Greeley Bowl, Alta

One of the coolest things I got this past holiday season was the Flip Video. It's a small camcorder - the size of a small digital camera - that runs on 2 AA batteries and connects to a laptop w/a built-in USB. I took it with me to Alta over the holidays on a cold but stellar day when the skies were bursting with blue in between endless storms, revealing another 8-10 inches of newly fallen snow and nary a crowd. This is me, my cousin and a friend making turns in the freshies off the backside of the High Traverse on Greeley Bowl. (Audio alert: For those of you viewing from work. Or a library.)

Possibly the earliest date I've skied such incredible conditions. Alta, il mio amore! To know me is to know that I love and am drawn to many things - trail running, tri-tip, Dave Grohl, Crossfit, paddling, beer, magazines, jewelry - but I still love skiing the most. The only cruel twist of fate is that with each "Fresh Powder Alert" I receive from Alta on my Blackberry, Tahoe seemingly gets passed by. Why, snow goddesses, why?!

"I dig every second I can laugh in the snow and rain

I get a buzz from being cold and wet

The pleasure seems to balance out the pain"

- Pete Townshend, Blue, Red and Grey