BEST RUN OF MY LIFE!!! Wallowas 2011 in McCully! February 17-21, 2011

After ending my CX season, I always look forward to a little down time and some ski/snow time. That didn't work out so well this year, returning injured, but also not having ANY snow on Mt. Hood. I look forward to our trip to the Wallowas every year (even though we skipped it last year.) We have been taking a yurt trip with Wallowa Alpine Huts for 8 years. It is a secret little gem where the scenery, snow and service are just outstanding.  This year was NO exception.

As many know, Oregon was in a little snow drought. We were a little worried about this trip, but as every year, we lucked out. And when I say lucked out, I mean continuous snow falling. Feet of the lightest, most wonderful snow you could ask for. Seriously. In fact, on day 3, I had the best run of my life! Ever. Period. It almost brought me to tears it was so perfect. It was the last run of the day. Legs were burning, but somehow the 6 left decided I could drop in first. And the guide had only gone half way down on the shoulder, leaving the slope untracked. Fresh, amazing, DEEP, light snow. Face shots every turn. The perfect 35-ish degree slope for almost 1000 vertical feet. I was in heaven. 

So, that was just one run of an amazing 4 days in the backcountry. For the rest I will let the pictures tell the story. 

The starting point once the truck was stuck! Skins on!

Back in the basin. A 4-mile skin ahead of us.

It was good to be back in the snow. Tim & I.

After beacon training & a few runs, we were back with smiles! Day one done!

Chope hamming it up in the yurt w/ Rollie 'mon in background.

Heading out day 2. More snow. Windy day with poor visibility. Staying low to ski.

Squatch (our guide) enjoying the snow after the drought.

Ready to ski. Cold and snowy.  No complaining. Just smiles.

Ahhh. The transitions.

Tim and I heading up again and again and again.

And then down, again and again and again...

Tim and his buddy Sol in the yurt.

Another amazing day of snow.

Chope & I getting ready to skin up.

Tim dropping into Diamond 5. The "BEST RUN OF MY LIFE."

Our tracks from Diamond 5. Amazing end to an amazing day!!!

Saki bombs in yurt 1.

Waking up to fresh snow every day isn't a bad way to go through life. Esp. if powder. Day 4.

Yurt 2: our home for 3 nights.

Last day heading out of camp in winter wonderland.

It was that good.

Tim taking it all in.

Chope heading up hidden peak.

David back at 'harmonic convergence'.

On the flank of Hidden Peak.

Visibility on the tail end of our trip. Amazing.

Please don't let it end.

The McCully Basin

Last run of the trip. So sad to see it end.

Sunset during the skin out.

The Tahoe enjoyed the fresh pow while we were gone.

The crew minus Thrills Hills at Embers in Joseph.

CB is the man. Even if he didn't ski with us this trip. He is WAH!