Chris Kouba
Supporter
So I've been blabbing about some time off that I had coming up and it's finally here. I left Phoenix last Weds (6/6) and headed back to the Pacific NW which I moved from in April 06 (still not sure why...). The goal for the summer is to have a continual adventure for the next 3 months (I am due back in Phoenix 4 Sept!).
So, what have I done? Here's the story behind the pics. I rallied up to Portland, caught up with some of my friends, played a gig with my old band on the Sat night (10 June) with more friends showing up (and my girlfriend flew in from Phoenix too).
Bethany went back and I hung out with more friends Sunday, headed to Mt Hood Monday, skinned half way up that afternoon and skiied down, then came back at 0400 the next morning and summitted. Hood is where it all began for me (my climbing addiction) so I thought it only appropriate for it to be my first summit of the sabbatical.
I headed over to Smith Rocks with my friends Drew and Joella for 2 days of climbing, then went a little south to Bend and spent 3 of the next 4 mountain biking with friends Chris and Pete. Just to mix it up we did a climb and ski descent of one of the local peaks on Saturday (South Sister). THe weather was fantastic- except for the last 1000' (330m) or so where the clouds were whipped by the wind and covered the mountain's summit (see the pics). We geared up for the ski down and committed to it and- POOF! Suddenly a big blue hole opened up and we got to ski down to almost completely below the cloud ceiling. Fortuitous timing for sure!
I am back in Portland as I write this but am heading north to Seattle and will connect with one Mr Tim Dutton (crossle43), whom I know from a former life and who has graciously offered me his hospitality as a place to crash when I'm in the neighborhood.
It's like I'm in grade school again and school's out for the summer!
Enough of the blabber, in roughly chronological order, the pics are attached. I hope everyone's summer is going as well as mine!
So, what have I done? Here's the story behind the pics. I rallied up to Portland, caught up with some of my friends, played a gig with my old band on the Sat night (10 June) with more friends showing up (and my girlfriend flew in from Phoenix too).
Bethany went back and I hung out with more friends Sunday, headed to Mt Hood Monday, skinned half way up that afternoon and skiied down, then came back at 0400 the next morning and summitted. Hood is where it all began for me (my climbing addiction) so I thought it only appropriate for it to be my first summit of the sabbatical.
I headed over to Smith Rocks with my friends Drew and Joella for 2 days of climbing, then went a little south to Bend and spent 3 of the next 4 mountain biking with friends Chris and Pete. Just to mix it up we did a climb and ski descent of one of the local peaks on Saturday (South Sister). THe weather was fantastic- except for the last 1000' (330m) or so where the clouds were whipped by the wind and covered the mountain's summit (see the pics). We geared up for the ski down and committed to it and- POOF! Suddenly a big blue hole opened up and we got to ski down to almost completely below the cloud ceiling. Fortuitous timing for sure!
I am back in Portland as I write this but am heading north to Seattle and will connect with one Mr Tim Dutton (crossle43), whom I know from a former life and who has graciously offered me his hospitality as a place to crash when I'm in the neighborhood.
It's like I'm in grade school again and school's out for the summer!
Enough of the blabber, in roughly chronological order, the pics are attached. I hope everyone's summer is going as well as mine!
Attachments
-
IMG_0068.jpg47.1 KB · Views: 420
-
aIMG_0021-crop1.jpg35.8 KB · Views: 420
-
aIMG_0028-crop.jpg62.6 KB · Views: 451
-
aIMG_0033-crop.jpg44.6 KB · Views: 427
-
IMG_0065.jpg31.6 KB · Views: 424
-
IMG_0074.jpg37.8 KB · Views: 427
-
IMG_0111.jpg32.1 KB · Views: 412
-
IMG_0160.jpg99.5 KB · Views: 397
-
IMG_0161.jpg51.3 KB · Views: 423
-
IMG_0171.jpg99.9 KB · Views: 445
-
IMG_0185.jpg61.6 KB · Views: 400
-
IMG_0201.jpg41.6 KB · Views: 398
-
IMG_0206.jpg15.5 KB · Views: 396
-
IMG_0217.jpg27.2 KB · Views: 398
-
IMG_0218.jpg32.7 KB · Views: 437
-
IMG_0230.jpg66 KB · Views: 449