Joffre Peak, BC

Do you remember my first backcountry ski trip? Because I'll certainly never forget it.  The terrain around Keith's Hut is some of the coolest easy access alpine terrain that I've ever seen!

Mt Hood

I recently had the pleasure of climbing my first volcano here in the Pacific Northwest.  I had a few days off around the 4th of July and decided that I had to do something great.  I jumped on board with a few friends that were planning to climb and ski Mt Hood, and then do the same on Mt Adams.  Unfortunately I only had enough time off to do Mt Hood.  It was very odd to start from a ski resort parking lot and pass snow cats building jumps at 4am, but the climb was amazing.  And I have to admit the feeling of skiing groomers past kids and families with my climbing pack on my back felt pretty good.  Mt Hood had no fall zones, fairly steep snow, a knife ridge, and a beautiful summit view, I couldn't have asked for more.  Here's another one from the Point and Shoot, the night before the summit bid.

Enjoy.

Smith Rocks State Park, OR

I recently had the pleasure of getting to check out Smith Rocks State Park.  As a climber, I've dreamed of climbing here quite some time now.  As a photographer, I couldn't wait to see the amazing rock formations glow from the morning light.  As a person who enjoys the outdoors for the solitude, I was very disappointed.  Crowds aside, this place was pretty amazing.  And the land management does an amazing job at keeping it from being destroyed by the crazy amount of people that wash over it daily.  Although I only got a taste of the climbing there, I was pretty impressed, and it felt like a lot of the climbing I was used to in Tucson.  I can't wait to go back on a true climbing trip and get to sample many more of the classics there.  In the meantime, enjoy a couple of snaps that I took with the Point and Shoot.

Enjoy