AK SKi Mountaineering 2013

Finley helping out with the pre-expedition packing.

Eli staying warm and dry in his new head to toe Rab mountain gear that we'll be profiling in more detail for the winter.

Thanks as always to our sponsors:  Rab and Upslope.

Skinning above camp on the glacier on our first afternoon.

 Jim enjoying the sweet corn and warm afternoon conditions above our glacier runway and campsite.

Sliding downhill to basecamp from our first run.

Our second day's objectives on the cornice ridge where we found amazing deep and cold snow on multiple runs.

Putting in a trail along the lateral moraine to the base of the cornice ridge where cold smoke awaits.

Dave, Jim, and Nate soaking up sun while prepping for another cold smoke run.

One of many up tracks above the glacier.

Dave on the way to one of the many "summits" reached on this trip

Jim, Nate, and Dave just below the summit of Aloha peak.

Jim on the initial descent from Aloha.

Sweet snow on this almost 3k descent off Aloha.

Back at the base of Aloha with a lifetime's worth of skiing in sight.

Jim enjoying a tasty reindeer sausage burrito.

Cold nights and a warm cook tent made for true AK conditions

Eli sporting the new "alpine bib" for keeping those expensive down layers clean.

The team reaching a col high above the glacier after a 600' step kicking climb.

Near the top of the peak with Aloha Peak and our tracks from the day before across the valley.

Steep track setting above amazing AK terrain.

Eli and Dave taking a break before the big descent back to camp.

Sweet snow on this wide open slope.

Downhill doesn't get much better!

Jim laying down some sweet tracks on these deep snow slopes.

Nate pulling out of a high speed turn.

Some of our descent next to this large cliff on another unnamed peak above the glacier.

A few last laps on the "camp milk runs" before packing up and heading home.

Descending from near the summit of Aloha Peak, one of the highlights of this trip.