In case you want more info about Mason, his condition, his family and the fundraiser dinner, check out the blog that his mom Summer keeps about Mason

So I headed south for three days of hunting and what an experience it was. It was beyond fun to connect with my uncle whose dry sense of humor had both of us laughing all weekend. We hiked long and far, which both of us enjoy regardless of the hunt but it proved to be the right decision as we found birds. I’ll never forget hearing that first Tom gobble in a small canyon, making my ears ring and my heart skip a beat. Although we saw some birds the two stalks I put on them didn’t end like I had planned, the last one being a roosted bird that spotted me from a mile away and even though I got close enough to get 2 shots off while he flew away he was on to me from a ways out. Saw some great country, some good spots for deer that I’d like to revisit and more than anything I got a good education in turkey hunting.

With the fever to still get a bird, I teamed up with a friend who’s buddy had seen nearly 40 birds in a little canyon in the southern region (I promised not to tell) and who within 15 minutes of arrival had a bird. So we set out for said location and after a boondoggle of directions, private land between us and forest service land we decided that the only way to get there was the hard way so we hiked about 3 miles over ridges and across a couple of valleys to “the spot”.

When we got there, nothing but silence, no tracks and no turkey turds. We were a little dejected. There was a guzzler down valley about 1/4 mile so we went to check it out and found nothing again. Just as we were wondering if we’d hiked all that way for nothing – GOBBLE-GOBBLE! After high fives and dancing like a couple of drunken soldiers (quietly of course), we started up canyon and wouldn’t you know it in our effort to get around into a spot we passed the turkey and it passed us.

When we realized our error we set up and gave a call. The turkey came back and unfortunately I had sat in a spot that limited my view if he came into one certain spot….and yep, he came into that spot. I wasn’t going to take a shot through a sage brush so I painfully let him go on by. He saw me when I moved a bit and started to “blip, blip, blip” which I can only assume is the distress sound.

After making our way up canyon we heard him gobble twice but opted to take a nap under a tree on some soft grass. 2 1/2 hours later we woke up and were ready to roll. A quick hike up a ridge and circling back towards the water we heard him gobble again and made haste. Just as we got near the water we got a glimpse of him headed away so we paralleled him for a bit and set up under a juniper. I heard him gobble and thought we had gone too far over. So I gave a call on the slate and he responded immediately.

After 2-3 min I gave a prrrrr on the slate and he was headed in hot, gobbled so loud I thought he was in my back pocket. At the last minute I adjusted my position to be able to cover more range and I’m glad I did cause seconds later I saw movement behind a juniper just a bit to the right of center. I thought he’d come right out into the open but he stalled after coming out into the open, looked right at us, started to “blip, blip” and began to turn around. I knew it was my chance so I pulled the trigger. Head shot meant he went straight down and flapped a couple of times and it was over.

The 3 mile hike back to the truck had me thinking if it’s worth the hike, the number of days hunting, the heat, the….of course it was! Hiking that far helped get us away from anyone else (didn’t see another hunter or anyone) and got us into a bird that was responsive to calls, unlike in the Pine Valley area where they would run away from calling.

What a great experience, a challenging animal and an even more enjoyable hunt than I’ve had in a while. Thanks to all who in the past have shared their stories and insights which helped me on this my first of many turkey hunts.

9″ beard

His tail feathers were munched in the middle – I can only assume from a close call with a coyote? As the tom was gobbling and we were moving in for the kill we spotted 3 coyotes headed our direction as well. After taking the bird we called in a coyote but missed a clean 75 yard shot. Bummer.

1″ spur, but the other spur was a stubby little black thing that you can see in the image.

Lastly, the meat was great. I marinated the breasts in Zesty Italian dressing for 24 hours and then put it on the BBQ. Aside from being a little chewy compared to Thanksgiving Turkey, it was delicious. Even my wife and kids enjoyed it.

This video is of me describing how it went down.

Despite an hour of snow-blowing the driveway today and the late arrival at Butler Fork in Big Cottonwood Canyon, I skinned up the trail and as I went my mind seemed to slough off the cares of the office.

Just before topping out Derek and Guy caught me on their 4th lap. About 2 turns into the first of two laps for me, I knew I had made the right call.

On the second lap, I was energized and managed to out skin Derek to the top, a very rare feat. It was either the power euphoria or the Honey Stinger gel and PROBAR combo that I ate. Either way, powder was on the menu for my final run. It got all over my face.

I’d suggest you get out of the office as well. Tomorrow will most certainly be a good day for it.

–image Derek Weiss

Being a forecaster is a coveted role by many but the numbers dwindle quickly as the “many” soon realize the pay doesn’t really stack up, the hours are terrible (unless you think being up at 5am to send out updates is glamorous) and the annual hunt for a summer job can get old after a season or two.

I suspect it takes a certain quality of person, a certain character to make a successful career at being an avalanche forecaster. I’m grateful for the work they do and support them each year with a little bit of my hard earned money. I recommend you do the same.

My reason for posting this was not to guilt you into donating to a great organization, but to share a piece of today’s report that behind the low pay, the long hours and the summer job searches is a passion at the core of each forecaster.

Each day here in northern Utah the Utah Avalanche Center releases the daily Avalanche Advisory for all areas of the state.

Aside from the daily update of snow conditions, reliable weather and avalanche conditions, I really enjoy reading the little insights, quips, comments and once in a while a line or two that gives an insight into passion that the forecasters have for a life in the mountains.

Today’s report from Drew Hardesty had something in there that the quick reader/skimmer may have missed. Drew has passion for the mountains and I’m glad he shared it in today’s report:

There are those moments in life when you’re outside with good friends, or even alone, and you realize something has changed. The sun shines more brightly, the colors are more vibrant, the powder snow bottomless. It’s like a momentary glimpse of a rainbow after a just after a hard rain – and everyone looks at one another with smiles – and nothing needs to be said. We mark our lives by days like these. This was yesterday in the Wasatch.

Thanks Drew.

It seems I have a love affair with this mountain. But how could you not? It’s massive, taking about the same area as Little Cottonwood Canyon if you measured the length of the massif.

Skiing from the summit, right from the top, has been a dream of mine for a while now. It’s good to accomplish a dream.

Thanks to my friend Derek for the video.

Up and Over from piton productions on Vimeo.

I’m planning on LOTOJA again this year, possibly the Tour de Park City and if I’m lucky, perhaps I’ll ride the 1000 Warriors ride. I’ve been spinning lately but am anxious to get on the Mirror Lake Highway and Wolf Creek Pass soon.

Doesn’t this look fun!?

As Wells Fargo (a bank that I have an account with) joined the other financial institutions in holding out their hands to accept some of my and your hard earned money, they figured it was time for a trip to Vegas and where else to stay but at the TOP, the Wynn. After the news broke they ended up canceling the rooms, but it begs the bigger question: When will the opulence stop? (that’s rhetorical)

Capitalism, socialism, whatever floats your boat, the disconnect going on in America today is on the magnitude of one of its finer geographical formations, the Grand Canyon. There are many interesting stories out there to pick from, but one that intrigued me most this past week was the Wells Fargo fiasco. Wells, like most offered, took the Federal Reserve handout to the tune of $25 billion+ with more to follow no doubt. This money comes directly from present and future tax payers no matter which printing press is used. When a whistle blower (read previous employee who enjoyed such junkets her entire tenure) pointed out the obvious, something not hidden or masked in anyway, that Wells was planning a typical annual junket at the most expensive hotels in the lower 48 (Steve Wynn’s latest properties in Vegas), it got the Washington folks thinking just a bit, which can be a miracle within itself at times.

If most tax payers, i.e. even successful entrepreneurs, would never consider $400 per night for a hotel room, particularly in a town where many acceptable rooms can be had for less than $100 per night….why should a company needing government subsidization plan a junket (with all the fixins) at such a hotel? I speak for many small business owners who have always pondered who could possibly justify such travel expenses in their business P&L statement. It is one thing to see some heiress or oil sheik peruse the Wynn lobby, but 1000 bank employees?

This is where we have landed in the land of excess, opulence and irresponsibility. I for one am betting on Wells to easily make it through this period, if for one simple fact….I trust Uncle Sam simply can’t and won’t let this behemoth fall. Wells has yet to write down its California portfolio accurately, smartly waiting out the demise of Bank of America and other competitors as they fight for shareholder survival. Every time a competitor stumbles, Wells picks up pure gold: depositors. This is a game in that the last man standing will reap the benefits of its fallen brethren. So the fact that Wells thought they could simply go ahead with such a junket after taking a 25 billion dollar handout comes as no surprise. Let’s face it, the press is not very savvy in reporting this stuff anymore. If only the infamous and sarcastic Hunter Thompson had his typewriter plugged in today.

Instead, exposure of how the “haves” are sticking it to the “have nots” is being exposed by ex-employees (of which there are a growing number), who are playing out their jealous rages as they are now tossed in with the rest of us booking our rooms at the Holiday Inn Express.

I guess Erik is finally putting a number of his videos up on YouTube and sent me the link.

Even though it’s old powder, it’s still good and fresh in my memory.  The funny caveat to this is that I now live just 20 minutes from this spot and do a fair amount of backcountry skiing just 2 ridges to the west of the big bowl in the video.

I’m in red:

…and this good:

On my last lift ride up on John Paul I saw a patroller hiking up to the gate.  I called down to him from the lift and asked if he was going to open it to which he replied “Maybe” with a quirky smile.  Just as we crested the last rise I caught a glimpse of him pulling the closed sign to open. It was game on.

Since it was basically deserted, we were first through the gates and had one of those moments that we who slide on snow live for – untracked lines, 2-3 buddies, nobody around so there’s no hurry, and deep dry powder for as far as you can see below.

The images in my mind of seeing my friends get face shot after face shot with hoots heard over my shoulder as I too indulged will not soon be forgotten.

And what’s a day of pow without The Point: (Nick does the honors while Shawn drops in)

But, since the calendar did turn 1 year older, I suppose then that skiing with Alex and Derek in the Uintas was a great way to end the calendar year and an even better way to spend one day.

Video by Derek: