Ruby Mountains Part 2

When we woke up on day 2 feeling that the hard part was behind us. Our plan for the day was to get back up on the ridge and cruise. It ended up being another day very similar to the first. We quickly reached the ridge in the morning and found that we would have to rip our skins and enjoy some of the great Ruby powder. When we looked out over the ridge we saw nothing but impassible ridge line. Our other option was to ski down about 2,000 vertical feet, cross over 2 drainages and ski a few miles up the third drainage. Needless to say it was not what we had planned. But we did get some good downhill.

Once we reached the top of the drainage, there was a pretty large headwall. We climbed up to the pass expecting to see Overland lake on the other side. We reached the top and decided that we were sufficiently spent for the night. So we set up camp on a pristine ridge at almost 10.000 feet that gave a us great view.

Nothing beats this view out your front door

Mark chasing the sunset

We ate 2 dinners that night to help prepare for the next day and give us the much needed calories. Life just keeps getting better in the Rubies!

Mission Accomplished!

The trip went off without a hitch. Well almost. We headed off to the Ruby Mountains of Nevada for an epic journey. I am currently writing an article that is explaining everything in full detail. So for now I will post the stats of the trip with a few photos and a just a couple of the highlights. Keep checking back for updates because I will do it in sections.

Total trip details:

February 12-15, 2010

Mileage-37 miles

Vertical feet climbed-11,300

High Point-10,860 ft

Pack weight- 36 pounds

This was probably one of the most physically demanding trips I have ever done. Part of the reason for that was due to the fact that we were not always completely clear on our route and what we were capable of each day. Along with the physical effort put forth we were able to really test our navigation skills.

We were about 2.5 hours into our drive to Elko, NV when Mark realized that all of our topo maps were sitting on his kitchen table. The next morning we stopped everywhere we could looking for a topo map that would help to gives us an idea of our route. Luckily Cowboy John, our shuttle driver, had a recreational map of the area which we were able to use and totally saved us multiple times.

Cowboy John

We skied from Harrison pass up past the Green mountain trailhead and headed north. Our ultimate goal was Lamoille Canyon via the Ruby Crest ridgeline. We were very anxious to get up on the ridge so we could get a view of our objective and we also thought that once on the ridge, we would be sprinting along it and cruise on through. Boy were we wrong! For the first 2 days it seemed like every ridge we reached was nye impassible and we were forced to find a safe route down and try to access in another drainage or location.

Typical view of the ridge we were supposed to be "cruising" along

So after a few ups and downs (about 2500 feet each) we finally felt like we got on course. Our nights seemed to be perfect. we stayed warm and always had great views when we woke up.

Camp 1

I know the average attention span for blogs is usually just a few photos and even fewer paragraphs. Tune in for the next update and more photos. I have lots more to share. Feel free to ask questions. I love talking about this trip.

I would be a rich man

If I did not have such a healthy outdoor recreation obsession, I figure I could retire somewhere around the age of 35. I do not even want to imagine all the money I have invested in gear! It is an ongoing problem in life. And no matter the size of my paycheck there always seems to be a percentage of it that is budgeted to buy some climbing hardware, camping amenities or skiing paraphernalia. I do not have a solution to my problem and luckily my wife is aware of my problem and tolerates me the best she can. Over the past few years websites such as Steep and Cheap have played the devils advocate for people like me. I have a love hate relationship with it, but my wife probably wishes she could block all discount gear websites from my computer.

Here is one corner of my happy place, There is also a closet that looks like it vomited after a lunch at REI.

One of my proudest accomplishments while being a homeowner is the transformation of a bedroom into a gear room. I show it off to everyone that visits and sometimes when no one is watching, I enter my gear room, close the door and play with all my investments. I also enjoy seeing other peoples gear rooms and checking out gear that others have that are on my list of future purchases. I know I am a total nerd, but I figure there are worse habits out there. Share your thoughts on gear rooms, storage techniques or addictions to gear that you have. I would like to know if there are more people out there that share my illness.

There is no such thing as too many kayaks!

Be Prepared

I am going to give you a sneak peek at an adventure that is just around the corner. In preparation for this trip I have been trying get some exercise on a regular basis so that I do not get half way through the journey and start asking my cohorts to carry me. The trip could be a great experience in the mountains or a death march to insanity. We have a solid crew lined up and I really can't wait to get started. So now that I have built it up are you ready to hear what it is.

We are traversing the Ruby Mountain range of Nevada. Oooooh, Ahhhhh! Alright, for those of you that have no idea what I am talking about here are the details of the trip.

The Rubies are known as the Nevada Swiss Alps.

Distance- 35-50 miles (depending on the side trips we take)

Elevation 6500 ft. - 11000 ft. With lots of ups and down between.

4 days to do it with everything we need on our backs!

Wish us luck as we prepare and keep checking to see the trip report on this epic journey. If any of you have any valuable info that will help make this trip epic, please fill us in.

It is always nice to go home

Winter has finally arrived here in Utah. It took a little longer than expected but for those that were patient, this week it has paid off. Most areas in Northern Utah received anywhere from 2 -5 feet over the past week. With all the snow, came avalanche warnings and lots of natural and skier triggered activity. Check out the Utah Avalanche Forecast center's account of some of the action. As for me, I stuck to the lift serviced powder while the backcountry avalanche danger was high. I returned to my old stomping grounds of Beaver Mtn, in Logan Canyon. There is something to be said about pulling into the parking lot of a ski resort on a monday morning and only seeing about 25 other cars. No lift lines, no avoiding other skiers, and plenty of beautiful Utah powder to last all day (or probably a few days). It is nice to get away from the chaos of ski in- ski out condos, jam packed backcountry trailheads, and an endless train of cars going up and down the canyon. Sometimes it is worth sacrificing the pure size of a resort or peak when the pay off is solitude and serenity.

Pannic is a long time Beaver Believer!

Beaver Mtn. is a special place for locals. Ask anyone that has spent a season or more there, they will tell you stories of bottomless pow, no frills or extras and a solid crowd of people that are there for one reason and one reason only, the skiing. I would not usually spill the beans about such a special place, but it seems that no matter how much I talk up the Beav, people still tend to get sucked down to the bigger brothers to the south so I am not worried about too many people discovering this gem!

Pannic, Jax and Pitt reminiscing about the good old days

On the next Utah powder day, I dare you to not line up behind the thousands of cars at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon and head north to the Bear River range! Whether you are touring or riding lifts I guarantee you will leave with a smile on your face and stories to bring back to your friends.

Feel free to comment and tell me about the places you love to return to and never leave you disappointed. I am always looking for new places to explore and write about.

Who are we and what are we doing?

Welcome everyone!! Magog Corp is here to take over the world! We are an up-and-coming outdoor recreation and events company that is based out of Northern Utah. We have grown up with the Rocky Mtns as our stomping grounds and playing in them anyway we can. Kayaking, rafting, skiing, climbing, and general Tom foolery is our specialty. The members of Magog Corp. have an accumulative of about 1 million years of outdoor experience and are excited to give you a taste of what we do.

Updates will come often as we tell you what we are doing, review gear, and keep you posted on events and classes.