Bluebird days with good snow are a rarity at Mt. Baker, so when they come it’s time to throw down. Last Saturday happened to be one of those days. Photographer Garrett Grove and I hiked to Chair 8 to get a jump on the rush along with rippers Aneka and John. We got in a few sunny turns before moving to the Shuksan Arm to ski some bigger lines. Aneka and John skied a sunlit ridge leaving swirling plumes of cold smoke hanging in the air like steam rising from a Yellowstone hot pot on a chilly winter morning. I opted to ski the flank of a steep spine glowing with ambient light. I danced and my Night Trains floated.
Back at the top of Chair 8 we discussed plans with Garrett and I mentioned my desire to hit a big air referred to as “Diving Board” for its perfect, plank-like takeoff. Garrett was stoked on it so we cruised back to the top of the Arm. I dropped in, speed checked and boosted a big, front flip, but over rotated and tomahawked to the bottom of the steep landing, luckily unharmed.
Garrett is a skier too, so by this time he was ready to go for a walk and we took off to get away from the ski area. We didn’t get far before Garrett spotted a sunny cliff with a great takeoff and suggested I have a go at it. I obliged and threw my first back flip in years, unfortunately under rotating and landing on my chest. The compression felt like a 350lb lineman smashing me in the ribs. “Ooof!” Fortunately, I’m OK save a few bruised ribs, and lessons have been learned.
Garrett and I can’t wait for our next opportunity to try some new angles and stomp some landings on the Shuksan Arm. Enjoy the photos courtesy of Garrett Grove, www.garrettgrove.com
Cheers,
Paul Kimbrough
