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SMG E-News #10
| January 2011
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Greetings! This winter season has delivered a strong 'La Nina' weather pattern translating to lots of great snowstorms and powder here in the Sawtooths. With the last year now behind us it is easy to reflect on all of those memorable moments in our lives. For those of us who live in the mountains, those reflections hinge upon the shared adventure with our companions. The bond is 'Experience'. As guides and outdoor enthusiasts it is the glue that makes it all come together and provides the passion and meaning for the seasons past and anticipated. As we continue to celebrate our 25 years of providing mountain adventure at Sawtooth Mountain Guides, passionately seeking more 'experience' is really what drives our pursuits. This quality is reflected in our winter programs, our guides and companions. As we move into a New Year, take the time to savor and value the past and use your experience to shape the adventures to come. Wishing you the best in your adventures in the coming Year. Yours,Kirk BachmanWinter Program Director
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| | Ecuador Culture |
Adventure Fever: Andean Experience
Kirk Bachman
Over the years, in our adventure travel, there are particular places, which keep beckoning a return visit because of some special energy. For myself, Ecuador, a small Andean country, held my fascination for many years (and still does)! The high altitude volcanoes (Chimborazo over 20,000ft) with its glaciers, contrast with the highland green landscape beneath. To the east the jungle of the Amazon, provides a source for constantly changing moods and weather.
It is a land of rich contrasts, and the Ecuadoreans as a people reflect the same in cultural contrasts, from those living traditionally among the mountains, farming and herding the highlands, or paddling canoes on the rivers in the jungles, or casting fishing nets along the shores of the Pacific coast. One fascinating tradition of the people of Ecuador is to celebrate the Old Year at the same time as they embrace the New Year. The tradition is Ano Viejo~Ano Nuevo (old year/new year) and the celebration is processional over nearly a month where the past is embraced in preparation to ready for the future.
My reflections as an older guide recently took on this Ano Viejo/Ano Nuevo persona. I reflected on the many trips up and down the volcanoes on skis and snowboards while guiding in this fascinating Andean favorite. The curiosity was sparked and Clark Corey, one of SMG's enthusiastic winter guides with a passion for far-flung adventure, set off to discover Ecuador for himself.
Read Trip Report (Clark Corey)....
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 Beyond Coastal Partnership!
SMG has formed yet another professional partnership with a reputable company. Beyond Coastal specializes in sun protection products ranging from sun screen, zinc or lip balm. No doubt that guides need sun protection from all the outdoor time we log in, whether it be rock climbing on the slabs, ski touring in the spring, or hanging out on glaciers. BC also strives to be sustainable in both the environmental and labor departments.
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 | | Day Skiing in the Southern Sawtooths |
Day Skiing and Splitboarding
Although the Sawtooths are well know for the terrain accessed via Huts, there are many day skiing options with easy access close to Stanley and Ketchum. Come ski & snowboard glades and bowls in mid winter powder, or chutes and big tours in spring conditions. Join us for a day, or come and stay in Stanley for a night.
Custom avalanche awareness tours are also available, either working on a desired skill set, or our standard terrain management and observations tour.
More info...
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 | | Time counts on training or in real life |
Featured Avalanche Couses
New! Companion Rescue Clinic (Feb 12): Covers full Beacon/probe/shovel use, plus senerio rescue practice. For skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers alike.Level 1 Refresher (Feb 12-13): A 2 day review of avalanche concepts, rescue and terrain managementAIARE Level 2 (Feb 19-22): Snow Stability and Avalanche Hazard. This 4 day course in the Sawtooths focuses on honing in skills to assess snow stability and group leadership.
SMG is continuing to deliver avalanche courses for a variety of needs. This includes REI awareness courses, rescue training for local search and rescue as well as the SV Fire Department returning for their Level 2. Our AIARE hut level 1 continues to sell out, and we also have a valley based level 1. See a complete listing here.More info...
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 | | A small sample of the terrain at the hut |
Williams Peak Hut
With the deep early season snow the conditions at the Hut have been stellar! We've run several trips already and have had excellent ski quality on every trip. Keep an eye on our trip reports page for conditions.
Some mid-week dates in January are still open, and a having a guide along to open up new doors in terrain can make your trip more worthwhile.
More info...
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| December Turns... | Thanks for checking in...be safe & have fun!
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| Contact Information |
Sawtooth Mountain Guides
PO Box 18
Stanley, ID 83278
www.sawtoothguides.com
(208)-774-3324
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