Daryl's Cryptic Tales

2000 meter Shred via Sled

2011-04-24T08:46:00.000-07:00

Through the success and failures of this season's skiing, I've realized how some lines are really a gift to be shredded when proper snow, light, stability, and stars align; while other mountains are not for the faint of heart, and don't grant access until they are ready ... or until we are ready.

This week bro Dave and I stood on the shoulders of giants as we joined veterans Dave B. and Jon Johnson in pioneering a new route up a rugged volcano. Combining our experience and skills we made like mullets and attacked from the back, shaving off 6 hrs from the traditional ascent. Our modern approach took advantage of modern technology in snowmobiles, and we rode tandem over rivers, through avi paths, around crevasses, and up near vertical walls. After an hour and 6500 feet of elevation gain we traded 2-strokes for crampons and an easy boot back later we peered over the edge for a long anticipated view.

Despite the previous day's efforts putting in a sled track, and previous years of exploring the area, today's run was a gift. The sun had just come over the mountains, the valley clouds were holding off, and the snow was perfect. We were in the right place at the right time, in the right mind, and with the right people.
Dave dropped first, bouncing from side to side down a 1500 foot spine to a safe perch. I followed on an adjacent spine that split into a snake tongue, steepened, cruxed, then spined again. I skied out the fan screaming with double fist pumps and grinning ear to ear. Jon and Dave B. had a different entrance, but similar results. This upper face is really the gem, but we still had a mile of vert. to descend to our waiting snowmobiles. By 9:30 AM we were back at base camp, drinks in hand, toasting our fortune filled lines that loomed far overhead.

This is a significant peak that has stared me down many days, including the morning my wife and I were engaged at it's volcanic base. To summit and safely descend required all our wisdom, skill, commitment, fortune, and focus; and in return it gave us it's all.
We know of seven others to ski here; two of whom were present, while Jack and Beaker's legacys remain written on the snow covered walls. We are so fortunate to have these days that we can share with brothers, and return home to share our experience with wives and friends (if our wives still speak to us).
I earned 'husband of the year' status for my immediate return, while double D's and Jon attempted the dark north face. Jon was taken out by an unsuccessful river crossing in rising tides, while double D's slayed more long, perfect spines.

La Nina Forever!

2011-04-18T09:26:00.000-07:00

March was amazing, but April is awesome! Weathered locals compare this season's snowfall to one more then a foggy decade past; a time before my time on the coast. I have never seen these mountains so perfectly plastered. Our challenge has been timing proper light for alpine descents, and the past 2 weeks our patience and perseverance was rewarded with a few clear days.

Bro Dave, Athan Merrick from Dendrite Studios, photog Chris Christie and I tapped into some of our local hills around Pemberton, squeezing out every possible shot the light would allow. After 2 long days of sun we had bagged some good lines despite the competition from many other amped film/photo crews feeling pressure to produce sunny segments.

It was disheartening to see so many people in areas normally reserved for a dozen local Pembertonians, yet most respected the unwritten rules of the backcountry. Even Terje, who's heli used our skis as a landmark to guid them onto the peak we were setting up to ski, politely admitted to his greasy snowboard ways and let us work the face. 'What goes around comes around' and later that week we were the slower crew sledding up to the same group on the same peak.

Athan and Nick are now pulling late nights to prepare for the Intersession film contest on Wednesday, April 20th; so I guess Dave and I will venture a little deeper, hopefully escaping the helis and hype of the crowded Whistlerites.

K3 Catski - 'steep or deep'

2011-03-14T21:40:00.000-07:00

I hate to plan trips in the winter, which annoys my wife ... and when I do plan, it still annoys my wife as I rarely keep plans. Weather, snow, and invariably others involved continually change. Consequently, my week and a half long plan of celebrating Griz Dayz in Fernie, BC, followed by a string of catskiing locations with a filmer, writer and photographer was diminished to two days at K3 based out of Sicamouse BC.
I was tired of trying to communicate to anyone, and arrived at the Best Western, unaware that this would be our lodge. Photographer Bryan Ralph, skier Matt Elliott and I soon realized the benefits: close to cheep beer, a pool, cell service, privacy, and Timmy Ho's next door.
As we turned off kilometer 3 of the logging road and climbed the switchbacks, our guide Carl explained the difficulties of keeping the road plowed to the cat, and even the troubles of keeping the cat roads maintained as it has snowed at least every four days this season. Our terrain was limited, but the snow seemed bottomless.
We were guests here with a purpose: to capture publishable photos, to gain photos marketable for K3, and to shred pow. And during our short stay we knocked off all three. Matt and I kept finding pillows jutting out of the trees and we would try and figure out a take off and landing, sometimes compromising both for the sake of some good old hang time. When one of us asked the other about the landing, the answer was always "oh yah, its good!" ... " Is it steep?" ... "oh yah, super deep!"
Over years of skiing and surfing, I've learned the value of seizing the moment when conditions are right so Elliott and I jumped off everything we could find.
On our last run we caught a glimpse of K3's bigger jaw-dropping terrain, which was a bit of a sucker punch, but also inspiration to return.

The Warm-Up

2011-02-22T11:26:00.000-08:00

The past two weeks have been incredible on the Coast Range; with meters of fresh snow, followed by sunny cold skies and a stable snowpack. It took little convincing for Travis and Cheddar to join me ski touring from a cozy cabin to bold lines.

The late and great Jack Hannan brought me here on our first ski-day together. At the time, I had no idea what Jack was about to expose me to in the following years. He opened my eyes, and the door to big mountain skiing; leading by example in his light-hearted yet focused and committed way.

Now years later, with a clearer vision, I've returned. Its a big wall and I was happy to test the smaller shoulder's spine, feeling the place out. This was the deepest snow I've skied on something this steep. At times I thought the whole line was sliding on me, but it was ripable waist deep slough.

This spine was the Warm-Up run... So stay posted to see how comfort levels adapt.

Returning Older and Wiser

2011-02-02T22:32:00.000-08:00

Back in my late 20s, I was in this frigid cauldron, spending a day's worth of energy climbing the deep snow of the north face. This time bro Dave and I returned with a different game plan.

Accompanied by Jon Johnson, Chris Christy, and Joe Joeseph Lax we started early; making like a mullet and attacking from the back. The day seemed all too easy, strolling up the south side in sunny firm snow, then shredding sweet steep spines down through the crevasse and cerac fields.

A gem like Mt. Swensan/Swanson doesn't always present itself this easily, which is why few have experienced it's thrill. Years of recons, Google earth,a tested and trusted crew, proper snow and weather conditions, and God's blessing all came together for this successful day.

Sick Gnar Couloir

2011-01-24T12:32:00.000-08:00

2011 is my inaugural sledless season, forcing me to get after some of the peaks in the non-motorized Garibaldi Park. Cheddar, AK Mike and I skied off Blackcomb Saturday morning and set up a base camp near Wedge mountain. Our mission was to conquer Lesser Wedge's east facing couloir, that Cheddar has spotted from opposing ridges years prior, instantly ranking it near the top of his hit list. Upon seeing it "that's a sick, gnar couloir" spewed from his mouth.

Sunday dawned blue skies as we skinned through the trees to the base of Lesser Wedge, where we traded skins for crampons. With our skis strapped onto packs, we used crampons and ice axes to claw skyward. It's nice to climb a big line before skiing it, to test snow texture and possible dangers; and today's snow was as good as it gets.

Upon summiting, the 360 degree view was spectacular, but the peak winds didn't allow for much sight seeing, and the coulie was calling. We took turns leading different pitches, regrouping in safe zones then continuing down. Until this day, I've never skied a couloir where every turn was perfect snow. High 5s were thrown at the base as we admired our temporal tracks. A piece of art in its purest form.

I had to get back home, while Cheddar and Mike stayed another night, so as darkness approached I set off, loaded with camping, climbing and skiing gear. In hind sight, returning solo up a new route in the dark, in a snowstorm, with dead batteries in my GPS probably wasn't the best option; it was that, or have my family call SAR if I didn't return. To make a long and painful story short I made it back by 2 AM, about six hours later then expected. Mamma Treadway tried making me promise to avoid those situations, but I couldn't lie to her.
The truth is, we do try to minimize and prepare for risks, but in reality, life without danger would just get boring.

Monashee Powder

2011-01-18T15:22:00.000-08:00

Returning to British Colombia's Kootenay mountains warms my heart with memories of happy, simple, generous people, living in a land of deep dry powder. So when bro Dave invited me to join him and Jordan Manley on a return trip to Monashee Powder snowcats, I graciously obliged; and we embarked on a quest to complete our hat-trick of deep pow shots amidst an eerie setting of burnt forests.

Tom and Carolyne's tip from an old trapper about the snow quality and terrain was advice well taken. And with finances saved from years of happy return clientele, a new lodge was constructed, rounding out the luxuries of our experience.

In past years, Dave and I found substantial cliffs to drop, setting benchmarks for other airs to measure against; but with a thinner snowpack, and Dave's recently broken collar bone, we focused on Manley's artistic vision of ski photography.

By our final cat ride, we were pretty tired from the 'hard work' required to create some spectacular photos, which Jordan will unveil throughout the 2011/2012 season's publications. And we are once again very grateful for the amazing hospitality by all the staff, and the friendliness of the guests and Catski Canada .

Check out Jordan's video of our trip, and stay posted for more photos.

Choppers, Powder, & King Crab

2011-01-11T09:12:00.000-08:00

Often, skiing's success stories are due to detailed planning, but in this case, success came as a result of my wide open holiday schedule. Bros Dan and Dave were scheduled for a trip to Great Canadian Heli ops. in Roger's Pass, BC with photog Jordan Manley, and videographer Jamie Bond; until fate threw a curve-ball. Dave broke his collar-bone, and Dan couldn't leave Whistler's bottomless pow.
GCH didn't care which Treadway was skiing, but without Dan and Dave's long flowing golden locks a female skier was needed for marketing. Thus, Rossland's homegrown Leah Evans entered the scene to humbly show off her honed Kootenay ski skills.

Despite below average snow-depth, we skied perfect quality pow for 4 days, while being pampered with gourmet eats through out the evenings. GCH was very flexible, allowing us to take the doors off the heli for J & J to dangle out the side and follow us down the mountain for overhead shots. Jordan's harness was a little tight and he now speaks 2 octaves higher, but he maintained his professional focus and still nailed the shots.

When the skies cleared we hit the alpine, and were awestruck by the giant peaks that dotted the landscape. Mt.Sir this and Sir that were the 'rogue waves' in a sea of giants; surpassing 10 000 feet of elevation being the requirement for a Mt. Sir.

Snow stability was variable, so we were pigeon toed to smaller slopes where we could manage avalanches if they released.

Guide Rob recognized our backcountry experience and despite one small slide, still allowed us to take reasonable risks to get the shots we were after.

Those big peaks are burned in my memory, and will haunt me to get back there with better stability ... hopefully this season.

Season Prep

2010-12-27T07:29:00.000-08:00

The 2010/2011 snow did not come "in like a lion" but rather teased us with promise of precipitation and left with high freezing levels followed by cold temps resulting in a typical Rockey Mt snowpack rather then the usual Coastal goodness.
Growing up in Northern Ontario has conditioned me to appreciate any snow in the mountains, and opening days of Whistler and Blackcomb had us stoked.

Early season is a special time of year as the mountain is fueled by the local stoke, and the crew is in training with thoughts of the season's adventures ahead. With everyone still at home base, Ian MacIntosh organized a day of avalanche and crevasse rescue; our combined knowledge and experience proved strong and it was good to get everyone on the same page.

Santa was generous this Christmas and we received 44cm of overnight pow and 87cm in 24hrs for Christmas day; the second best gift anyone could ask for (our best gift was given 2011 years ago).

I can't believe I'm leaving this amazing snow in Whistler, but it's time to go heli and cat skiing in the Kootenays with photographer Jordan Manley, and Dendrite Studios.
Stay posted for photos and videos to come ....

Pemberton Fall Fun

2010-10-05T21:29:00.000-07:00

Returning from a 2 month summer surf trip in Central America, Pam and I upgraded our dinosaur bikes to the popular Giant Reigns and explored a bunch of big trails around Pemberton.

"Titties and Beer" was renamed on Sept 18th when the late Jack Hannan would have celebrated his birthday, and the trail he was rebuilding was given the new name of "Jack The Ripper".
A crew of friends gathered to christen the recently completed trail, and lay some first tracks down steeps that Jack would have been stoked on.

Shorter fall days don't allow for as much climbing time, so many of the trails we have truck shuttled, then climbed further up.
Piling bikes over the tail gate of our new Tundra, Pam, friends, and I have been riding trails off the Duffy Lake Road, the Hurley Pass, and other logging roads leading out of the Pemberton valley.

Our most recent adventure involved hiring a Beaver float plane to drop us deep in the Chilcotin mountains at Warner lake, where we began our 7 hr. return peddle to civilization. The views from the sky and trail were breathtaking in the crisp fall sun.

It's hard to imagine the biking being any better; but the change of seasons will mean a change of hobbies, where hunting to fill the winter freezer will soon take president.

Alaska trip

2009-05-26T21:31:00.000-07:00

This year concludes a decade of skiing in the mountains for me. In ’99 I moved from Ontario to a camouflage camper in Fernie, BC. Now 10 years later many of my dreams have becime fond memories, including a recent trip to the famed Alaska …

Alaska wasn’t a free hand out. I wasn’t given a travel budget by sponsors and thrown into a heli to drop me on top of beautiful mountains with perfect snow. No, it was a long journey that began as a childhood dream, and became a reality this year as I began climbing and skiing many of the big mountain lines around Pemberton, BC. I enrolled in the Pemberton Big Mountain Hunting Club, and bagged Mt. Joffre, Mt. Currie, Mt.Sampson, Mt.Meager and Pylon.

Brother Dave and I had dedicated April to being on call for a weather window in Hyder AK. When we had all but given up, the weather broke, and on April 24^th, we loaded truck and trailer with sleds, sleighs, jerry cans, food and ski gear. By 6 PM on Saturday the 25^th we were at our new home; a refurbished trapper’s cabin, 40 km up the Salmon valley, at the toe of the Salmon, Berendon, and Frank Mackie glaciers. We unloaded our gear and rallied up to ‘Matrimony Peak’ where Dave had proposed to his wife Tessa the year prior. We skied a couple lines each as the sun slowly set and cast long shadows down the glacier.

Day 2 - Sunny. We tandemed (doubled on the ski-doo) up a ridge and skied a 1500 ft warm up run. With a stable snowpack we continued up the ridge, and hiked the peak, then dropped into the 2500 ft face, and skied down another 500 feet of glacier back to the sled. From the peak, we witnessed some impressive views, including a big spine face across the Salmon glacier, so we ripped up to the top and railed 3 lines each before heading back to the cabin.

Day 3 – Sunny. The spines were so amazing that we headed straight back to catch them in the morning light. Wow, possibly the coolest lines of my life!

Once we skied every combination of lines, I had to check out the North face of this big peak that loomed in the distance. As we sledded around to the North side, this beautiful long sustained face came into view. We were able to sled half way up, and then we hiked the rest. The ski down was awesome … big long fast turns in slivers of sun light. A classic for sure!

Day 4 – Sunny. We sledded up the backside of this peak and hiked to the top, where we found a weather station/cabin on a cliff. We were able to climb onto the roof and see the ocean. Then I roped up and slid into the ‘curve ball’ couloir on the North face. 3000 ft later I arrived at the sled, and watched Dave ski to the right of my line on a huge exposed spine, that entered the couloir half way down. A crazy line that he skied with grace, and claimed the line of his life.

Keeping with the couloir theme, we approached another peak where we had to belay one another across this shelf to get to its entrance. There is something about a guarded line that makes it that much more special. I dropped in a steep spined face that lead to the couloir, rappelling down the rope for the first bit, then skiing to a safe spot until Dave leap-froged me. Half way down I dug in an anchor and we rappelled through an icy choke, then carefully skied the last of the 3000 footer to the sled. We skied this line using ice axes instead of poles. I called this line ‘God’s Hands’ because that’s exactly where we were!

Tim Grey met us at the cabin in time to witness us at the climax of our trip.

Day 5 – Sunny. We skied some of the ‘mellow’ lines with Tim, and explored the glaciers looking for more North faces.

Day 6 – We ate pancakes in the sun, then warmed Tim up on Matramony Peak. As he skied to the sled, a grizzly bear crawled out of the snow and started climbing up the slop. I ripped to the top and dropped in as he was gaining the ridge. I hoped to ski with him, but settled for a close up view and exchanged anxious glances.

We then headed off exploring more of the Frank Mackie glacier, finding a gem of a North Face that was covered in big hanging seracs. Amongst the ice was a spine that was sun lit. We skinned up, then climbed over the burgschrund to the peak. The ski down was epic as there was ice beside, below, and eventually above us.

Day 7 – Sunny and warm. We woke early to get into a slot on a cliff that was covered in a big cornice. The slot faced North and the snow was good, but when Dave and I got to the choke, where we were about to build an anchor to rappel down, warm sloughs on the east facing cliff started coming down on us. We were able to dodge the heaviest parts, then quickly put our crampons on, and basically run back up the line.

Looking back on this epic mission, we realized that we had prayed on top of every peak – something we normally reserve for the few scary lines per year. We also noticed white hawks (no not sea gulls) circling above us as we climbed and skied throughout the week. What a trip!!

The Cathedral

2009-05-19T21:50:00.000-07:00

As you drive down Pemberton meadows, the setting sun silhouettes two peaks on the far horizon: aptly named Pylon, and Meager (previously aptly named Cathedral). I desperately wanted to ski these but thought I had missed my window, until old ‘father winter’ sand bagged us with a late season dump followed by clear skies. Li’l bro Dave and I sledded into base camp late at night and met Dave B. and John Johnson.

We spent the following morning punching a new sled route up onto the glaciers that connect the amazing volcanic peaks. Jack Hannah and Cheddar followed our tracks and caught us climbing the last pitch to Cathedral’s peak. As we skied the first N.E. face, Dave B. was the last to drop in while I was watching from behind a rock below; camera in hand. On his second knuckle dragging turn, he hit an unstable pocket that released and fired down slope at me like a freight train. In the split second I had to react, I thought of getting the shot, instead, I took a mental picture as I ducked behind my ‘safe rock’ and dodged the slide that caused another avalanche further down and disappeared into the crevasses below. Instead of following the slide path, we cut over the ridge to the North face where the snow was amazing. We carefully shredded down onto the spine crux, and into the open bowl to the sleds below.

We should have called it quits there; but Pylon looked so good, and we justified the avalanche by Cathedral’s sun exposure. By rights of setting the boot pack up Pylon's North chute, I dropped in first and had a good run down the steep face. The run was similar to that of Cathedral's but on a much smaller scale; beginning with a protected N.E. fan that chocked on a spine, then opened again into the bowl. John was next and similar to Dave B’s turn on Cathedral, he released a slab that threatened to pull him off the face over cliffs. By punching his fists through the slab into the snow below he was able to stop. They then skied down the chute that we hiked up, but Dave B hit another pocket and released a small slab that poured off the cliff below and onto Little Dave and Cheddar. They were able to run down slope and avoid taking it on the head, then Dave played 'Marco/Pollo with his radio until he found it under a foot of debris.

I still had to ski down another shorter pitch, so I waited until the crew made it around by sled, then ski cut the convex roll, which predictably released the entire slope I was about to ski. I scratched my way down, and we headed back to camp.

Day 2, we packed away our skis, and sledded deep into the Coast Range, scoping other epic faces that will haunt our dreams until we get back there again.

Keeping with our theme of being too ambitious we attempted a new route off the glacier, only to be cut off by a canyon. We retreated and made a first sled decent down another drainage that we had previously scoped.

We were all pretty stoked to arrive at the valley bottom, assuming our trials were over. After a crossing a couple sketchy avi debri paths, and siphoning gas from one sled to another, then towing as we continued to run out of fuel, we arrived at the trucks. Safe, tired, happy, and a little smarter.

Mt. Sampson

2009-05-18T19:29:00.000-07:00

Mt Sampson has intrigued me since I first saw it on the map.
My bro Dave and I skied a long couloir off it last year, but the protected North face was calling.

This time we camped out at the base, and began an early assault. Fellow locs. Cheddar and Sam helped in this mission navigating around crevasses and over burgschrunds.

At 3 PM we summited and I began the last decent of my 20s. With good snow, I hopped down the steep spine face then cut out before the big ice fall below. The light deteriorated on the last pitch as we entered the maze of crevasses, forcing us to ski by brail.

By 7 PM I was back home ready to celebrate my 30th birthday party!!

Mt. Currie

2009-05-18T18:26:00.000-07:00

Mt. Currie is the Matterhorn of Pemberton. With the recent closure of the Pembi Heli Ops. I was forced to earn my first decent. Our team was led by locos Joe Lax, Dave B. and John Johnson, all very experienced and skilled riders.

We departed at 5 AM, and I was having a beer on top of one of the Pencil couloirs by noon.

The snow was awesome in the 1800 ft couloir, and slowly warmed as we descended the remaining 4000 ft. through gladed pillows and eventually into alders and avalanche debris.

I had previously attempted to ski Currie 3 other times but was shut down by wind, weather, and work.

This day went down as a highlight of my ski career – along with many others this season.

Joe Lax posted the story on the interweb as well, check out his version http://modestbike.com/studio/?p=136#more-136

Monashee Powder Cat Skiing

2009-05-18T18:10:00.000-07:00

Some of the deepest powder I have skied was at Monashee Powder Cat Skiing, so I returned this year, again with my brother Dave, and photographer Jordan Manley.

Our guide Mark warned us that this year was different ... it hadn't snowed in 3 weeks. For me, this was the best snow I skied all season and we took full advantage.

Throughout our 4 day stint, it started to dump Monashee style, but stability became an issue and our planned departure coincided with a big avalanche cycle.

Mt. Joffre's North Couloir

2009-05-18T17:17:00.000-07:00

JD Hare, whose regular ski partners have recently taken different paths, recognized my enthusiasm and invited me on a couple ski touring missions on the Duffy Lake road. Our first trip we sledded into a cabin, then climbed and skied two nice couloirs.

Our second trip was an assault on the Joffre’s North couloir, which can be seen from many places on the road.

This was the steepest and most consistent slope I have climbed and skied. The top was exposed and icy, but conditions improved as we descended.

With crevasses below us, the ski down was

gripping.

It was awesome to return to the parking lot and look back at the monster we just skied.

The Past (07/08), Present and Future

2008-11-14T20:30:00.000-08:00

Wow, it’s hard to believe that another season has come and gone, and I am once again waiting with anticipation for a season comparable to the past two. Although I’m an eternal optimist, it will be difficult to compare to 07/08 early deep powder, the stable snow pack on the coast range, and great timing of sun, snow, friends, and photographers.

The season kicked off with a bunch of deep days, shredding with friends on Whistler/Blackcomb. It was the typical early season training; skiing top to bottom runs and feeling the legs burn.

Christmas was especially special this year as I joined many long time friends from around BC to celebrate the long awaited opening of Revelstoke’s ski hill. We were blessed with Revi’s reputable Champaign powder, and seemingly endless untracked lines.

Returning to the coast I fired up my snowmobile and headed north to the small mining town of Bralorne; where I had arranged a lodge for the week of New Years. Twelve of us spent five days sledding up mountain peaks, and shredding down on skis and No-Boards.

Fortunately for me the reality of returning home after a trip isn’t too harsh, especially when it means shredding the resort, and skiing the sled accessed backcountry. After a few weeks of my routine, I headed to the beloved Kootenays where I joined my brother Dave and his girlfriend (now wife) Tessa, and photographer Jordan Manley (www.jordanmanley.com) for a week at Monashee Powder Cat skiing. Our days were filled with deep pow and lofty airs. The guides were amazing and continued to inspire us with their terrain, while back at the ranch, the cooks dazzled us with dinner. It was an awesome week with great hospitality by the owners and staff of this ‘Ma and Pa’ operation. Add this spot to your hit list this season: http://www.monasheepowder.com

Dave and I continued deeper in to the heart of the Kootenays to the renowned hippie commune known as Nelson. Upon arrival, we hooked up with local photographer Bryan Ralph who guided us around Whitewater ski hill. With no new snow in the Whitewater’s forecast, Dave and I headed to our old ‘stomping grounds’ of Fernie, where we met up with long time local and renowned photog. Henrie Georgie. Henrie pulled some strings and arranged some early mornings of shooting on the hill.

It felt great to be back in the Elk Valley, but we had to get to the Red Bull Cold Rush at Red Mountain in Rossland. Day 1 kicked off the event with competitors’ sessioning jumps on top of cliffs. I started off strong with a big back flip on my first jump, but then under rotated a double back flip on my second air, which left me with a sore ankle, hindering my performance in the ‘Big Mountain’ event on day 2. Day 3 was the hiking aspect where I finished 3^rd. Check out the video at:

http://www.rip.tv/video/view/5213/Red-Bull-COLD-RUSH--Heat-1

Following the celebration of my little bro’s winning of the Cold Rush, I limped back to Whistler to rest my ankle and move into my newly acquired home in Pemberton. Pemberton quickly proved to be an amazing staging point for exploration into the heart of the Coast Range, and the remainder of the ski season was spent with friends and photographers skiing and shooting in the area. Check out the photos for yourself … http://www.daryltreadway.com/Photos.htm

Exposure in 07/08

Through out the year my photos were published in Freeskier magazine, Skier magazine, the cover of Skier magazine, and Whistler/Blackcomb magazine.

In addition to published photos, I also had two published articles in Skier magazine.

http://www.daryltreadway.com/PublishedPhotos.htm

I competed in the Red Bull Cold Rush, which was edited and broadcasted on Rip TV.

http://www.rip.tv/video/view/5213/Red-Bull-COLD-RUSH--Heat-1

I edited my 16mm footage from Teton Gravity Research, filmed in 06/07, and published it on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAvHEY-Hv1k&feature=email

The snowmobile trip I did on the Coast Range of BC with Wink Inc. Productions aired this past season as a one hour episode of Nomads on Rush HD. The episode was entitled Ghost town: A Snowmobile and Ski Adventure

Next ???

I'm looking forward to skiing and shooting many more fun lines in the area, and around B.C.

Stay Tuned for updates ...

2006/2007 in the Rearview

2007-07-25T20:30:00.000-07:00

The Never-Ending Winter of ‘06/’07

This winter I seemed to have become lost in a powder-filled dream; where one day blends into the next, and where the epic days of November seem like years ago, while particular moments are burnt into my memory as though they happened yesterday. To say the B.C. coast had an amazing snow-year would be an enormous understatement.

Up until November, our mountains were bare, and I struggled to put the thoughts of skiing powder deep in the back of my mind, while I focused on pounding out the last month of carpentry. I never finished that last month of work, as winter came in like a lion, dumping 3 meters of West Coast’s finest powder within a couple weeks. Whistler opened November 18^th with a deep, stable snow-pack right from peak to creak. Blackcomb opened shortly after and the season was on!

My typical November/December normally involves tiptoeing around rocks and stumps and regaining my ski legs and mountain awareness. This year though, there was no tiptoeing, as the amazing conditions allowed me to charge hard every day.

With the short dark days of early winter, and forecasts of continuing storms, there were not many photo opportunities until later in the season. On rare occasions when the sun did peak out I took advantage and teamed up with local photographers: Damian Cromwell, Bryn Hughes, Eric Berger, Chris Christie, Russell Dalby, and Andrew Bradley.

Photo – Cromwell

In addition to freeskiing, I also did some guiding for Extremely Canadian tours on Whistler/Blackcomb. This was a cool opportunity to take intermediate/advanced skiers to off-piste areas that they wouldn’t normally ski, and give them some tips on skiing techniques, snow safety, and all around mountain awareness. It was also a good opportunity to update the clients on the best gear to use when dealing with the unforgiving mountain environment.

By mid January I already had a seasons’ worth of skiing pow., and ventured North of Pemberton to Reg and Kathy’s cat skiing lodge in Hope Creek. There were a few days that weren’t booked with guests so four of us sled-lapped the cat roads, ripping deep pow. through a burnt forest. This was a privileged and rare opportunity as sleds are obviously unwelcome on their cat roads, and definitely not welcome on any of their skiable terrain. (www.snowcats.ca)

Teton Gravity Research (TGR – one of the top producers of ski flicks) finally realized Whistler’s potential, and based a cinematographer here for the winter to shoot a few locals. Ian MacIntosh recommended me to the producers, and before I knew it, an old pipe-dream had come to be.

The last week in January, it rained in Whistler, as it does on the coast, so Dana Flahr and I loaded our sleds on his truck and a borrowed trailer, and headed to Revelstoke for my debut in front of TGR’s 16 mm lens. Our filmer Rick was a day late and a dollar short, so Dana and I headed off in the early afternoon of day one, with no real knowledge of the area, in search of my brothers and fellow Whistlerites. We managed to find the boys, and scope out a zone that we returned to the next day with Rick. It was still too early in the season for the North facing lines with the best snow, so we spent the rest of the week exploring other zones and skiing sun and wind effected snow. After two blown trailer tires, one blown axle bearing, one late night sled rescue mission, eight broken ski poles, countless emptied beer cans, and multiple beaters on hard packed snow, we returned home to Whistler where it had began to snow again.

I was home long enough to ski some pow, and rest up before heading to the Red Bull Cold Rush in Rossland, BC (Feb 9-11). This event involved 23 selected skiers from around the globe to compete in three different disciplines: ski touring, big mountain, and jibbing. Day one went well, and I finished in 4^th place in the ski tour race up the 2500 ft. Mt. Roberts. Day two never happened as the snow had a thick rain crust that no one was willing to charge on. Despite the unconcluded competition, we all had fun skiing Red Mt., then getting rowdy at the after party. The $10 000 purse is still up for grabs for next year ….

It was back to Whistler again for another week of sled-skiing as I filmed with TGR. I then packed up my sled with ski gear and headed north; first by truck past Pemberton, then by sled over the 50km pass to Braelorne. I rode through the half deserted mining town to the lodge, where I found a note from my bro Dan, saying where he and fellow skiers Cody Townsend, Kaj Zackerson, and Jon Urorback were filming with Wink Inc. Productions. With the clouds breaking I gassed up the sled and ripped over another 25km of bumps to meet up with the crew. The snow was perfect, but clouds had rolled back in. We bagged some great pow. with fun airs then headed back to the lodge for a well deserved meal. The 175km day of mainly sledding, some driving and skiing a few lines took its toll, and I was down for the count by 10:00.

Through out the week we were able to ski some fun lines with pillows, pow, airs, spines, chutes and exposure. One the weather days we taught the Sweeds how to ride the sleds, and they did surprisingly well for a couple amateurs. We also found the old three story brothel and built a jib off the wall. Fun times for a bunch of big mountain skiers.

By the time I had to leave I had lost sense of the days and months, and was very used to the routine of wake up at 6:00 to check the weather, have breakfast and coffee, fuel up the sleds, gear up and head out, ski and sled until we’re out of gas, rip ‘home’ for dinner, beers, stories, movies, whiskey, and sleep.

From Braelorne I ripped back over the 50km pass, loaded the sled in the truck and hammered for Whistler where I met up with MacIntosh, continued past Whistler, unloaded the sleds, and ripped up into one of Whistlers many sled zones. We planned on filming with TGR, but once again our filmer was MIA, so we took advantage of the bottomless pow. and rooped the sleds until we were again on empty tanks.

I think I am getting used to this lifestyle.

The remainder of the season was spent in the Whistler area living the life of a skier … skiing Blackcomb on the morning of powder days, then rooping the sleds in the afternoon, or simply sled skiing day after day. The majority of days were spent filming with TGR, and shooting with local still photographers.

I explored some new zones where we ski toured into a cabin, then skied lines around the cabin. Despite the exhilaration and ease of access when sled skiing, I still appreciate ski touring … the physical challenge, the solitude, the quiet, the deep and untracked pow….

Just as I thought my ski season was done (my sled blew up and I lost my pass for the last month of the season) I found myself scrambling to get my gear together and race to the Pemberton heli-pad. PY Leblanc had arranged for a photo shoot with myself and the rest of the Chlorophylle team. Guy fired up the bird and we headed to some peaks close to Pemberton, warming up on a 1000 ft face, then hitting the renowned Sun God. This was the run of my season. Landing on the ridge was by far the most exciting, as either side of the ridge drops off 2500ft. I finally felt safe again once I had my skis on and was standing on top of a long exposed spine with perfect snow. Each turn was critical as this run was definitely a no-fall zone. As I skied safely out my exit, I could see the snow cascading off the 150ft. cliff that I was skiing above; what a feeling – a great way to end the season and keep me stoked for next winter.

05/06 ski season review

2006-08-02T22:27:00.000-07:00

First of all I must thank everyone who supported my ski addiction this season through product and finances; I really appreciate it and did my best to promote your products through photos, video, competition, and conversing with the public.

This season was one that will go down in the history books for the amazing snow and fun trips. Through out the year I was able to work with amazing photographers and cinematographers as I traveled around BC and the US: resort and snowmobile skiing for feature articles, as well as freelance photos for magazines, and video for TV and film. I also spent time competing internationally in big-mountain skiing. The following is an itinerary of my season:

Before the snow fell, I fulfilled a long awaited goal, I was accepted onto the Howe Sound school district’s substitute teaching board. I have a B.A. in kinesiology (study of human movement) and a B.Ed. with a minor in mathematics, thus qualifying me as a physical education and math teacher. As a substitute teacher this season I was granted the flexibility to ski and travel at my convenience, meanwhile working with students in secondary schools in the Whistler area. As many of the students recognized the Treadway name I played an influential role as I discussed my skiing career and sponsors, and had the opportunity to encourage students to pursue their goals of skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding, and mt. biking.

December and January were spent in the Whistler area, skiing many days on Blackcomb and hiking into the backcountry; skiing conservatively at first and regaining my mental focus, physical strength and endurance, and avalanche awareness. Blackcomb is an amazing training ground with its long vertical, and challenging lines that include big cliff drops and exposure.

I also spent a lot of time in the backcountry on my snowmobile or ski touring through out Dec/Jan.

During the month of January it snowed 16 feet in Whistler so the skiing was amazing, but the photo opportunity days were limited to a few days with Bryne Hughes and Dave Mossop.

At the end of January I packed my Toyota 4x4 and drove to Golden BC where I picked up writer/photographer Mike Berard for a road trip to the US Freeskiing Nationals. En route we stopped in at the infamous Jackson Hole; arriving at 1:00 AM we set up camp in the parking lot, which already had 6” of snow. Around 5:30 the plow truck honked its horn for us to move, and yelled for us to be at the tram early as this was ‘The Day’. 36” of light snow had fallen in the last 3 days, and the sun was rising. This was definitely a highlight of my ski career and a childhood dream come true. We were able to get some amazing shots and skied until we could barely stand.

It was difficult to leave Jackson, but the Snowbird competition was about to begin so we continued haul’n ass until Salt Lake, where my truck blew a transmition bearing. I spent the next 5 days trying to find an affordable solution to this problem, and attempting to focus on competing.
I qualified 23rd out of 80 males, then finished 22nd the first day and had a small fall during the finals that landed me in 21st overall. Not to make excuses, but I believe I could have done much better under different circumstances as I had minimal time for inspection runs and therefore didn’t ski as confident and aggressively as I normally do.

I was able to limp the old Toyota in 4th gear back to Fernie, BC where Mike Berard and I shot photos for a few days. We also hit up Castle Mountain where patrol gave us free reign and we were able to get some good shots. (If you are in the area and the snow is good, Castle Mt. has some of the best-fall line skiing in Canada)

I bought another Toyota 4x4 in Fernie and headed back to Whistler in time to hook up with my older brother Dan as we had a snowmobile trip planned for Montana. We loaded both our sleds on his F-350 and ripped to Bozeman, Montana where we met up with Winc Inc. Productions – producers of last seasons' Waiting Game, and this years' Respect. Winc. Inc. also produces a High Definition TV show Nomads on Rage TV, for which we were shooting a one hour segment of snowmobile skiing, featuring 'the Treadway brothers' shuttling one another up slopes via snowmobile in the Montana’s Backcountry. Our crew also included skiers Will Burks and Cody Townsend, and still photographer Shawn Fulton, who was shooting the story for Freeskier magazine. In addition to Winc. Inc. Productions, snowmobile videographer and owner of Frontier films, Erin Von Hessinger, joined us to film for his 9th sequence of the 2-Stroke Cold Smoke series. We took a break from the sleds for a day and checked out Bridger Bowl as were blessed with 36” of cold smoke overnight, followed by calm winds and sunny skies.

After a weeks worth of film and photos, I returned to Whistler, only to hop on a ferry to Vancouver Island where myself and fellow redneck rippers Ryan Oakden and Al Hockensen skied Mt. Washington and Mt. Cain, and snowmobile skied the once operational Forbidden Plateau. This trip was made possible by Mike Berard, who was writing and shooting photos for a feature article in SBC Skier. As our crew headed to Toffino for the surfing part of the story, I had to bail out and meet up with my two brothers and photographer, Blake Jorgensen.

Skiing Magazine is running a feature article of the three Treadway bros, so we spent three epic days shooting sled access lines around Braelorne, a small sled access town North of Whistler.

Once again this trip was not long enough, despite the continued high pressure and perfect snow I had to move on; this time it was to a small corner of BC’s Kootenays where I met up with a crew of ‘Noboarders’ (snowboards minus bindings). The Noboarders guided me up the mining roads on sleds to zones of 1500ft long tree runs back down to town. The week spent in this area was enough time to explore many zones and be prepared to return with a photographer and writer in the future.

I returned to Whistler and spent the final weeks of good snow sled skiing and shooting photos with local photographers and good friends: Damian Cromwell and Bryn Hughes.

Looking Back: This season I took advantage of opportunities to ski and shoot photos and video with talented professionals in unique places. Through out my travels I found myself in small corners of North America, skiing with great friends in good conditions, and producing amazing photos and video.

Next Season: I plan on doing more of the same … having fun skiing with great people in amazing places - Europe and Alaska are creeping to the top of my must ski list. I would like to continue skiing with my brothers and friends who happen to be talented photographers – Blake Jorgensen, Damian Cromwell, Bryne Hughes, Mike Berard. Due to the success of last season there are opportunities for me to be part of feature articles for magazines again, as well filming with Wink. Inc. Productions.

Pray for Pow

Bolivia 2003

2006-07-27T11:45:00.000-07:00

Five friends rely on inaccurate maps, rumours, and broken Spanish to find, climb, and ski Bolivia’s high Andean mountains.

It is human nature to explore, to search, to push the envelope, and to expand our own limitations. Robert Peary in 1909 led the first team to the North Pole by dog sled; in 1914, Ernest Shackleton failed in his attempt to cross the Antarctic, but succeeded in rescuing his whole crew; Zachary Lansdowne and crew flew the first helium blimp 9000 miles back and forth across the continent, but were destroyed in a storm over Ohio in 1925; William Beebe in1934 invented the first submarine in which he reached depths of 3 028 feet;

Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, but disappeared in 1937 attempting a solo mission around the world; Jon Turk, now 58 and wife Christine Seashore have led lives of adventure including the two year kayak trip from Japan to Alaska, peddle biking across Mongolia, and pioneering a new rout up Bolivia’s highest peak. This duo would now be leading our crew deep into the Andean mountains in search of first ski descents.

Although our journey was not as substantial as the aforementioned, the exploration gene had been passed down through the generations, leaving us unsatisfied with the normal pace of life, and sparking a match of curiosity for the road less travelled.

The result of a conversation in February ’03 with Dave Fuller, regarding a ski mountaineering trip to Bolivia’s 20 000 foot mountains with other Fernieites Mark Cunnane, and ‘organised’ by Jon Turk and Christine Seashore, led me to the poorest country in South America with my luggage somewhere in Brazil. Awesome!

Fuller and I arrived three days after the rest of our group who was welcomed by Bolivia’s finest Banditos. As the trio was hiking out of the polluted valley of La Paz, they startled two men along the trail, who in return startled them with hand-guns and an appetite for some easy gringo coin. The average Bolivian income is around $1200 CDN, but this pay day amounted to over $1200 US cash, wedding rings, sun, corrective and field glasses, altimeter watches, and other ‘necessities’.

Bolivia is comprised of 60 percent Quechua and Aymaria Natives, who often operate on the barter system but welcome both US dollars and Bolivianos, thus making our month long stay affordable – at least for Fuller and I.

Acclimatization to our new elevation of 14 000 feet was a necessity if we were to survive elevations over 20 000’. Following the ‘climb high - sleep low’ principle, we headed for the worlds highest ski area at 17 000’ where I was given old school skinny Dynastar skis and rear entry boots. I was psyched! As a kid skiing on Mt. Evergreen’s 300’ vertical, I always wanted the exact pair of skis I was now using; and who doesn’t like rear entry. The chalet was perched on a cliff overlooking the ski area. Inside we were served cocoa tea, as an employee attempted to get a fire started – easier said then done where the thin air barely fuels our bodies, never mind a fire. Outside, snow has started to fall as we descend the slope, and has quickly turned to a blizzard by the time we begin our ascent to the chalet.

Bolivia’s wet season is from late summer to mid winter, and we are here May – June, which means the sketchy looking cable tow is inoperative; and this flash blizzard is unexpected. Probably safer to hike anyway - so we think. With skis strapped to packs we boot pack up the slope; meanwhile a buzzing sound grows louder in my ears, which I attribute to the altitude playing games with my head. A bolt of lightening, and the following silence proves my theory wrong. The buzzing sound soon returns to my skis/lightening rods attached to my pack, which are again silenced by another bolt of lightening. Crazy! I am overcome by a false sense of safety as I retire the borrowed equipment and hop into the bald-tired van for our descent of 2000’ of slippery switchbacks – much safer. We feel so safe that we hang off the back bumper and out the door, enabling a quick escape every time Victor locks up the brakes and slides into the 4” ridge that separates the single lane road from thin air.

Somewhat acclimatized, we head South West five hours of La Paz to Sajama National Park situated on the Chilean border; a trip that took Jon and climbing partner three days during his first visit thirty years prior. Climbing a new rout Mt. Sajama, Bolivia’s highest peak is just one short chapter in Jon’s adventurous book of life. Sajama was Bolivia’s first National park, which contains the alitplano (high plains) and its’ wildlife of three types of llamas and Andean ostriches (rheas). The large snow covered volcanoes of Pomerata and Parinacota shoot out of the planes and are silhouetted against a beautiful blue sky. This is our destination. At the end of the 4x4 ‘road’, we are greeted by a horse skull - fitting for this hostile environment, which serves us a round of altitude sickness. Somewhere above the maximum elevation of my altimeter watch (19680’), and below Parinacota’s 20 767’ summit our light fades and we retreat back to base camp. The next day, Fuller and I move our tent 1000’ lower to ease throbbing headaches, try to relearn our names, and hopefully regain an appetite worthy of more then four peanut butter dipped Fudgeos per day; meanwhile, Mark, Christine, and Jon take a rest day before conquering the volcano’s summit and peer into the 300’ crater before skiing down. Upon returning to the town of Sajama, we locate some hot springs and soak our bones as curious llamas graze nearby.

Retracing our steps, we arrive in La Paz to rest ourselves for a 14 hour, 400 km, over capacitated bus ride north to a town at the end of the road – Pelechuco. With two flat tires, scary switch backs, and rude Andean women, this is by far the craziest bus ride of my life – even compared to Grandma’s rally course to and from school during Kenora’s winter months. Pelechuco proves to be worth every minute of the cramped ride. Clouds from the Amazon drift into the 11000’ valley producing a vegetation of flowers, plants, grasses, and small trees. From the simple, stone village we hire six mules and two porters to haul our gear two days up the trail to the foot of the Apolobamba mountain range. Along the way we pass through another stone village that gives us the feeling we have stepped into a prehistoric fairy tale. Day two of our approach begins by the four-hour search for the mules that were left to roam and graze.
Once on the trail, our porter asks what our long boards are for, confirming our assumption of us being the only skiers to the area. After some charades and bad Spanish, Remi smiles in satisfaction to our explanation. The valley ends at the foot of an astonishing glacier where we set up base camp, and ask Remi to return the following week. This request is a gamble, as Bolivians are known for their lack of understanding or concern for time. The Lonely Planet suggests that a Bolivian, when invited for lunch, might show up two days late and not think anything of it.

The days to follow consist of 5:30 alarms to give us appropriate time to hike past the heard of wild horses, skin up and across the glacier to our chosen peak, strap on crampons to summit, take in the breathtaking views, and ski first descents back down to the glacier; trying not to fall as each line ends in a crevasse or burgschrund. Ascarani, a 55 degree, icy peak is my first descent, followed by Katantika, and lastly Miradar. At one end of the glacier, Bolivians have built a gold mining camp that entertains us with periodic dynamite blasts. The extracted gold is then backpacked out to a road and transported for sales or trade – talk about a hardy breed.

Our days of skiing and intermission rest days come to an end two days after I have finished my last meal of Ichi-Ban – apparently I have recovered from altitude sickness and have regained my appetite. Although here for only a week, the simplicity of our days feels like we have been here a month, and I gain an understanding of how time becomes irrelevant. Remi shows up half a day late with his mules to pack us back to Pelechuco, where we gorge on my new favourite meal of bread and peaches smothered in sweet and condensed milk; we then move onto the main course, which I eat until I am literally sick and must excuse myself to el bano.

Fuller and Cunnane cut the trip short to attend to business back in Fernie, while Jon, Christine and I embark on another epic adventure; a four-day hike east out of the Andes. The plethora of mining roads combined with inaccurate maps leads us astray, and we spend three days retracing our steps, crossing wrong passes and searching for a town that we doubt exists. At one point along some dead end road, Jon turns and says, “I kinda like being in some strange country where I have no idea of where the Hell I am”. This statement sums up Jon’s approach to life – it is not about the destination, but rather the adventures along the road. Eventually we arrive at our destination, but not before a stray dog adopts us as his owner and spends two days following us begging for food, and barking at cows, people, and anything else that comes our way.

Our mission of: go to some foreign country with really high mountains, find a way to the top, and ski down, was now complete. Another exploration to satisfy those curiosity bones had come and gone. I returned to La Paz for a night of puking from some food poisoning before hopping a plane back to Canada where I was cheerfully greeted by an upstanding Canadian citizen who’s English was worse then my Spanish. Now back in the comforts of this unreal world, I have become anxious by routine governed days, and thoughts of other ski/travel adventures flood my cramped brain. The next adventure lies just around the corner.

Daryl's Bio

2005-11-14T21:25:00.000-08:00

It’s been a long and exciting road that has led to my current life in beautiful Pemberton, BC. It all started in the sticks of northern Ontario where my two brothers and I played on the beautiful lakes during the summer months; fishing, water skiing, cliff jumping and rope swinging. As summer turns to fall we polish our guns and occupy ourselves hunting big game and water fowl. During the winter … you guessed it, we ski! I learned to ski on the 300 ft Mt. Evergreen, and when the hill wasn’t open we would tow behind our snowmobiles into jumps.

After high school I attended the University of Lethbridge, which allowed me to ski four days a week in Fernie, BC. It was there that, while living in a camouflage camper, I developed a love and appreciation for the mountains. After half a decade I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology, and a Bachelor of Education. I then worked as a junior- high Athletic Director / Phys Ed. and Math teacher. It was an amazing position, but I still had a master’s degree in skiing to fulfill, and in 2004 I joined my brothers in Whistler, BC.

The past 4 years I’ve been exploring and skiing the Coast Range Mountains via snowmobile, and skiing Whistler/Blackcomb resorts and backcountry. Additionally, I’ve been travelling throughout Canada and the United states for freeskiing competitions, and shooting with photo and film crews; pretty much having the time of my life, and living out my childhood dream.

I do have a real job to support this addictive lifestyle. I am a substitute teacher at the high schools in the Whistler area, and am a carpenter during the summer.

The plan from here is to continue this fulfilling lifestyle as long as possible, exploring new areas to ski, including Alaska, Europe, and more of South America.

I hope my passion for the mountains is contagious, inspiring you to leave your computer and go play in the hills.

Ski on,
Daryl