Backcountry Snowboarding

I don’t think I will ever be able to go to a normal ski resort after this adventure.

Winter Park Resort (the runs in the background) costs $144 a day per person.  Our day cost a half a tank of gas for the snowmobile and I suppose we had to have an adventurous spirit.

We did not see one other snowboarder or skier the whole day, unlike the crowded lines and packed out lunch rooms of the resorts.

Yes the perks where pretty endless.

The wonderful Dan and Maria (Jared’s sister) took us out for this special trip.  Dan keeps his snowmobile up in the mountains for an easy getaway.

After the two hour drive into the mountains Dan and Jared picked up the snowmobile while Maria and I got some last minutes snacks- cheese, a giant pre-made sandwich and some spring rolls.  All the essentials.

As we were heading up the mountain in a big blue truck with the snowmobile strapped in back, it was snowing quite steadily and the switchbacks kept getting more steep and more narrow- I began to think…what the heck are we getting ourselves into?  Are we good enough to be heading out to do this sort of thing?  Do we have a will?  Don’t all great days start with these sorts of questions?  (maybe not)

Well, this great day started with these thoughts.

We finally reached the top and reversed the truck into a large snowbank and then Dan backed the snowmobile out of the truck and onto the snowbank- flawless.

This is us strapping on all our snowgear and preparing to head up the mountain- all the while giant flakes continued to surround us.

I would have to say that the most physically demanding and most scary part was hanging onto the snowmobile as we flew up the mountain.  Dan was mostly the driver so he would hang on to the side handle bars while the passenger would cling to that bar in between.  Both people would straddle the snowmobile with some big knee bend.  The right hand would be clutching your snowboard.  ALL THIS WHILE SMOKING IT UP A GIANT MOUNTAINSIDE!  Yes, i thought it was slightly terrifying as well.  Since there was lots of powder and the steepness of the route- Dan would yell for us to lean out or lean in so that we would not tip over.  And when we got to the top we would have to jump off (don’t worry he slowed down) and he would continue down the slope to pick up the next person.

I think my left hang was bruised by the end of the day from how hard I was gripping that bar!  So worth it though.

I am so glad we had our own personal guide to take us on this great adventure.  We will never forget this day.