000 feet long. It took out mature trees. In the Snake River Range a skier was caught and deployed an airbag as he was being swept downhill. He was partially buried but not injured. A different slope failed after being crossed by the fifth skier. On Togwotee Pass two snowmobilers were caught and injured by a hard slab avalanche. Three people have been killed or seriously injured by avalanches in the past three days in Utah and Idaho. On steep slopes, dangerous full depth hard slabs could be triggered by a single person or more likely by a snowmobile. Conservative decisions regarding terrain selection are essential today.

January 31, 2010

Multiple incidents occurred in all of our forecast areas Friday afternoon. Yesterday, a snowmobiler was killed by a 3 to 4 foot deep hard slab avalanche in the Big Holes. Our deepest condolences go out to the victim’s family and friends. New snow, falling upon crusts and surface hoar, will slowly increase the possibility for backcountry travelers to trigger new, shallow soft slabs and loose snow sloughs. Far more dangerous are the deep slab instabilities that plague the region. These hard slabs lie upon a base of weak, faceted snow, and could fail to the ground. A single person, and more likely a snowmobile, could trigger these avalanches even after a slope has been crossed multiple times. Conservative decision making regarding terrain selection will be essential for safe travel in the backcountry today.

Feb. 1, 2010

At upper elevations eighteen inches of new snow in the past 24 hours has been drifted by southwest winds into easily triggered or naturally releasing soft slabs to three feet in depth. The new snow rests on good sliding surfaces of sun crusts or buried surface hoar. The snow is light density but has added strain to the deep, hard slab instabilities that plague the region. These poorly supported slabs that also exist at mid elevations could fail to the ground and may be triggered by new snow surface slides, a single person, and more likely a snowmobile even after a slope has been crossed multiple times. At the mid and low elevations sloughs could build to dangerous size in steep areas and terrain traps. TRAVEL IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN AT UPPER ELEVATIONS IS NOT RECOMMENDED TODAY

Skiing Pow in Jackson Hole

Here’s a look at what ski patrolman Kevin Brazell does on his days off. This is what Jackson Hole skiers have looked like for the past week.

The sun is forecast to come out tomorrow after an eight-day snowfall. Look for some new vid of that in a few days.

 

 Skiing Pow in Jackson Hole [1:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

58 inches snowfall since last Tues, 37″ over weekend

Skiers at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (pictured), Grand Targhee Resort, and Snow King Mountain got their turns in deep powder over the past week…and it’s still snowing at these Teton County, Wyoming playgrounds!

My Day “Living the Dream” from Renan Ozturk

Here’s a cool POV rock climbing video, My Day "Living the Dream" from Renan Ozturk.

Big Wally clips from Someday, Somebody Will Ski That

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Here’s a collection of Big Wally footage and interviews from Jackson Hole film maker Peter Pilafian…

This one is for you, Wally

Yesterday’s memorial service was a beautiful celebration of a life well lived: a seven-bomb salute, bagpipes, a mother’s testimonial, tributes from friends and co-workers, songs, poems, a ski run christened Wally World, bands, and dancing into the wee hours.

This motor-drive montage of Charlotte Moats skiing in Jackson Hole is dedicated to the memory of Big Wally.

Ski fast, go large, live life.

 

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Godspeed Big Wally

On Saturday afternoon, January 9, 2010, Mark "Big Wally" Wolling was taken off life support and passed away. A memorial service for family and friends is set for this Wednesday, January 13, in the outdoor pavilion mountainside of TVS in Teton Village. A gathering of family, friends, and well wishers will follow at the Mangy Moose at 6:30. Anyone having photographs of Wally are encouraged to email them to louiseg@jacksonhole.com

Our hearts are broken.

We will hold you in our hearts forever.

See you on the other shore, brother.

With deep appreciation and sorrow for Mildred, Spencer, Sue, Pam, Marianne, Reggie, and Mike.

And to all his comrades in the breech, the ski patrol, guides.

You can visit www.carepages.com to read over 600 tributes.