local relief

With temps in the single digits at night, snow and ice have been getting progressively better and a fulfilling way to distract from no flying. Chris Gibisch and I got to take a break from work and spent a couple of days in the mountains making turns and swinging tools. The back country skiing has been fantastic in the Bitterroot so on day 1, we met up with a friend and went up behind the house, close to Lolo pass, for a few laps in the trees before waking up early the next day for a drive to Bozeman to climb. A couple of Hylite routes were reportedly in great shape and after doing what we came to do and rappels to the packs, we put our headlamps on and boot skied our way back down the trail to the truck, laughing and talking smack the whole way. Drove by full moon back to Missoula, arriving home last night at 11 pm. Good times, for sure.



With a priority shift in the last few years, It's been super fun reacquainting with climbing. Climbing allows the constant opportunity (just like flying) to be humbled, to feel small and to work on character. There is no faking. When racking up for a lead, you either do it or don't. Either way and for what ever reason, the decision has consequence and at the least, allows you to learn more about yourself. Limits are absolutely created and when those borders are defined and redefined, I learn that life isn't just what I make it, it's exactly what I make it. Just starting to feel the sea legs getting steadier and the motivation with Chris as a partner is high. Life is good and constantly getting better.


Chris firing Airborne Ranger

Time to Hybernate?

The snow is dumping and the ice is forming here in Montana which spells no flying and the beginning of climbing season. I really enjoy sitting at the sewing machines, building harnesses for fellow pilots but it's nice to escape day dreams of thermalling in the sun and get the personal rewards that come from hard work in the mountains mixed in with some good old fashion suffering.



Climbing in the mountains here during winter is really special. There are absolutely no crowds and in fact, it's rare to see much of anyone after a long approach. There are lessons earned that sometimes take us to a place of understanding long forgotten, or in completely new ways because of the uncertainty of it. You don't know if the routes are formed or not, or, if a particular route is formed in a remotely similar way to what you have experienced in years past. Ice is dynamic. A moving crystal that creates a line of weakness to travel high on alpine walls which would otherwise repel us easily. Every year it's different and new. Climbing rock is fun but usually quite sequential, forcing you to do sometimes particular moves to efficiently navigate the route. Ice allows multiple lines and opens the chance to be creative and to use your imagination to discover what feels possible to you.


The flanks of Mt Edwards



Chris and I decided to go and have a look at the intimidating routes on the North Face of Mt Edwards in Glacier National Park. It was still fairly early season so we had realistic intentions and really just wanted to ski in to see what and how things were shaping up. Although, still early in terms of the "cold cycle" of our area, it was pretty late for any Grizzly bears to be out so we were a little apprehensive as we followed a big pigeon toed bastard into the circ. I kept wondering when it would turn off the trail but low and behold, we followed it for the 6 mile ski into the dead end circ we were planning to camp in. It was snowing and the claw holes were not filled in yet which meant, a couple hours max in front of us. It was pretty cool that he broke trail for us though because the further we got into the circ, the snow got pretty F*^&'n deep;-)





We ended up approaching the routes the following morning after hearing the unstable snow pack "whumphing" all night knowing that the avalanche hazard was most likely horrendous from a cold snap followed by a Chinook. After climbing 30% of the slope toward the wall, we dug a pit and confirmed that the slope was primed for wet slab avalanches so we clicked in and skied our way out.



After getting some more work done at home, my jones was far from satisfied so we post holed into the Mission mountains and climbed some local ice in full value conditions. Our friend Justin Woods met us at the trail head which made for lighter loads and a great "bro factor". Although it was not the adventure we look to find when climbing in the Park, it was really cool just to swing the tools and always great to climb with good friends.

Harnesses and harnesses

Been working hard to get this batch of harnesses out the door to psyched pilots and also working hard to continually refine and do my best to make improvements. Design is a process that keeps ideas and creativity a focus. Gotta keep up the fun factor, yea?



Apparently, wearing Matt Barkers "inner shell" on my head helps the process.


Took an afternoon off to go pull in one of the Bitteroot canyons. One of my friends from Alaska showed up with his wife, Anna, and their two kiddos, Alder and Oden. Alder came to the crag with us to keep the pup warm and scream out beta to her dad while he was climbing one of the cave routes. Snow is just starting to fall here. Ice is forming;-)

Jonathan's Covert

One of the harnesses that went out from the last group we built is being flown by Jonathan Dietch. He has been gracious enough to send me a few stills and a video from his first flight in the Covert.

This shot is fuzzy from being cropped but shows the clean shape of this version

You can tell a lot in the video. When he points his toes (as we all do sometimes), the top of the harness, just above the boot, gets loose. When it's tight is when he's relaxed.

res ipsa liquitor

What a mission! Yesterday, I had a great time taking a stiff look in the mirror of perspective. I love the combination of loosing time in thought while exercising. Running in the mountains is a form of meditation where I can formulate design solutions, introspect, visualize flying strategy or just try to have "no mind" and allow thoughts to free flow and come and go as time does.



One of my best and oldest friends, Jim Chase, has been distance running on and off most of his life. Over the years we have worked together, climbed together, hunted Elk with long bows in the mountains of Montana together, flown together (tandem) and ended up lucky enough that our kids now play together. He is soft spoken but has the fitness and toughness to make him one of the "hardest" dudes I know. He started running 50 milers in the mountains and inspired me to give it a go. Turns out that I loved training for a long event and felt the need to satisfy a curiosity so once again, it's off for an adventure with Jimmy Chase.


Just crossed the finish line. Jimmy beat me in by about 30 mins. He's a beast

The course this year was different than the past 29 years of the Le Griz Ultrathon. Normally, it takes the Western shore which makes it mellow for a 50 because of the lack of elevation gain. Road construction on the Western shore caused this to be the first year that entrants would run the Eastern shore. That side of the lake turned out to be quite hilly with an ass kicker up into the woods at mile 40. I felt great until mile 22, felt like shit from 25-35 and then thought I was getting a second wind, finding a good rhythm. At mile 40, we turned a switchback and started up hill for what seemed like forever. I was able to recover on the way back down the pass but when I got to the finish at mile 43, I was pretty worked. We ran past the finish, down through the traditional "bushwhack" (a 100 yrd push through the woods) to a paved road. From there, we had a little more than 3 miles to climb up pavement to the Hungry Horse Dam which we ran across and back to the finish. The concrete seemed to jar every muscle and bone in my tired body but in the end, I survived, no dramas.


Got to bring home a souvenir for my kiddo

It was a great experience and although I am hobbling around the house today, am already looking forward to another adventure in the mountains. There is still a lot to learn......always


The 50 mile mountain run pedicure. Wouldn't know the light without the dark;-)

keep your head above water, but don't forget to breath

I returned from AZ ready to spend some time in the shop. First task was to finish up a batch of Covert comp harnesses for some good pilots and friends. Always cool for me to work on gear that, sooner than later, I will get to see in the air.


Here are a couple of shots of Katie O'Riordan launching and flying in her new Covert while at the British Nationals in Laragne, France.


One is going to Italy for my friend, Franco, 3 going down under to the Aussie boys, Dave, Nick and Flocky and 2 to pilots Jonathan Deitch and Davis Straub here in the States.


We spent some late nights and had some shipping challenges to work through but all are on their way and look SWEET!!



Can't wait to hear how they feel about flying in them. Jonathan and Franco both got 1 chute versions and I put an O2 sheath in Jonathan's for those high, Owens and King Mountain adventures.



Started sewing on the next batch of harnesses which will include a couple of unique color combos that should look super sharp. I will post when they are cut.



Meanwhile, as the title of this post points out, even though I love what I do for a living, sometimes it's good to go kick my own arse just to remind me how good I really have it. I love to trail run into the mountains and sometimes loose all sense of time spending hours day dreaming about flying, climbing or design while ticking off the miles and getting far above Missoula. I have been quietly training for a long one that happens to be coming up. Next weekend, on the 9th, I am going to run the LeGriz Ultrathon close to Glacier park. The course is pretty mellow in relation to other 50 milers in the mountains and will take us along the scenic shoreline of Hungry Horse Reservoir through bear and goat country. Should be a good stress release, should be a good chance to learn more about myself but one thing is certain....it should be an ass kicker.


31 mile mark. Photo taken by Le Griz staff in 2002

Santa Cruz Wrap Up

Day 5- It was even hotter in the paddock on the 5th day but the forecast was for that additional heat to help create stronger lift. I had a decent start with Zippy, Jonny and Craig. Carl and Ben were above and only sightly behind as we headed out on course. When we got to the first mountain about half way to the t-point, we found one of the sweetest climbs of the comp. It was a smooth 500 that felt coastal. Literally like butter. After climbing as high as we felt we needed to and gliding off, my feelings were confirmed by Dustin on the radio saying " that climb was UNBELIEVABLE!".


Task Committee hard at work- photo by Dave Aldrich

As we pushed through the t-point, Zippy, Dustin and I lead out but weren't finding anything. Dustin went one way and Zipp and I went another as we continued to get lower. Luckily, out in front we saw a field break off several small dust devils that soon turned into a house sized pipe of spinning dirt. I was a little worried because we were low enough that we would intersect it just at the top of the dust. I griped the bar tight and flew just down wind of it. I was a bit surprised to not only not feel turbulence but I didn't feel anything....no lift, not a bump. Zipp went one way and I went the other and fortunately found 500 that we both climbed in as the gaggle caught us from behind coming in much higher above us. It was a fight for position for the rest of the day and I was not where I wanted to be at the end of the task. Getting close to what should be final glide and I was lower and behind but I felt that my numbers were acceptable and snuck under and away from Jonny, Robin and Dustin as they were taking their last climb. I was definitely sweating it a bit as my numbers got worse for a portion of my final but in the end, I squeaked into goal and won the day.


On glide- photo by Dave Aldrich

Day 6- We had some big dustys roll through the launch line adding a bit of spice to the first part of the day.




Dustin coming out of the cart- photo by Dave Aldrich

Once in the air, it seemed to be a repeat of the conditions we had the previous day. It's funny, during a task it seems like so much can happen and this task was no let down. I got low at the first t-point and HAD to take a climb without getting the t-point. Even though I was less that 2ks from it, I was so low that I was worried I would land if I didn't climb. Unfortunately, the entire gaggle had already tagged it and to make matters worse, the thermal drifted us away from the t-point. I had to leave the climb early to tag the cylinder and drive on course to find some lift. I hear on the radio that Zipp had gone down and I knew it was going to be a little sporty on this leg.


Zippy getting a pull from Greg and his trike- photo by Dave Aldrich

I climbed with Davis for a while and then dove down course line when I saw dust devils busting out of a field out ahead. It was a repeat of the day before and again I was rewarded with a good climb, this time 700fpm, which got me back in the game catching up with the lead gaggle. We turned the next t-point and while on our way back over the resort, it became painfully obvious a gear switch was necessary. Lift went from 4-500fpm to 50fpm and we all struggled to stay in the air. Dustin called that he was getting a stellar line toward the last t-point and I left with less than marginal numbers. I was hoping to get one more climb. Turns out, I didn't hit a bump and with most of the group, landed just inside a couple of miles from goal. Joe Bostik won the day on his T2C with Dustin getting in 2nd. Craig, Carl and Robin were the only others to make it in.


It was a privilege to have a crew of pro's out to film the comp. Zippy's a super star

Last day- I knew I needed a good finish for the day to have any hope of moving up in the standings. It turned into a really good race day which is a good thing because Zippy, Craig and I all found ourselves in a horrible position, leaving the start cylinder almost 12 minutes after the last start. The saving grace was that the first leg was slow and difficult, causing some to land and allowing us to catch up pretty quickly. We ended up catching the lead gaggle when, in the latter half of the course, we all climbed to almost 11,000'. I saw Jonny and a couple others go on final but I was still lower than the gaggle and thought I needed a bit more height. As I climbed, I watched their line and saw that they were getting a killer glide so I left early, taking a risk, sneaking off onto final. The air was indeed buoyant and I got between a 12 and 20:1 most of the way. It was super fun standing on it as fast as I could fly for the last couple of miles, finishing with a strafe of the folks hanging out on top of the resort roof. Turned out that Larry and Robin had both landed short and my 4th for the day was just enough to move into 4th overall. Now all that was left was to clean up and party down.
Overall, we flew 7 out of 7 days and had racy conditions for all but 2 of the days. Santa Cruz Flats was run with professionalism and efficiency. I highly recommend it as one not to miss, whether your open class or sport class. Thanks to all who made it possible.