Alpine Elmo tries to keep as safe as he can in the backcountry. Education and communication are the key but gear helps too. @ortovox has a cool new line of muppet-friendly Avabag airbag packs and @rockytalkies kept our crew in sync at all times outside of the lodge. We did extra search practice this trip and talked a lot about terrain selection. The first day going up to treeline we backed off some lines because not everyone felt great about the recent snowpack and we needed more experience in the zone. Still a fantastic ski day and our priority was always unanimous consensus and speaking up. All smiles back at the lodge.
Alpine Elmo had his first ride on a snow machine last week and oh wow was it fun. Needed some time to warm up and shed the snow by the backcountry wood stove @thecallaghan_ .
40cm (or well over a foot) of fresh snow and cold temps greeted us at @thecallaghan_ for a four-day ski and stay at their lodge nestled in the BC Coast Range in Canada. Incredible conditions and an even better crew. More muppet-powered ski touring content to follow.
Alpine Elmo is back for his second annual trip to Journeyman Lodge and the conditions are all-time. New snow 3x as tall as Elmo, sunny skies plus great food and company. Cheers to @thecallaghan_ and @evo for among this spot better each year.
Alpine Elmo is back in one of my all time favorite mountain zones. The Sea To Sky corridor is where it’s at. Raining in downtown Squamish means snow in the mountains and lots of baked goods for days of alpine adventure. Commence carb loading.
Thinking about changing my name to @apres -elmo. 🤣 But seriously no better place to chill and refuel after a ski day on the Pass than @laconiamarket . And @mountaingazette might be my favorite alpine periodical of note.
So good to be back on skis. Low snow stat to the season plus torn ligaments from a bike crash in the mountains last fall had curtailed @alpine_elmo ’s alpine adventures! Sunny day above the clouds at @summitatsnoqualmie is good for what ails ya! Thanks to Elmo’s new peeps who shouted encouragement from the lifts as we skinned up.
Possibly the most beautiful crag in the Southern Hemisphere — certainly the best that Alpine Elmo has seen. The Pinnacles (ancient weathered granite) on Phillip Island. We flew south for the winter to see some relatives (and get some sun) during the PNW atmospheric river. Sadly the cliffs were closed to climbers to protect some nesting seabirds. That’s cool, so I scoped them out for next time and got in a great coastal trek and met a few marsupials.
Alpine Elmo got to hang out with old friends and new ones at the @cascadebackcountryalliance event at @proskiservice on Thursday. Didn’t win the raffle but my team did win the trivia contest! Great event celebrating recreation and responsible access in our beloved Cascade mountains!
Fall colors and the Appalachian Trail. Alpine Elmo has moved to the east coast part time. Might start a new Sub-Alpine Elmo account! It’s a great time to get outside.
After my trip to Mt. Rainier National Park, @alpine_elmo headed north to its sister park @ncascadesnps . Just a quick trip to see some sights and learn some new photo skills by hanging out with one of my favorite photographers and all-around North Cascades expert @scott_kranz . If you want to hike to some of the best spots in the PNW mountains and take a photography seminar as you go, you can’t find anyone better. Thanks Scott!
No, @alpine_elmo is not shedding his spring coat, but the snow is red in parts of @mountrainiernps and other parts of the Pacific Northwest. My friends at the @living_snow_project know all about the alpine algae that make what some people call “watermelon snow.” And while it looks neat, it can actually lead to more glacial melt and retreat since the red snow absorbs more solar radiation due to the reduced albedo of the snow and ice. If you’re interested you can support Dr. Kolder and the Living Snow Project.
