MOUNTAIN KHAKIS - Built For The Mountain Life Blog

MK Ambassador, Eddie Gianelloni: Climbing for Golden Week

Golden week has been the most widely celebrated holiday in Japan thus far. I have never seen so many people outside. I do not fully understand what the holiday is for, but it has something to do with the emperor.

Anyway, for a break from the city Gavin and I joined Jack and his wife for some bouldering at Mizugaki. We met up at the new area and decided to try a few new potential problems. Jack also wanted to send his V5/6 that we finished cleaning last week.

The first boulder of the day was one that had been wet on one side in previous trips but to our delight we found it quite dry. The Coffee Can boulder is small on this side, but has three stiff, fun problems. The same boulder on the northern side is the site of the 25+ foot lines that we closed last week. This is where Jacks Ideal Johnson V5/6 is. Jack cleaned it and sent first go. I on the other hand took my time to make it to the last scary dead point. After several tries and copious skin loss, I decided to try and send next week.

The trip was a success though. I played with a borrowed flash and I believe that I took a few nice shots. Jack took a few nice ones too I might add. In total this area now has 2 V2's, 3 V3's, 3 V4's, 2 V5's, 1 V5/6, 1 V 6, and over 25 lines yet to be climbed. And there are too MANY lines for me to ever be able to climb in my life here.

This weekend I am planning on heading to Mitake for some bouldering and shooting. I have lots of work to do with this flash technology. Monday I am going to Joyama with Hiroko and Shuji. Shuji and Hit Chan are working some projects so I hope I can take some sweet shots of them in action!!! We will see. There is a cool looking 12a that Jack put up there that I want to get on. Should be fun.

Enjoy the pictures and remember.....

Go Climb Something!!!!!

MK Ambassador, Brad Carpenter, Recaps the Montana Winter

Winter started out great this year in Southwest Montana. November 8th it started snowing and by the end of the month we had three to four feet on the ground. Like most seasons in Montana, winter seemed to turn on like a switch. Our snowpack stayed mostly stable for the season as well which made for some great backcountry skiing and riding conditions all over the mountains.

I was able to spend a lot of time in nearby Hyalite Canyon ferreting out new lines from the steep bowls and trees hidden within its depths, and mostly stuck close to home as there was no need to ski anywhere else with such amazing conditions here.

Come spring we were sitting on a decent base and waiting for our annual spring snow hose to turn on. March and April are usually our biggest snow producers and this year was no exception with more than 300cm or about 10 feet of snow falling from March 1st to our closing date of April 24th. This doesn't count the two feet of snow that fell last week! We ended the season with over 300 total inches having fallen and 105 inches settled on the ground for a base.

The rest of the spring should be great with several feet or more of snow in the mountains. I am looking forward to spring touring around the area for the next few weeks then its off to the Cook Islands and New Zealand for their winter yet again.

MK Ambassador Aaron Karitis: Guiding with H2O Guides in Valdez

MK Ambassador Aaron Karitis has been up in Valdez for the past two months guiding with H2O Guides. Check out some photos from the first half of an epic 12 day bluebird stretch. Make sure to check in for more updates over the next several weeks!

MK Ambassador, Richard Kinney: Talladega Super Speedway Recap

A few weeks ago I was given the opportunity to go to the Talladega Super Speedway, in Talladega, AL. Team owner James Hylton contacted me about coming to the race, as part of the #48 James Hylton Motorsports team in the ARCA Series presented by Menard’s. My job was to help with mechanics and the over-the-wall pit crew during practice. The race was originally scheduled for Friday, which proved to be too much with rough weather conditions and tornadoes in the surrounding areas.

The race was postponed to Saturday morning. The day began at 5 a.m. with our team meeting. With cooler temperatures and wind gusts to 20+ mph ARCA officials gave the clear for the race to begin. I was then asked to serve as spotter on race day taking the tower on the Super Stretch. The checkered flag dropped at 10:00 a.m. for the 250 mile race.

Following the race, work continued in the pit area as the car was loaded and everyone prepared for the ride home. I decided to take a moment and venture to pit road as the Cup Series teams held their qualifying. I was astonished to see drivers, media members and officials. The realization of seeing what was always a semi fairytale for me was all around me. I was asked to have a photo taken along pit road with Miss Sprint Cup! The excitement of the day and the reality of all that happened is something I will never forget. My Mountain Khakis handled everything from mechanic work to doing a photo shoot with Miss Sprint Cup all in the same day! What can your Mountain Khakis do?

 

MK Ambassador, Capt. Doug Henderson, Recaps Winter Season in the Louisiana Marsh

Hey Everyone,

This is Capt. Doug Henderson with Salted Flats Fly Fishing.The winter season in the Louisiana Marsh is finally winding down. What an epic winter it was despite the oil scare last summer. This season was loaded with Monster Redfish and Black Drum fully willing to crush flies on a daily basis.

I personally never saw a drop of oil or a single tar ball in my 140 days on the water east of the Mississippi River (known as the Biloxi Marsh). I must say, being in Florida all last summer Tarpon fishing I was certainly worried about this very special fishery. The media had made it sound like all was lost and that the Louisiana Marsh was ruined.

Upon arriving in New Orleans last November, I spoke with some guides who had been there for a month or so and they reported zero oil sitings. I then conducted my own investigation and came up with the same conclusion. The Marsh was pristine and very much alive. I fished all winter experiencing day after day of healthy fish. We caught fish weighing in the range from 25 - 25 pounds daily!

So, what I'm trying to say is that the waters of the Louisiana Marsh were not as affected by the oil spill as much as the media led us to believe. I look forward to another wonderful season here next winter!

Here are some pics of some few fish caught here this winter: