Ski Season... the end... ish

Yes, we know, it's been literally months since we've updated the blog.  At this point we're updating the blog for us.  We want to make sure we have a good record of our full Bonus Year and it's time to finish it up in the next handful of posts.  If you're still reading, good on ya.

After getting back from Biloxi and Memphis, we got the last shreds of ski season with some late season April snow.  Bozeman and I capitalized on a storm and backcountry skied at the closed Mt. Baker ski area.  Despite a epic equipment failure on Bozeman's skins, we had a great day in some deep pow (Bozeman's deepest of the year... I didn't tell him about my season ;) ).

April Pow is fantastic

Bozeman laughing at our good fortune:

It's all fun and games...

This big storm allowed Stevens Pass to re-open.  The PNW had such a rough snow year, we got some pow with the starved locals and enjoyed some of our last employment uninhibited mid-week ski days.

From Daisy to 7th Heaven in 4 seasons.  Shannon skis hard.

Fog, evergreens, and pow.  It's home.

Of course, we took advantage of good weather to do some quick hiking in-between job searches (not fun for anybody).  Here's a few photos from our jaunt out to Barclay Lake.  This was the site of our first backpacking trip together many years ago.  It's easy and beautiful.

I wanted one more in-bounds ski day before retreating to the backcountry and went down to Crystal before their closing weekend.  They've mostly spun the Green Valley chair all season and I skied what felt like a million hot laps off the chair.  So fun.  And the view never disappoints.

All good things must come to an end and I rode the gondola down at the end of a great ski season.

I did manage 3 more backcountry ski trips before hanging em' up this year.  Our overall stats for the year aren't so bad... (these are for me (Scott), plus/minus a few for Shan)

-37 days

-25 different ski areas

-12 new areas

-15 pow days (+/- a few depending on your "standards")

-3 continents

-1 attempt by Shannon to snake my line.  Unsuccessful.

-Many happy apres ski times/beers

-More than 5,000 miles driven

-2 times skiing in the rain (1 more than necessary)

Can't wait for moooore snow!