Last Call 3

Great birthday, and we were thrashed enough after 14’k of gnarly DH yesterday that the partying last night was kept to a dull roar.  So we can do some more snow laps today…

I think this is the final run on the Kessel this year though.

Mr. Bear got first tracks today.

Some blue skies for a change let us see the freshies in all their glory.

Yo Terry, you aren’t allowed to wear white…

We cracked off a few of these low level Kessels this morning.

The rest of the gang went over to hit the Monster.  I have a date to teach a clinic in Williams Lake, so with a massive drive and not a lot of rest this week I bugged out mid-afternoon to make the 900km trek to the Cariboo.

Sick season, and so many good times with the Retallack Army.  See you in the winter for some pow!

Last Call – 2

Or as it’s called around home, “My Birthday.”  The plan was for a Powerslave, but since there was a solid 18” of new snow up top, we decided to shuttle it from Morning Mtn. Not once…not twice…but three times.

You can see the snow up around Whitewater in the background, and the first skiff on the ground here on the approach through the clearcut.  It wasn’t melting.

It’s Thursday though, and the crew was wound right up as always.

Also ran into Kirt and Lindsey Voreis doing some filming.  Forgot to grab a shot for ya, as I was busy picking myself up after sliding into home plate on one of the greasy bridges in Bears Den.

They were still there on round 2.  They must have run that section a hundred times or more in the three days they shot.

We just kept smashing laps.

Dave’s brother even came out for run #3 with us.

That’s a LOT of Freedom jerseys in the Kootenays.

Back at the lodge, there was another unreal meal (love yer balls, Amber), and chocolate cake, and this super cool card from the Retallack family.

Thanks tons.  I hardly feel a day over 43…but I am.

Last Call – 1

After that last crew, I had a couple of chillout days (and I mean chilly…) to rest and regroup.  While it rained that whole time, it was tough to tell what was happening at higher elevation.

Until it cleared up.  It sure didn’t rain off. More like it accumulated.  That’s OK, this crew is used to it.  Some of the usual Thursday night gang from Freedom made it out for the final trip of the year.

We got the ball rolling with a few Kessel Runs and some Choices laps.  Here’s Kinrade getting some entirely inappropriate Rampage training in.

Also Footie…

Terry…

And Kurt (on the 2014 glory no less).

Nice to be out killin’ it with the usual crew today.  Lots of vert in some seriously greasy conditions.

Almost forgot, Voegli showed up too.  Not that he’s a Thursday night regular, but he seems to be around at least once a season.

Well, tomorrow is Thursday (and also my birthday, but don’t get excited.  It was actually a week ago.  I’m just behind on the updates).  I’m sure we’ll get up to no good.

In the meantime, Nageln.