Rome Snowboard Design Syndicate

Hey everybody, Just took a few days to take a Level 1 AIARE course. I have to recommend it to everybody. You might have taken driver’s ed before getting your car, why wouldn’t you take a course before grabbing a beacon and heading into the backcountry.

The course started with classroom session.  We then moved outside to practice companion rescue with a beacon; first on flatground and then into the alpine.

Teaching how to take field observations

Steve, our instructor, had this cool Brooks Range rescue sled

Steve giving us some pointers on evaluating snow pack using a snow pit

Here's the snow pit I helped to build and my team mate Bob cutting an extended column

We ended the day with a demonstration of the traditional Rutschblock test. Here's one of my classmates stomping away

I toured on my new Whiteroom splitboard (shhh… secret). It was super fun; I had not ridden Rome’s Powder S camber before (Did a little more riding Sunday vs. today). I personally prefer touring in Libertines as they are a little softer. I used my customized Spark R&D binders; my main customization is the addition of the plush 390 ankle strap.

Side Note: The Spark folks are great. I was fortunate enough to meet them at ISPO a week ago and I would for sure push what they are doing for Splitboarding.  Besides the obvious weight benefit, the baseplate offers a super solid platform and rides and tours real well.

I found out about the course through the AIARE website.  Steve Charest from Petra Cliffs offers courses here in VT.  A bunch of people questioned taking the course in VT, but obviously from the pics you can tell we had enough snow.  Additionally, Steve has guided in places as far away as Alaska & South America, and as close as Mount Washington, so he brings a wealth of experience to the table.  Frankly, my attitude all along was that it was better to be prepared than not and I figured it was best to take the course at my disposal.

There’s a cliche about “eyes being bigger than the stomach.”  As all of us take the step up to bigger and better terrain, it’s imperative that we all take a little responsibility for our friends’ and our own safety.  Get prepared: take some driver’s education for the big stuff and your beacon.

Sometimes just to try is to succeed.

I decided to use my split-board to head off the property on Sunday and find some turns. It worked out…I didn’t cross another track all day (whether riding or skinning)…including the first line off the hill…

Dropping In...

Now instead of taking the trail all the way to the bar, I decided to pick up a side trail and get another descent under my belt.

Ready to ascend...

As I ascended i saw all sorts of possibilities but I decided to stick to the marked trails (most of which I had been on before in one shape or form).

Follow the Red Markers

My original goal was to make my way around the Ranch Valley (just under the ridgeline) and then grab a descent on the far side, but I’ll be the first to admit I misjudged the time to get there. The tube of my Camelbak had also frozen a second time when I hit the Dishpan; I got it to defrost in my coat early in the trek but when it froze the second time it didn’t want to come back, no matter what tricks I had up my sleeve. So that set me up to call it earlier (distance-wise) than I wanted.

Devil's Dishpan (You have to love the names)

So I hit another junction and headed down. Now I’ll also admit that what I headed down was flatter than I expected, but I was riding untouched snow so it was still fun. Unfortunately due to the lack of pitch I eventually had to switch back to “travel” mode and get back to the Nordic center. In no time, I was back at the Tollhouse and back on the resort.

So didn’t quite make it around to the the line I wanted, but still had a fun day.

(Stowe is littered with trails cut by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the Great Depression. Some have become an integral part of the resort; others are outside the boundary and frequented by tele skiers. Please research your trip when heading out. There’s lot’s of resources so make sure you use them. Also, please make responsible decisions regarding what you ride and when to call it a day.)

PS- sorry for the lousy pics, apparently the batteries I was putting into the camera should’ve been thrown out, so you got some more phone pics