13--VN 11M

When we arrived to no wind early in the day, we started the new name game, Viva Notwind, Viva Notfriendly, Viva notagain. But as usual in Wyoming, it just needs time before it blows. I'm still a little leery there and drove my sled up the hill to rig. After a few rides on the Zephyr, Eric came sliding down the hill with a fence damaged kite. I towed him back to the van and we found that the wind was actually stronger lower on the mountain. I ripped back up the hill, de rigged my Zephyr and rigged my 11M lower on the mountain, closer to the parking area. The snow is hip deep soft, almost hollow powder. Nice to huck and land in the super soft snow. I did a face plant on a kite loop gone bad and tweeked my knee. I had painful time trying to sleep and can't walk very good this morning. Hope it's temporary.

12-Strawbs Tour 11M

Matt and I started at the Ladders. Matt rode my old 11M Edge today. He must have liked it, I could see his grin through his balaclava.
I rode skis for the first session to get used to them more for backcountry kite tours. They felt good, but I still like the board better in the rough stuff.
We went from Ladders to the Marina, across to the South 40 along the shoreline to the view area to Ladders. We took a break, Then put on the snowboard and went up to Chicken Creek and back. Nicely powered for the long tour, until sunset when it lightened up. Thought about Moon lit rides, but the wind was to light.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4KwdltsqYg

I think you might be interested in this track:

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=216315604195594105075.0004d6abbcf7f1b757e5b

Created by Google My Tracks on Android.
Name: 02/26/2013 1:22pm
Activity type: -
Description: -
Total distance: 45.57 km (28.3 mi)
Total time: 3:13:50
Moving time: 2:44:29
Average speed: 14.10 km/h (8.8 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 16.62 km/h (10.3 mi/h)
Max speed: 59.83 km/h (37.2 mi/h)
Average pace: 4.25 min/km (6.8 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 3.61 min/km (5.8 min/mi)
Fastest pace: 1.00 min/km (1.6 min/mi)
Max elevation: 2329 m (7643 ft)
Min elevation: 2277 m (7470 ft)
Elevation gain: 441 m (1446 ft)
Max grade: 9 %
Min grade: -11 %
Recorded: 02/26/2013 1:22pm

11--Strawbs 11M, 10M

Good winds and good snow, until the winds picked up in the afternoon and blew the soft snow away.
1st 2 hours had smooth winds and soft new snow. Second session I should have gone out on my 8M, but I didn't re rig because the snow blew away down to the hard pack. So I just did a short session searching for the "pillows in the gullies"

10--VA 11M

Took a little tour south of the View Area and found nice snow the farther south we traveled.
Very good winds today, very powered on my 11M.

I think you might be interested in this track:

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=216315604195594105075.0004d5f7c9555d8d01637
Created by Google My Tracks on Android.

Total distance: 36.93 km (23.0 mi)
Total time: 2:39:10
Moving time: 2:34:42
Max speed: 64.82 km/h (40.3 mi/h)
Max elevation: 2347 m (7700 ft)
Min elevation: 2292 m (7521 ft)
Elevation gain: 464 m (1524 ft)

9-- Viva Naughton 11M

The pain is a toll I willingly pay on my way to the top,
for here, amid these mountains, I restore myself and lose myself, knit together my ego and then surrender it,
detach myself from the mass of humanity so I may learn to love them again,
all while coexisting with the creatures whose kind have lived here for millennia. PC

Huge snowkiting area north of Viva Naughton (Kemmerer).
Second time kiting there for us.
Big area to ride from the trail head, and endless possibilities with the sled.
We rode Beaver Creek up to Commissary Ridge.
Nicely powered 11M until sunset. — with Matt Dadam and Eric Gustafson.

8--Strawbs Mud Creek 17M 11M

No wind at river or Chicken Creek. Eric made the correct call to check out Mud Creek.
It was light when we arrived and the 17M worked fine. but as we descended off the mountain for a break the wind increased. After our break it was defiantly wind that called for a smaller kite.

7-- Strawbs CC 11M

One of those really fun days at Strawbs. Good wind and good snow. When I started I was powered very nicely, 10M would have worked. Did some fast touring of the area, boosting, climbing and just having fun. It did a lull just as most everyone was getting out. I took a break until it came back up again, just not as strong. I sure do like kiting at Chicken Creek so much more than the River.
Waxed my board tonight and ready for another one tomorrow. Call me if you want to go, you know who you are. VS DC JM. These NW clearing winds are what it is all about. It's play time.

6--Strawbs 17M

We didn't see lots of wind so we took the sleds as a backup.
We were loaded up and ready to head to Lake Creek when the wind picked up enough to kite.
The snow was very nice but the wind never got very strong.
We rode to the gliding hills, played for a couple of hours.
When the wind died we just rode downhill to the road and walked back.
My sled was ready to go so I went out a picked up the last few stragglers that didn't make it to the road.

5--Lake Creek 17M

Slawek is in town from CA.
Jake and I took him to Lake Creek for a nicely powered afternoon.
Still some soft snow up there, pretty nice day.
Wish I had taken my 11M

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3709317231247&set=vb.1825081151&type=2&theater

4-- Miller Mountain 17M

Today was a scouting trip with Matt. We kited the wind fence snow wave. Miles and miles of snow fences on top. The snow was creamy on the lee sides. Fun to find, but not a destination. North of Viva Naughton with the sleds for backup will be the next adventure. HUGE https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3653643319434&set=vb.1825081151&type=2&theater

3--CC 17M

Just Tod and I. Overall good wind with some lulls.
When the sun was out the snow was creamy, when it was cloudy it was crusty.
Enough snow that the second session I didn't use my rock board.