Despite the lack of a tag, Kyle has devoted himself to following me around in the woods with over twenty pounds of camera and video equipment in an attempt to capture the experience.  Props to a solid elk hunting partner and friend!

Let’s hear about your hunting partner!?

“He’s one of the best pack sewers and designers… ever,” says hunting guru and Mystery Ranch marketing director Mark Seacat.

Ray Baker, rockin’ the mutton chops, is photographing the trip. We’ll post his photos here when he gets back.

MEET BRIAN TAI: He’s an experienced firefighter who started consulting to build fire packs in 2004, and joined the Mystery Team in 2008. These days, he heads up sales development and marketing for our fire line.

Brian Tai does some explaining at the basecamp in Ashford, WA.

But this week, Brian and Ray will need more than superior sewing and selling skills to survive. They’re currently climbing the 14,411-foot Mt. Rainier with wounded veterans Derrick James Ford, Eric Andrew Cowan, and Gilbert “Mag” Magallanes as part of Camp Patriot, the organization that takes disabled vets on outdoor adventures.

Seeing as Ford and Cowan have each had a leg amputated, and Magallanes survived the blast of a 2000-pound bomb with multiple injuries, the folks at Camp Patriot certainly could have picked an easier mountain. But for the fifth year in a row, this organization has been putting wounded vets on Rainier to give them a sense of adventure and victory.

The guys have to earn it.

The Camp Patriot Climbers on the Muir Snowfield, with Rainier’s summit looming ahead.

Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the lower 48, with 26 major glaciers grinding at its flanks. When moist frontal systems sweep in from the Pacific and collide with the mountain’s massif, violent storms can result, with precipitation and gales to sweep the ice clear of tents, equipment and the occasional unfortunate climber.

Rainier’s 13,211-foot shoulder drop gives it more geographic prominence than K2, and climbers must ascend more than 9,000 feet from the parking area at Paradise. Once on the summit, they look down upon the mountain’s two volcanic craters. Geothermal heat radiating from those craters has created the largest glacial cave system in the world, with two miles of passages winding down through the ice to reach the highest crater lake in all of North America.

Camp Patriot climbers on the ascent to Camp Muir, the last camp before their summit push.

Though he lives and works in the shadow of Rainier, Ray has never reached its summit. He did try once, but being pressed for time, he and a buddy attempted to push from Seattle to the summit in a single day.

“Our legs were fine to keep going, but we just couldn’t stop puking. Altitude sickness will do that to you,” he says, laughing.

Ray doesn’t think altitude will be much of a problem this time around, since he’ll have more time to acclimatize. And he probably knows what he’s talking about, since he’s no nube when it comes to high, frozen peaks. A couple years ago, he and a handful of other Ranchers headed to Alaska and climbed Denali.

But even with his experience, he says, “It’s going to be a lot of hard work. I think I’m in reasonable shape, but I haven’t been training.”

Brian is an avid skier, but says he’s not much of a mountaineer. Still, he’s “not too worried about the physical aspect of climbing Rainier.”

The mountain won’t be Brian and Ray’s only challenge. They are there to serve the veterans of Camp Patriot, and neither of them knows exactly what that will entail, either physically or emotionally. They are, however, determined to do whatever is needed, and seem downright excited to get to know the men who have sacrificed greatly for their country.

“I’m just going into it with an open mind,” Brian says. “I’m really looking forward to the stories and getting to know these guys in this context.”

“I want to get to know the guys,” Ray echoes. “But I don’t want to be too prying. I don’t want to cross lines or boundaries I’m unaware of,” he says.

Curtis Fawley, lead guide (far left), arrives at Pebble Creek with two of the three climbing disabled veteran’s and other guide support members.

Ray and Brian have given Mystery Ranch Backpacks to the veterans and volunteers to carry while making the climb. They were scheduled to leave from Camp Muir, 10,080 feet, at 12 a.m. this morning to make the final summit push. The forecast called for showers and a chance of thunderstorms, and the snow level dropped to 9,000 feet overnight.

If the weather permitted, and all went well, Brian, Ray, Derrick, Eric and Mag are standing at the summit as we publish this post. Check back soon for more updates.

Dana Gleason and Luke Buckingham at the Official Ribbon and Tie Cutting Ceremony!

Moving into a brand new building this January was quite the event!  We captured the three day process through the camera lens… it only took 10,369 photos stitched together to make this video!

Dana had more fun than should be allowed... check it out!

Did you win?!  Watch the video to find out!!!

Snowshoeing up to Fairy Lake with friends Nathan and Tim, along with two snow-loving and energetic dogs, Cassidy & Mac, we headed straight into the face of the Chinook winds.  I was glad to have the Naya Nuki pack upon my back keeping me warm, while also holding snacks & electrolyte drinks to keep me fueled for the long 4-hour trek ahead.  The wind-swept snowy road led us on a gradual hill climb winding our way towards the lake with views of both the Crazy mountains & jagged peaks of the Bridgers.  Stopping for a brief lunch break among a stand of trees, I was thankful for the momentary break from the gusty gale.  Sweet & sturdy Cassidy took shelter behind the resting Naya Nuki, which acted as a perfect wind block for her medium dog sized body.  Just a short drive north of town, the Bridger Mountains frame the backdrop of the Bozeman, Montana skyline.  An outdoor person’s year round playground, I was very excited about exploring the snowy trail to Fairy Lake that brought us closer to the heart of the range.  A range of many peaks for which a few of our Mystery Ranch packs are named.

The Naya Nuki pack, a sister to the Saddle Peak, being slightly shorter in height & named after the 9,449 foot tall peak adjacent to Sacagawea peak, is as tough & rugged as the brave girl who the pack is also named after.  As the legend goes, Naya Nuki, a young Shoshoni girl, was a close childhood friend of Sacagawea.  Both were kidnapped by a hostile tribe & forced into labor, but through her strong determination & will Naya Nuki escaped her captors & made the 1,000 mile trek back to her tribe.  As we continued our snowshoe journey, I was reminded of how variable & tough winter weather conditions can be in the mountains of SW Montana.  It is wise to expect anything & be able to brave whatever comes your way, with a solid pack, like the Naya Nuki on your back.

Earlier in the winter on a trip down to Jackson Hole, WY to visit a dear friend, Corrie, I found that the Naya Nuki is also the perfect snow pack for long distance classic skiing.  Our journey around the valley on classic skis & skate skis took us up Cache Creek, Teton Canyon, & then a full day traversing the inner park road in Grand Teton National Park where we did a point to point ski from Signal Mountain to the Bradley/Taggert trailhead in the shadow of the snowcapped Tetons.  On this trip the pack carried a full Camelback, snacks and an extra jacket, along with my camera in the side waist belt pocket.  The slim-lined pack hugs close to your back making it great for balance when on classic or skate skis as well as many other active sports. It wraps comfortably to your body & the weight is distributed well so that after many hours on the snow, I hardly noticed that I even had a pack on my back.  I realized that, once the pack was on my back, I never had to adjust or fidget with it during the long ski traverse.

Even for a quick couple hour Sunday classic ski jaunt in Hyalite Canyon, the Naya Nuki works well for short adventures.  On this particular exploration ski day, the pack was lightly filled & still made for easy mobility on the uphill & downhill whoop-de-dos.  The next weekend was a long distance roundtrip journey to Mystic Lake & back, up Bozeman Creek & the pack was filled to the brim holding snacks & extra jackets for the long day excursion, where the pack was shared & worn between my sister, Mimi, & I.  I have been pleasantly surprised with how versatile the Naya Nuki has been for various snow adventures this Winter. The pack is so aptly named & is the perfect pack for any distance or weather that comes your way during the long Montana Winters!

The entries have been received, the chads dimpled, ties settled with sewing machines at 20 paces and recounts recounted. We are proud to announce and showcase the winners of the 2011 Mystery Ranch photo and video contest. Congratulations to grand prize winners Ryan Krueger, Matthew Irving and KGB Productions and thanks to everyone who entered your unbelievably awesome photos and videos.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Graceland

I couldn’t get the images of some of those lines out of my head and was fortunate enough to be able to load up, once again, and drive south.  This time, with a solid crew from Salt Lake City, including my good amigo Jay Beyer.

Homebase

We had decided to spend a few days camped up where I had spent the previous weekend, to put us in good position for a solid assault on some big lines at a moment’s notice.  I took a scouting lap on my sled into the basin and found a stellar campsite in the trees located right below the immense wall, that I am nostalgically referring to as Churchbells.  After a few laps of running the boys into camp, we set out to see if anything was moving, and show the SLC crew the spectacular arena surrounding us.  I think they were impressed.

Eric Balken - still cracking me up.

We got back to camp and, after a few bouts of the Old Crow, we attempted sleep amongst the titans that surrounded us.  Morning 1; quick breakfast to ease the angst we all had building inside. Off we go.

Beautiful ridgelines

We skinned our way to the ridge that would eventually lead us to a “pick your line and go” sort of scenario. The Churchbells have about every style of big mountain skiing you can imagine and we witnessed endless possibilities as we climbed the ridge towards the now sun-cloaked east face.  Eric Balken spotted a beautiful spine to air, and Carston Oliver picked his way under a freakishly scary cornice and onto an incredibly steep spine.  Carston and Balken are both rad skiers, and I was privileged to be able to rip lines with these guys in my backyard.  As you can see, they threw down.

Carston throwing a huge corked 3 off a glorious spine

Balken hucks a 60 foot back flip, on his first line of the trip

The Nose ~ in perfect conditions

For round two we moved higher up the ridgeline until I spotted a line off the summit of Churchbells that I liked while Jay made his way across the valley to shoot.  It was incredibly difficult finding entrances to our beauties below, I tried all the tricks to gain a glimpse of something, anything, that would allow access off the ridge.  Cornices, I swear, the size of semi-trucks blocked most every access to get in and it seemed like a set of car keys would break any one of them.  Finally, I found an entrance at the summit, of all places, that allowed me a hallway down onto the face, and I locked in.  Ten turns in, rookie move, I got hit by my sluff.   The tomahawking began and lasted  for what felt like an eternity until I finally, and extremely luckily, was released.  Jay witnessed it from straight on and got this shot that explains a lot. Needless to say, we were stoked to see each other at the bottom.

Saved in Graceland

Monday morning was perfect: bluebird skies with warming temps but we noticed approaching clouds as we gained the ridge once again.  We arranged ourselves back on top of the wall of spines and raced to get ready before the milky skies took over.  One thing led to another and unfortunately we lost the race against light as Jay’s perspective of the face diminished into a cloud of gray.  Not to be denied by visibility, Carston had a repeat of his stellar line from the day before and Balken and I relished in the glory that is 2,500 ft of 40-degree pow, milky skies and all.  Light schmight.

So, another successful trip to Graceland, and another dozen or more things to think about while I sit and type this.  Until next time, thanks for the greatest life I’ve ever known.

On another random Wednesday evening, Brad and I planned a quick and dirty trip south to rip big lines in classic Montana fashion.  The Tacoma adorned with my old Summit 700, a case of PBR, winter bags and a tarp, we blazed through the park, losing count of the numerous close calls with various hoofed animals.

Home sweet home

We had some big missions in mind, and thankfully, the snowpack in the region has been very conducive.  With no consistent weak layers, and a minor threat of wind slabs, our confidence in some of the bigger objectives started to overbear any fear of strength, ability or prowess.  We toured around day 1 ripping some beautiful east facing lines only to be blindsided by one of winter’s deadliest predators.  Skirting along a knife edge ridge, making it a point to stay as close to the windward side of the ridge as possible, Brad stepped just far enough to make everything go BOOM!!  Scrambling to secure himself back into terra firma, a truck sized cornice ripped itself loose and tomahawked downward.  Usually the best sign of instability, proved itself worthy, when nothing on the slope below ripped.  So….   I guess cornices are the big concern, as we continued our search for the entrance to the line we had scoped from below.  Steep, stable and soft.  Honestly, a heavenly threesome.

Brad on warm up laps

Brad's brilliant ballet

Steep, Stable and Soft

Sunday we awoke, a little drier this time, to mixed weather and mixed feelings about going towards our main objective of the trip.  After a little dry out time in the Soda Butte, and sufficient caffeine intake, we decided it was worth a shot, and we ripped our way through the burn and into the basin below the pinnacle of a stellar mid winter descent.

Churchbells

The great white plateau

A few hours battling steady winds, steep switchbacks and variable snow, we gained access to the ridge that would eventually allow us the entrance to this monarch of a line.  Staring down the gut of this beast made my hands do their usual nervous sweat.  I think I recall saying to Brad, “hey, I’m not doing this unless you are 100%”  His response, “how can you be 100% in a place like this?”  We agreed……75 was good enough… And we dropped in….

Thank you Cooke, for this gift

Skiing lines you’ve been eyeing for years is always rewarding.  Especially when in good conditions with the best partners.  Thanks Brad.  Always a pleasure, amigo….

Skintrack stoke

Starting President’s day weekend, I embarked on the best vacation of my life…snowboarding for 3 weeks straight.  Equipped with my new fuze pack, along with a demo blackjack avy bag from Mystery Ranch, I began my assault at Snowbowl in Missoula.  Running into my buddy Tanner C was great, considering he was one of the first people to show me how to really shred.  (By the way, the ‘out of bounds’ cliffs…..not really out of bounds….whoopsy!)

Back home at Bridger Bowl, 13” fell on day two of my vacation which signified to me I was in Ullr’s good graces.  Madman’s, Psychopath, Cuckoos nest, and the plethora of lines at Schlashmans were enough to keep me choking on powder for the first few days, and since I was finally riding mid-week it was like having the Bridger’s to myself.

Before I knew it the temps took a turn for the worse and dropped into the minus 10+ range.  Waking up one morning and discussing with my roommate how to layer for the day, continue to hike, and stay warm I panicked.  The last thing I wanted to do was hike in frigid temps, but what to do?  Knowing I’ve been running my mouth about learning to ski this season I opted to do something no one was expecting….ski.  I figured hell, just bundle up like the Michelin man and lap Alpine on ski’s; that would let me get out, not be a wuss, and man up to my big mouth.  Well right away I caught on and was hooked.  Skiing for a few days let me recover from hiking, and gave me new insight on why Bridger Bowl really is a skier’s mountain.

With plans to check out the Utah ski scene I headed to Salt Lake for a few days to visit my buddies Joe and Keir.  (How convenient to have friends with couches in the area).  I immediately remembered why I don’t miss the city, but if you get the chance, Snowbird is one of the sweetest mountains I’ve been to.  (Just don’t eat at garlic burger if you plan on going to the bars and mingling with women the same night.)  Once Keir heard about my plans to continue skiing when I got home, he gave me a pair of ski’s (circa ’02 K2 Enemys) for the low price of free 99.  All I wanted to do was get them remounted so I could ski Alta and brag to my snowboarder buddies, but unfortunately ski shops in Utah have many employees who stay out too late to make it to work and mount my skis.  Ugh, so after a few days at the bird and Brighton I decided to move on to Jackson Hole.

The Utah crew from left to right, Beard, MOTO, the sep what?!, and skier at Garlic Burger

Oh J-Hole, what a beautiful area.  The people!  What a rad crew Jackson has!  My first run had to be on the tram, but I had a sneaking suspicion that the snow was bulletproof.  Screw it, I’m in Jackson, and I’m riding the tram.  Everyone packed in like sardines, and there were nothing but smiles.  When we got to the top everyone was hooting and hollering, saying things like “I love my life!” on a Tuesday morning with nothing but glare ice to be schralped.  You Jacksonians sure do have it figured out.  With that kind of stoke going I lapped the tram all morning, taking some of the longest runs of my life.

Once I got back home to Bridger, I couldn’t wait to ski, yes ski, and I did, progressing quickly with every day, until I realized I was disconnecting from the one thing that got me into the mountains in the first place…snowboarding.  My buddies Alex and Troy decided to do an overnighter up Hyalite, taking up my splitboard and doing some touring.  Quite possibly the hardest 48 hours of my life, between the five mile skin, the four hour snowcave dig, the following day of skinning and shredding pow, and the arduous split skiing I had to do on the way down.  (For those few brave souls that have attempted split skiing I salute you, because it almost killed me, and in combination with a fully loaded blackjack, I’ve never been so beat in my life).  Some might ask, “Was it worth it?  For the few laps of pow you got?”.  Yes, oh god yes, if not for the chance to get out in the mountains.

Product testing with the Blackjack Avalanche Airbag

Since then I’ve been focusing on my skiing, and will continue to do so for the rest of the season.  Because sorry bro, after getting on ski’s I feel way more connected to Bridger than ever.  (Don’t get me wrong, if it dumps that sweet cold smoke, my Eldorado will most def be ready to ride)  But until then I cannot wait for the next time when all I have to do is wake up, and hang out in the mountains with some of the finest people on earth.

Thanks to: Joe for the couch, Keir for the ski’s, garlic burger, the Mangy Moose, Jackson Hole for letting me park my truck in pay parking and not paying, that ranger in Yellowstone who informed me you cant drive through the park in the winter, Emily in Salt Lake (yes I think your date was gay), big ups to Alex and Troy for constantly pushing me out of my comfort zone and not doggin me too much, Tanner C for keepin it real in zoo-town, Mystery Ranch for giving me time off and demoing me a blackjack, Jeff for driving Alex and me around during the pinhead classic (and to the afterparty), Bridger Bowl, and Mom, Dad and Amy.

Make time for the mountains

Click here to view the embedded video.

My vid can be found @ www.vimeo.com/20944664

Click here to view the embedded video.

Also check out Keirs vid @ www.vimeo.com/20539191

Ryan Walter's pillow hopping

In some cases that may mean falling in love, getting your dream job, or finding out that you didn’t actually break your back when you smoke a tree at 30 miles an hour…  On that note, the term Sunday Funday has a lot more credibility when the beauty of 2,500 foot faces littered with pillows, cliffs, and 2 feet of fresh are all of the sudden staring you in the face.

Meg and Ryan in the lifelong quest for powder

The quest continues....

Ryan reaping what he sows...

SW Montana can have a tough time staying consistent as far as snowpack goes.  The Bridgers can get pretty bad, pretty quickly, when 90 mph winds pillage any new snow that may have fallen in previous storms.  Gallatin Range, same thing…  And don’t get me started on the Crazies….  But fortunately, with a little exploring, some serious vert, and a couple hours trying to keep 4 wheels between the lines, something beautiful indeed, can happen.

If I had to describe the feeling, it was the best...

Ryan gettin' some with his TREW threads and Mystery Ranch Saddle Peak

MR Fuze and DPS 138's, the dream quiver...

A strong trio and a good sense of the terrain, Meg, Ryan and I cranked our way up switchbacks, through Cascade-esque pillows, perfectly spaced pines, and dozens of photo worthy cliffs.  It’s always a pleasure skiing with new people and I was stoked to get to be a part of a shoot with a very talented photog.  Check out Meg’s work at http://www.meghaywoodsullivan.com/

Sunday Funday, go get it my friends….