1st Cascade Gravity Research Post After Twins

So it has been a while since the last CGR post and two amazing boys have entered our world: Bridger James Chaffee and Bennett Stuart Chaffee.

They even went on their first ski trip up to Whistler!

Sean, Caitlin, Jimmy and I had some great skiing on Saturday and here are a couple of the highlights:

Whistler Movie 12 13 14 from Scott Chaffee on Vimeo.

Here is a pic of Jimmy, Sean and Caitlin at the top of the peak chair:

Picture of the whole crew at the Whistler!
From left to right: Sean Keely, Caitlin Keely, Courtney Chaffee, Bridger Chaffee, Scott Chaffee, Bennett Chaffee, Cassandra Chaffee and Jim Chaffee

Local Bike Trails

We have some pretty awesome biking really close.
Tacoma just opened a new Mnt. Bike park called Swan Creek.
It is located about 20 minutes away from our house.
We also have Dash Point State Park that has some great trails and the trail head entrance just a few houses away!
Here is a compilation from riding yesterday at Swan Creek and today at Dash Point State Park.
Swan Creek and Dash Point Mountain Biking June 2014 from Scott Chaffee on Vimeo.

Tiger Summit Mnt Bike Ride, Sunrise Lookout

We rode Sunrise up by Greenwater last weekend, no video but a good view of Mnt. Rainier and a good crew of Mike, Sean, Todd and myself
almost 3500 feet of elevation drop to bottom, ran into way more snow than we had planned on and some people up hiking and skiing, never a good sign when on a bike

Pic of Rainier from Suntop trail

Bikes on back of Armada(14mpg), Sean photo bomb, good set up for 4+ riders

Bike on initial test run on Court's terrain(20+mpg), perfect set up for 1 or 2 riders

Mike and I rode Tiger Summit this last Saturday and was pretty fun plus scored some good video footage. This is right off Hwy 18 when you are heading to I-90.  Small fall at the end, don't tell Court.....
TigerMnt Tiger Summit CGR Cascade Gravity Research WA from Scott Chaffee on Vimeo.

Skiing Feb Crystal Mnt Winter Storms

So the snow finally arrived!!! So did the crowds!

Great Video of the past couple weekends at Crystal

Cascade Gravity Research Feb 2014 CGR Skiing from Scott Chaffee on Vimeo.

Some good pictures Paolo took recently up at Crystal

Me dropping in to Northback

 Me making a nice turn in Northback

 Chris in Northback

 Mike jumping off a nice natural kicker in North

 Chris with a little cliff drop in Northback

 Court with Summit aka the ultimate snow dog

 Cameron loving the snow in Northback

 Sean killing a spine in North

 Two pairs of Rocker 2's and two pairs of Hellbents

 Chris dropping off a Cornice in Northback

Skiing Crystal Feb 1st 2014

So It was an awesome Saturday up at Crystal new snow and sun... at Crystal that means one thing... crowds

Line behind us about 15 minutes till lifts opened on Sat morning.  Chris, Mike, Katie and I got up early met at Enumclaw Safeway at around 6:45 and managed to still park in A lot plus beat the crowds getting up one of the first lifts of the day.

Chris had the "Man Huck" of the year of this cliff:

He did end up skiing right in to me but way to go Chris!

Here are our tracks from far Courts Southback:

Chris made the best turns Mike and I went to the side

The Video from the weekend including Chis' big drop and our lines down Speed Control far South:

My Movie from Scott Chaffee on Vimeo.

Sunday was spent watching the Seahawks crush the Super Bow!

Jan 2014 Cascade Gravity Research Crystal Mountain

Nice little video of us skiing last weekend and the weekend before:
JanCGR from Scott Chaffee on Vimeo.

My Turns on Sunday

 Joe's Bad Ass Shoulder after we skied it

 Another View of Joe's Bad Ass Shoulder

 A Close up of my tracks and Mike's tracks down Joe's Shoulder

Slow Start To Latest Ski Season

So at this point in the ski season you might expect I would have at least a dozen days in.... I am sad to report that is not the case.... infact I have a grant total of...... 6 days.... Horrible
2 days at Crystal, WA
2 days at Whistler, BC
2 days at Alyeska, AK

The days at Crystal have been the worst with a base that has averaged around 11 inches so far this winter. Southback hasn't been bad but inbounds has been bad.
Off the side of the King in Southback:

Mt. Rainier from the top of the King:

We didn't take many pictures at Whistler the weather was not cooperating.  Whistler also had low snow and nothing new in while of any large amounts... so we decided to go somewhere that had a better outlook.... ALASKA!
Sean, Caitlin Courtney and I headed to the great north!
We arrived at Anchorage New Years eve and woke up on New Years day with the best new years gift ever 18" fresh snow at the top of Alyeska Resort!!!
A foot and a half of new snow was awesome and we enjoyed playing in the great conditions for the next two days:
Caitlin and Sean at the Alyeska Tramway.... Alyeska is pretty amazing you walk from your room right to a tram that takes you to the top of the mountain without ever going outside....great for when it is raining at the base but dumping snow at the top as we ran into.
Sean and Caitlin

Me and Court

 Sean and I after hitting the park

 Sean and Caitlin

 Inside our hotel

 The Courtney, Sean and Caitlin leaving the Chair 5 resturant

 Sean and Caitlin in front of the Portage Glacier

 Second photo

 Me and Court

 The Tram that takes you up from the lodge

Caitlin, Sean and Courtney leaving the lodge

So what is one to do during a bad ski season:
Paolo, Mike, Mike's friend Scott and I at Duthie
Duthie2 from Scott Chaffee on Vimeo.