A text came from my friend Eric Kotch. "Mt. Baldy TOMORROW!!!! The anticipated 2 feet of fresh forcast for the Los Angeles ski area is a real stoke to us mountain transplants. Jon Boyer a snowboarding legend and Andy Blumberg the action sports journalist/marketeer/brand developer were also in. I arrived at Boyer's house around 6:30, we greeted in the rain and made our way. The rain swamped highways in LA were a good indications of the amount of moisture that had fallen. We knew it was going to be EPIC!
We met Eric at some strip mall in Upland. He rolled up in his Porche Carrera and some snowboard clothes. That was it. His board and bindings were supplied by me and Andy. Classic. He lost the cashmere sweater he was wearing and geared up in the parking lot. We took refuge underneath some flower/gift shop. Eric needed to cut his toenails or hangnails or whatever it was. He's the type of friend who is always dialed - friends are always going to him for advice, but he showed that every once in a while even the most organized can have a melt down. The flower shop lady was perplexed. Half nude snowboarder dudes changing, cutting toenails and peeing ( yes peeing) in the planter outside her shop. We are all educated, gainfully employed gents, but when there is 2 feet of fresh it all goes out the window pretty fast.
We soon made our way up the mountain road, swerving in and out of valley kooks who have no idea how to drive in the snow. Even the PCH officer seemed pretty clueless. The cars were sliding around like school children on and icy sidewalk.
Once we made it up to the mountain we had to wait around while they performed their avalanche control work. Slides actually came down all the way to the base of chair 1. People freaked, running as if a bomb had been dropped from the sky. The cloud of snow and debris rose 50 feet in the air. Quite a bizarre sight. Have not seen anything like it in all my time traveling the world; being in pretty extreme conditions on the biggest mountains. Keep in mind this is an hour and a half from the beach. Unbelievable. On a sad note, and as CNN reported, a few skiers were killed in the backcountry near the resort. So please please know before you go.
We made our way up to the Lodge. It looked like it hadn't been remodeled or cleaned in 20 years. Fantastic B&W pictures from the 40's adorned the walls, the communally-managed fireplace was blazing, the american flag was flown and the Ramen stewed. Finally the call came in and the mountain was open. I blinked and the lodge was empty. We let the crowds go. In no rush. We knew we would get ours. Plenty to go around.
We definitely got our runs. 8 or 9 to be exact. These were heli quality runs people! Untracked tree lines. Mini flutes and rollers EVRYWHERE! I was trying to get Boyer to perform for my lens and he oblidged me up until the point where I wanted to shoot more than ride. Then he reeled me in and slapped me upside the head and brought me back to the reality that we were here to ride and enjoy the pow. We all got in this great grove of zigging and zagging amongst each other. Hauling ass, laughing all the way through the gladed tree lines! It's runs like these that you yearn for and what keeps you snowboarding year after year. But being intelligent blokes and knowing our older-aged bodies well enough we all unanimously decided on the 9th run we had enough. We loaded up Chair 1 to download as we still were not allowed to ride down or we would have a run in with the law and potentially with Mother Nature. Once safely down, we stood around the car bullshitting and laughing about the day. But it wasn't over just yet. One last stop. Boyer knew of a Korean foot massage place in Alhambra. FANTASTIC! Best massage I've had in a while. They put your feet in hot tea and give the best scalp, neck and leg massage you'll have. 1 hour - $15.
Day ends with a pleasant sushi dinner. Soon after we said our good-byes and it was over. I drove home.
Easy peasy.
Till next time.
Plains, Trains and Sushi?
Live feed of our Sapporo landing. Just like the Disneyland Great Adventure ride, but a little more daunting
No photography on the planes. This stewardess wanted to Karate chop my face. Ever see The Ring?
Arlie (Mr. Areeri) and our dinner.
Best seat in couch. 4 across....ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.......
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