the barnard hut

Last week we took a little trip to the Barnard hut just outside of Aspen. It was about a 7-9 hour adventure into the woods over 8 miles and 2500' of climbing. We made it to the hut just before sunset and instantly scarfed gorp, cheese, salami, cookies, tequila, whiskey and the stupid twelfer I hauled. Then more food; Sean cooked us a stellar bacon sausage spaghetti for dinner and soon after we all passed out for the evening. Day 2 started with several rounds of coffee to go with pancakes and bacon to fuel us for our day of skiing across from the hut. We broke trail through the woods in a foot of fresh before we crossed the ridge to our starting point. OC dug a pit and discovered that the snow had several incredibly weak layers on top of rotten snow on the bottom. Which means that we needed to stick to the trees and stay off the face to minimize the avalanche risk. We got ready, took our 1st lap down the trees and everyone shook off the cobwebs. At the bottom everyone agreed that another lap was needed. 1 hour later we're at the top again and have a better idea of where to descend through more open trees. OC played middle man and stationed himself near a grove of trees on a rollover to survey the action that we couldn't see from the top. Everyone else got to ski the pitch top to bottom one at a time which was amazing. Once again the crew wanted to take another lap which was monumental given the amount of bitching going on on the previous lap (myself included!). So we put the skins on and "think I can think I can'd" it all the way to the top for another hot lap. In the evening we drank whiskey coffees along with all of the remaining booze because there was no way in hell it was going to be carried out. Chase and Amy cooked stir fry for dinner and we then played an impromptu game of "Things" at Rach's request until we could no longer stay awake. Our last morning came too early and we had our last meal of sausage burritos before cleaning up the hut. The nice part about going back to the trailhead was getting to ski several pitches and only a few sections when it felt like a deathmarch. We all made it back without injury save for blisters and blue toenails. It was a stellar trip and I can't wait to do it again...even if I'm terrified to put my feet back in those damn ski boots!

its the food...

uh yeah, so i love food and I take a picture of it when I'm stoked. Generally, a solid meal involves a really good time.


A summer saturday with my lady


9 yr Anniversary dinner at Suehiro, just let Akron do his magic. no menu is needed


Lucille's midweek at the bar


about to crack a Bud before a big climb on a long bike with all my camping gear


Post northside session at pizza casbah


pre-blackout @34


lovely afternoon with Hessy


Fuel for an 85mile road ride in the spring


Meat fest @ rach's grandparents place on the river post 18hr race




lobster days in carbondale


Dolores park truffles on Willy's 30th wkend


Metzler threw down on breakfast in Vail in August


a leisurely morning at Grand Lake in the van