Gettin' Some Back Country Powder

Heather and I headed to the West Shore last Friday for a little back country skiing up Jake's Peak. Weather was great, conditions were great and safe, and we found some really fun powder turns just a few days after a relatively small storm. It was a blast! I did tire myself out a bit though, seeing as it was my first hike of the season and I broke trail the whole way, all 2 hours and 40 minutes of it! Can't wait to get out there again...

Heather stripping down on the hot hike up.

Me skinning up with the lake coming into view.

Looking back on the skin track and lake view from the top.

Random dude who liked the skin track that I set!

Beautiful view of South Shore from the top of Jake's Peak.

Yay, I made it!

Heather preparting for the final push to the summit...

...by boot pack.

Katharine and Heather enjoying a great lunch from the top of the world.

Looking south.

Katharine getting psyched for the coming powder run!

Some surrounding peaks to the southwest.

More peaks and pretty views...Heather knows all the names, but I forget.

Heather celebrating her awesome powder turns!

Powder turns right down to the lake...what a great run!

A Last Hurrah!

Well, the last night of the great Rygg-Cooper Wedding Bash Reunion finally arrived...boo hoo! But we sure did go out with a bang. Started out with a great day of skiing (although, it did end a little wet), then a record session of Apres-Skiing at the Chammy, then Kent's dinner special of Pudgy Pies, back to the Chammy for the annual Birthday Ugly Sweater Party, and then what would be a big night out without some late night at the Cantina. And yes, it only took 10 days, but we finally broke Ben Kraines!!!

Ryan, Marina, and Prado partaking in a little Chammy Apres.

Ryan dancing around and looking very Euro in his tight ugly sweater.


Big Papi and Brittany, relaxing and trying to get out of a big night out...no way you two!!

Zis is Hans...

Rygger, Kat Dog, and A-Train modeling our ugly sweaters.

Add in Ben and Stacia and we sure are one hideous bunch!

Big man in a little sweater vest!

Yes Hans, show us your stuff! So handsome in your sweater!!

Work it, own it...yeah Train, yeah Papi!

My Ben, that sure is a nice furry sweater you have...

The Holiday Party Continues...

The Rygg Wedding Reunion Clan is still in town and going strong...Skiing hard by day, dinner partying hard by night! Josh and I checked the calendar, and by the time it's all said and done, we will have done the holiday party thing for almost 4 weeks straight... What can you do when you have so many awesome friends around??!!

Mixing things up a bit with a little lunch break over at the Cornice Cantina.

Brittany Rygg soaking up some vitamin D rays.

Rygger and Johnny happy as can be after eating the best Mexican food around!

Kent holding his pose FOREVER waiting for my camera to flash!

A-Train and Erika are all smiles after a fun day of skiing!

Hmmm, are you both expecting??

Kraines and Candace getting cozy by the fire for a little Apres.

The audience at the Beirut table - Judy, Kent, Ryan, Erica, Ryan, and Katie.

Hey Ladies, lookin' hot over there!

Brittany and Big Papi taking a little time out.

Josh is always good at finding the lovely ladies at a party...

And the contests begin...hoola-hooping??

Its a lot harder than you remember, ask the guy with the fro!

The doubles thing definitely does NOT work!

Even Johnny gave it a whirl...

But in the end, it was Nancy Rygg as the unexpected pro!

Kellan was also quite good, managing this feat of not even touching the hoop!

And now on to the pull-up contest, and Rygger is starting off strong!

A-Train trying not to be outdone!

Kellan, Liz, and Stacia getting a little silly!

Um Kent, what's happening over there?? Is this a local episode of girls gone wild?

Gave the Bootery a little break tonight and headed out to sushi with the whole gang.

Ben, Josh, and Kat saddling up to the sake bar.

Yeah Ben Kraines...taking chances and getting airs!

Kent, Rygg, and Ben after a sweet run down Upper Attic.

And back to The Chammy for some lunch! Don't be fooled, the pitchers were flowing too...

A little brother-sister love!

Kent, Ben, Eric, and Brittany taking a little rest in the ski chairs before another session of ripping up the slopes.

Josh and Kent at the top of the Mothership.

And we're back at my and Josh's pad with the family for a little champagne toast to the newly engaged couple!

Cheers to you too, Ben and Josh!