Rob Raymond – Thompson Pass, Valdez
Photo by: Kyle Christenson

After the FWT competition at Moonlight Basin, we were partying at the Filling Station in Bozeman.  KT had just won the comp and Randy took the Sickbird, more than enough reason to party.  KT was supposed to leave the next morning for Alaska, but decided last minute to go compete at the world championships in Kirkwood, meaning there was an open seat in a truck bound for AK in the morning.  I couldn’t pass it up.

Rob dropping in near Snowbird Hut – Talkeetna Range, AK

I left with Kyle Christenson and Nathaniel Murphy the next morning.  Besides a few setbacks, like crashing the truck into a snow bank just over the Alaskan border, we made it in one piece.   Kyle and I met up with Ryan Kreuger, Steve Lowry and Luke Smith and headed to the snowbird hut, located off of hatchers pass in the Talkeetna range. We were lucky enough to have perfect blue bird days and great snow.  We spent the next six days at the hut, knocking off every line in sight.

Rob dropping into the sunset – Valdez, AK

After leaving hatchers pass we headed to Valdez where we met back up with Murph and Reid Morth.  We got into town for the second week of Tailgate Alaska.  The beer garden that was set up at the top of Thompson Pass kept us occupied for the first couple down days.  Then when the weather cleared Kyle and myself sledded into an area known as the Books.  We drove up the glacier just as a helicopter was flying their clients out.  We realized they had just skied two of the main chutes in a massive cirque that we now had completely to ourselves.

Rob enjoying the Alaskan Velvet

Over the course of the next few days we got to ski some of the most incredible lines I’d ever seen, let alone skied.  Alaska was a life changing experience.  It’s the one place that I have to go to every winter.  It truly is the Mecca of skiing.

-Rob

ALL PHOTOS BY KYLE CHRISTENSON

Rob serac jumping