Video TR: Skiing WY BC (by Brad Douglass)

Finding some fresh powder stashes in Wyoming’s backcountry near Teton National Park.

Featuring AT skier Matt Lloyd on Dec. 22, 2009.

Help Me Refine My Thesis Narrative Overview…

Thesis Narrative Overview

The proposed thesis seeks to answer today’s leading career questions encountered by Outdoor Adventure Education (OAE) professionals and their respective organizations. More specifically, considering all the various career tracks and subsequent training opportunities that are available to developing OAE professionals, e.g. outdoor educators and guides, what are the leading methods of gaining relevant experience and how does one most effectively and efficiently advance their career training and industry professionalism? The proposed thesis process entails researching historical trends and current training practices in the OAE industry as well as indexing various OAE institutional subsets and their subsequent training standards. The thesis specifically surveys senior-level staff from two leading OAE institutions – the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and EXUM Mountain Guides. An in-depth study of these individual’s preferred leadership style seeks to identify the differences and/or similarities among OAE educators and guides. Outcomes of this survey aim to improve industry training practices by suggesting that institutions set training standards comesurate with preferred leadership outcomes among industry subsets. The following “Required Thesis Structure and Thesis Components” section employs the five traditional thesis standards and required thesis components: introduction and discussion of the issue, review of the literature, discussion of the methodologies and methods used, discussion of the research/results, and conclusion.

Guiding vs. Educating?

Fresh Tracks

Makin' the Most of a Slow Start to the 2009/ 2010 Season

Guest TR: FSB

TR By: http://landerbackcountry.blogspot.com/

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Absaroka Range, Togwotee Pass Area
November 25th, 2009

6000 Vertical November Feet (click here for video: http://landerbackcountry.blogspot.com/)

Gotta chance to hook up with Matt yesterday for an awesome marathon tour … marathon for November anyway- for me. Ha! The weather was fantastic, the snow was variable. We eventually found some great power on the sunny side in the bowl. Everywhere else was really variable- powder pockets, punchy soft slabs, and totally wind scoured areas and areas with pretty minimal coverage. Sometimes all of the conditions existed on the same slope/ aspect in the same spot. It was tricky skiing in some places. Although it’s pretty stable now, add another two or three feet to this base and wowee, it could get pretty unpredictable. It was great to get out though.

Matt paves the road up towards the top

Making our way up.

Pausing for a breather near the top.

The snow looked so good going up, we couldn’t resist a warm-up run down the ridge.
(click to enlarge and see lines)

Matt scoots across the top.

FSB
(We dropped into it from the couloir on the far, far looker’s left- left of the U-shaped gap.)

Looking back up our tracks going down.

Matt makes his way up toward the aprons on the sunny side of the bowl. The snow proved to be the best over here- finally, some good pow-pow!

Earning our turns.

Worth the work! The snow was great on this aspect.

My assessment of the conditions.

Matt readies for another run.

Looking down at Matt’s tracks.

A look back up at a couple of nifty runs (click to enlarge).

Making my way out of FSB, up to the top.

Matt on top of ??? Mt.

Shad on the summit of ???, the Tetons in the background.

I drop into the last little coolie of the day.

Kind of scralpy up top.

It got a little better though- still tricky.

Matt blows in.

Carvin’ it up- just in time for Turkey day!

Gooobble, gobble, gobble, gobble!

A look back.

Looking back up at ??? and some of the lines we skiied as the sun sets.

When the day was done, Matt’s altimeter said we conquered 6000 vertical feet plus. That’s a pretty awesome day for me, in November. This was only the third time I’d been out this year. It’s shaping up to be a pretty good start on the ol’ ski season for me this year though. It sure made the Turkey taste fantastic today. Mmmm, yummy. Time for some pie!

Brooks Patrick Lloyd

Mother and Son

Great Grandma and Great Grandson

The Little Family

Snoozin'

Walkin'

 

Cleanin'

 

Family Friendly Hiking/ Climbing

Photo: courtesy of Andy Blair

Soaking up the Fall Sun in Sinks Canyon, WY

Guest TR: Fall in Wyoming

Fall in Wyoming

By Wysplit_ride

---

Yesterday was a fine Wyoming fall day. I had a great time fishing with LiveTheDream and Scott. The weather was perfect for tossin’ flies and not so good for making turns, but we couldn’t have asked for anything better. Trout were caught on dries, nymphs, and streamers adding to the fun.

LiveTheDream caught the first and the biggest fish of the day:

Wysplit second up and stoked to shed the skunk:

A little wade fishing is always in order:

LiveTheDream looks like he is living the dream:

Scott getting his wade on in the HoneyHole:

Honey of a Cutty:

LiveTheDream celebrating a fine day on the river and a cigar for his new born son, Brooks. Congrats buddy!

Brooks’s Big Adventure Home

 

 

Snug as a Bug in a Rug: At Home in Lander

Brooks is now fully acclimated and has earned his clean bill of health.  Finally, our little family has arrived back home.

Brooks Works his Lungs During his First Hike: Split Rock, WY

 

Brooks gave all of us quite a scare at first. Soon after the normal delivery process, Brooks had trouble breathing. So, the wonderful and supportive Lander Valley Regional Hospital medical staff recommended a Life Flight to the Presbyterian/ St. Luke’s Hospital in Denver. 

Loading the Lear Jet to Denver

Dad flew with baby to Denver while Mom rested up and drove down the very next day.

Wings Over Lander: Our First Flight Together

Brooks and family set up base camp at the NICU hospital unit for a few days while the doctors monitored progress and the nursing staff coached Mom and Dad through baby 101: nursing, changing diapers, how to function on sleep deprivation, etc.

Hopefully our Next Chopper Ride will be to Remote/ Unskied Peaks

Brooks is now at home and doing all those things newborn babies do: eating, pooping, sleeping, crying, squirming… and keeping Mom and Dad from a full night’s sleep.

 

Papa and Baby

Kerry and I have been so thankful for all the kind and loving support from family, friends and medical staff who’ve helped us along our journey.

Grandpa Red Feeds the Hungry Man

Thank you all for your generosity and good karma. We’re sending our gratitude via our prayers to the Creator… “please look after all of our loved ones and bring them happiness and health.”

The Miracle of Life

Brooks’ First Big Adventure!

Welcome to the World Brooks Patrick Lloyd!

Brooks was born, in Lander,  on October 15 at 2:25 a.m. He weighs 7.9 lbs. and is 19.5 inches long.

 

Of course, he is very handsome!

 

At first, Brooks wasn’t so sure about the whole breathing thing and how it works; so off he went with his proud new dad, via Lear Jet and helicopter, to St. Luke’s Hospital in Denver.

 

Mom followed closely behind, and we are all together now in Denver. Brooks is feisty and making steady progress. We’ll be here for the next few days while he gets used to being in the world.

 

Thanks for sending all your good karma.

 

Love,

Matt, Kerry and Brooks

Finding Phil’s Secret Stash….

in…

…Sinks Canyon?

…Mid-October?

…Mid-Winter Powder Conditions?

Yeah-up!

What to do when it snows for a week straight in Lander? 

Early Season Storm System Hits Home

 Grab the dog and raid “Phil’s Secret Stash” in Sinks Canyon.

Lyle Gets His Walk

Finish skiing ten laps totaling 4,000′ in soft, knee-deep, well-covered terrain. 

Sinks Canyon

Then drive the 10 minutes back to town. Relax next to the wood stove with a cold brew dog…

Stoked

 And wait for my new little ski partner to arrive.

Everyone Says “Your Life is About to Change”… But When?