Salomon Freeski TV Episode 3

This episode of Salomon's Freeski is about the stories behind the photo. There is a photo of myself by Will Wissman, Matt Walker by Erik Seo, and Christopher Frankum by Mattias Fredriksson. Exciting! Can't wait for winter...

Fall in Tahoe

Biking on the North Rim Trail with Lindsey, Cody, Andy Miller and Quincy Young- this was so much fun!!!

The fall season in Tahoe can be a great thing, but it carries its hardships as well. Basically, if the temperature drops to ridiculously cold (okay, it's not as cold as Jackson Hole but... it's California, and everyone is a bit on the soft side in Cali- even an Alaskan) and brings in precipitation that is not in the form of snow it can be REALLY frustrating. Plus, sports can become a bit on the not-so-fun side when it's rainy and frigid. On the upside, when the climate is acting a bit more Californian the outdoors are great. A bit of biking and fishing become a must!

Cody got jealous of the view that was distracting me so he turned to his no-fail talent of impressing me with his muscles by running uphill with his bike instead of actually using it- I'm such a sucker

Jessica Broyles onlooking as Cody brings in a fish on the East Walker River

Jess following suit

Taking a late afternoon break with Betsy

Photo in Powder Magazine

The November Powder Magazine recently graced newsstands and I have a photo in it! I am so excited. The photo was taken by Will Wissman during a three week trip in February I took to Utah to film with the Levitation Project. The snow was so deep and light it made for great landings off any huge cliff you could muster the courage attempt. Did I stick this air? You'll have to find out when the Levitation Project puts out their film edits this coming November at www.thelevitationproject.com.

Road Trip Part VII

Hitting up Slough Creek for Rainbows and Cutthroats

I have done plenty of posts on the road trip that Cody and I took in September, but it was so amazing with so many great things to see and do I have to indulge and do one more post so bear with me. Plus, I can't leave out the fishing and buffalo from Yellowstone, that would be blasphemy! In addition to daily sightings and being stuck in traffic due to the buffalo, it never got old to come across these huge beasts. Cody and I did witness a rutting battle between two males, they have so much power and strength it was mesmerizing to watch.

A familiar sighting in the northeast corner of Yellowstone

Working on my false casting- guess how many times I got my fly stuck in the trees? Well, just a few but not in this spot

The crisp nights and changing colors of the leaves were signifying that winter is just around the corner

Fishing in Yellowstone is not as easy as you would think. Yes, there are a lot of rivers to fish but because there are so many people that visit Yellowstone for the sole purpose of engaging in this fine sport the fish feel a lot of pressure. As a consequence the fish have become really smart and make it a more difficult task to catch these suckers. Game on!

Fish on!

Fall beauty in the central area of Yellowstone

Where the buffalo roam

Psyched on the sights

A typical cause for traffic congestion in Yellowstone

Biking near Mammoth Hot Springs on the Bunsen Peak loop with the Gardner River in the background

Cody and I decided that since we had our bikes with us we really wanted to get in a bike ride. However, there are not many places that you are able to legally ride your mountain bike in Yellowstone. We went out on the Bunsen Peak loop, a trail that use to be open to motorized vehicles. As we rode we came across a trail head for the Osprey Falls. Our curiosity got the better of us so we stashed our bikes (like everything else this trail was off limits to bikes) and descended over 700 feet into Sheepeater Canyon to the Gardner River. The journey's end is a magnificent 150 foot waterfall. It is a truely special spot in Yellowstone, I think magical things happen in this majestic place!

Even though it is on a major park stream and so close to a major tourist spot, very few people visit the Osprey Falls- it's a special thing to have a glorious Yellowstone sight all to yourself

Absolutely loving our adventures in the Park

Biking from the Falls. It is 12 miles roundtrip to the falls, 3 miles are the mandatory hiking. We were really glad that the other 7 miles we were able to do quickly on bikes.

We had many things to celebrate on this trip and there's no better way than including a bottle of champagne

Road Trip Part VI

So excited to take a pic with my homie Old "F"

Most U.S. National Parks seem to have their own unique iconography that pops in to mind when brought up. Like Yosemite and El Cap, Katmai and the grizzly bear and Denali and that behemoth of a mountain called Mt. McKinley, the glorious image that represents Yellowstone is arguably Old Faithful and its dependable spout. Old Faithful has slowed in frequency but still goes about every 90 minutes. There are plenty of other geysers that are active in the Upper Geyser Basin, and some eruptions last longer and go bigger, but Old Faithful is the most dependable large geyser. It's average height is 145 feet and the eruption lasts between 1.5 to 5 minutes. To see Old Faithful go off is outstanding, but the combination of Yellowstone's geysers, hot springs, mudpots and fumaroles that make up its geothermal activity is just as astounding. Over 300 geysers can be found in Yellowstone, which accounts for two thirds that exist on earth. The pictures that you will find in this post all come from the Upper Geyser Basin.

Old "F' going off

Doublet Pool

Castle Geyser

A beautiful blue pool of hot water, it made us want to jump in

This is Beehive Geyser. Doesn't look like much does it? The picture below shows what this little nozzle will do when it erupts, sending water up to a height of 190 feet.

I was so excited by Old "F" that I convinced Cody that we should stay and watch it a second time. He was thrilled too.

Old "F" takes advantage of every photo op it gets

Road Trip Part V

Cody unable to contain his excitement

I last left off at Cody and I camping in Cooke City, just outside the northeast corner of Yellowstone. We reentered the Park the next day hoping to lock down a campsite at Slough Creek, the best spot in Yellowstone to camp. We lucked out because we didn't get there until 10:30 am, and as we later found out if you want a spot you need to be there by 8 am. Now that we were situated at a site, we had the next few days to discover what a great playground Yellowstone is and the majesty it holds.

View from our campsite at Slough Creek

Yellowstone National Park has a plethora of fantastic things to see. Cody and I tried to capture the beauty on camera, but I'm not sure that we did it justice.

There are so many interesting rock formations around Yellowstone that are a result of lava fields being compressed, whittled and carved into shape over time

Tower Falls - I'm glad this was the first waterfall we saw because it is quite beautiful, but when you see some of the other waterfalls in Yellowstone it ever so slightly loses its splendor

One of those stinky hot spots, better known as a sulphur caldron

Artist's Point of the Lower Falls on the Yellowstone River

Working on the touron pose

Just one of the amazing views of Yellowstone River

A vortex of vivid colors

Upper Falls on the Yellowstone River

So many photo ops in front of Lower Falls

Oh Yellowstone...