David Marlaire is a splitboarder and a damn fine artist, expressing his love of the outdoors through his art. His bright, vibrant colors instantly made me think of Jaime Lynn’s art (think: a good chunk of Lib base graphics over the past 15 years+ years) and some of his scenics and textures made me think of Eric Jacobsen. Sick stuff I think you’ll dig, a sampling of it is below, but check it all out at his site
This one is my personal fave, between the colors and just reminding me of a lunch stop on my Thanksgiving tour with Kyle Miller, where we were stoked out of our minds when we got above the cloud level and the sun was reigning down on us. Looking at it brings back that feeling, and good art is supposed to evoke emotion, no?
'Folding the skins'
Sick detail on the pow spray
'Shotgun Couloir'
I’d like to see some snow film/art tours the way the surf industry does it (i.e. The Happening, etc.) so that talented guys like David are able to make a living stoking the rest of us out.
Figured that I had nothing to do today, may as well get started on the girlfriend’s Christmas gift (Christmas 2009…I’m a bit late here). It’s my mom’s old Peugeot, the twin to my dad’s bike that I revamped for myself last summer (first pic). Not looking to do anything crazy with it, just get it rolling, shifting and stopping again, and maybe give it a touch of flash with a Brooks saddle, maybe a porteur rack and some color matched cable housings.
So, here’s the Peugeot as it stood an hour ago. Mixtes are so 2010. Phonecam pic doesn’t bring out the 1/2″ of tarnish/grease/cobwebs/brie crumbs/etc.
Going to start by just putting my wheels on the frame so I can stand ‘er up and get 30 years of grime off.
Kind of odd in these days of over the top branding/EXTREME MONSTER ENERGY GRAPHICS!!! that the only model name/number these bikes have appears to be scotch taped on. Apparently this is a PH18.
Almost looks like the Rossi rooster? Well, maybe it would if the photo wasn’t so DOF’d blurry (hands were greasy, didn’t want to F w/ the camera much so just pointed/shot)
Front (and rear) lights still work with a generator that sits on the rear tire when you want to create power. Kind of cool, but dim. May see if there’s a way to gut it and rebuild with LEDs.
That’s it for now, will update as I make real progress.
Looks like some deals to be had for our just starting today summer. A few choice items below, but if you don’t see what you’re looking for it’s likely on sale.
No PMH approved Phantom 32 to be found, but the Conness 32 is there for under two bills. Lower loft down makes for a slightly heavier/bulkier bag, but if you’re on a budget worth looking at.
Conness 32 for about two bills
If a 32 degree bag is warmer than you need this Kelty Light Year 40 looks checks a lot of boxes for not many benjis. 650 fill down, long version that comes in at 6’6″ long (tallelujah!), under 2 lbs and under $130.
Under $130?? Score!
What’s better than the multple award winning GSI Dualist? The Micro Dualist, of course. Though, in use I’d say it doesn’t provide much more utility than a Jetboil as there’s no frying pan. Still, if you need a setup for two worth looking into.
Yes brobrah, smaller is better
One thing I never leave home without is a flask with a little post-hike relaxation swill. While it’s not the ultrasexy titanium Snow Peak flask this one comes in at a fraction of the cost and 3x the volume. Get your whiskey on in the backcountry, or sip some port and eat some Ritter chocolate while stargazing.
I'm old fashioned. A little rye...a little bitters...
Since he’s not out doing quadruple corks, his every move followed by a heli and 1000s of adoring fans, you’ve likely not heard of Jarrett Luttrell. If you haven’t, he’s the first snowboarder to ride all 54 of Colorados 14ers (mountains over 14k feet high, in case you were confused). Saw this interview on TW today, check it and give props to the guys you’ve never heard of pushing the limits of snowboarding.
Looks like REI is doing the extra 20% off at the outlet again. Some good deals to be had if you don’t need the latest and greatest, or are an odd size. A couple items that stood out to me below.
ALPS Mountaineering isn’t well known as they aren’t the company typically raising the bar. They take a more modest approach, using tried and true materials. Three man tent for about $120 looks like a deal.
A luxury item for sure, and I used to laugh at them myself, but then one day I lay down post-hike in a friend’s…and woke up an hour later. Some of these were recalled a year or so ago, I’m assuming the ones REI sells are post-recall, if not maybe you can retire on this hammock in two ways.
I always stayed away from down, being from the Northwest and all. Then gradually over my California years upgraded piece by piece to down, and ended up being able to go down a pack size. Of course if you’re in wetter climates could be an issue.
Lunchtime ride through Forest Park the other day (yes, I love being back in OR!). No crazies to be seen, just a bunch of friendly Portland peeps doing their lunchtime thing. First time on a mtn bike since mine got stolen back in…97. Good stuff. Learned two things quickly in the mud.
1) Following too close to my buddy’s new Specialized 29er will result in eating a ton of mud. MASSIVE roost coming off that bad boy!
2) The new-to-me Klein may need a disc brake upgrade so I can actually slow/stop in muddy/wet conditions. Of course discs will guarantee me going over the bars with the Klein. Going to have to seek out someone’s old cheapie gear, don’t want to invest too much in the bike.
Saw this and thought it may be of interest to some of those out there. RIP Arne.
June 6, 2010
At 9:45 am on June 3rd Arne Backstrom was killed while skiing Pisco (5752 m) in the Llanganuco Valley of the Cordillera Blanca, Peru. With him were Kip Garre and Dave Rosenbarger. The team arrived in Peru on the 28th of May for a month long ski mountaineering expedition. On June 1st the team established a base camp at 4650 m in the Llanganuco Valley with intentions of climbing and skiing Pisco as apart of their acclimatization process. At 4:45 am on June 3rd Arne, Kip, and Dave started their climb from base camp under clear skies and calm winds. They ascended the Standard Route via the Huandoy/Pisco Col and SW Slopes with no difficulties. The team made the summit at 9:00 am and began their descent at 9:25.
Snow conditions off of the summit were consistent and ideal for skiing. An inch of warmed, soft snow overlay a firm base. Approximately 150 m below the summit the team stopped at a ramp leading to Pisco’s S Face, a 400m 50-55 degree slope of snow and rock. The S Face was a feature that the team had observed and discussed during the two days prior to their climb. At 9:45 am, after some discussion, Arne decided to descend the ramp to assess the snow conditions of the face. He made a few turns down the 40-degree ramp in soft conditions before encountering hard snow or ice. Arne attempted to traverse onto the S Face to what appeared to be softer snow. Conditions on the face remained firm and the team noticed Arne accelerate. His downhill ski released causing Arne to fall out of Kip and Dave’s sight.
Not able to see Arne or the entire S Face, Kip and Dave tried to make verbal contact with no success. Realizing self-arrest was highly unlikely, Kip and Dave descended the route of their ascent knowing it would be the safest, fastest way to reach Arne. At 9:55 Kip and Dave encountered a guide and client just below the Huandoy/Pisco Col and informed them of the accident. At this point Kip and Dave roped up and began to traverse/skin, maintaining a high route under Pisco’s S Face through heavily glaciated and crevassed terrain. At approximately 10:55 am they found Arne beneath the face. Upon thorough examination Arne had neither a radial nor a carotid pulse and had sustained head trauma despite wearing a helmet.
Unable to move Arne back through the glaciated terrain, Kip and Dave were forced to descend in search of help. At 11:30 am Kip and Dave reached two guides who had been informed of the accident and were coming to assist in the rescue. All unnecessary equipment was left behind and the rescue party walked roped up back to Arne and reached him at 12:15 pm. An improvised litter was created using a rope and skis. The four person rescue party began moving Arne back towards the trail leading to base camp at 1:15 pm. Due to soft snow and complicated terrain, progress was slow. Wanting to avoid any further accidents from serac and rock fall from the face above, the decision was made after two hours of work to leave Arne in a safe location and return the following morning with additional help.
At approximately 4:15 pm, with the use of a satellite phone, the team contacted a friend in the United States to help with coordination of a rescue and to notify members of Arne’s family.
The following day, with the help of several local porters and guides Arne was brought down to a refuge located adjacent to the team’s base camp. Currently formalities are being taken care of to return Arne back to his family in the United States.
We want to apologize for the factual nature of this report. All of us here, as well as thousands of friends and family members around the world are deeply saddened by this unfortunate event. Our foremost concern, however, is that all of the facts surrounding the accident are understood.
